An Unofficial Site since May 2001

www.clitheroefc2.co.uk

Clitheroe Football Club Shawbridge Clitheroe
Lancashire BB7 1LZ
Tel 01200 423344

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The most imaginative mind would have found it incomprehensible to have five managers and over 75 players grace one UniBond First Division club in 12 months - but that's exactly what transpired at Shawbridge in 2006.However, that was partly due to the outcome of an unsettling financial problem that sparked a turbulent time in the club's history, and almost brought an end to the 130-year-old club.

But all the same, its been a jam-packed, emotion-charged year for everyone connected to all things blue and white. Thankfully a new chairmanship took over in January in the form of Carl Garner and vice-chair Bob Kay, steadied by the influence of the temporary return of former chairman Steve Rush to the committee.

And what should be a sound management team in Neil Reynolds and Peter Smith now hold the reigns after several periods of transition throughout the year. Turning back time, it became known to the town shortly after Christmas that a suspected shortfall in the club's annual accounts had materialsed during 2005.

Unfortunately the treasurer's books were in such a poor state of affairs it was impossible to know what was missing, and if all funds were in fact accounted for in the first place. Out-going chairman John Robinson admitted at the time to being "naive to the job" and having "struggled with the situation" of working with such a small committee, allowing vice-chairman and former bank manager Mark Gidlow complete control of the club's finances and then blindly tried, and failed, to ride out the problem.

At January's emergency general meeting it was stated that the club believed its financial predicament was due to the by then departed Gidlow setting an unrealistic budget that the UniBond side couldn't possibly fulfill. Working on projections and forecasts, rather than hard facts and figures, Clitheroe FC was pushed beyond its means as the finance to put these plans into action did not materialise.

And so, having over committed on the budget, cut backs were necessary for the club to survive. Manager at the time Tommy Lawson, who had been in the job less than six months, said that he and his team were happy to "pull in their belts", but three weeks later he became the first of three managers to leave the club in 2006.

The now Skelmersdale United boss was relieved of his position in February as the club cited a lack of league success since the previous October, and the club being unable to sustain Lawson's "relatively high salary" when the rest of the team had taken a pay cut. Assistant boss Mark Smitheringale took over in a caretaker capacity until the end of the season and ensured the Blues kept their heads above the water on the football pitch.

Results did not come easy, though, although a core unit of Blues players saw the team through. Most notably the midfield engine of Paul Stansfield, whose 15 goals from the centre of the field buoyed many a result. Craig Sargeson, Gregg Anderson, Peter Collinge, Simon Garner, Neil Reynolds, Scott Priestley and the return of Ryan Parr were also almost ever presents.

The biggest wins of that half to the 2005-06 season were 2-0 home wins over Bridlington Town and Rossendale United and only six victories in all were recorded in the last four months. But it was the moral victory away at Shepshed Dynamo on February 11th that epitomized the club's never-say-die attitude.

The game was lost 5-0 but due to Lawson's dismissal earlier in the week leading to almost a team of his players giving less than 20 hours notice that they wouldn't be playing the next day, the club did well to meet the fixture and not receive a crippling fine. Players were quickly signed on from the likes of Accrington Stanley and several Clitheroe Reserve team players stepped into the frame.

Once this hurdle had been overcome, thee club stabilised financially thanks to the combined efforts of loyal fans and townsfolk like Mr David Brass, proprietor of Banana News, who offered to underwrite up to a maximum of £1,000 on ticket sales. Meanwhile on the pitch, the choice of a new full-time manager was discussed a month later in March.

Former Accrington Stanley Reserve team boss Paul Lodge was muted to be in line for the job, up against Smitheringale after the two decided they couldn't work together, but the board decided to stick with the man they new best, adding that stability was the key factor.

Things looked up after that, as before the season was out chairman Carl Garner had set up two incredibly worthwhile fundraising friendlies against FC United of Manchester and Accrington Stanley. As thanks to more than a little help from former Clitheroe manager and now chairman of Accrington Stanley Eric Whalley, the Blues entertained the Nationwide Conference Champions over the Easter weekend, sandwiched between their last two league fixtures.

And two weeks earlier, Shawbridge welcomed 857 FC United fans for a friendly on the day the break-away supporter-owned club was named North West Counties Second Division Champions. Both games were lost but Clitheroe took reward from both days having added to an already heavy end-of-season schedule.

The Blues finished the season 16th from 22 in the UniBond First Division and as a result for guiding the club through a difficult time, Smitheringale was given full charge of the side in May. The club felt he deserved a crack at the job with a clean slate and Neil Reynolds agreed to assist him in a player-coach capacity.

However, nothing is ever that straight forward and more comings and goings were seen in the summer months. After taking centre stage at the club's end of season presentation evening, which also featured a reunion of the team that played in the FA Vase Final at Wembley 10 years ago, captain Paul Stansfield collected almost every gong going before announcing his departure.

Due to work commitments, and a move to Harrogate, the club's leading scorer and player-of-the-season decided to take a break from the Blues. Reynolds then made the surprise announcement that he too was leaving in June having spent less than two months at Ilkley-based Smitheringale's side.

