Blackpool boss is relishing Crewe Alexandra reunion

The club’s head coach came through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra as a player before serving as a coach in their youth system.

While Critchley is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces, the Blackpool boss is only interested in one thing – getting a result to help turn the Seasiders’ season around.

“I joined Crewe when I was 10, so I spent my formative years there and I have many happy memories at the club,” he said.

“I never left until I was 34, so it was a huge period of my life.

“I’ve got a massive amount of respect for the club and the people at the club. I’ve got a lot of friends there, so I’m looking forward to going back and seeing those people.

“But I’m going there to do a job for Blackpool, and we’re there to do our job and try to turn around a frustrating start. That’s my priority.”

Asked how much he has changed as a person and as a coach since his time at Crewe, Critchley added: “I think some of the things are just ingrained in me, and I’ll forever be thankful to Crewe and the people there in terms of the football education they gave me.

“I’d like to think some standards, behaviour and life values were ingrained into myself and others who have come through the system as well and those things remain.

“However, the experiences I gained at Liverpool have definitely changed certain aspects of the way I coach and certain aspects of the way I now see the game.

“I think I’ve benefited massively from being at Crewe and then at Liverpool. They’ve both shaped who I am today and I’ll forever be thankful to those clubs for giving me the opportunities they did.”

The Railwaymen sit 13th in the League One table after last weekend’s convincing 3-0 win against Wigan Athletic made it two wins and two defeats from their opening four games of the campaign.

Critchley added: “You always know what you’re going to get when you face Crewe, particularly when they play at home. They’re a tough proposition to face.”