Background
Crilly was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England and began his playing career with local team Stockton F.C., before signing for Hartlepools United (then playing in the North Eastern League) in 1919.
Crilly was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England and began his playing career with local team Stockton F.C., before signing for Hartlepools United (then playing in the North Eastern League) in 1919.
He also played for Stockton and Scunthorpe & Lindsey United. He was ever present in his first two seasons and missed only one game when Hartlepools were elected to the Third Division North in 1921-1922. In 1922, Crilly and team-mate Harry Thoms moved, along with manager Cecil Potter, to Derby County.
He was a regular in the sides that finished Third Division South runners up in 1929 and 1931.
In 1933 he moved to Northampton Town, where he became club captain between then and 1935 when he moved to become player-manager of Scunthorpe & Lindsey United. Crilly left Scunthorpe in 1937 and became a publican in Derby.
He also assisted with coaching Derby County junior players during The Second World War. Crilly died in Derby on 18 January 1960.