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Bernard Manning chairs Ratcliffe
Radcliffe Borough isn't a name familiar to many Hereford United supporters but most of them will have heard of their chairman.
Bernard Manning, who came to fame in the seventies on the Comedians television programme, currently fills the post. He and his team have brought Radcliffe into the 21st century.
Here are a few edited notes about the Lancashire club from their website.
The Club was formed on the 24th April 1949 and became members of the South East Lancashire Football League. After a short period in that league, they moved on to the Manchester League before gaining access to the Lancashire Football Combination in 1963. In 1972, success came, winning the League Cup and finishing third in the league. Two years later, the Club applied, and were accepted into, the Cheshire League, which subsequently became the North West Counties Football League The first season again brought success, when Radcliffe secured the Second Division championship, in front of a record, Stainton Crowd of 1,468.
After one season in the first Division, they lifted the First Division championship and then made the step up into the newly formed, Northern Premier League, now the Unibond League.
In season 1996/1997 manager Kevin Glendon, who has been at the club for fifteen years, and the Boro team achieved its highest honour, in winning the Unibond First Division title by 2 points ahead of local rivals Leigh RMI. Unfortunately, their stay in the `top flight' lasted only one season.
One notable player who came from Ratcliffe was former Shrewsbury striker Jody Banin. He scored 46 goals for the club in 2002-2003 which was a great year for Boro, who had a fantastic run in the FA Cup when they reached the 4th Qualifying round but lost to Conference giants (at the time - ed) Chester City.
With Boro back in the UniBond Premier Division and a place in the newly formed Conference North League up for grabs, in which they had to finish in the top 13, that was obviously the aim. By November Boro were as high as sixth thanks to the 22 goals of Jody Banim who set an English record by scoring in 14 concecutive games. Boro sold Banim to Conference promotion chasers Shrewsbury Town for a record fee of £20,000 in December 2003, and without his goals they slid down the table eventually finishing 19th and into the play-offs beating Whitby Town on pens 8-7 in the quarter finals, before bowing out to Burscough in the semi finals at home.
Under the hard work and guidance of Chairman Bernard Manning, Glendon and the board of directors Boro have gone from strength to strength. Off the field they are widely recognised as having made more progress than many other non-league clubs. With the help of grants from the Football Association, Football Foundation, Lottery Sports Fund, Club Funds and personal investments, Radcliffe have so far been able to provide the following: Floodlit all weather pitches, Upgrade the terracing, New car park, Purchase the Social Club & Refurbish the building. Build a New Sponsors Lounge, Changing Room Block, A new 350-seated stand and six brand new Nationwide Conference Standard floodlights. These along with many more, smaller projects, show you why the Club's reputation has grown and Radcliffe now have one of the best non-league grounds at their level.