The 2015–16 season was Crawley Town's 120th season in their history and their first season back in League Two since being relegated from League One the previous season. Along with League Two, the club also competed in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy. The season covered the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.
Crawley finished 20th of 24 teams in League Two, and were eliminated in the first round they competed in all three cup competitions.
Background and pre-season The 2014–15 season saw Crawley relegated from League One after three seasons at the level, having finished 22nd. Manager John Gregory left his role at the end of the season, whilst interim manager Dean Saunders, who had managed the club from December 2014 as Gregory was recovering from heart surgery, was appointed as manager of Chesterfield. Crawley instead appointed Mark Yates as manager on a two-year deal. Following the end of the 2014–15 season, Brian Jensen, Dean Leacock, Charles Banya, Emmett O’Connor, Blair Anderson, Bradley Isaacs, Kelly Youga, John Cofie and Ryan Richefond were all released at the end of their contracts. Marvin Elliott was also released after the club withdrew a contract offer made to him, whilst Josh Simpson turned down a new contract, and instead signed for Plymouth Argyle. Midfielder Bobson Bawling agreed a new one-year contract with the club, and fellow midfielder Conor Henderson agreed a six-month contract. Ryan Dickson transferred to Yeovil Town for a nominal fee, whilst Joe Walsh joined Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee.
On 19 June 2015, Crawley announced the signing of defender Joe McNerney and midfielder Simon Walton on free transfers, from Woking and Stevenage respectively. Four days later, winger Luke Rooney (who had previously had a loan spell with the club) joined on a free transfer from Ebbsfleet United, and forward Shamir Fenelon joined from Brighton & Hove Albion, also on free transfers. Crawley announced a further four new signings across July, all on free transfers; defender Jon Ashton and forward Roarie Deacon both joined from Stevenage, forward Lee Barnard joined from Southend United and goalkeeper Callum Preston joined from Birmingham City. Crawley also brought in goalkeeper Freddie Woodman on loan from Newcastle United and defender Liam Donnelly on loan from Fulham. Belgian defender Bryan Van Den Bogaert signed on a short-term deal on 7 August.
Pre-season friendlies During May and June 2015, Crawley Town announced pre-season friendlies against Brighton & Hove Albion, Burgess Hill Town, Maidstone United, Reading, Nuneaton Town, Fulham and Whitehawk, though the friendly against Maidstone, which was initially scheduled for 25 July, was later cancelled. Crawley won 4–0 away at Burgess Hill Town in their opening pre-season friendly, before losing successive home friendlies against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 and 3–0 respectively.
+Friendly match detailsDateTimeOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendance19:30Burgess Hill TownAway0–4Deacon 1', Fenelon 18', McLeod 49', 71' 86315:00FulhamHome1–3McLeod 18'2,21519:45Brighton & Hove AlbionHome0–32,20019:45ReadingHome1–0Henderson 80'1,28819:45Nuneaton TownAway0–3Walton 45' pen., McNerney 47', Harrold 63'15:00WhitehawkAway2–1Edwards 6'
Review August to October Crawley started the 2015–16 season with a 1–1 away to Oxford United – Gwion Edwards put Crawley ahead with a second-half header before Oxford equalised shortly after. A 2–0 defeat at Peterborough United eliminated Crawley from the League Cup in the first round. Back in the league, Edwards gave Crawley a first-half lead in their first home match, again with a header, before two second-half AFC Wimbledon goals consigned Crawley to a 2–1 defeat on 15 August, and this was followed three days later with a 0–0 home draw against Portsmouth. Crawley picked up their first win of the season on 22 August, winning 3–0 away to Cambridge United – Roarie Deacon scored a brace to put Crawley 2–0 up, and Edwards gave Crawley a third late on, after Crawley's Liam Donnelly had been sent off for a second yellow card. Striker Izale McLeod, who was the club's top scorer during the 2014–15 season with 21 goals, left the club to sign for Notts County for an undisclosed six-figure fee on 22 August. The club drew 0–0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in their final match of August, to leave the club 14th in the table after 5 matches played.
