Mike Critchley
@mike-critchley.bsky.social
đ¤ 190
đĽ 180
đ 873
Sports writer St Helens Star and Leigh Journal. Rugby league fan, author and pub ticker.
Tribute to former international refereeâFearless Fredâ.
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257462...
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Tributes paid to St Helens' top international rugby union referee Fred Howard
TRIBUTES have been paid to St Helensâ former top class international rugby union referee, schoolmaster and sports store owner Fred Howard
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25746224.ex-international-rugby-union-referee-fred-howard-died/
about 18 hours ago
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This week in Saints
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257489...
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Sweet and sour for Clive Griffiths - This Week in Saints
THIS Week in Saints saw the men in the red vee pile even more agony on Warrington, under the temporary charge of Clive Griffiths
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25748904.week-saints---sweet-sour-clive-griffiths/
about 19 hours ago
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#ThrowbackThursday
How many muddy faces can you identify?
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257493...
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How many of these Saints and Warrington mudlarks can you name?
REMEMBER when rugby league was played in real mudbaths in the winter seasons before Super League?
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25749319.put-names-st-helens-warrington-mudlarks/
about 19 hours ago
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Had to break my journey at Hebden Bridge- what a place
@foxandgoose.org
is. Great pub,great beer
6 days ago
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Loved this place, a bit punky with great beerâŚDukeâs, Halifax
6 days ago
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Vocation & Co, Halifax
6 days ago
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In the Big Six, Halifax
6 days ago
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First new one of 2026, København, Halifax
6 days ago
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Start of a new year, I watch the seasons change with my favourite trees
7 days ago
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You know youâre getting on when bin day eve is more significant than New Yearâs Eve
8 days ago
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Another old favourite to see out the year
@bridewell.bsky.social
Beauty of a pub! Reckon my dad would be proud to see I clocked the English bond of the outside wall (and cells) contrasting with the Flemish bond of the main building
9 days ago
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Start the finish to the year with a good un, a pint of Jarl on one of the famous five - Roscoe Head
9 days ago
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Recalling Ray - a St Helens legend.
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257283...
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Remembering Ray French - the town's sporting giant we lost in 2025
THIS year we said farewell to Ray French - one of St Helens' sporting giants and long-standing pillar of the community.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25728368.ray-french---st-helens-sporting-giant-lost-2025/
10 days ago
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From Our Gracie to Our Gracieâs. Cheers Rochdale!
10 days ago
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If we are handing out podium positions for the Rochdale pubsâŚGold: Flying Horse, Silver: Our Gracieâs, Bronze: BaumâŚ
10 days ago
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Had a couple of hours in Rochdale - whistle stop tour to tick off four pubs
10 days ago
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First and only time Rochdale Hornets won the Challenge CupâŚpicture proudly on display in the magnificent Flying Horse
10 days ago
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The year we said farewell to one of St Helensâ sporting giants
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257283...
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Remembering Ray French - the town's sporting giant we lost in 2025
THIS year we said farewell to Ray French - one of St Helens' sporting giants and long-standing pillar of the community.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25728368.ray-french---st-helens-sporting-giant-lost-2025/
10 days ago
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Well done, Tara!
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/257283...
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Former Saints and England hooker awarded MBE for services to rugby league
EX-St Helens Women's hooker and now referee Tara Jones has spoken of her pride after being awarded the MBE for services to rugby league
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25728331.ex-st-helens-hooker-tara-jones-awarded-mbe-new-year-list/
11 days ago
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Clone Roses line up Oz tour
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2571122...
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St Helens tribute band to break new ground with tour to Australia
ST HELENS-based tribute band The Clone Roses will break new ground in the summer when they head to Australia.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25711222.st-helens-tribute-band-clone-roses-tour-australia/
14 days ago
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Combine a walk with a pint this festive period
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2572141...
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The perfect pub to combine a Christmastime walk with a good pint
ST HELENS is pretty well blessed with some magnificent pubs â and they are located in every part of the borough.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25721413.combine-christmas-walk-pint-masons-arms/
14 days ago
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A Christmas Day tradition at Saints back in the day
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/248182...
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Anyone remember Saints' great Christmas Day tradition?
How many St Helens Star readers have memories of watching Saints games at Knowsley Road on Christmas Day?
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/24818252.anyone-remember-st-helens-great-christmas-day-tradition/
15 days ago
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Huge turnout at Widnes parkrun this morning - my first run in a couple years so Iâll need oiling afterwards
15 days ago
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One thing missing from Christmas this year
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2504747...
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We will all miss our traditional Christmas Eve Burchall's queue this year
BURCHALL'S legendary pie shop closed for good in March, ending a presence in St Helens that goes back a remarkable 185 years
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25047470.homage-burchalls---legendary-st-helens-pie-shop/
16 days ago
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Will Saints ever get a better delivery from Father Christmas?
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/189681...
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Will St Helens ever get a better present from Father Christmas?
