Crawley Town Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Crawley, West Sussex. Founded in 1896 as Crawley F.C., the team played in junior leagues until 1951 when they were admitted to the Sussex County League as part of its attempted expansion.[1][2] In their second season, they finished bottom of that league's First Division with only 4 points from 26 matches,[3] but regulations prevented any team being relegated until the division reached its full complement of 16 teams.[4] After another last-place finish two seasons later, they were relegated, but a runners-up spot in the Second Division in 1955–56 preceded a move into the Metropolitan & District League.[3]

In 1958, under its new name of Crawley Town,[3] the club entered the FA Cup for the first time; its team lost in the preliminary round at home to Horsham.[5] It adopted professional status four years later,[1] and entered the Southern League in 1963–64. Crawley gained promotion to that league's Premier Division for the 1969–70 season, but dropped straight back to Division One. When the league expanded to create two regional second-tier divisions, Crawley were placed in the southern division. They remained in the southern half when the creation of the Alliance Premier League as the top non-league division forced another restructure of the Southern League, this time with parallel Midland and Southern Divisions. Crawley's lowly finish in 1981–82 meant they failed to benefit from yet another reorganisation, whereby the top ten teams in each regional division formed a new Premier Division, but two years later they were promoted as runners-up.[3][6]

They remained at that level for the next twenty years, until they won their first Southern League title in 2003–04 and consequent promotion to the new Conference National.[3][6] Despite a variety of points deductions, including ten points in 2006–07 for entering administration and six the following season for financial irregularities, and a transfer embargo,[7] they held on to their Conference status. In 2010–11, they not only progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, coming "within inches" of drawing with Manchester United at Old Trafford via Richard Brodie's header against the crossbar,[8] they were not distracted from the league campaign; a 30-match unbeaten run and a Conference record 105 points earned them the 2010–11 title and promotion to the Football League.[1] As well as reaching the FA Cup fifth round again, they came third in their first season in League Two, so went up to League One, where they remained for three seasons before returning to the fourth tier.[3]

The table details the team's achievements in senior first-team competitions and the top league goalscorer(s) from Crawley's first season in the Sussex County League in 1951–52 to the end of the most recently completed season.

