Introducing the new member clubs: Crewe
Wed 22nd July 2026 | Crewe | By Jay Cooper
With the 2026/27 NWCFL campaign fast approaching, now is the perfect time to introduce the new member clubs to their respective divisions.
Or perhaps better – to let the new member clubs introduce themselves.
Earlier this week, I spoke to Steve Parker – chairman at Crewe FC, who will take their place in the NWCFL First Division South this season following promotion from the Cheshire League after the end of the 2025/26 season.
Crewe FC’s history does not date back terribly far in the grand scheme of things, having been founded in 1998. They are a three-star England FA Accredited Community Club that also operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (or a CIO, for short) with a registered charity number of 1175805. They are determined to work for the benefit of the local community.
Based at the Sports Pavilion in the town with which they share their name, Crewe began life in what was then called the Mid-Cheshire League Division Two. In 2000, just two years after their formation, they finished as runners-up in the league, behind Trafford Reserves, to earn promotion to Division One.
Five further seasons in Division One followed, with a best finish during that time of sixth place in 2004, before a bottom-of-the-pile finish the very next campaign saw them relegated back to Division Two.
They remained a fixture of the Mid-Cheshire League pyramid as it was re-branded to the Cheshire League pyramid, and they were eventually promoted back to Division One in 2012, following another second-place finish in the league, this time behind Whaley Bridge.
The Cheshire League Division One, later the Premier Division, would wind up being the club’s home for the coming 12 years! Their first season would be their best on paper, finishing fourth in the division as it was book-ended by two sides who played NWCFL football last season – Cheadle Heath Nomads (1st), and Pilkington (16th).
Their lowest finish throughout this stint in the Cheshire League Prem would come in 2018, when they finished 13th in a division of 15 teams, plus Rudheath Social and Warrington Town Reserves, who both had their records expunged midway through the season.
Crewe maintained a strong grip on mid-table security in the Cheshire League Prem for the next seven campaigns, give or take two non-seasons amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, before the 2025/26 campaign would see their aspirations for promotion finally come to fruition.
In a race for the top five and the potential promotion spots, Crewe edged out FC St Helens Reserves to snatch a fifth placed finish. Both sides earned 51 points throughout the season, but Crewe had a goal difference of +13 to their adversaries’ +9. With that, an official application for a first appearance at Step Six of the non-league system was filed by Crewe and accepted by the NWCFL ahead of 2026/27.
----------
Steve Parker
1. How would you describe Crewe FC to someone who had never heard of the club?
a. At its heart, Crewe FC is a community club full of good people, trying to do things the right way. We're involved in grassroots football for the right reasons, with a real focus on creating opportunities, developing players and coaches, and providing clear pathways for everyone involved.
From a first-team perspective, we're always looking for ways to improve. Securing our own facility was a huge milestone for the club, and following that up with promotion to the North West Counties Football League was a reward for a lot of hard work. We're proud of how far we've come, but we're even more excited about where we're heading.
2. What does the club mean to the area and community that you represent?
a. For the people involved, it means a great deal. We've invested a huge amount of time and energy into creating something that feels like more than just a football club. We want it to be somewhere people genuinely feel they belong, not simply somewhere they arrive, play a bit of football, and leave.
More broadly, we'd like to think the club has a positive impact on the local community. Whether it's giving children and young people the opportunity to play, helping coaches develop, or creating a place where families can spend time together, we're trying to build something that benefits more than just the first team.
3. Tell me about the manager.
a. Adam Vickers and Joe Pointon.
Adam was one of the first players to represent Crewe FC before going on to play at a higher level, so he's seen the club from both the inside and the outside.
More importantly, though, his family's connection to the club runs incredibly deep. His Mum is the club secretary, his Sister-in-law is the treasurer, and all his children play at the club. Even his wife gets involved as the chief-decorator at the clubhouse when it gets near to Christmas.
That gives Adam a genuine understanding of what the club means to people. He knows the time and effort that so many people invest behind the scenes, and he understands the responsibility that comes with leading the first team. He isn't just managing a football team; he's helping look after something that means a great deal to a lot of people.
