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The sides have only met competitively five times since the Second World War, with both sides winning twice and the one draw at the Britannia Stadium last October. For years, the two clubs were on totally different planets. With Crewe regularly finishing in the lower echelons of the old Division Four in the late 70s and early 80s, Stoke enjoyed playing in the top flight and even played in Europe on occasions.
The so-called rivalry between the two sides arguably only began in 1997 when the reds were promoted to the First Division and became the number one club in the region for a few years whilst Stoke languished in Division Two for five years.
Crewe have left their old Cheshire rivals such as Chester City behind over the past six or seven years, and sides such as Wrexham, Port Vale and Stockport sit below us in the Second Division, so Stoke remain, geographically the one remaining local (ish) side to play. Both sides are covered by the same radio station and newspaper, and 'Stokies' both live and work in Crewe, and vice versa.
Stoke, whose away following this year has dramatically dipped due to their controversial True Supporters Scheme, soon snapped up all 2200 tickets for the game at the Alex and even managed to cut down the omnipresent empty seats at the Brittania last year (then again this was maybe down to their rent-a-crowd policy of a fiver for all!). So they obviously feel something towards us despite claiming we’re just another game.
The game is of vital importance for both sides, with both looking for three points in order to dispel any remaining fears of relegation.
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