SAINTS can't have had many better belated Christmas presents than the one they unwrapped on January 1, 1998.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/18968160.will-saints-ever-get-better-present-father-christmas/
16 days ago
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Love hearing this song thrush - even at 1am. Been here for the last few weeks
17 days ago
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Song thrush is certainly chirping through the night
18 days ago
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A 30-year old traditionâŚannual pre Christmas meet up in the Turkâs Head
19 days ago
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Thereâs plenty more to pick from to suit all tastes - but hereâs my 5
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2571375...
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Five St Helens town centre pubs worth bending your elbow in this Christmas
FIVE St Helens town centre pubs worth spending some time in during the Christmas period
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25713751.5-st-helens-town-centre-pubs-worth-visiting-christmas/
20 days ago
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Iâve loved reading the responses to the daily Saints advent pictures
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/239988...
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ADVENT DAY 19: Legend-packed Saints ready to challenge for honours again
EACH day during Advent we have been opening the door to the past Saints line-ups in the club's proud history and today it is 1949-50.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23998897.advent-day-19-saints-side-ready-challenge-honours/
21 days ago
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Well done lads!
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2571321...
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How Saints players brought festive cheer to a group of supporters
ST HELENS stars Matt Whitley, Noah Stephens and Jake Wingfield helped bring some festive cheer to fans supported by Community Integrated Care
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25713212.saints-players-bring-festive-cheer-group-supporters/
21 days ago
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Walk past this tree on the border of Widnes and Cronton every day on my dinner time walk. Watch the seasons change with it
23 days ago
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When Saints rolled out the barrel for Wembley
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/190465...
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ADVENT DAY 14: Saints class of 1978 preparing for Wembley
ERIC Ashton's Saints had some brewery backing when they rolled out the barrel ahead of the 1978 Wembley final.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/19046505.advent-day-14-saints-1978-roll-barrel-wembley/
26 days ago
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Saints Advent Day 13 - and a team at the start of transition
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/256946...
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ADVENT DAY 13: Two Saints at the opposite ends of their career journey
ANOTHER day, another Saints team picture with a story to tell of two players.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25694683.advent-day-13-saints-prepare-get-1982-83-way/
27 days ago
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Great little story this.
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/256883...
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Jimmy âSmilerâ Owen - the free-spirited flyer of St Helens Recs
Who was the townâs first-ever ârugbyâ international?
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25688329.jimmy-smiler-owen---free-spirited-flyer-st-helens-recs/
27 days ago
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Canât think of anyone else who has ever scored a hat-trick against the Aussies⌠Was great to chat to him.
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/256933...
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When Alan Whittle scored a hat-trick in Saints' rout of Australia
FIFTY five years ago Saints half back Alan Whittle scored three tries against World Cup winners Australia.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25693346.alan-whittle-hat-trick-st-helens-rout-australia/
28 days ago
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Canât beat this place - Peter Kavanaghâs, LiverpoolâŚonly pub I know with a copy of Fly Fishing by JR Hartley hanging behind the bar.
29 days ago
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Every day our Advent Door opens to a St Helens team of the pastâŚthis is Day 11
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/239808...
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ADVENT DAY 11: Saints' first ever Lancashire Cup Final winners
ON DAY 11 of our Advent series we look at Saints' first ever Lancashire Cup Final winners, dating back to 20 November 1926.
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23980851.advent-day-11-saints-first-lancashire-cup-final-winners/
29 days ago
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Todayâs
#ThrowbackThursday
looks at Minnie Cotton and her handbag
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/256900...
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All hell breaks loose in Championship Final as Minnie Cotton wields her handbag
TODAY'S #ThrowbackThursday goes back to the 1966 Championship Final between Saints and Halifax at Swinton's packed Station Road
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/25690049.minnie-cotton-wields-handbag-championship-final-erupts/
29 days ago
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Five new visits today in London these 4, plus Lore of the Land
about 1 month ago
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First one in the Lamb in Bloomsbury this morning. Lovely looking pub inside and out
about 1 month ago
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This really should be Birminghamâs Cavern
about 1 month ago
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Half marathon Birmingham pub crawl - should be a sport this
about 1 month ago
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Always happy to revisit The Bull, an old favourite from my days at the Birrmingham Post and Mail in the late 90s. Still as wonderful as ever
about 1 month ago
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Rattled off a couple of new ticks in BrumâŚPure Craft Bar, Burning Soul and Wolf
about 1 month ago
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Today I revisited the street I used to live 30 years ago in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. Victorian toilets still in place on the corner of Court Road
about 1 month ago
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Put your Saturday morning sudokus and wordles aside and tackle thisâŚ
about 1 month ago
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Happy Lancashire Day folks
about 1 month ago
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Review of last Saturdayâs Clone Roses gig at Shepherdâs Bush Empire
www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2564438...
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St Helens band The Clone Roses' tribute to Mani at Shepherd's Bush Empire
ST HELENS-based tribute band The Clone Roses paid tribute Gary âManiâ Mounfield at Shepherd's Bush Empire
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/25644386.clone-roses-tribute-mani-shepherds-bush-empire/
about 2 months ago
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One for you
@cheetss18.bsky.social
in Brixton yesterday
about 2 months ago
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