In the 1996–97 season, Crewe had a great season by reaching the play-offs by finishing in the final play-off position, which was achieved on the final day by earning a 1–1 draw at York that was required as Blackpool had scored more goals which meant knowing a defeat and a Blackpool win at Wrexham would see Crewe slip out of the top six and Blackpool would have still had a chance of promotion. Blackpool though lost 2–1 so it didn't matter in the end with Crewe's result. In the play-offs, they beat Luton, who just missed out on automatic promotion, 4–3 on aggregate to get to Wembley and achieved promotion with a 1–0 win against Brentford.[ 1]
Source:
[ 2] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(O) Play-off winners;
(P) Promoted
Crewe Alexandra's score comes first [ 3]
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
17 August 1996
Stockport County H
1–0
4,310
Tierney
24 August 1996
Peterborough United A
2–2
6,357
Ellison (2)
27 August 1996
Preston North End A
1–2
9,498
Murphy
31 August 1996
Watford H
0–2
3,655
7 September 1996
Bournemouth A
1–0
3,218
Savage
10 September 1996
Bury H
2–0
3,627
Tierney , Barr
14 September 1996
Wrexham H
3–1
4,469
Adebola (2), Tierney
21 September 1996
Millwall A
0–2
9,320
28 September 1996
Plymouth Argyle H
3–0
3,797
Barr , Adebola , Murphy
1 October 1996
Blackpool H
3–2
4,314
Rivers , Adebola , Macauley
4 October 1996
Bristol Rovers A
0–2
6,211
12 October 1996
Brentford H
2–0
4,313
Rivers , S Smith (pen)
15 October 1996
York City H
0–1
3,463
19 October 1996
Chesterfield A
0–1
4,030
26 October 1996
Shrewsbury Town A
1–0
3,878
Murphy
29 October 1996
Rotherham United H
1–0
3,162
Barr
2 November 1996
Wycombe Wanderers H
3–0
3,636
Adebola , Whalley , Murphy
9 November 1996
Burnley A
0–2
9,459
23 November 1996
Walsall A
0–1
3,653
30 November 1996
Shrewsbury Town H
5–1
4,035
Murphy , S Smith , Rivers (2), Whalley
3 December 1996
Gillingham A
1–2
3,575
Rivers
14 December 1996
Luton Town A
0–6
5,455
20 December 1996
Notts County H
3–0
3,125
Adebola (2), Charnock
28 December 1996
Bournemouth H
2–0
3,687
Adebola (2)
11 January 1997
Plymouth Argyle A
0–1
5,036
18 January 1997
Blackpool A
2–1
4,760
Murphy , Adebola
25 January 1997
Rotherham United A
4–1
2,832
Adebola (2), Murphy , S Smith
1 February 1997
Burnley H
1–1
4,734
Macauley
8 February 1997
Wycombe Wanderers A
0–2
4,902
15 February 1997
Walsall H
1–0
4,648
Murphy
22 February 1997
Bristol City A
0–3
11,306
1 March 1997
Gillingham H
3–2
3,555
Barr (2), Murphy
8 March 1997
Notts County A
1–0
4,047
Rivers
15 March 1997
Luton Town H
0–0
4,475
18 March 1997
Millwall H
0–0
3,695
22 March 1997
Peterborough United H
1–1
3,565
Murphy
25 March 1997
Bristol City H
1–2
3,687
Westwood
29 March 1997
Stockport County A
0–1
7,411
31 March 1997
Preston North End H
1–0
4,407
Adebola
5 April 1997
Watford A
1–0
12,441
Whalley
12 April 1997
Bristol Rovers H
1–0
4,281
Adebola
15 April 1997
Bury A
0–1
4,725
19 April 1997
Brentford A
2–0
6,183
Adebola , S Smith
22 April 1997
Wrexham A
1–1
4,643
Johnson
26 April 1997
Chesterfield H
1–2
4,858
Adebola
3 May 1997
York City A
1–1
4,366
Westwood
Second Division play-offs
edit
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R1
16 November 1996
Kidderminster Harriers H
4–1
4,651
Macauley , Murphy (2), Lightfoot
R2
7 December 1996
Hull City A
5–1
3,756
Garvey , Murphy , Adebola , S Smith , Brien (own goal)
R3
14 January 1997
Wimbledon H
1–1
5,011
Westwood
R3R
21 January 1997
Wimbledon A
0–2
4,951
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg
20 August 1996
Port Vale A
0–1
5,236
R1 2nd Leg
3 September 1996
Port Vale H
1–5 (lost 1–6 on agg)
4,471
Adebola
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
NR2
28 January 1997
Plymouth Argyle A
1–0
2,216
NQF
4 February 1997
Blackpool H
1–0
3,033
NSF
28 January 1997
Stockport County H
1–1 (lost 3–5 on pens)
3,529
[ 4] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