November to January
February to May
Competitions League Two
League table
Matches On 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.
+League Two match detailsDateTimeOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceReferee15:00Oxford UnitedAway1–1Edwards 56'6,349Simpson15:00AFC WimbledonHome1–2Edwards 34'2,988Whitestone19:45PortsmouthHome0–04,003Graham15:00Cambridge UnitedAway3–0Deacon 39', 47', Edwards 87'5,459Miller15:00Wycombe WanderersHome0–02,466Swabey15:00Mansfield TownAway0–42,524Madley15:00Yeovil TownHome0–12,112Toner19:45Notts CountyAway1–4Murphy 24'3,267Sutton15:00Accrington StanleyHome0–31,659Davies19:45Newport CountyAway3–0Edwards 36', 42', Harrold 61'2,137Langford15:00Plymouth ArgyleAway1–2Deacon 85'7,173Attwell15:00Leyton OrientHome3–2Deacon 27', Hancox 36', Walton 45' pen.2,575Wright15:00Luton TownHome2–1Murphy 67', Harrold 81'3,335Ward19:45MorecambeAway1–3Murphy 81'1,098Handley15:00Hartlepool UnitedAway2–1Walton 66' pen., Murphy 76'3,262Heywood15:00York CityHome1–0Walton 86' pen.1,950Breakspear15:00Exeter CityAway2–2Bradley 28', Rooney 90+2'3,664Adcock15:00Bristol RoversHome2–1Murphy 9', 10'2,612Kettle19:45Northampton TownHome1–2Walton 61' pen.2,325Martin15:00Carlisle UnitedAway1–3Murphy 34'4,641Salisbury15:00Dagenham & RedbridgeHome3–2Harrold 40', Murphy 45', 82'1,543Malone15:00BarnetAway2–4Hancox 76', Smith 79'1,888Williamson15:00StevenageHome2–1Edwards 68', Deacon 90'2,289Bull15:00Wycombe WanderersAway0–24,153Drysdale15:00PortsmouthAway0–316,606Whitestone15:00Cambridge UnitedHome1–0Harrold 36'2,320Swabey15:00Notts CountyHome0–12,320Stroud15:00Yeovil TownAway1–2Barnard 83'3,423Attwell15:00Mansfield TownHome0–11,981Horwood15:00StevenageAway1–0Harrold 44'2,639Ward15:00Accrington StanleyAway1–4Edwards 21'1,374Haines15:00Plymouth ArgyleHome1–1Fenelon 83'3,522Bankes15:00Leyton OrientAway0–24,610Collins19:45Newport CountyHome2–0Boden 36' o.g.,Fenelon 53'2,003Robinson15:00MorecambeHome1–1Harrold 54'1,697Williamson15:00Luton TownAway1–0Harrold 12' 8,264Bull15:00Hartlepool UnitedHome0–01,883Coote15:00York CityAway2–2Harrold 5', McAlinden 48'2,942Gibbes15:00Exeter CityHome0–22,416Haines15:00Bristol RoversAway0–38,250Graham15:00Oxford UnitedHome1–5McNerney 28'3,340Kinseley15:00AFC WimbledonAway0–14,356Robinson19:45Northampton TownAway1–2Edwards 85'5,327Swabey15:00Carlisle UnitedHome0–11,940Ward15:00Dagenham & RedbridgeAway0–31,643Brown15:00BarnetHome0–32,293Coote
FA Cup +FA Cup match detailsRoundDateTimeOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceRefereeFirst round15:00Luton TownHome1–2Harrold 63'1,929Kinseley
League Cup On 16 June 2015, the first round draw was made, Crawley Town were drawn away against Peterborough United. +Football League Cup match detailsRoundDateTimeOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceRefereeFirst round19:45Peterborough UnitedAway0–22,500Lewis
Football League Trophy On 5 September 2015, the second round draw was shown live on Soccer AM and drawn by Charlie Austin and Ed Skrein. Crawley were drawn at home to Southend United.