Joe Pointon joined us towards the end of 2025 after we'd tried to bring him to the club on a couple of occasions. He's a fantastic football person with a wealth of contacts and experience, and he played a significant role in putting together the squad that ultimately earned promotion to the NWCFL.
They complement each other really well. Adam brings an unrivalled understanding of the club, while Joe adds another layer of football knowledge and experience. Together, we believe they're a partnership capable of taking Crewe FC to the next level.
4. Tell me a bit about last season – your last one in the Cheshire League. Was promotion a definite goal, or a happy accident?
a. Promotion was always the objective. Once the new facility was in place, it felt like the natural next step for the club and something we wanted to earn.
It probably became a little more dramatic than we'd have preferred towards the end of the season, but football has a habit of keeping everyone on their toes.
Ultimately, nobody remembers whether you crossed the line comfortably or with a few nervous moments along the way - they just remember that you got there.
Looking back, we're proud of what the group achieved, but our attention is firmly on looking forward and what's next.
5. How well have you been getting along with your pre-season prep? New signings, friendlies, etc?
a. Like every club at this stage of the year, it's been organised and chaotic, in equal measure. There are always players coming and going, fitness levels to build, and plenty of moving parts behind the scenes.
We've added a few players who we're genuinely excited about and who we believe will strengthen the group, but we're equally confident in many of the players who helped us get to this point.
Promotion wasn't achieved by accident, and it's important we don't lose sight of that.
We've put a lot in place to give the players the best possible preparation, but pre-season only works if everyone buys into it. We'll get a much better idea of where we are once the competitive games begin.
6. What are your ambitions for the upcoming 2026/27 season in the NWCFL?
a. Can I answer that at the end of August?
In all seriousness, this is new territory for us and that's something we're embracing rather than fearing. The opening six games will tell us a lot about where we are and what the level demands.
Of course, we've set ourselves targets internally, but those are for us rather than anyone else. Our focus is on being competitive, representing the club in the right way and proving that we belong at this level. If we do those things consistently, we'll give ourselves every chance of having a successful first season in the NWCFL.
This club has always been built on steady progress rather than big promises, and we see no reason to change that approach now.
---------
We wish everyone at Crewe all the best for the 2026/27 season!
Introducing the new member clubs: Crewe
Wed 22nd July 2026 | Crewe
By Jay Cooper
With the 2026/27 NWCFL campaign fast approaching, now is the perfect time to introduce the new member clubs to their respective divisions.
Or perhaps better – to let the new member clubs introduce themselves.
Earlier this week, I spoke to Steve Parker – chairman at Crewe FC, who will take their place in the NWCFL First Division South this season following promotion from the Cheshire League after the end of the 2025/26 season.
Crewe FC’s history does not date back terribly far in the grand scheme of things, having been founded in 1998. They are a three-star England FA Accredited Community Club that also operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (or a CIO, for short) with a registered charity number of 1175805. They are determined to work for the benefit of the local community.
Based at the Sports Pavilion in the town with which they share their name, Crewe began life in what was then called the Mid-Cheshire League Division Two. In 2000, just two years after their formation, they finished as runners-up in the league, behind Trafford Reserves, to earn promotion to Division One.
Five further seasons in Division One followed, with a best finish during that time of sixth place in 2004, before a bottom-of-the-pile finish the very next campaign saw them relegated back to Division Two.
They remained a fixture of the Mid-Cheshire League pyramid as it was re-branded to the Cheshire League pyramid, and they were eventually promoted back to Division One in 2012, following another second-place finish in the league, this time behind Whaley Bridge.
The Cheshire League Division One, later the Premier Division, would wind up being the club’s home for the coming 12 years! Their first season would be their best on paper, finishing fourth in the division as it was book-ended by two sides who played NWCFL football last season – Cheadle Heath Nomads (1st), and Pilkington (16th).
Their lowest finish throughout this stint in the Cheshire League Prem would come in 2018, when they finished 13th in a division of 15 teams, plus Rudheath Social and Warrington Town Reserves, who both had their records expunged midway through the season.
Crewe maintained a strong grip on mid-table security in the Cheshire League Prem for the next seven campaigns, give or take two non-seasons amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, before the 2025/26 campaign would see their aspirations for promotion finally come to fruition.
