By Jason McKeown
It’s a common plot device in films for the hero to experience some kind of setback that leads to them revisiting their roots and the place where it had all started. They perhaps bump into a mentor from the past who offers wise words and a new perspective that gets them going again. Or they open up an old book or photo album, and spot something they’d never noticed before that gives them the inspiration they need to come roaring back.
In Romoney Crichlow’s hero story, he’s experiencing that moment of returning to where it all really started for him. He’s back at Valley Parade, with a career that promises so much having stalled. He was last seen in a Bradford City shirt getting swallowed up inside a Carlisle United supporter pitch invasion at Brunton Park, as the Bantams lost their play off semi final and with it their opportunity of promotion. But Crichlow – then a Huddersfield Town loanee – was ready for greater things. Bradford City weren’t going to League One, but Crichlow was. A summer move to Peterborough United followed. And surely the next step of fulfilling his considerable potential.
Fair to say it hasn’t worked out that way. At London Road Crichlow started just eight league games, the last one coming all the way back in September 2023. He’s had a mere eight minutes in a Posh shirt this campaign, as a late sub in a League Cup loss to Oxford in August. Surplus to requirements last summer, a move elsewhere never materialised (there was a weird fall out between City and Peterborough with claim and counter claim the Bantams tried to sign him). When the window shut and he was short of options, Crichlow ended up dropping into the National League and spent half a season on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Little wonder then, that Crichlow has jumped at the chance to come back to Valley Parade today. An injury to Ciaran Kelly at Wimbledon on Saturday is said to be serious. City spent enough of the first half of this season struggling to cope with too many injured defenders, so they’ve moved quickly and decisively. Crichlow arrives on a permanent deal until the end of the season, with an option for City to extend it if they choose.
Before we go onto talk about Romoney, a word on Kelly is warranted. The injury is unfortunately timed for the Irish centre half. He is out of contract in the summer, and up until a few weeks ago you would have assumed he wouldn’t be offered a new deal.
Kelly was signed in December 2022 – a point where Crichlow was soaring on loan at City – and had to bide his time. He finally broke into the first team last season and did fine enough, but with last summer’s significant centre back strengthening activity and need to improve on a ninth-place finish, Kelly didn’t look like the long-term answer. He got injured against Walsall in September and was out for some time. To an extent, he became a forgotten man.
But on his return to fitness in mid-December, Kelly has surprised and impressed in equal measure. At a point where centre back competition was especially fierce, with the injury crisis over, Kelly produced his best form since joining the club and made the left-sided centre back slot his own. It resulted in Jack Shepherd moving to the middle and Neil Byrne unexpectedly dropping out of the picture. Kelly was originally restored to the starting XI for the Boxing Day win over Port Vale – and has more than played his part in the seven victories from eight that followed.
Yet after injury at Plough Lane and with Crichlow’s arrival, suddenly Kelly’s future prospects look uncertain once more. Hopefully, he’s not out for too long and has a chance to fight for a starting slot once again. It would be a shame if Saturday proves to be the beginning of the end for his time at Valley Parade.
But such is football that one player’s misfortune is another’s opportunity, and so here we are welcoming Crichlow back. 35 starts in that 2022/23 loan spell under Mark Hughes. A memorable only goal in the promotion run-in at Northampton, where he scored a stoppage time header in front of a packed out away end. Crichlow gained plenty of admiration for his performances that campaign. He soon earned the nickname of Rolls Royce for his composure and solidity. There is excitement amongst fans about his return, and you can understand why.
But whilst the upside is clear, I can’t help but feel a bit uneasy over this one. And that’s because of two words – Tyreik Wright.
Like Crichlow in 2022/23, Wright was a higher league loanee who came to Valley Parade and performed brilliantly. The wide forward produced a string of excellent displays that suggested he was too good for the level he was operating at. And just like Crichlow, other clubs noticed. And just like Crichlow, he ended up earning a move to a League One club. But just like Crichlow, it didn’t work go to plan. And just like Crichlow, he was left stuck on the sidelines. And just like Crichlow, he came back.
Only when Wright returned to Valley Parade almost exactly a year ago, he came into a very different environment. A different manager. A different playing style. Wright’s confidence had evidently taken some knocks from things not working out at Plymouth. And he struggled, looking a shadow of the player we fell in love with first time around.
The ground had shifted. Wright wasn’t walking back into a team set up in a way that offered him an obvious role to succeed. He was tried in a few different positions, and eventually found some limited success as left wing back. But as we reflect a year on, Wright has become a squad player rather than the leading light he was during his first spell.
The worry, with Crichlow’s return, is that history repeats himself.
The circumstances are different of course. The three at the back means Crichlow has a position he can slot straight back into. And as much as dropping into non-league wasn’t ideal, Crichlow’s time in Essex helped him to regain form and confidence – Wright had no such opportunity for gametime. Crichlow is said to have played very well for Dagenham.