+Football League Trophy match detailsRoundDateTimeOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceRefereeSecond round19:45Southend UnitedHome0–31,139Robinson
Transfers
Transfers in DatePositionNameFromFeeRef. 1 July 2015 DF Joe McNerney Woking Free transfer 1 July 2015 MF Simon Walton Stevenage Free transfer 1 July 2015 MF Luke Rooney Ebbsfleet United Free transfer 1 July 2015 FW Shamir Fenelon Brighton & Hove Albion Free transfer 8 July 2015 DF Jon Ashton Stevenage Free transfer 27 July 2015 FW Lee Barnard Southend United Free transfer 27 July 2015 MF Roarie Deacon Stevenage Free transfer 29 July 2015 GK Callum Preston Birmingham City Free transfer 7 August 2015 DF Bryan van den Bogaert Royal Antwerp Free transfer 17 September 2015 MF Ross Jenkins Watford Free transfer 16 October 2015GKDarryl FlahavanUnattachedFree transfer19 February 2016MFAndy BondUnattachedFree transfer26 February 2016MFLyle Della-VerdeFleetwood TownFree transfer
Transfers out DatePositionNameToFeeRef. 30 June 2015 GK Brian Jensen (Mansfield Town) Released 30 June 2015 DF Dean Leacock (Whitehawk) Released 30 June 2015 MF Charles Banya (Maidstone United) Released 30 June 2015 MF Emmett O'Connor Released 30 June 2015 MF Blair Anderson (Basford United) Released 30 June 2015 MF Bradley Issacs Released 30 June 2015 MF Kelly Youga Released 30 June 2015 FW John Cofie (Wrexham) Released 30 June 2015 MF Ryan Richefond (Loxwood) Released 30 June 2015 MF Marvin Elliott Released 30 June 2015 MF Josh Simpson (Plymouth Argyle) Free transfer 1 July 2015 DF Ryan Dickson Yeovil Town Nominal 1 July 2015 DF Joe Walsh Milton Keynes Dons Undisclosed 22 August 2015 FW Izale McLeod Notts County Undisclosed 29 August 2015DFBryan van den Bogaert(Whitehawk)Released4 January 2016MFConor HendersonGrimsby TownReleased19 February 2016MFRoss Jenkins(Poli Timișoara)Released8 March 2016MFLuke RooneyArizona UnitedReleased
Loans in Date fromPositionNameFromDate untilRef. 29 July 2015 GK Freddie Woodman Newcastle United 12 October 2015 31 July 2015 DF Liam Donnelly Fulham 27 August 2015 20 August 2015 DF Christian Scales Crystal Palace 2 January 2016 17 September 2015 FW Rhys Murphy Oldham Athletic 19 December 2015 29 September 2015 DF Josh Yorwerth Ipswich Town End of season 2 October 2015DFMitch HancoxBirmingham City2 January 201626 November 2015DFJosh EmmanuelIpswich Town2 January 20169 January 2016DFGeorge SmithBarnsley6 February 201614 January 2016MFChris AtkinsonCrewe Alexandra7 March 20161 February 2016GKPaul JonesPortsmouth23 March 201619 February 2016DFTom DallisonBrighton & Hove Albion21 March 201626 February 2016MFFrankie SutherlandQueens Park Rangers7 May 20161 March 2016DFCharles BanyaBlackpoolEnd of season10 March 2016FWLiam McAlindenWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season23 March 2016GKJack RoseWest Bromwich AlbionEnd of season
Loans out Date fromPositionNameToDate untilRef. 29 August 2015 FW Shamir Fenelon Whitehawk 26 September 2015 27 November 2015MFConor HendersonGrimsby Town30 December 2015
Appearances and goals Source: Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with names struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Crawley. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward