1997 Football League Second Division Play-off Final
The 1997 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Crewe Alexandra and Brentford. The top two teams of the 1996–97 Football League Second Division league, Bury and Stockport County, gained automatic promotion to the First Division, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1997–98 season in the First Division. The losing semi-finalists were Luton Town and Bristol City who had been defeated by Crewe and Brentford respectively. The referee for the match, played in front of 34,149 spectators, was Uriah Rennie from Sheffield. Crewe dominated the early stages of the match and in the 34th minute, Steve Macauley passed Murphy's cross to Shaun Smith who struck from close range to make it 1–0 to Crewe. Within two minutes, McCauley headed a cor ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Crewe Alexandra F
Crewe () is a railway town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East in Cheshire, England. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 55,318 and the built-up area had a population of 74,120. Crewe is perhaps best known as a large railway junction and home to Crewe Works; for many years, it was a major railway engineering facility for manufacturing and overhauling locomotives, but is now much reduced in size. From 1946 until 2002, it was also the home of Rolls-Royce motor car production. The Pyms Lane factory on the west of the town now exclusively produces Bentley motor cars. Crewe is north-west of London, south of Manchester city centre and south-east of Liverpool city centre. History Medieval The name derives from an Old Welsh word ''criu'', meaning 'weir' or 'crossing'. The earliest record is in the Domesday Book, where it is written as ''Creu''. The original settlement of Crewe lies to the east of the modern town and was historically a t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Steve Macauley
Stephen Roy Macauley (born 4 March 1969 in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire) is an English former professional footballer, who played primarily as a central defender. He began his career at Manchester City as a trainee. After a brief spell at local Fylde coast side Fleetwood Town, he joined Crewe Alexandra in March 1992 for a fee of £25,000. He went on to spend ten years at the South Cheshire club under manager Dario Gradi. He was the first team coach at Fleetwood Town. Career Crewe Alexandra (1992–2002) Macauley joined Crewe in March 1992, making his debut in a 1–0 win against Blackpool at Gresty Road on 28 March 1992. He scored his first Crewe goal in a 1–1 draw at Cardiff City on 28 April 1992.Crisp, p.123. According to the football website Soccerbase, Macauley played 260 league games for Crewe, plus 16 in the Football League Cup and 20 in the FA Cup, plus 22 other assorted appearances, scoring 30 goals. He is credited with having played an important role in the c ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1998 Football League Play-offs
The Football League play-offs for the 1997–98 season were held in May 1998, with the finals taking place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. The play-off semi-finals were played over two legs and were contested by the teams who finish in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place in the Football League First Division and Football League Second Division and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th placed teams in the Football League Third Division table. The winners of the semi-finals will go through to the finals, with the winner of the matches gaining promotion for the following season. Background The Football League play-offs have been held every year since 1987. They take place for each division following the conclusion of the regular season and are contested by the four clubs finishing below the automatic promotion places. In the First Division, Sunderland, who are aiming to return to the top flight after relegation last season, finished 1 point behind second placed Middlesbrough, who in turn finish ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Micky Adams
Michael Richard Adams (born 8 November 1961) is an English former professional association football, footballer and football Manager (association football), manager. As a player, he was a Full-back (football), full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a 19-year professional career in the English Football League, including five years with Southampton F.C., Southampton at the highest level. He began his managerial career as Player-coach, player-manager for Fulham F.C., Fulham in 1996 and has led several teams at varying levels with mixed success, being named Manager of the Season twice, and earning four Promotion and relegation, promotions for the teams he has managed. Born in Sheffield, Adams was part of the Youth system, youth team at Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United from the age of twelve until released in 1977. He turned professional at the Third Division team Gillingham F.C., Gillingham in 1979, where he established himself in the first team, winning a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Eddie May
Edwin Charles May (19 May 1943 – 14 April 2012) was an English football player and manager. May was born in Epping, and played for Dagenham, Southend United, Wrexham and Swansea City. The burly, affable May loomed large in the modern history of Welsh football. During his playing prime in the first half of the 1970s he cut an imposing figure at the heart of the Wrexham rearguard, totalling some 400 senior appearances for The Racecourse club scoring 35 goals, all with his head . Later the most successful stint in his long, varied and eventually globetrotting coaching and managerial career came at the helm of Cardiff City, whom he guided to the double of Third Division title and Welsh Cup glory in 1992–93. He also served Swansea City as a player and, fleetingly, Newport County as a coach, thus becoming one of the few men to be associated with all four of Wales' most famous clubs. Playing career May's first League employers were Southend United, whom he joined from Dagenham ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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David Webb (footballer)
