Crewe Alexandra: The pioneers of youth development

EFL League One club Crewe Alexandra is renowned for developing some of English football’s top talents over the years, but it all began in 1983 as the Railwaymen appointed a ‘football genius’.

Dario Gradi, 79, MBE is an Italian-English former amateur football player, coach and manager who is profoundly recognised for his 36-year association with Crewe Alexandra.

Joining the club in 1983, Gradi took over as first-team manager (1983-2007, 2008 caretaker, 2009-2011), as well as occupying roles as the director of football and academy director during his time at the club.

Though, the Milan born treasure arrived at Gresty Road with an ideology like no other, recognised by the Alex faithful as a ‘football genius’ for his side’s eye-catching footballing displays as well as his ability to nurture young talent.

There are many football managers across the decades who have achieved success, transforming clubs and developing prospects who have gone on to become ménage names. Many of which have enjoyed the luxury of chairmen prepared to influx million-pound figures, but this man flourished without.

Jules Hornbrook, an advertising copywriter and Crewe fan, wrote in 2000 in his book The Gradi Years: “Gradi’s ability to identify and develop talent would lead to many notable exports from the club and these crucial injections of cash from the sale of players, three promotions and two Wembley appearances – coupled with a supportive board of directors have ensured that Gradi enjoyed the luxury of time to deliver the goods: in football terms, success on the pitch.”

The 79-year old implemented a youth policy to promote young players into the first team, his ambition was to field a full starting eleven of ‘home-grown’ talent. But, despite his aim not occurring during his reign as manager, it did in fact arrive 3o years later as his dream became reality.

As the Italian-Englishman made his way “upstairs” to head the Alex academy, 18-months on Crewe hosted Walsall in their final league game of the season fielding an entire starting XI of academy graduates.  Gradi’s dream came true!

27 April 2013 will live on in history as Crewe became the first team in the English Football League to field a full team of academy graduates – and five years later as the Railwaymen named their second ‘homegrown’ XI, they were still the only club to achieve the feat.

? | ACADEMY XI ?

Well… 5 years on & we're set to make history again!!!

Dave Artell has confirmed he'll be naming a homegrown #CreweAlex starting XI vs @CTFCofficial tomorrow!! ???#BackTheBoys #Academy11 #History @EFL @SkyBetLeagueTwo

More ? https://t.co/QvD3AMllvp pic.twitter.com/lvlllpfzGL

— Crewe Alexandra (@crewealexfc) May 4, 2018

The Railwaymen have produced some prodigious talents since the youth policy’s launch too, namely Danny Murphy and Dean Ashton during the ‘Geniuses’ supremacy, whilst former England captain David Platt also started his professional career at the Alexandra Stadium.

Such is the transformation of Crewe Alexandra under Gradi’s ideology during his time at the club, the experienced coach was honoured with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to League Football’ award in 2011 – and his methods live on to this day too.

As Gradi’s understudy, Steve Davis took over and it was only 18 months later until he led his team to the 2012 League Two Play-Off Final under the Wembley arch. But what was significant was that nine of the starting XI were academy graduates.

Only for three of that XI to move on up the league pyramid in the next couple of years, Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood and Luke Murphy. Powell being the most momentous after he swapped the red of Crewe for the red of Manchester (Manchester United) at the young age of 18, but it’s Westwood who has been the most prolific as he so far has accumulated 246 Premier League appearances and counting.

In which since 2013, the Alex had suffered a steady decline on the pitch, at times, their Football League status looked to be threatened.

Meanwhile, former player and current manager David Artell now takes his place on the touchline and, much like Gradi, he continues to guide the club forward. Knowing the importance of following in his footsteps by maintaining Crewe’s youth development.

The interesting agenda circling Artell is his faith in the project going on at Gresty Road, as he is currently the sixth longest-serving manager in the English Football League despite the fact he is just 40 years old.

Nevertheless, it’s his first managerial conquestand he is showing no urgency to find new clubs to explore and gain more of a reputation or experience but rather as a manager who is keen to see a project out, thus why he is remaining at the club following their promotion and likely interest from higher reputable sides.

The former Gibraltar international is an avid believer in bringing his sides new prospects through the ranks but reiterates the importance of them experiencing men’s football in the U23’s or elsewhere.

Speaking to Crewe Alexandra’s official website, Artell said: “The under-23’s play a massive part, it is something that we constantly look at and promote, because that’s our next first team.

“We are always looking at our loan strategy and how we can implement it so more of our youngsters can go out on loan,” he added.

The club is now renowned as a hotbed for manufacturing and developing talent, with over 60% of the Railwaymen’s current squad made up of academy graduates.

In their most recent transfer window (January 2021) club skipper, Perry Ng departed for Cardiff City before Harry Pickering agreed a deal to move to Blackburn Rovers in the summer but remains at Gresty Road for the remainder of the season.

Club Chairman John Bowler has been at the club since 1980, overseeing the development of the youth policy, and he says it is something that Crewe will always look to implement in their long-term strategy.

Speaking to Cheshire Live in 2019, he said: “Youth development is a long-term commitment and I like to think we are getting some rewards now for our continued support of the great guys who work at Reaseheath because we have a good side off the field as well as on it.”

In fact, some fans will say that the current Alex side is compact full of some of the best talent they have seen at the club for years and hope that the ‘Crewe way’ will continue long into their future.

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