# 2012–13 Crewe Alexandra F.C. season

This 2012–13 season in League One was Crewe's 89th competitive season in the English Football League and first upon return to League One after an absence spanning over three seasons.

## Season key events

* 27 May 2012: Goals from Nick Powell and Byron Moore secure a 2–0 win over Cheltenham Town in the 2011-12 Football League Two play-off final at Wembley.
* 1 June 2012: The club announce that they will be releasing David Artell, Lee Bell, Carl Martin, Danny Shelley, Jordan Brown, Jason Oswell, Caspar Hughes, Michael Koral, Danny Ting and Jordan Connerton.
* 4 June 2012: The club announce that youngster Paris Bateman has signed his first professional contract after graduating from the famed Crewe Academy.
* 6 June 2012: It is announced that Harry Clayton has re-signed on a new one-year deal.
* 8 June 2012: The club announces that Andy White has also re-signed a new one-year deal.
* 13 June 2012: Crewe announce that Nick Powell has signed a four-year contract with Manchester United for £4m.
* 14 June 2012: The club announces the re-signing of Ollie Turton, on a new one-year contract.
* 28 June 2012: Crewe announce the signing of Torquay defender Mark Ellis for an undisclosed fee.
* 3 July 2012: Goalkeeper Steve Phillips re-signs at the club on a new two-year deal, which involves him acting as the academy's goal-keeping coach. Also, the club announces the signing of defender Gregor Robertson on a two-year contract after he was released by Chesterfield at the end of the 2011–12 season.
* 6 July 2012: Crewe announce the signing of Mathias Pogba from Conference National side Wrexham.
* 9 July 2012: Goalkeeper Alan Martin re-signs with the club on a new six-month deal.
* 10 July 2012: The signing of Ebbsfleet United winger Michael West is announced for a nominal compensation package.
* 14 July 2012: Crewe announce that striker Byron Moore has re-signed on a two-year deal.
* 16 July 2012: The club announces the re-signing of defender Kelvin Mellor on a new two-year deal.
* 25 July 2012: The club announce the signing of midfielder Abdul Osman on a free transfer and a two-year contract.
* 30 July 2012: The club announces the departure of striker Shaun Miller on a two-year deal to Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.
* 11 August 2012: The season proper kicks off with a 5 – 0 victory over Hartlepool United in the first round of the Football League Cup.
* 13 August 2012: The re-signing of defender Adam Dugdale on a three-year deal is announced by the club.
* 18 August 2012: The league campaign starts with a loss to Notts County; the club's first loss in twenty competitive matches.
* 21 August 2012: Striker Harry Bunn joins the club from Manchester City on a six-month loan deal. Crewe beat Scunthorpe United 2–1 for their first win of the league campaign.
* 28 August 2012: Crewe are knocked out of the Football League Cup in the second round with a 2 – 0 loss away to West Ham United.
* 31 August 2012: Club captain Ashley Westwood is signed by Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.
* 7 September 2012: Midfielder Chuks Aneke becomes Crewe's second loanee of the season signing an initial one-month contract from Arsenal.
* 7 April 2013: Crewe are crowned champions of the Football League Trophy thanks to goals from Luke Murphy and Max Clayton.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 61 | 49 | +12 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 54 | 62 | −8 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 54 | 49 | +5 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 66 | 59 | +7 | 55 |
* ↑ On 28 March Coventry City were deducted ten points for entering administration.