Key

Seasons

List of seasons, including league division and statistics, cup results and top league scorer(s)
Season League[3][9] FA Cup[5] League Cup[3][10] Other[3][10] Top league scorer(s)[11]
Division[a] Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos Competition Result Player(s) Goals
1951–52 Sussex 28 7 7 14 57 89 21 13th — — — — Not known —
1952–53 Sussex 1 26 1 2 23 30 112 4 14th — — — — Not known —
1953–54 Sussex 1 28 11 2 15 55 70 24 11th — — — — Not known —
1954–55 Sussex 1 ↓ 32 10 4 18 47 70 24 17th — — — — Not known —
1955–56 Sussex 2 26 20 2 4 96 28 41 2nd — — — — Not known —
1956–57 Met & D 34 9 7 18 61 75 25 14th — — — — Not known —
1957–58 Met & D 34 12 7 15 70 75 31 11th — — — — Not known —
1958–59 Met & D 36 12 7 17 65 86 31 14th Prelim — — — Not known —
1959–60 Met 38 9 2 27 52 116 20 20th QR3 — — — Not known —
1960–61 Met 34 5 4 25 39 123 14 17th QR1 — — — Not known —
1961–62 Met 32 19 2 11 90 55 40 5th QR4 — — — Not known —
1962–63 Met 32 19 4 9 82 49 42 6th QR3 — — — Not known —
1963–64 South 1 42 20 2 20 81 71 42 12th QR4 — — — Not known —
1964–65 South 1 42 22 5 15 83 52 49 7th QR4 — — — Not known —
1965–66 South 1 46 17 10 19 72 71 44 12th QR4 — — — Not known —
1966–67 South 1 46 26 8 12 81 48 60 6th QR3 — — — Not known —
1967–68 South 1 42 10 8 24 54 85 28 18th QR3 — — — Not known —
1968–69 South 1 ↑ 42 21 13 8 65 32 55 4th QR1 — — — Not known —
1969–70 South P ↓ 42 6 15 21 53 101 27 21st QR4 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1970–71 South 1 38 15 11 12 84 68 41 10th R1 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1971–72 South 1S 30 15 5 10 67 55 35 4th R1 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1972–73 South 1S 42 14 11 17 59 76 39 14th QR4 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1973–74 South 1S 38 6 9 23 35 79 21 20th QR2 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1974–75 South 1S 38 3 5 30 31 102 11 20th QR2 — FA Trophy Prelim Not known —
1975–76 South 1S 38 9 10 19 46 66 28 18th QR4 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1976–77 South 1S 34 14 9 11 53 42 37 9th QR1 — FA Trophy Prelim Not known —
1977–78 South 1S 38 14 9 15 61 60 37 12th QR3 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1978–79 South 1S 40 9 9 22 44 75 27 20th QR2 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1979–80 South S 46 13 11 22 55 72 37 20th QR1 — FA Trophy Prelim Not known —
1980–81 South S 46 18 4 24 64 78 40 15th QR2 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1981–82 South S 46 9 12 25 46 81 30 21st QR1 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1982–83 South S 34 14 9 11 51 43 51[b] 7th QR1 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1983–84 South S ↑ 38 22 9 7 68 28 75 2nd Prelim — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1984–85 South P 38 22 8 8 76 52 74 3rd QR2 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1985–86 South P 38 18 5 15 76 59 59 6th QR3 — FA Trophy R2 Not known —
1986–87 South P 42 14 11 17 59 60 53 13th QR3 — FA Trophy R1 Not known —
1987–88 South P 42 17 14 11 73 63 65 6th QR1 — FA Trophy R2 Not known —
1988–89 South P 42 14 16 12 61 56 58 12th QR4 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1989–90 South P 42 13 12 17 53 57 51 15th QR1 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1990–91 South P 42 12 12 18 45 67 48 19th QR2 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1991–92 South P 42 12 12 18 62 67 48 17th R3 — FA Trophy QR1 Not known —
1992–93 South P 40 16 12 12 68 59 60 6th QR4 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1993–94 South P 42 21 10 11 56 42 73 5th R2 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1994–95 South P 42 15 10 17 64 71 55 11th R1 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1995–96 South P 42 15 13 14 57 56 58 9th QR4 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1996–97 South P 42 13 8 21 49 67 47 7th QR2 — FA Trophy QR3 Not known —
1997–98 South P 42 17 8 17 63 60 59 10th QR1 — FA Trophy QR2 Not known —
1998–99 South P 42 17 10 15 57 58 61 11th QR4 — FA Trophy R3 Not known —
1999–2000 South P 42 15 8 19 68 82 53 12th QR2 — FA Trophy R2 Not known —
2000–01 South P 42 17 10 15 61 54 61 11th QR2 — FA Trophy R3 Not known —
2001–02 South P 42 21 10 11 67 48 73 4th QR3 — FA Trophy R1 Not known —
2002–03 South P 42 17 13 12 64 51 64 7th R2 — FA Trophy R3 Not known —
2003–04 South P ↑ 42 25 9 8 77 43 84 1st R1 — FA Trophy R3 Charlie MacDonald[13] 17
2004–05 Conf 42 16 9 17 50 50 57 12th QR4 — FA Trophy R4 Allan Tait 10
2005–06 Conf 42 12 11 19 48 55 44[c] 17th QR4 —
Daryl Clare 11
2006–07 Conf 46 17 12 17 52 52 53[d] 18th QR4 — FA Trophy R1 Scott Rendell 11
2007–08 Conf 46 19 9 18 73 67 60[e] 15th QR4 — FA Trophy QF Jamie Cook 16
2008–09 Conf 46 19 14 13 77 55 70[f] 9th QR4 — FA Trophy R3 Jamie Cook 13
2009–10 Conf 44 19 9 16 50 57 66 7th QR4 — FA Trophy R2 Charles Ademeno 11
2010–11 Conf ↑ 46 31 12 3 93 30 105 1st R5 — FA Trophy R1 Matt Tubbs[16] 37 ♦
2011–12 League Two ↑ 46 23 15 8 76 54 84 3rd R5 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Tyrone Barnett 14
2012–13 League One 46 18 14 14 59 58 68 10th R3 R3 Football League Trophy R2(S) Billy Clarke 10
2013–14 League One 46 14 15 17 48 54 57 14th R2 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Matt Tubbs 8
2014–15 League One ↓ 46 13 11 22 53 79 50 22nd R1 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Izale McLeod 19
2015–16 League Two 46 13 8 25 45 78 47 20th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R2(S) Rhys Murphy 9
2016–17 League Two 46 13 12 21 53 71 51 19th R1 R1 EFL Trophy R2(S) James Collins 20
2017–18 League Two 46 16 11 19 58 66 69 14th R1 R1 EFL Trophy Group (S)
10
2018–19 League Two 46 15 8 23 51 68 53 19th R1 R1 EFL Trophy Group (S) Ollie Palmer 14
2019–20 League Two 37 11 15 11 51 47 48 13th[g] R2 R4 EFL Trophy Group (S) Ollie Palmer 13
2020–21 League Two 46 16 13 17 56 62 61 12th R4 R1 EFL Trophy Group (S) Max Watters 13
2021–22 League Two 46 17 10 19 56 66 61 12th R1 R1 EFL Trophy Group (S) Kwesi Appiah 11
2022–23 League Two 46 11 13 22 48 71 46 22nd R1 R3 EFL Trophy Group (S) Dom Telford 12

