Thursday, 7 October 2010

Radcliffe


Radcliffe FC is a non league football club who hail from the old industrial town of the around six miles north east of Manchester, that was formed formed on April 24th 1949 at the Owd Tower Inn in Radcliffe by Jack Pickford as Radcliffe Borough FC.


The club initially became members of the South East Lancashire Football League before 
'The Blues' (The Cliff and The Boro being other nicknames) joined the Manchester League; and then progressing to the Lancashire Football Combination in 1963. 

Boro moved into their Stainton Park home in 1970, and remained in the Lancashire Combination until joining the Cheshire County League in 1971; from where the team were relegated to that competitions Division Two in 1979-80.


The club became founder members of the North West Counties League for the 1982-83 season; winning promotion as Division Two champions in their debut campaign. In 1984-85 Radcliffe were crowned as North West Counties League champions.

The Northern Premier League was extended for the 1987-88 season, with Radcliffe being accepted as members of Division One. Long serving manager Kevin Glendon continued to bring through young talent as the club continued their progression.


Boro spent heavily on ground improvements so that Stainton Park was able to stage premier division football, which was achieved in 1996-97 as the Division One title was secured. However, their Premier Division spell lasted just one season.

Club finances were kept in check by Bernard Manning Jnr. The 2000-01 season saw the club appear in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. The "home" match against York City ended in a 4-1 defeat to York City in front of 2,495 fans at Bury's Gigg Lane.


The Blues missed out on promotion in 2001-02 after going down to Bamber Bridge in the semi-finals. However, the team reached the Premier Division through the same route in 2002-03 after defeating North Ferriby United and then Chorley following a penalty shoot out.

Non-league football was restructured at the end of the 2003-04 season. Radcliffe had the opportunity to gain a place in the newly formed Conference North but missed out in the play-off rounds to Burscough after earlier defeating Whitby Town on penalties.


Radcliffe were relegated to Division One North in 2006-07; where they remained finishing consistently in the bottom third. The club escaped relegation in 2016-17 and 2017-18 finishing in twentieth place on each occasion.

Work on the Stainton Park ground had been carried out by new owners from 2016. Former Premier League star Jon Macken was appointed as manager in October 2017. Borough was dropped from the club name to become Radcliffe FC in the summer of 2018.


The hard work paid off as the team finished as Division One North runners-up in 2018-19 before winning promotion to the Premier Division after beating Ramsbottom United and then Leek Town in the play-offs.

Macken departed in January 2020 to be replaced by Lee Fowler. Both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns ended early owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, with Radcliffe sat the lower reaches of the table on both occasions.


Bobby Grant was appointed as the new manager in October 2021.

Radcliffe FC will play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in the 2021-22 season.


My visits

Wednesday 21st July 2010

I was in the Greater Manchester area on my final of three days visiting football grounds and generally enjoying myself meeting people and finding some wonderful pubs!


I had previously visited Salford City FC and got back on the number 98 bus out through North Manchester, over the motorway, past the town of Whitefield where we'd previously had beers on the way to Bury and on to Radcliffe. It was a far bigger place than I imagined and quite a way from the tram station to the ground.

I'd alighted from the bus too early as it turned out as it went on ahead and right past the entrance. However, it wasn't all bad news as it pointed to where I could jump back on when I'd finished. I went up to where two men in overalls were stood by an open gate and asked for permission to enter.


They told me they didn't work there but there were people inside the club office. I went inside and they said it was no problem. I was given a card and asked if I'd forward them a copy of the photos I took, which I did on my return to London.

Stainton Park had a slope down the pitch and was unusual in that the Main Stand with all the grounds seats was behind a goal. To the right was the Clubhouse Side with a mixture of open and covered shallow terracing. 


The other two sides were open terracing with the far side having neat crush barriers. Money and attention had obviously been spent on the ground. I returned to the office to thank the two gents before wandering on my way past the car park and the all weather pitches that provide a vital lifeblood to the club. 

A quick walk saw me reach the bus stop in time before getting a vital rest as time was tight to reach Bury's Bolton Road railway station so I could catch a train up to Ramsbottom on the heritage line.


Stainton Park and Radcliffe Borough are fine examples of what can be achieved with careful planning in an area where so many fans are attracted to the bright lights of the big clubs in the city. Full credit to all those involved.

Radcliffe 0 Scarborough Athletic 1 (Saturday 28th August 2021) Northern Premier League Premier Division (att: 457)


This was very much a bonus match that I didn’t give any chance of attending when leaving Nick’s house with nephew Stan in York earlier in the morning. I’d been staying over for a couple of nights while paying close attention to the Test match at Headingley.

We had tickets for the fourth day. Our attendance was also somewhat of a bonus bearing in mind how India had collapsed on day one against the England attack. It was a glorious day in Leeds as we settled into our seats ready for a few hours cricket.

The tourists managed to fall apart once again before lunch in remarkable circumstances leaving us in a quandary. While a session around Leeds was tempting, football options were plentiful.

It looked most likely that we'd do Guiseley v Gloucester City, but after a look at all options with young Stan's preferences being listened to meant we boarded the 1.45 train to Manchester Victoria.


It was only the fact that the Arcadia pub in Headingley not allowing under 18’s inside that clinched the decision. Arriving at 2.40 we jumped in a cab and arrived at the ground ten minutes into the game.

The ground had a beautiful playing surface, apparently because Radcliffe’s groundshare with AFC Bury has meant that the landlord club employed a full time groundsman for the first time.


The sponsored title Neuven Stadium was a very tidy venue with good facilities, much improved from my previous visit. The hosts seemed like a club on the upward trajectory judging by the crowd, atmosphere and number of kids in attendance. Nice friendly staff in situ no doubt also helping the cause.

The home side were big and physical, if a tad one dimensional with their tactics under the management of former Seadog Lee Fowler. Boro, cheered on by a sizeable following, kept Radcliffe at arm’s length, aside from a shot from Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro that hit the post.

I said to my brother half an hour in that we'd win. Michael Coulson, who did a fine job holding the ball up and bringing others into the game set up Ryan Watson, who saw his shot well saved by Cam Belford.

It was nice to catch up with lots of old faces, some who were surprised to see us. The bar was doing a good trade to thirsty fans of both sides. After the break kicking downhill the Seadogs gained control.


The only goal came on sixty-four minutes when a free kick was headed out as far as Ashley Jackson who volleyed in low past Cam Belford with a superb finish. Akpa-Akpro hot the post again against the run of play.

Nathan Cartman showed excellent skill before seeing his effort saved. Boro should have doubled their lead in the closing stages when substitute Simon Heslop blasted over from close range after a fine move heavily featuring Coulson.

It was just about the perfect sporting day. I had booked a hotel in Bradford, but the change of plans allowed me to go straight to Rawtenstall via bus to stay with friends overnight and then Sunday and Monday for Lancashire League cricket and the Glaston-Bury music festival in Bury.

A fine couple of days followed, including meeting Den Perry AKA Ted Robbins at the cricket and some great acts in Bury along with lots of great company with oodles of food and drink. A wonderful Bank Holiday indeed.




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