HWFC are delighted to welcome winger Gianni Crichlow as our fourth summer signing.
Crichlow spent the 2021/22 season with Braintree Town where he made 26 starts in 39 appearances across all competitions. The 24-year-old notched six goals from wide areas last season and racked up plenty of assists along the way.
The Iron finished 17th in the National League South with Crichlow providing a bright spark in an otherwise fairly flat season. Before the Christmas period Crichlow spent a month on loan with London club Hendon where he made a further 6 appearances scoring once. Described as one of the quickest players in the league, Crichlow’s direct running and trickery tormented National League South fullbacks all season long.
A fine individual campaign was capped off with a place in the Non-League Bible’s Team of the Season where Crichlow represented one of only two players outside the league’s top 10 clubs.
About our fourth addition
To win one end of season award is impressive, to win four out of the five player of the season awards available is testament to a truly remarkable season. Last season Gianni Crichlow secured the Young Player of the Season, Players Player of the Season, Most Improved Player of the Season and Twitter Player of the Season awards for Braintree Town making it a no-brainer for manager Paul Doswell to bring him in.
A winger with an electric turn of pace and an eye for the audacious Gio will be hoping to lift fans out their seats at the Draper Tools Community Stadium next year.
An Arsenal fan Crichlow began his career with another London club, QPR who picked him up aged 11. Following his release from the hoops aged 19, Crichlow found his feet with Chelmsford where he spent 9 months before taking in Hendon, Harrow and Hanwell on his way to Essex.
Outside of league football Crichlow represented Barawa, a team made up of Somalian expats, where he reached the 2018 CONIFA world cup quarterfinals.
Crichlow will join the likes of James Roberts, Jake Andrews and Seok-Jae Lee in the ranks of wingers at the Hawks and will hope that next season is just as fruitful as the last.
Words by Matt Drabble