| SANDBACH | Market town in Cheshire NE of Crewe (8) |
| NANTWICH | Town in Cheshire, south-west of Crewe (8) |
| CHESHIRE | The town of Crewe is in this English county (8) |
| MACCLESFIELD | Market town in Cheshire whose Town football club first gained league status in 1997 |
| ROPE | District and 'scattered settlement' of East Cheshire that straddles the Crewe-Nantwich railway; approximately 2.5 miles south of Crewe town centre, its neighbours are Shavington, Willaston and Wistast |
| NUNS | Characters in Muriel Spark's "The Abbess of Crewe" |
| CREPUSCULE | Gloom affected pure old school in outskirts of Crewe |
| EVINCE | Show green transport in outskirts of Crewe (6) |
| JUNCTION | Tonic drunk in Crewe, say (8) |
| ESSENCE | A place on the outskirts of Crewe producing perfume (7) |
| WET | Rainy part of Crewe terminus (3) |
| ABBESS | 'The --- of Crewe', novel by Muriel Spark (6) |
| GRESTYROAD | Home ground of Crewe Alexandra FC, also called Mornflake Stadium (6,4) |
| NASTYHABITS | 1977 comedy film based on The Abbess of Crewe by Muriel Spark |
| GRADI | Milan-born former manager of Crewe Alexandra (5,5) |
| ELITE | The best part of Crewe, lit extensively (5) |
| VICARAGE | An official residence provided by a church; in Holmes Chapel, near Crewe, The ___ is a refurbished 17th-century Grade II listed country pub with rooms (8) |
| MCCREADY | Chris ___, former Morecambe, Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers defender (8) |
| ALDERLEY | Avoid the edge at Crewe-Manchester line station? (8) |
| MACAULEY | Steve ........ , 1992-2002 Crewe Alexandra defender (8) |
