Career
Critchley played local football for Spring Gardens, Stockport Union Chapel, Cheadle and Witton Albion before joining Stockport County via Stalybridge Celtic in 1922. He made his debut on 9 December 1922, in a 2–0 defeat to Portuguese Vale at The Old Recreation Ground. Countey retained their second tier status in 1923-1924 and 1924-1925, before finishing bottom of the division in 1925-1926.
He played 118 games for County before being transferred to Everton for a £2,500 fee in December 1926.
He provided many of the passes that enabled Dixie Dean"s record-breaking 60 goals. However Everton dropped to 18th in 1928-1929, before being relegated in last place in 1929-1930.
The 1933-1934 season was his last for Everton. In all, Critchley scored 42 goals in 230 games for Everton before being transferred to Preston North End in 1934.
After playing in the first 11 games of the season, he lost his place in the Preston team
However he lost his place in the Vale team in early April 1935, and was released at the end of the season and moved on to South Liverpool. With Everton.