Crawley Town's historic 2010-11 season saw them dominate non-league football with record signings, a 105-point haul, and near-upset of Man Utd in the FA Cup.
Crawley Town's 2010-11 campaign remains one of the most remarkable in non-league history. Under manager Steve Evans, the club transformed from 33-1 outsiders into an unstoppable force, securing promotion with a record 105 points. Next fixture: vs Rotherham (at home, 2027-02-27) (17th in the table).
How did Crawley Town achieve such dominance?
The club's success was built on a bold spending spree. Matt Tubbs joined from Salisbury for £70,000, while Richard Brodie arrived from York for a league-record £225,000. Together, they scored 49 goals the previous season. Further six-figure fees were spent on Sergio Torres and Kyle McFadzean, bringing the total outlay to around £600,000.
What was the source of Crawley Town's sudden wealth?
The club's financial backing came from Thailand-based nightclub owner Paul Hayward, known as Hong Kong Paul. Hayward had read about Crawley's financial problems on a website called Clubs in Crisis and contacted co-owner Bruce Winfield. Hayward's desire for anonymity stemmed from his experiences as an Aston Villa fan.
How close did Crawley Town come to a giant-killing act?
Crawley Town pushed Manchester United to the limit in the FA Cup last 16. Alex Ferguson's side narrowly won 1-0, with Richard Brodie's late header striking the post. Ferguson praised Crawley, stating, "That is not a Non-League team. That is a Football League team in waiting."