## Squad
### First team squad

Players' ages as of 27 April 2013
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Steve Phillips | GK | (1978-05-06)6 May 1978 (aged 35) | Bristol Rovers | 2010 | 2014 | 78 | 0 |
| 13 | Alan Martin | GK | (1989-01-01)1 January 1989 (aged 25) | Free Transfer | 2011 | 2013 | 26 | 0 |
| 21 | Ben Garratt | GK | (1994-04-25)25 April 1994 (aged 20) | Youth system | 2010 | 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Matt Tootle | RB/LB | (1990-10-11)11 October 1990 (aged 23) | Youth system | 2009 | 2014 | 137 | 2 |
| 3 | Harry Davis | CB | (1991-09-24)24 September 1991 (aged 22) | Youth system | 2009 | 2014 | 76 | 5 |
| 5 | Mark Ellis | CB | (1988-09-30)30 September 1988 (aged 25) | Torquay United | 2012 | 2014 | 26 | 4 |
| 6 | Adam Dugdale | CB | (1987-09-13)13 September 1987 (aged 26) | Telford United | 2012 | 2015 | 83 | 4 |
| 12 | Ollie Turton | RB | (1992-10-06)6 October 1992 (aged 21) | Youth system | 2009 | 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 14 | Kelvin Mellor | RB/LB | (1991-01-25)25 January 1991 (aged 23) | Nantwich Town | 2009 | 2014 | 35 | 1 |
| 15 | Gregor Robertson | LB | (1984-01-19)19 January 1984 (aged 30) | Chesterfield | 2012 | 2014 | 22 | 0 |
| 16 | Jon Guthrie | CB | (1992-07-29)29 July 1992 (aged 21) | Pewsey Vale | 2012 | 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | George Ray | CB | (1993-10-13)13 October 1993 (aged 20) | Youth system | 2011 | 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Andy White | LB | (1992-10-08)8 October 1992 (aged 21) | Youth system | 2011 | 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Paris Bateman | CB/CM | (1993-12-26)26 December 1993 (aged 20) | Youth system | 2011 | 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 8 | Luke Murphy (C) | CM | (1993-12-26)26 December 1993 (aged 20) | Youth system | 2008 | 2015 | 164 | 21 |
| 19 | Abdul Osman | CM | (1987-02-15)15 February 1987 (aged 27) | Free Transfer | 2012 | 2014 | 21 | 0 |
| 23 | Michael West | RW | (1991-02-09)9 February 1991 (aged 23) | Ebbsfleet United | 2012 | 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 26 | Chuks Aneke | CM | (1993-07-03)3 July 1993 (aged 20) | Arsenal (Loan) | 2012 | 2012 | 18 | 4 |
| 29 | Billy Waters | CM | (1994-10-15)15 October 1994 (aged 19) | Youth system | 2012 | 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Bradden Inman | CM | (1991-12-10)10 December 1991 (aged 22) | Newcastle United (Loan) | 2012 | 2013 | 2 | 1 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Lewis Wilson | ST | (1994-09-25)25 September 1994 (aged 19) | Preston | 2012 | 2013 | 22 | 12 |
| | Mathias Pogba | ST | (1990-08-19)19 August 1990 (aged 23) | Wrexham | 2012 | 2014 | 21 | 10 |
| 10 | A-Jay Leitch-Smith | ST | (1990-03-06)6 March 1990 (aged 24) | Youth system | 2009 | 2013 | 78 | 18 |
| 11 | Byron Moore | FW | (1988-08-24)24 August 1988 (aged 25) | Youth system | 2007 | 2014 | 227 | 27 |
| 18 | Brendon Daniels | FW | (1993-09-24)24 September 1993 (aged 20) | Youth system | 2011 | 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 22 | Harry Clayton | ST | (1993-02-15)15 February 1993 (aged 21) | Youth system | 2012 | 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Ryan Colclough | FW | (1994-12-27)27 December 1994 (aged 19) | Youth system | 2012 | 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | Lauri Dalla Valle | ST | (1991-09-14)14 September 1991 (aged 22) | Fulham (loan) | 2012 | 2012 | 7 | 4 |

## Squad statistics
### Appearances

    As of 23 March 2013
Appearances formatted as starts + substitutions.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | JP Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Steve Phillips | 19 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Matt Tootle | 35 | 1 | 24+5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Harry Davis | 40 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Mark Ellis | 43 | 6 | 35+1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Adam Dugdale | 24 | 0 | 14+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Max Clayton | 34 | 6 | 15+13 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2+1 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Luke Murphy | 45 | 7 | 36+1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | GUI | Mathias Pogba | 39 | 16 | 29+3 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | A-Jay Leitch-Smith | 28 | 6 | 19+3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Byron Moore | 38 | 4 | 28+5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Ollie Turton | 18 | 0 | 2+9 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | SCO | Alan Martin | 28 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Kelvin Mellor | 33 | 0 | 25+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | SCO | Gregor Robertson | 35 | 0 | 24+4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Jon Guthrie | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | George Ray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Brendon Daniels | 10 | 0 | 2+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | GHA | Abdul Osman | 39 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Andy White | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Ben Garratt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Harry Clayton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Michael West | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Paris Bateman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Chuks Aneke | 30 | 6 | 17+6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 1 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Ryan Colclough | 13 | 1 | 1+10 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Billy Waters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | FIN | Lauri Dalla Valle | 12 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | AUS | Bradden Inman | 17 | 6 | 12+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 32 | FW | ENG | Nathan Ellington | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players that have played for Crewe Alexandra this season that have left the club or are currently out on loan: ||||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | ENG | Ashley Westwood | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Harry Bunn | 5 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Andy Bond | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

