Paul Crichton

Crichton started his career as a trainee at Nottingham Forest club, turning professional in May 1986. While at Forest he was loaned out to six different clubs to gain experience, although he was never given an opportunity at Forest. The first of these loans, was with neighbours Notts County, which gave Crichton his league debut in September 1986. This was followed by further loans to Darlington in (January) and Peterborough United in (March). In September 1987 he rejoined Darlington, with further loans at Swindon Town in December 1987, and Rotherham United in March 1988. He joined Torquay United on loan in August 1988, playing 13 games at the start of the season, keeping Ken Veysey out of the side. He played well enough to attract attention from other clubs, and moved from Forest to Peterborough United in November on a free transfer.

He was released at the end of the following season and joined Doncaster Rovers in August 1990. On 15 September that year in a game against Rochdale at Spotland, Crichton achieved a rare if not unique feat by saving the same penalty three times. The referee had insisted it be retaken twice. Rovers went on to win 3–0.[1] He appeared in 90 league and cup games for Doncaster.[2]

He moved to Grimsby Town on a free transfer in July 1993. He was an ever-present in his first season at Blundell Park, hardly missing a game for 3 years until September 1996, when he moved to West Bromwich Albion for £250,000, playing under his former Grimsby manager Alan Buckley.

His spell at the Hawthorns was frustrating for Crichton as he spent a lot of time on the bench, playing only 33 games in 2 years with the club,[2] and finding himself playing second fiddle to Alan Miller, a goalkeeper signed for £400,000 shortly after Crichton's arrival. Crichton was again farmed out on loan, first for a week from 7 August 1997 to Aston Villa, as a standby goalkeeper while Mark Bosnich was injured, but manager Brian Little selected Michael Oakes in goal and Crichton never played a competitive game for Villa.[3]

He then joined Burnley on loan in August 1998, playing just once, in the opening game of the season, before being recalled to the Hawthorns after just 3 days.

He returned to Burnley in a permanent move on 19 November 1998, costing the Clarets £100,000 and quickly established himself in the Burnley side. He was an ever-present in the 1999–2000 season, as Burnley won promotion to Division One, but the following season lost his place to Greek international goalkeeper Nikolaos Michopoulos. His spell at Burnley may be remembered for his part in one of Burnley's worst ever spells in football. In February 1999, Burnley played Gillingham at Turf Moor, Gillingham won 5–0 with Robert Taylor scoring all 5 goals (at the time it was a post-war record for number of goals scored by one person on an away ground). Things went from bad to worst in the following fixture, again at home, this time to Manchester City as City won 6–0. Crichton was in goal for both games, and although the defence was perhaps more to blame than him, it was the most goals he had conceded in two games.

On 22 June 2001 Norwich City paid £150,000 to sign him from Burnley. He was signed as a back-up goalkeeper, however, and spent his time playing understudy to Robert Green. After only 6 appearances in three seasons, Crichton joined York City on a free transfer in 2004, although he ended his final season at Norwich with a first division championship medal after the Canaries won promotion to the Premiership. However, he was sacked by York in September 2004 after an incident with a supporter,[4] and joined Gainsborough Trinity.[5] Later that month he joined Stafford Rangers, playing twice before leaving to seek a move to a club nearer his Norwich home.[6] However, in early October 2004 he joined Leigh RMI,[7] for whom he played five times before joining Accrington Stanley in November 2004.[8]

It was from Accrington, and following almost twenty appearances, that Crichton returned to league football, joining Gillingham at the beginning of the 2005–06 season. Crichton was signed as back up to Jason Brown, but was also given his first official coaching role.[9] His one appearance that season came in the home game against Yeovil, where he kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw.

Grimsby Town

• Lincolnshire Senior Cup winner: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
• Supporters Player of the Year winner: 1994