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).
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.
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.
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."
