ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, hiː wʌz pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə tˈiːm ðæt bˈiːt bɹˈɛntfɚd wˈʌn zˈiəɹoʊ æt wˈɛmbli ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən fˈʊtbɔːl lˈiːɡ sˈɛkənd dᵻvˈɪʒən plˈeɪˈɔf fˈaɪnəl, ænd ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð fˈɛloʊ kɹˈuː mˈɪdfiːldɚ dˈæni mˈɜːfi wʌz nˈeɪmd ɪnðə sˈɛkənd dᵻvˈɪʒən pˌiːˌɛfˈeɪ tˈiːm ʌvðə jˈɪɹ.
In 1996–1997, he was part of the team that beat Brentford 1–0 at Wembley in the 1997 Football League Second Division play-off final, and (along with fellow Crewe midfielder Danny Murphy) was named in the Second Division PFA Team of the Year.