Norman Rowlinson
Encyclopedia
Norman Rowlinson was a football chairman who chaired Crewe Alexandra
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He joined Crewe as a director in 1962, and became chairman in 1964. He chaired the club to promotion from the Fourth Division
on two occasions during the 1960s, although Crewe were unable to establish themselves at the higher level
.
Rowlinson appointed Tony Waddington
as manager in 1978. Waddington had taken close neighbours Stoke City
to League Cup
glory in 1972 and to the brink of the Football League title in 1975, but failed to achieve promotion in 1981 despite being popular with fans. When Rowlinson sacked Waddington in 1981, his decision proved very unpopular with the majority of Crewe supporters.
In June 1983, Rowlinson appointed 41-year-old Italian
Dario Gradi
as manager. Gradi remained as manager for 24 years, and is still with the club as Technical Director.
Crewe's fortunes slowly improved throughout the 1980s, as they had regularly struggled to save their Football League status for a decade or so prior to Gradi's appointment. In 1989 they achieved promotion to the Third Division by finishing third in the Fourth Division, ending 25 years of bottom division football. They remained in the Third Division for two years before being relegated again, and then suffered two successive playoff failures.
In 1994, Crewe won the new Division Three playoff final to record the first Wembley
triumph of their history. They endured playoff failures in Division Two
over the next two seasons before triumph in 1997 took them into the second tier of the English league
for the first time ever. They had also completed a record of sixth successive playoff appearances.
Crewe remained in Division One for five years, peaking at 12th place in their first season, before being relegated in 2002. Promotion was achieved at the first attempt as runners-up in 2003 - the first time that Crewe had finished in the top two of any Football League division.
Rowlinson had retired as chairman in 1998 when he handed over the reins to John Bowler
, although he remained at the club as President.
Rowlinson, who lived near Northwich
, died of cancer in August 2006 at the age of 83. He had been on the club's board for 44 years (34 of them as chairman).
His son Jimmy inherited his 24.28% stake in the club.
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
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He joined Crewe as a director in 1962, and became chairman in 1964. He chaired the club to promotion from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
on two occasions during the 1960s, although Crewe were unable to establish themselves at the higher level
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
.
Rowlinson appointed Tony Waddington
Tony Waddington
Anthony Waddington was an English football player and manager. He managed Stoke City F.C. from 1960 until 1977 and guided them to their only major trophy - the League Cup in 1972. He later managed his only playing club, Crewe Alexandra, from June 1979 to July 1981...
as manager in 1978. Waddington had taken close neighbours Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
to League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
glory in 1972 and to the brink of the Football League title in 1975, but failed to achieve promotion in 1981 despite being popular with fans. When Rowlinson sacked Waddington in 1981, his decision proved very unpopular with the majority of Crewe supporters.
In June 1983, Rowlinson appointed 41-year-old Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi MBE is an Italian-born English football manager and former player, who was serving as manager of the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy. He is a former manager of Crewe Alexandra, with whom he has been associated for almost thirty years.Gradi is notable for his 24-year first spell as manager...
as manager. Gradi remained as manager for 24 years, and is still with the club as Technical Director.
Crewe's fortunes slowly improved throughout the 1980s, as they had regularly struggled to save their Football League status for a decade or so prior to Gradi's appointment. In 1989 they achieved promotion to the Third Division by finishing third in the Fourth Division, ending 25 years of bottom division football. They remained in the Third Division for two years before being relegated again, and then suffered two successive playoff failures.
In 1994, Crewe won the new Division Three playoff final to record the first Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
triumph of their history. They endured playoff failures in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
over the next two seasons before triumph in 1997 took them into the second tier of the English league
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for the first time ever. They had also completed a record of sixth successive playoff appearances.
Crewe remained in Division One for five years, peaking at 12th place in their first season, before being relegated in 2002. Promotion was achieved at the first attempt as runners-up in 2003 - the first time that Crewe had finished in the top two of any Football League division.
Rowlinson had retired as chairman in 1998 when he handed over the reins to John Bowler
John Bowler
John Bowler may refer to:*John Bowler , English actor in The Bill*John Bowler , Western Australian politician*John Bowler , Chairman of English football club Crewe Alexandra...
, although he remained at the club as President.
Rowlinson, who lived near Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
, died of cancer in August 2006 at the age of 83. He had been on the club's board for 44 years (34 of them as chairman).
His son Jimmy inherited his 24.28% stake in the club.