Former Barnsley player Steve Davis has tonight ensured there will be a Reds presence in each of the Football League’s Play-Off Finals over the next two weekends.
Davis was an integral part of the Reds defence for seven years between 1991 and 1998 but missed out on the promotion celebrations of the 1996-1997 campaign when he suffered a broken leg in the 3-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers in January of that season.
The 46 year old who went on to play for Oxford, Macclesfield, Northwich and Nantwich after leaving Oakwell has sparked a stunning revival at Crewe Alexandra which culminated in the Railwaymen booking their place in the League Two Play-Off Final tonight.
Davis, who started his managerial career with Northwich Victoria really came to prominence whilst in charge of Nantwich Town between 2004 and 2009 as he led the Cheshire club to two promotions in three seasons from the North West Counties League to the Northern Premier League –one level below the Blue Square Bet North, whilst also lifting the FA Vase trophy for the first time in the club’s history. He took over the reigns at Crewe in November 2011 when they were 18th in League Two, but has lost just four of his 31 league games in charge- including two legs of the play-off semi-finals, and they are currently on a run of 18 matches unbeaten which helped them surge up the league and finish in seventh position- the final play-off place.
Tonight, Crewe who were relegated from the third tier of English football four seasons ago drew 2-2 at Southend to seal a 3-2 aggregate success and book themselves a Wembley date against either Torquay or Cheltenham.
This means Davis joins ex Barnsley boss Danny Wilson- who Davis played under at Oakwell- who will be leading out Sheffield United in the League One final, and former Reds striker Ricardo Vaz Te who will be looking to fire West Ham back to the Premier League this Saturday in the Championship showpiece.