The influential midfielder's role as player-coach had become somewhat blurred and his share of the work load increased due to the fact he lives locally, so much so that he felt he had to break ties and look to further his playing career at Bamber Bridge.

So when Smitheringale was relieved of his position in August, less than 24 hours before the new 2006-07 season kicked off, it became clear the manager's part in pre-season preparation hadn't been satisfactory. He was the second boss of the year to leave, having had command for less than six months, and brought in former Burscough assistant Chris Stammers as his number two after Reynolds' departure.

The Merseysider came with a fresh outlook and several talented young players that cast a wave of confidence over the club. It was argued by the committee in August that between Reynolds and Stammers the Blues' pre-season programme had been constructed, with very little coming from Smitheringale in between.

So when the manager went on holiday and the team's results went from strength to strength without him, a decision was taken on his return to reward the man doing the work.The timing was less than ideal, and understandably Smitheringale was left reeling, but the club didn't look back.... well, that is until November at least.

Also in the close season chairman Carl Garner confirmed the added coup that Blackburn Rovers Ladies would play all their Sunday home games over the forthcoming season at Shawbridge, as well as hosting the odd Accrington Stanley Under 19s game too. The 2006-07 season got off to a flier, better than anyone had expected as Stammers was given temporary charge which quickly became full command.

Back to back wins were recorded over the first three games, the team triumphing 3-1 away at much-fancied title favourites Kidsgrove Athletic on the opening day, less than 20 hours after Smitheringale's exit. Three goal victories at home to Chorley and Bridlington Town followed as the side stormed to the top of the league only for the honeymoon period to be slightly dented by a 1-0 defeat at Buxton on August bank holiday.

The team fired on all four in the cup competitions until September where upon they exited the FA Cup with a 2-0 defeat at home to Marine. However, although the performances were well received and unlike previous seasons goals came with ease, the unbelievable regularity of bookings and dismissals started to creep in.

Six games in and both Jason Jones and Simon Garner were sent off against Cammell Laird. Admittedly the referee played a large part in some dubious early decisions but they quickly cast Clitheroe adrift at the bottom of the fair play league and left a stigma the club couldn't shake off. James Dean got his marching orders two games later at Goole and a fourth red card in as many games was issued to goalkeeper Alan Fitzpatrick in the Marine game - a key factor in the cup defeat.

The same week Stammers was awarded an 18 month managerial contract by the club for his endeavors, to become the Blues third manager of the year. And the following week former manager Tommy Lawson returned with his new team Skelmersdale Utd and beat the Blues 1-0, which typically signaled the start of three successive league defeats.

Will Exton made it five red cards in early October against Wakefield before the club endured an unbelievable 7-3 mauling at Bradford Park Avenue that brought another seven bookings their way. Three games later and Dean was out for another three game spell for a second red card dismissal in a 3-1 defeat at Bamber Bridge and the absentees hit their league consistency.

It wasn't his last as he saw red again before the year was out, as did Owen Roberts and Jason Jones, while Simon Garner and Jamie Nay sat out games for racking up yellow cards. At the beginning of November, though, things were looking up. Clitheroe were still in all of the non-league's cup competitions and had just been given the massive moral boost of a 5-0 league cup win over a struggling Chorley side off the back of a 5-0 defeat to Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Money was made from the FA Trophy as the Blues beat a side a league level above in a replay, and a second cup game in a month against Chorley brought a 4-0 win and passage to the next round of the Lancashire Co-Op Trophy. However, before the month was out another bomb shell had been dropped and a third manager had walked out the door. A 10-1 drubbing at a professional Conference North Kettering Town signalled the end to Stammers' three month tenure in charge.

The passionate, proud, and at times temperamental coach, took the defeat badly and resigned his position straight after the game. He later thought better of it, but an altercation on the team coach made it impossible for him to be welcomed back. Which leads the Shawbridge side to the current managerial team, the fourth and fifth managers of Clitheroe to take the helm in 2006.

The returning Neil Reynolds and former Kendal player-manager Peter Smith, took charge in December and it is hoped the duo can steady the boat and emulate the kind of success enjoyed by having a manager who knows the area. Although, in years, it isn't that long ago since Clitheroe last had a boss who lived in the town, a lot has happened since former manager and chairman David Burgess left the club due to his work commitments at the Lancashire FA.

His successor Lee Sculpher was the last to live in the vicinity, but since then the local element had been lost until Reynolds returned. Now the Clitheroe-based boss wants that strong local work ethic back in 2007. On his appointment to the post, Reynolds said: "I had the pleasure of playing under Dave (Burgess) who I thought was a fantastic manager and someone whose advice I respect.

"He brought together a team of successful local players, took the side to the semi-finals of the FA Vase and finished runners up in the North West Counties First Division. "Scully (Lee Sculpher) should be managing at a higher level than he is, and has done a great job with local players at Ramsbottom.

"He won the championship with 15 to 16 locally based players and that's the core element we want back at Clitheroe. We've got a good grounding, now we've just got to find the rest!"

Adrian Capstick sports writer for The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times.