But even here, there was a cautionary tale. For at Dagenham Crichlow was lining up alongside Dion Pereira – another City loanee who did well in his first spell, came back, and struggled badly.
The stories of Wright and Pereira’s struggles make you wonder if psychologically there is something difficult about coming back to a place that you understandably once treated as a springboard, rather than a home to settle. Maybe the pressure was different, when you rock up as some loanee kid no one knows and return down the line to be greeted with much bigger expectations. Whatever it is, you just hope the same fate doesn’t befall Crichlow.
Fingers crossed, this works out for everyone. That by returning to where it took off for him, Crichlow rediscovers what he lost. And that this time both player and club can make the leap into League One together.
January window WOAP coverage
Vadaine Oliver departs Bradford City after failing to hit the right notes
Crichlow is back hoping to buck the trend of returning Bradford City loanees
Reviewing Bradford City’s transfer window – part one, what’s happened so far
Reviewing Bradford City’s transfer window – part two, what still needs to happen
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I can see why you’re cautious but I’m not. I think it’s brilliant for City. He is skilful, a pro and exciting to watch. That’ll do.
Last time I gave my opinion on Critchlow I got as many inverted thumbs as the most egregious of trolls. I hope to be proved wrong but I think this is a poor signing. We’ve replaced a big physical player, Kelly, who wins headers and puts his body on the line with a different type of centre half. Critchlow is the quick ball playing type but he takes risks. He’s a bit like the left-sided version of Baldwin. Neither of these two is tall by 4th division standards. Without Cook to defend corners and with 3 small players In Kavanagh, Pointon and Patterson in the side plus lightweight Wright at wingback, we are going to concede. The rumoured incoming left back is 5’8”. I absolutely blinking hate it, to put it politely, when we are out-muscled, as to an extent we were at Wimbledon. On the other hand we may now have three keepers all 6’6 or above if Hilton signs . Trouble is we can only play one at once. Yes make with the digit protest. Time will tell. Meanwhile online there seems to be universal euphoria we’ve brought back a world beater for unfinished business. Critchlow left saying he wanted to play in midfield at a higher level. In fact he played centre half for Peterborough’s first four games, was dropped after a four-nil loss and was never a regular again. This season he has been playing in the fifth tier. I have much greater doubts than Jason’s, I’m
afraid.
I can understand the hype over Wright, he looked a good footballer and hard worker. He has however been disappointing, even going forward. He doesn’t look comfortable in his position but doesn’t particularly look like he is bothered.
I didn’t get the excitement about Pereira. Had a trick but never looked likely to put the work in that’s needed at this level.
From what I remember Crichlow isn’t a great footballer but has pace. And I think he came into the team at a time when we were desperate for some pace. I sincerely hope he has improved the control side of his game and helps us to get back to league 1.
Hopefully more experienced and has cut the errors out of his game. 25 is a great age for him to really build a career here if it goes well.
Positive that I think this system suits him better than the previous one. He can really join the attacks and will link up well with high energy, front-foot side.
Area for concern – he’s still error prone – it took Stubbs joining in his last spell to shore up the defence and we were better defensively with Platt and Stubbs. Alongside Baldwin it may make us a little soft defensively. We’ve built a run on strong foundations defensively and the more robust but more limited Kelly has really contributed to that.
I can understand the hype over Wright, he looked a good footballer and hard worker. He has however been disappointing, even going forward. He doesn’t look comfortable in his position but doesn’t particularly look like he is bothered.
I didn’t get the excitement about Pereira. Had a trick but never looked likely to put the work in that’s needed at this level.
From what I remember Crichlow isn’t a great footballer but has pace. And I think he came into the team at a time when we were desperate for some pace. I sincerely hope he has improved the control side of his game and helps us to get back to league 1.
I must praise the management and owner on the shrewd transfer window signings. Very impressed and plus it can’t have been cheap.
For many years it was felt that Mr Rupp was a rich business man with deep pockets but short arms. Has that changed or is there someone else who is injecting the cash? It’s just, for most of his time Mr Rupp was content on doing the minimum to keep the club afloat. So yes, I am suspicious of this uptick in spending. However, do I need to smell the coffee and just accept that we now have an owner whose seen the light. Importantly Mr Rupp now want to take a risk and push us up the leagues. Happy to hear your thoughts Jason.
Rather than an upturn.in spending by Mr Rupp, much of the deals we have done recently are self funding particularly by losing the wage element of Oliver. Plus Mr Rupp must aware of the ‘noise’ from potentially losing a number of season ticket sales if he appears to have not invested in players when we are in with a possible promotion position.
The injury to Richards and possibly to Kelly must have focussed the club as to their likely ‘long term’ nature of their injuries and the neex for cover
With talisman Cook out for the rest of the season the club would have prioritised a proven goalscorer, but even if one was readily available, he would be a rare commodity and come at a premium price.
City may feel that the priority is in defence and we can get away without a ‘twenty goal a season big forrad’!!!!
He didn’t miss a beat last night, and rotherham really targeted him in the first half