Football Season Guide

League 1

England

League 1

2024/2025

Crawley Town

In

Jasper Sheik (Goalkeeper, Aldershot Town); Joe Wollacott (Goalkeeper, Hibernian); Charlie Barker (Defender, Wealdstone); Josh Flint (Defender, FC Volendam); Scott Malone (Defender, Gillingham); Toby Mullarkey (Defender, Grimsby Town); Anthony Papadopoulos (Midfielder, Welling United); Cameron Bragg (Midfielder, Southampton, Season-long loan); Gavan Holohan (Midfielder, Grimsby Town); Max Anderson (Midfielder, Dundee); Michael Dacosta Gonzalez (Midfielder, AFC Bournemouth, Season-long loan); Junior Quitirna (Attacker, Fleetwood Town); Muhammadu Faal (Attacker, Maidstone United); Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Attacker, Swindon Town)

Out

Corey Addai (r) (Goalkeeper, Stockport County); Roshan Greensall (Goalkeeper, released); Harry Ransom (sp) (Defender, Sutton United); Kellan Gordon (sp) (Defender, Notts County); Laurence Maguire (r) (Defender, Chesterfield, Loan ended); Mustapha Olagunju (Defender, Huddersfield Town, Loan ended); Nicholas Tsaroulla (sp )(Defender, Notts County); Tobi Omole (Defender, released); Travis Johnson (Defender, released); Will Wright (r) (Defender, Swindon Town); Ben Gladwin (Midfielder, retired); Jayden Davis (Midfielder, released); Jed Brown (Midfielder, released); Florian Kastrati (Midfielder, released); Liam Kelly (k) (Midfielder, Milton Keynes); Adam Campbell (r) (Attacker, Hartlepool United); Danilo Orsi-Dadamo (k) (Attacker, Burton Albion); Klaidi Lolos (r) (Attacker, Bolton Wanderers)

Crawley Town were one of the most unlikely success stories of the 2023/24 EFL season. Tipped to lose their EFL status, they confounded the critics by reaching the play-offs before a stunning semi-final display saw them beat Crewe Alexandra in the League Two play-off final at Wembley. An incredible promotion has largely been seen as one achieved despite being owned by American Investment Group WAGMI United, who are involved in cryptocurrency amongst other less intangible things. This is a little unfair, given they appointed Scott Lindsey at head coach in January 2023, and then allowed him to do his job. His success was built on a steadfast belief in a way of playing, backed by a methodology of a data-driven recruitment and selection decisions. Sadly for the Red Devils, their success has swiftly turned to dismay this summer as their best players were picked off by other clubs. Goalkeeper Corey Addai, centre-back Laurence Maguire, midfield playmaker Liam Kelly and striker and leading goalscorer Danilo Orsi-Dadamo have all left, albeit for significant undisclosed transfer fees. It leaves Lindsey with the unenviable task of completing rebuilding his squad for what would have been a big challenge even with his promotion-winning players. The capture of striker Junior Quitirna from Fleetwood Town is perhaps the standout so far, whilst young winger Michael Dacosta Gonzalez arrives on a season-long loan from AFC Bournemouth with quite a reputation. The remaining signings are players who have struggled elsewhere, and / or have been plucked out of non-league. They will need time to gel whilst adapting to a significantly higher level.

Target

Survival - it’s the same target as 12 months ago yet Lindsey made a mockery of that prediction. He’ll have to go some to repeat the trick, as they look like the weakest in the division.