Harry Pickering will mark his final appearance for the club against Shrewsbury Town this Sunday and the club captain says he owes the club everything after coming through the Academy from Under-11.

Pickering will captain the side against the Shrews this weekend before joining up with his new club Blackburn Rovers this summer. The full-back agreed to move to Ewood Park back in January but wanted to return to Crewe on loan to see out the final months of the season.

Pickering told the club’s official website: “It has been amazing at Crewe and I owe them everything really. I’ve been here since Under-11 and I don’t know anything else than being at Crewe.

“It is not all about on the pitch either, all the staff and backroom staff have always been so helpful and I can only thank everyone for supporting me. It is a great place to be and I am Crewe fan for life. My parents certainly are and I will always look out for their results and will keep in touch will people here and see how we are getting on.

“I don’t know how it will feel on Sunday. I am sure it will be a good feeling to play my last game for the club at home but it will also be a sad moment because I have been here for so long.

“It is a shame that the fans are not there because they have supported me all the way through and been there through the ups and downs. I cannot thank them enough for the support they have shown me and hopefully they will back in the stadium soon.

“If anyone deserves to be inside a stadium watching football then it is the fans.”