What a difference two years can do to a football club in the shape of attendances.
Just seems like yesterday when we graced the Championship in which the club was averaging crowd of 7,403 in season 2004-05 and 6,731 in 2005-06. Relegation in 2005-06 brought another stark reminder to the clubs board and marketing department and a disappointing season in League One added more woes to the club as attendances plummeted to a new low for many a year.
Last seasons average was down to 5,461 and no doubt has the alarm bells ringing behind the scenes at the club.
Poor performances on the pitch and relegation ate into the home support and a lack of away supporters made the sharp fall of 1,300 spectators within a season. It will be interesting to see how the club gets on this season on the pitch and through the turnstiles.
A few big games next season may push the average up especially with the away ends being full with visits from Port Vale, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Walsall and one or two more depending on how the opposition are getting on in the league.
Crewe boss told the Crewe Guardian "We can only do what we can do," said Gradi.
"All I can do is put out a decent team who are good to watch, play good football and get the results that deems it a successful season while producing players.
"I can't go out and persuade people through the gate, it's impossible.
"Players talk about clubs not being ambitious enough when they look to leave. Usually what they really mean is that they're not paying as much money.
"It doesn't always bring success, sometimes it's more fool hardy.
"We are ambitious, there are not many clubs the same size as us who have achieved more over the last 24 years.