Crawley Town Football Club

Reds unbeaten on opening day as League club

The Reds could be at home for the third consecutive opening day when the fixtures are released on Wednesday.

Crawley have a mixed back of opening day results over the last ten seasons but will want to continue the run of not suffering defeat on the first match of the season since being a Football League club.

Last season saw Crawley record a great win at home to Coventry City in a five-goal thriller. Mike Jones notched the winner over the Sky Blues after Crawley had let a two-goal lead slip after first half finishes from Jamie Proctor and then Joe Walsh.

Back at the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign, Scunthorpe United came to the Checkatrade.com Stadium and Crawley really turned on the style with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Lincolnshire outfit thanks to a Gary Alexander brace and a first goal for new loan signing – and former Scunthorpe striker – Jonathan Forte which rounded off a memorable afternoon.

For our first ever Football League match the season before a trip to Port Vale was on the cards. Backed by some excellent away support, Crawley took the lead through Tyrone Barnett's first half strike before Marc Richards levelled for the hosts from a free kick. Kyle McFadzean's powerful header saw Crawley regain the lead but Louis Dodds slid in for a last gasp equaliser following John Dempster's sending off.

In our Conference-winning campaign, Grimsby Town ran out 1-0 victors after Michel Kuipers' sending off and the season before, Reds got off to a dreadful start by suffering a 4-0 defeat at Mansfield Town's Field Mill.

In the 2008-09 campaign Crawley lost 1-0 at home to York but the season before Guy Madjo scored twice at the Checkatrade.com Stadium to help Steve Evans' men overcome promotion favourites Stevenage, 2-1.

Ben Strevens' fortuitous goal earned a 1-0 victory at home to Rushden & Diamonds at the start of the 2006-07 season, after the striker charged down a kick by Diamonds' 'keeper Nicky Eyre and saw the ball fly into the back of the net.

A 0-0 draw at York kicked off the 2005-06 season but the campaign before – Crawley's first ever in the Conference – Charlie MacDonald scored two goals as Francis Vines' side battled back from a goal down at Leigh RMI.