Clitheroe’s left midfielder Alex Ralph has played a big part in helping the Blues reach a respectable league position this season with a young squad. Formerly of Lancaster City, the 21 year old has an experienced head on young shoulders and is seen by manager Simon Garner as one of the mentors in the side.
Ralph who is most comfortable on the left of a midfield four said; “It's great working under Si as I believe that he gets the best out of all his players, he is a great manager and I am really enjoying my time at Clitheroe fc so far.”

Blues boss Simon Garner has played a huge part in bringing his side on and is seen as a role model by the majority of the young squad. Being a midfielder in the same side as quality players such as Danny Wilkins and David Lynch, the Myerscough born winger has a lot of players to model his game on, as well as his manager. Ralph went on to say; “Obviously having Si play has a massive effect on the lads with his experience playing a massive part, I think that due to him being so experienced it gives encouragement to the lads as it's a young squad and they want to play to the best of their ability every game and get a good result no matter who we are facing.”

Ralph added; “Simon is a great manager but the rest of the coaching is great too, I get on with all the coaches at the club and the environment is a very positive one which is important for a young group of lads.”

As nearly every single semi-professional footballer up and down the country, Ralph works Monday to Friday alongside training on Thursday nights at Shawbridge, it can be a struggle keeping up with work and football but as with so many footballers, the right balance has to be found; “Juggling work and football can be a pain sometimes but that's what playing in non-league involves. I am lucky to have a job coaching kids in schools which fits around football and allows me to train and play without having to miss games, it's very rare I'd have to miss training or games due to work commitments.”

Currently 12th in the table with a big result just obtained away at Darlington 1883, the season is still in limbo for the Blues with any outcome still possible come the end of the season with over half the games still left to play. Ralph knows that expectations shouldn’t be heightened on his young side and knows that steady progression is better for the side with an average age of only 21. “The season is going well so far we are mid table and have had some good results recently and I'd like to think we can finish in the top half because we have some quality players. My personal goals are to obviously play as many games possible through the year and play the best I can, I think this year the team goal would be to finish in the top half of the table and that would represent success for us and something for Simon and his backroom staff to work on.”