A central midfielder from Cumbria, Stuart Todhunter will always go down in folk lore as a member of the Clitheroe side that won promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One North after seventeen long years in the North West Counties Division One.

Todhunter picked up an assist on the day the Blues won promotion under Steve Parry away at Nantwich and spoke to the website about his many happy memories playing for Clitheroe during their most successful spell in the last three decades;

“I wasn’t playing regularly for Fleetwood and Dave Burgess and Scully must have been aware of this, next thing I know they’re visiting me at work in Altrincham with the signing on forms. The following Saturday I was pulling on the blue shirt at Salford City. Happy days.”

The 44 year old added; “A game that comes to mind as a favourite was a night match, Glossop at home I think. In fact we beat them 10-nil. We looked like scoring every time we went forward. Dennis Hill had a blinder. I remember pinging a 30 yarder into Neil Spencer up front, and he actually controlled it…after 2 touches!”

Having the versatility to play in midfield and at left-back, Todhunter was an instant hit at Shawbridge and found himself as one of the first names on Parry’s team sheet every Saturday. Playing alongside characters such as Chris Whittingham and Kris Richens, the former Blue believed every game and training session at the club was a pleasure, due to the characters Shawbridge possessed;

“Seriously, every game was a privilege, but the Vase games were extra special. Keith Lord with his rasp-like hands with muscle rub kept me going and I will never forget him. RIP Lordy.”

He went on to say; “There was always a great atmosphere. I was fortunate to play for some good semi – pro teams, one being Barrow in the conference, we weren’t a brilliant side but we beat sides with our attitude and belief in each other, this was exactly the same at Clitheroe. We had a solid attitude from every player and the buzz in the dressing room was as good at Clitheroe as Barrow. You don’t get that very often, I consider myself lucky to have experienced it twice. The fans were brilliant too, home and away, there was always a presence, and a noisy one at that.”

Clitheroe have a pedigree in the FA Vase, having been finalists at Wembley during the 1995/96 season and Todhunter also has famous memories of games in the Vase during the 21st century for Clitheroe, aswell as that promotion winning goal in 2004;

“Every Vase away game was an adventure and we would sometimes make our own arrangements to stay over and catch the train home on the Sunday, they will always be fond memories. Winning the NW Counties away at Nantwich is my only silverware with Clitheroe. I made our first goal that day, a set piece from the right, I’ll never forget Renno’s 3 foot tap in at the end to secure the title and the celebrations which followed."

There is social media speculation that the old promotion winning team of 2003/04 will be getting together for a re-union at the ground and Todhunter says, watch this space. To see the likes of Gardner, Reynolds and Sculpher return to Shawbridge would be a real boost for the club and something everyone involved with Clitheroe would be excited to see.

Sadly the year after promotion in which the Blues a respectable 19th under Jimmy Mullen, Todhunter hung up his boots and called it a day, not only on Clitheroe but on football all together;

“I made a conscious decision in 2004-2005 season that I would retire at the end of that season. My body wasn’t holding up too well to the training and recovering after a game was becoming more difficult, so rather than be forced out of the game through injury, I decided that season would be my last as a player, aged 35.”