It has been a memorable season for the Red Devils, who romped to a league title with time to spare. Their Scottish manager was delighted with the efforts of his players, and was quick to point out that preparations are already in place for another successful campaign next season, much to the delight of their supporters, many of whom live in Sussex. But, this is not Manchester United, it is Crawley Town.
Crawley ran away with the Blue Square Bet Premier Division, formerly known as the Football Conference, the tier just below England’s Football League system, losing just three games in the process. Finishing 15 points ahead of second-placed AFC Wimbledon, the Sussex side had more wins than anyone else, scored more goals and conceded less, and even managed to enjoy a memorable run in the FA Cup.
The Broadfield Stadium outfit disposed of three league clubs along the way, before losing out to the ‘other’ Red Devils at Old Trafford. A close, tense match finished 1-0 to the Manchester side, but Crawley gave them a fright, and in truth could have done enough to at least earn a draw. Before their FA Cup run came to an end, wins against Swindon, Derby and Torquay gave the team’s supporters a lot of fun, and served notice to the whole country that the Sussex club are no longer minnows.
Throughout the season, Crawley have projected the image of a small club planning to become big, and they are already financially secure. In the past twelve months, the Red Devils have spent more money on players than all the League Two clubs put together, so it did not come as a great surprise when they took a stranglehold on the league below. The club have constantly underlined the importance of the future, and they will be quietly fancying their chances of topping a table again when next May comes around.
With money to spend, the League Two newcomers have dipped into the market this summer, notably snapping up striker John Akinde from Bristol City, midfielder Scott Davies (Reading) and hitman Wesley Thomas (Cheltenham Town); but even if they had opted for a quiet transfer window, their current squad is strong enough to hold its own. Striker Matt Tubbs bagged 37 league goals last season and has proved to be an instinctive finisher with an admirable work-rate; the 26-year-old will be just as big a handful to defend against next season.
If Crawley are to continue to progress though, and the movers and shakers at the club are determined to make that a reality, they will at some point have to do something about their ground. The current capacity of the Broadfield Stadium is just under 5,000, lower than 17 of their Conference rivals, and of almost every League Two club. There is room to expand however, so some of the recent investment may be needed to develop buildings as well as talent.
It is often the case that promoted clubs look to consolidate their positions in their new divisions without any further ambition for a year or two, but this won’t be how Crawley’s management team will see the coming year. Already be thinking in terms of further success, especially if they add to the squad during the summer, this is an ambitious group.
Next season, League Two will have a number of clubs which will be looking to take the top honour. Early betting markets suggest Crawley will start the campaign as favourites, but they can expect stiff competition from several others such as Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth and Gillingham. AFC Wimbledon, who were promoted via the playoffs, will be no pushovers, either.
Given the amount of money the Red Devils have at their disposal, Crawley’s league title triumph wasn’t a big surprise. The so-called ‘Manchester City of the Conference’ were predictable champions, so the events of 2010/11 were to be expected. Next season, however, is a different matter, and could perhaps be better described as Crawley’s breakthrough year. If they succeed again, the Sussex side could become a force to be reckoned with. They are the new kids on the block, and their potential should not be taken lightly.
