It could be argued that Ted Critchley is the finest 'home grown' player ever produced by Stockport County.

Born just a stone's throw away from Edgeley Park, avid County fan, Ted, made his name as a youngster with Union Chapel in the local Sunday School League before an unusual quirk of fate gave him the opportunity to sign for his boyhood heroes.

In a special interview eight years ago Ted, then a remarkable 90-year-old living in Offerton, said: "My brother had a pal who played in goal for Cheadle Lads and he asked me to play for them in the derby against Cheadle Heath on St. Lesmo Road."

The 18-year-old turned in a dazzling performance on the right wing in front of a posse of County scouts. Within days he had signed amateur forms at Edgeley Park; his first steps towards a glorious footballing career had begun.

Apart from unearthing the prodigious talent of young Ted, 1921-22 was a special year for the Hatters for another reason. A marvellous campaign saw them crowned champions of Division Three North to regain their place in Division Two at the first time of asking.

Ted's ability was soon rewarded with a professional contract, which provided the wing wizard with the princely sum of £4 per week.

"In my day, the most you could earn as a footballer was £8 a week in the winter, and £6 in the summer," explained Ted. "But my mates, who had ordinary jobs, were only getting thirty bob a week, and that was for working Saturday morning as well, so in proportion I was very wealthy."

Ted's debut came in County's first season back in Division Two, at Port Vale on December 9, 1922, but it was back to the reserves afterwards and he had to wait almost five months before his next opportunity to pull on a first team shirt, and what a game it was!

It was the last match of the season, Southampton at Edgeley Park. County had to win to stay in Division Two. Anything less and they would be making a double-quick return to Division Three North!

Ted remembers being told to 'go out and do your best," and he didn't let the Hatters down, with a bumper Edgeley attendance cheering County on to a 'life-saving' 3-0 victory.

Skipper of the side at that time was stalwart Albert Waterall, a player Ted remembers fondly: "He was like a father to me," he said. "If the other side got a bit rough with me he used to come over and say, leave them to me, and he saw them off!"

Ted's mind was as quick as his legs used to be, when it came to talking about his team mates of over 70 years ago. Harry Hardy, Bob Blood, Ernie Simms, Jimmy Molyneux, Albert Walmsley, Harold Crossthwaite, Charlie Jones, Joe Griffiths. The detail of Ted's recollection of these stars of the 20's was remarkable!

As the flying winger became a regular first teamer it was inevitable that the country's top sides would come knocking on the Edgeley Park door, and, as it is today, the Hatters had to sell their best players to balance the books. Four days after helping County beat New Brighton 1-0 on December 18, 1926, Ted signed for Everton, possibly the biggest club in the land at the time, for £2,500.


His wages at Goodison increased to the maximum £8 per week plus a £10 signing-on fee!

"There wasn't a better club in the country to play for than Everton," Ted said proudly. "Everything was the best. It was first class all the way."

First class would be the description of Ted's performances for the Toffees as he built up an instant understanding with the legendary 'Dixie' Dean. In fact many experts will tell you that Ted was the main provider when Dean hit his record 60 goals in 1928. "Bill (it was the fans who called him Dixie) was just an ordinary bloke as a person, but his positional play as a footballer was outstanding," said Ted. "When I went down the wing to the by-line, you had no need to look for him. He was always in the perfect position for a good centre. His record will never be beaten," he added.

Most of Dean's goals came with his head, no mean feat with the old fashioned leather casey. 'Dixie' had no worries about heading the dreaded lace though as Ted let us into a little secret: "I told Bill not to be frightened of heading the lace because I'd always make sure it was on the other side of the ball when I crossed it," he quipped.

During his time with Everton, Ted won a championship medal in 1928 but suffered the trauma of relegation just two years later. The Blues wasted no time in Division Two, though, as they bounced back at the first attempt, lifting the championship in a season that saw Ted score 22 goals. Twelve months later the First Division championship trophy was, once again, proudly displayed in the Goodison trophy cabinet.

Playing regularly in front of 60,000+ gates on Merseyside, Ted earned the reputation of being one of the finest wingers of his generation. Indeed many pundits feel that he was very unfortunate not to gain international recognition. It was a close call though. "I missed out by one vote once," recalled Ted. "In my day the England team was picked by a committee and I remember the Everton chairman, Mr Clough, telling me that I was just one vote away from playing against Scotland."

Ted was not disappointed about the England situation, though. "It was just one of those things," he said philosophically. "You either got picked, or you didn't. It was as simple as that."

The lack of an England cap apart, there can be no disputing that the Stockport lad enjoyed a glittering career. "I was very lucky that I had the ability to play football," Ted said modestly. "I loved every minute of my time at County and Everton."

So, what were the highs and lows? "That first championship medal at Everton was the best moment of my career," Ted told us. But he wasn't so fortunate in the FA Cup. "I scored the winning goal in the Cup Semi Final in 1933 but picked up an injury later on in the game," an incident he was able to describe vividly. "I went past the full back with the ball and he hit me there," he said pointing to his knee. "I felt something go and later found out that I had torn all my ligaments."

He went down to Wembley as part of the official party, but one thing was missing, as Ted explained. "I had everything that all the other players had, apart from the medal. That was the only thing missing." It must have been a huge disappointment though? "Of course it was," said Ted. "But there was nothing I could do about it. I was injured and that was that."

Ted left the 'School of Science', as Goodison is still known to this day, in 1934, making eleven appearances for Preston North End before finishing his career after playing 18 games for Port Vale. His last League appearance was at Hull City on April 6, 1935.

A winger with tremendous skill, Critchley was also reputed to be able to do 100 yards in less than 11 seconds. So how quick was he? "Let's put it this way," he joked. "I could do half an hour in twenty five minutes!"

In an era of inflated transfer fees, what would one of Stockport County's best-ever home produced players be worth today?

Ted Critchley's League Career
Club	Apps	Gls
Stockport County	124	10
Everton	217	37
Preston North End	11	1
Port Vale	18	1
Total	370	49