David James Webb (born 9 April 1946) is an English former professional footballer who made 555 appearances in the Football League playing for Leyton Orient, Southampton, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Derby County, AFC Bournemouth and Torquay United. He became a manager, taking charge of Bournemouth, Torquay United, Southend United, Chelsea, Brentford and Yeovil Town. Playing career Leyton Orient and Southampton David Webb was born in Stratford (then in Essex) and began his career as an amateur with West Ham United, but on failing to make the grade joined Leyton Orient in May 1963. His league debut came in the 1964–65 season, launching what would be a long career in league football. In March 1966, after 62 games (3 goals) for Orient, he moved to Southampton, with George O'Brien going in the opposite direction. He scored twice in 75 games for the Saints, including a goal on his debut to equalise in a vital 1–1 draw at promotion rivals Wolverhampton Wande ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Carl Hutchings
Carl Emil Hutchings (born 24 September 1974) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a utility player. He is best remembered for his five years in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 200 appearances. He also played league football for Bristol City, Southend United and Exeter City. Hutchings was described as an "intelligent footballer", who performed "with infectious exuberance". Career Brentford Hutchings began his youth career at Chelsea, before signing schoolboy forms with Brentford in 1989. He began an apprenticeship in 1991 and signed a professional contract at the end of the 1992–93 season. He instantly became a regular pick under new manager David Webb and after weathering some early criticism, he went on to become a valuable utility player for the team, filling in over the course of five seasons at full back, centre back and in central midfield. Hutchings was a part of the team that reached the 1995 Second Division play-o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Colin Little
Colin Campbell Little (born 4 November 1972) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. After starting in non-league football with Rossendale United and Hyde United, Little joined Crewe Alexandra in 1996. He had loan spells with Mansfield Town and Macclesfield Town, and later made his stay in Macclesfield permanent. Little made eight appearances for Halifax Town before joining Altrincham in 2004 – where he went on to make over 200 appearances for the club. He later played for F.C. United of Manchester, Altrincham, New Mills and Witton Albion. Little worked as an Under-15s coach during his time at Crewe Alexandra, and joined Manchester United as an Under-13s coach in 2009. He now works for the club as an Under-18s coach. Career Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Little began his career in Non-League football with Rossendale United before signing for Hyde United. After being spotted by Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi he signed for them for ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dele Adebola
Bamberdele Olusegun Adebola (born 23 June 1975) is a Nigerian retired Association football, footballer. Including loans, he has played for 16 clubs in his career, with his longest spells at Crewe Alexandra, Birmingham City and Coventry City. Early life Born in Lagos, Lagos State, Adebola was brought up in Liverpool after arriving in England as a baby with his family; as a schoolboy, he played in the same representative sides as Robbie Fowler. When offered a Youth Training Scheme, YTS place by Liverpool F.C., Liverpool, the team he supported, he believed that trying to progress as a fellow left-footed striker at the club at the same time as Fowler would not be a good idea. Consequently, he accepted a similar offer from Crewe Alexandra F.C., Crewe Alexandra. Club career Crewe Alexandra He made his first team debut in the 1992–93 in English football, 1992–93 season in the Football League Third Division, Third Division at the age of 17, and in the following season gained experi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Brian Statham (footballer)
Brian Statham (born 21 May 1969) is an English retired professional footballer who made over 160 appearances in the Football League for Brentford as a right back. He also played League football for Tottenham Hotspur, Gillingham, Reading, Bournemouth and was capped by England at U21 level. Statham later managed Heybridge Swifts, Billericay Town and Welling United in non-League football. He currently serves as director of football at Welling United. Club career Tottenham Hotspur A right back, Statham began his career in the youth system at First Division club Tottenham Hotspur and turned professional in 1987. He broke through into the first team during the 1987–88 season and made 19 appearances. Statham managed eight further appearances during the 1988–89 season, before dropping out of the squad. He spent time away on loan during the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons and departed White Hart Lane in February 1992. Statham was awarded a benefit match by the club in Jul ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |