Crossthwaite continued to play for the club during the war and back in 1919 once League football and been resumed.
There was no change in the "Hatters" fortunes on the pitch and with the side languishing in the lower reaches of the table he signed for divisional rivals Stoke in March 1920.
[1] He made his debut for Stoke in the first league Potteries derby match against Port Vale and assisted goalscorer Arthur Watkin as Stoke won 3–0 at Vale's Old Recreation Ground.
Crossthwaite started the 1920–21 as first choice right winger playing in 19 matches but after a poor performance against Birmingham he was dropped and at the end of the season he was sold back to Stockport County.
[1] In his first season back at Edgeley Park he helped Stockport to win the Football League Third Division North title.