Champions 2023-24
AFC Crewe are champions, once again. After an emphatic 5-1 victory against Brereton Social Reserves away from home, AFC Crewe became the 2023/24 Champions of the Staffordshire County Senior League Division 1, and have confirmed their place in the Premier Division for next season.
Despite securing the league with 2 league fixtures to go, against Foley Meir 433 and Newcastle Town Reserves, Crewe have had to show resillience, as Florence, Keele and Leek have all enjoyed spells as top of the division. After a lacklustre gameweek 1, falling to a 3-2 loss away at Florence, the lads new they had to step up and thats what they did.
Three emphatic wins, 8-1 and two 5-2 victories for the boys, which left them in second place before a tricky away day to City of Stoke FC, where Crewe faced their third 5-2 in as many games, however unfortunately this one was to be added to the loss column. However, there was a silver lining as City of Stoke defenders Oli Byrne and Josh Daniels defected to AFC Crewe. This was also followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw to Cheadle.
However, since that point AFC Crewe have been a force to be reckoned with. A 6-1 demolishing of Keele University, before their impressive winning streak, and a 4-0 win over Warstones during AFC Crewe's maiden community day which saw a record attendance for AFC Crewe at Wood Park. Local vendors, personalities, figureheads, board members and fans alike witnessed a magical Crewe performance setting them up for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, 2 weeks later, Brereton completed a feat that no other team in the league can boast, a league win at Wood Park. This did not deter anyone, a huge comeback win away at Newcastle thanks to Mike Blundell and Komo Ezaye set up a midweek clash of giants at Wood Park.
Wednesday 22nd November saw Leek come to Wood Park, 8 goals, 9 cards and an instant classic saw AFC Crewe dismantle Leek 6-2 under the lights, thanks to a hattrick from Komo Ezaye, 2 from Cole Ojungu and a cool finish from Brandon Mighten.
A draw against Eastwood Hanley and two wins against Cresswell and Stafford rounded up the first half of the season, and started the 'league split.' AFC Crewe sat top of the table, but only 4 points separated the top 4, and 6 points between the top 6.
AFC Crewe were only just getting started. In the 5 games since the league split, AFC Crewe have garnered 13 points, scored 25 goals and have only conceded 5. A Friday night wrecking ball arrived at Leek and put AFC in the drivers seat for the league, followed by revenge in the form of an 8-0 dismantling of Florence and 5-1 win at Brereton this weekend and morale was high.
The lads walked off the field hugging and celebrating their win in the midlands, not knowing that the best news of the season would come 25 minutes later. Spirits were heavily reduced after the results of the Grand National, however news had just broke that Leek had fallen to Florence 1-0, 20 miles up the road.
The social club erupted at the news, and 364 days after beating Sandbach Curshaws 8-2 to win the Crewe and Disrict League, the boys have done it again, and theres still so much to come.