In a race for the top five and the potential promotion spots, Crewe edged out FC St Helens Reserves to snatch a fifth placed finish. Both sides earned 51 points throughout the season, but Crewe had a goal difference of +13 to their adversaries’ +9. With that, an official application for a first appearance at Step Six of the non-league system was filed by Crewe and accepted by the NWCFL ahead of 2026/27.
----------
Steve Parker
1. How would you describe Crewe FC to someone who had never heard of the club?
a. At its heart, Crewe FC is a community club full of good people, trying to do things the right way. We're involved in grassroots football for the right reasons, with a real focus on creating opportunities, developing players and coaches, and providing clear pathways for everyone involved.
From a first-team perspective, we're always looking for ways to improve. Securing our own facility was a huge milestone for the club, and following that up with promotion to the North West Counties Football League was a reward for a lot of hard work. We're proud of how far we've come, but we're even more excited about where we're heading.
2. What does the club mean to the area and community that you represent?
a. For the people involved, it means a great deal. We've invested a huge amount of time and energy into creating something that feels like more than just a football club. We want it to be somewhere people genuinely feel they belong, not simply somewhere they arrive, play a bit of football, and leave.
More broadly, we'd like to think the club has a positive impact on the local community. Whether it's giving children and young people the opportunity to play, helping coaches develop, or creating a place where families can spend time together, we're trying to build something that benefits more than just the first team.
3. Tell me about the manager.
a. Adam Vickers and Joe Pointon.
Adam was one of the first players to represent Crewe FC before going on to play at a higher level, so he's seen the club from both the inside and the outside.
More importantly, though, his family's connection to the club runs incredibly deep. His Mum is the club secretary, his Sister-in-law is the treasurer, and all his children play at the club. Even his wife gets involved as the chief-decorator at the clubhouse when it gets near to Christmas.
That gives Adam a genuine understanding of what the club means to people. He knows the time and effort that so many people invest behind the scenes, and he understands the responsibility that comes with leading the first team. He isn't just managing a football team; he's helping look after something that means a great deal to a lot of people.
Joe Pointon joined us towards the end of 2025 after we'd tried to bring him to the club on a couple of occasions. He's a fantastic football person with a wealth of contacts and experience, and he played a significant role in putting together the squad that ultimately earned promotion to the NWCFL.
They complement each other really well. Adam brings an unrivalled understanding of the club, while Joe adds another layer of football knowledge and experience. Together, we believe they're a partnership capable of taking Crewe FC to the next level.
4. Tell me a bit about last season – your last one in the Cheshire League. Was promotion a definite goal, or a happy accident?
a. Promotion was always the objective. Once the new facility was in place, it felt like the natural next step for the club and something we wanted to earn.
It probably became a little more dramatic than we'd have preferred towards the end of the season, but football has a habit of keeping everyone on their toes.
Ultimately, nobody remembers whether you crossed the line comfortably or with a few nervous moments along the way - they just remember that you got there.
Looking back, we're proud of what the group achieved, but our attention is firmly on looking forward and what's next.
5. How well have you been getting along with your pre-season prep? New signings, friendlies, etc?
a. Like every club at this stage of the year, it's been organised and chaotic, in equal measure. There are always players coming and going, fitness levels to build, and plenty of moving parts behind the scenes.
We've added a few players who we're genuinely excited about and who we believe will strengthen the group, but we're equally confident in many of the players who helped us get to this point.
Promotion wasn't achieved by accident, and it's important we don't lose sight of that.
We've put a lot in place to give the players the best possible preparation, but pre-season only works if everyone buys into it. We'll get a much better idea of where we are once the competitive games begin.
6. What are your ambitions for the upcoming 2026/27 season in the NWCFL?
a. Can I answer that at the end of August?
In all seriousness, this is new territory for us and that's something we're embracing rather than fearing. The opening six games will tell us a lot about where we are and what the level demands.
Of course, we've set ourselves targets internally, but those are for us rather than anyone else. Our focus is on being competitive, representing the club in the right way and proving that we belong at this level. If we do those things consistently, we'll give ourselves every chance of having a successful first season in the NWCFL.
This club has always been built on steady progress rather than big promises, and we see no reason to change that approach now.
---------
We wish everyone at Crewe all the best for the 2026/27 season!
