A former Crewe Alex footballer and academy graduate has been cleared of raping a woman in Sandbach.

Oliver Finney, 27, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, faced one allegation relating to a complaint in Sandbach in 2022.

The midfielder was cleared following a trial at Chester Crown Court, which finished on Monday 17 March.

Following the allegations, which came to light in October 2023, Finney was suspended by Hartlepool United, a team he joined from Crewe in January that year.

Oliver Finney was cleared of rape following a trial at Chester Crown Court, which finished on Monday 17 March (Nub News).

Following these allegations, Finney left Hartlepool the following month.

Finney made his debut for Crewe in May 2017, going on to make 124 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals.

He was part of David Artell's side which gained automatic promotion to League One in 2019-20.

Last season, Finney made six appearances for Kidsgrove Athletic in the Norther Premier League West Division.