Edward Critchley

Edward Critchley was born in Ashton-under-Lyne on 31st December, 1903. He played local football for Witton Albion before joining Stockport County in 1922.

A very quick outside right, he played 118 games for Stockport before being transferred to Everton in December, 1926. In his first game for his new club he provided the crosses for Dixie Dean to score four goals in a 5-4 win against Sunderland.

In his first season at the club, Everton won the First Division league title. Critchley provided the passes that enabled Dixie Dean to score a record-breaking 60 goals. Unfortunately, Everton went on the slide after this title win and after finishing 18th in 1828-29, they were relegated in the 1929-30 season.

Everton won the Second Division championship in 1930-31. The following year they scored a record 116 goals to win the First Division championship again. Everton was only a mid-table team the following year but they did beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup Final 3-0. However, Critchley, who played in the earlier games, was dropped for the final and failed to win a medal.

Critchley scored 42 goals in 229 games for Everton before being transferred to Preston North End in 1934. However, after playing in the first 11 games of the season, he lost his place in the team. Critchley moved to Port Vale but after playing only 18 games he retired from the game.