DANNY MURPHY returns ‘home’ to meet chairman Charles Grant, the man trying to rescue his troubled club: At Crewe we had a choice after the Barry Bennell revelations – collapse and die or rebuild and help
Danny Murphy meets chairman Charles Grant, who is trying to rescue Crewe
Crewe have had to rebuild after the revelations regarding Barry Bennell
Crewe Alexandra has been rocked in recent years by the sexual abuse carried out by former coach Barry Bennell, yet many good people stayed at Gresty Road to try to rebuild from the darkest of times. As the
club push for promotion from League Two, former player Danny Murphy meets current Alex chairman Charles Grant to reflect on the past and how they are moving forward with the help of survivors.
My own experience of Crewe Alexandra was positive. They took me from a council estate in Chester and made me the player who enjoyed success with Liverpool and England.
There is a picture of me on the wall at Gresty Road with other well-known alumni, including David Platt, Robbie Savage, Geoff Thomas, Neil Lennon, Seth Johnson, Dean Ashton, Ashley Westwood and Nick Powell. It is some record for such a small club and they should rightly feel proud.
Yet mention Crewe today and there is another, far less attractive association. The abuse perpetrated by coach Barry Bennell against youth players remains a shock to this day. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison where he died last month.
I know many of the victims, for whom we now use the term survivors, and feel sick to my stomach about the ordeal they went through. I also know people who have worked at Crewe or supported the team for decades. I want them and this community club to have a good future and not let Bennell win.
