After being spotted by Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi he signed for them for £50,000 in the summer of 1996.
ˈæftɚ bˌiːɪŋ spˈɑːɾᵻd baɪ kɹˈuː ˌælɪɡzˈændɹə mˈænɪdʒɚ dˈɑːɹɹɪˌoʊ ɡɹˈædi hiː sˈaɪnd fɔːɹ ðˌɛm fɔːɹ pˈaʊnd fˈɪfti,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɪnðə sˈʌmɚɹ ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks.