Crewe Alexandra have agreed to cancel the contract of Adam Dugdale by mutual consent

Crewe Alexandra Football club can confirm that we have today cancelled the contract of Adam Dugdale by mutual consent. The 27-year-old centre-half departs the club after making 141 appearances for the club during his second spell at Gresty Road.

He scored six goals including a vital first-leg winner against Southend United in the 2012 League Two play-offs and opened the scoring against Preston North End on the final day of last season. Crewe’s 2-1 victory that day secured our League One status.

The Liverpool-born defender had previously been released as a young professional and had to work his way back in League football before re-signing for Crewe in July 2010. Dugdale asked his former manager Dario Gradi for a trial and impressed enough to earn himself a professional contract after spells with the likes of Barrow, Droylsden and Southport.

The popular Dugdale established himself as a first team regular and became a key part of the club’s promotion winning side of 2012. Dugdale played at Wembley in Crewe’s 2-0 win over Cheltenham but he sadly missed the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final a year later following the sad passing of his new born baby Jude.

Crewe went on to win 2-0 to lift the Football League Trophy for the first time in their history.  In the sixth minute, the Alex and Southend supporters stood in unison at Wembley to show that there are more important things than football.

After having time off to grief the passing of his son, Dugdale had to regain his match fitness and spent two months on loan with Tranmere Rovers in 2013. He scored one goal in five matches at Prenton Park.

Everyone at Crewe Alexandra would like to thank Duggy for his outstanding service and we wish him every success for the future.