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Managerial Double Act Gets Top Billing

Managerial Double Act Gets Top Billing

Pete Oliver1 Aug 2021 - 16:55
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https://www.clitheroefc.co.uk/

Billy Priestley and Gary Stopforth appointed as the Blues' new management team

Clitheroe Football Club is delighted to confirm that Billy Priestley and Gary Stopforth will lead the Blues into the 2021/22 season as the club’s new management team.

The playing pair stepped up following the departure of David Lynch towards the end of last month.

And their appointment has now been made permanent ahead of the Pitching In Northern Premier League campaign which gets under way on 14 August.

Blues’ chairman Stewart Fort said: “We’re delighted that Billy and Gaz are going to continue as the management team.

“They have done an excellent job since taking over in a caretaker capacity and we have every confidence in them continuing to do that.

“They are both vastly experienced – and still very good players – with a wealth of contacts in the non-league game which can only benefit us.

“They are both really keen to give it a go and start their management and coaching careers and we will give them our full support in trying to make this a successful season for the Blues.

“The support of the fans behind them and then team will be massively appreciated.”

Centre-back Priestley, 32, and midfield dynamo Stopforth, 34, both joined the Blues last summer and were mainstays of the team that played under Lynch before the 2019/20 campaign was again curtailed due to Covid.

The pair are close friends on and off the pitch and with the respect of the playing squad at Shawbridge, will now be tasked with trying to keep the Blues’ playing fortunes moving forward when they kick-off their Division One (West) campaign at home to 1874 Northwich.

The Blues completed their public pre-season preparations on Saturday with a battling 4-3 defeat to NPL top-flight outfit Radcliffe at Shawbridge.

With Stopforth playing 90 minutes in midfield, Priestley oversaw operations from the bench as he nursed a minor knock – with the support of the U23 management team of Michael Worthington and Aaron Ripley.

And in a cracking game, the Blues’ new management due saw their side give everything in a seven-goal thriller.

Left-back Cole Lonsdale scored twice, including a penalty and stunning free-kick, and midfielder Danny Wilkins also netted with a superb strike.

But Radcliffe had just enough to hold on, helped by two goals from ex-Grimsby, Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Priestley and Stopforth will now use the next two weeks to fine-tune preparations for the start of the campaign and their managerial careers.

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