Notes

  1. ^ Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
  2. ^ The 1982–83 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two in the Southern League.[12]
  3. ^ Three-point deduction for exceeding their annual playing budget as agreed with the Football Conference.[1][14]
  4. ^ Ten-point deduction for entering administration.[7]
  5. ^ Six-point deduction for financial irregularities.[7]
  6. ^ One-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.[15]
  7. ^ Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended in March 2020, and Leagues One and Two were concluded prematurely in June, with league positions and promotions decided on a points-per-game basis.[17] Crawley lay 12th on points but finished 13th on points per game.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Crawley Town FC history". Crawley Town F.C. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  2. ^ County Rover (24 August 1951). "Biggest County League ever starts tomorrow". Sussex Express & County Herald. Lewes. p. 8.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Crawley" and "Crawley Town". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  4. ^ County Rover (13 March 1953). "Farncombe: what will be the next move?". Sussex Express & County Herald. Lewes. p. 12. Funny, but in all probability the club who finish at the bottom of the Sussex County League (Division I) this season will not welcome the safeguard against relegation which the rule amendments, approved by the County F.A. Council on Wednesday, will give. It is more than likely that the bottom team will be Crawley, and under the new rule which says there will be no relegation until Division I has 16 teams, Crawley will be doomed to struggle on in Division I. They would, I should think, be far happier in Division II, and their small gate would probably increase if there were a few wins to stimulate interest.
  5. ^ a b "Past Results". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 15 May 2023. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  6. ^ a b "Southern League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Gurney, Tom (7 August 2007). "Crawley docked six points". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  8. ^ "United edge past brave Crawley". Sky Sports. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Crawley Town league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Crawley Town football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  11. ^ For seasons from 2004–05 onwards: "Crawley: player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 May 2023. Access season required via dropdown menu.
  12. ^ Abbink, Dinant (24 July 2005). "England – Southern League Final Tables". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  13. ^ "1st team fixtures – Season 2003–04". Crawley Town F.C. Archived from the original on 23 November 2004.
  14. ^ "Nationwide Conference 2005/06". Footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
    "Crawley penalised by Conference". BBC Sport. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  15. ^ Talbot, Bruce (28 February 2009). "Evans: Justice was done". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Blue Sq Premier Table – April 30 2011". Bluesq Premier. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011.
  17. ^ de Menezes, Jack (9 June 2020). "League Two season ended to confirm promotion and relegation plans". The Independent. London. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ^ Owen, Brian (9 June 2020). "Crawley drop a place but it's still their best finishing position for five years". The Argus. Brighton. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

External links

Crawley Town Football Club
Lists of English men's football seasons by club
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