#### Goalscorers

    As of 12 October 2012
Players highlighted in light grey denote the player had scored for the club before leaving for another club  Players highlighted in light cyan denote the player has scored for the club after arriving at Crewe during the season  Players highlighted in Blonde denote the player has scored for the club before leaving the club on loan for part/the rest of the season
| Pos. | Playing Pos. | Nation | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | Total |
| 1 | FW | France | Mathias Pogba | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 2 | MF | England | Luke Murphy | 3 | 1 | | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | FW | England | Max Clayton | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | FW | England | A-Jay Leitch-Smith | 3 | | 1 | | 4 |
| 3 | DF | England | Mark Ellis | 4 | 1 | | | 5 |
| 3 | MF | England | Chuks Aneke | 4 | 1 | | | 5 |
| 3 | FW | Finland | Lauri Dalla Valle | 5 | | | | 5 |
| 8 | MF | Australia | Bradden Inman | 2 | | | | 2 |
| 9 | DF | England | Matt Tootle | 1 | | | | 1 |
| | | | Total Goals | 29 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 41 |

#### Disciplinary record

    As of 12 October 2012
Players highlighted in light grey denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club before leaving for another club  Players highlighted in light cyan denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club after arriving at Crewe during the season  Players highlighted in Blonde denote the player has received a yellow/red card for the club before leaving the club on loan for part/the rest of the season
| # | Pos. | Name | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | JP Trophy | JP Trophy | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | Matt Tootle | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 26 | MF | Chuks Aneke | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | MF | Abdul Osman | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Mark Ellis | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Luke Murphy | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Mathias Pogba | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Brendon Daniels | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Harry Davis | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Adam Dugdale | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Kelvin Mellor | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Andy Bond | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | Lauri Dalla Valle | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 2 |

##### Notes
## Transfers
### Summer
#### In

| # | Pos | Player | From | Fee | Date |
| 24 | DF | Paris Bateman | Crewe Academy | Free | 4 June 2012 |
| 22 | FW | Harry Clayton | Crewe Academy | Free | 6 June 2012 |
| 5 | DF | Mark Ellis | Torquay United | Undisclosed | 1 July 2012 |
| 15 | DF | Gregor Robertson | Chesterfield | Free | 3 July 2012 |
| 9 | FW | Mathias Pogba | Wrexham | Nominal | 6 July 2012 |
| 23 | MF | Michael West | Ebbsfleet United | Undisclosed | 10 July 2012 |
| 19 | MF | Abdul Osman | Unattached | Free | 25 July 2012 |
| 25 | FW | Harry Bunn | Manchester City | Loan | 21 August 2012 |
| 26 | MF | Chuks Aneke | Arsenal | Loan | 7 September 2012 |

#### Out

| Pos | Player | To | Fee | Date |
| DF | David Artell | Port Vale | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| MF | Lee Bell | Burton Albion | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| DF | Carl Martin | Macclesfield Town | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| MF | Danny Shelley | Leek Town | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| DF | Jordan Brown | Barnet | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| FW | Jason Oswell | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| MF | Caspar Hughes | Nantwich Town | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| FW | Michael Koral | Congleton Town | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| DF | Danny Ting | Unattached | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| FW | Jordan Connerton | Lancaster City | Free | 1 June 2012 |
| FW | Nick Powell | Manchester United | £4m | 1 July 2012 |
| FW | Shaun Miller | Sheffield United | Undisclosed | 30 July 2012 |
| MF | Ashley Westwood | Aston Villa | Undisclosed | 31 August 2012 |