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Clitheroe
win the 2003-04 NWCFL Division 1 title
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 Breathless
Clitheroe manager Lee Sculpher hailed his side's
character after clinching the North West Counties
First Division title. The Blues needed a point
from their final game of the season at Nantwich
Town and they made sure, winning 3-2 courtesy of
a late Neil Reynolds strike.
Sculpher admitted, after missing a
chance to seal the championship at home last week,
it was apt that his away-day experts settled
matters on the road: "The bottom line is
that, unfortunately for our home spectators, our
away form has been magnificent this season and
that is the one reason we have won the league"
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"To only lose 2 games away from home all
season at any level is unbelievable and it just
shows the character in the side. That final 20
minutes, at 2 apiece, a lot of teams would have
folded, but everyone stuck at it and what a
magnificent achievement."
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The culmination of Reynolds' goal
and the relief at the final whistle sent both
players and supporters alike into raptures,
turning the after match celebrations into a
champagne-sprayed frenzy. And Sculpher admitted:
"I can't describe how it feels. At halftime
were were 2-0 up and then in the second half one
goal goes in and you think 'that's alright, we'll
finish 2-1', but they equalised and you just didn't
know how it would go. So when the winning goal
came it was absolutely fantastic, a great winning
goal, the build up to it, the movement and what a
great finish by Neil Reynolds."
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Reynolds came off the bench to
score the winner and the Blues boss had nothing
but admiration for his composure as he praised
his players: "People like Neil, who has
struggled with an injury last week, probably
thought he should have played but he kept his
head up before the game when he was told he
wouldn't be starting, and he's come on and netted
the winner. All people will be talking about from
now on is Neil Reynolds, a great finish and an
absolutely fantastic way to win the league after
not doing it last week."
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After coming so close to the title
on so many occasions, Sculpher was overjoyed for
everyone connected to the club: "It's
brilliant, I'm just over the moon and so pleased
for people at the club like our groundsman,
kitman and club stalwart Keith Lord who has been
here so long, treasurer Terry Nelson and Barry
Beck who puts in a lot of work behind the scenes.
But I've got to thank all the spectators that
follow us up and down the country. They're always
there, come rain or shine, home and away, they're
always there encouraging us."
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Gary Jackson, whose double strike
saw the locals take a healthy 2-0 lead, was also
praised for the way he has come back from a
broken foot sustained earlier in the season.
Sculpher said: "There is no one more
delighted than me for Gary, he's a local lad done
well. Dave Burgess and I recognised his talents 3
seasons ago, he's a prolific goal scorer and
given these opportunities he will score goals for
you. At times, by his own admission, he's not the
fittest lad but he's worked hard this season and
when statistics come out he will have scored
something like 14 goals in 18 starts, which says
it all. But it makes you wonder how many he would
have scored this season if he hadn't broken his
foot. And it also points at how good he could be
in the future."
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But Gary Jackson's not on his own,
as the rest of the squad have proven themselves
above and beyond, something the Blues boss is
keen to stress and hopes shall continue next
season. He said: "Martin Aspinwall is
another local lad who was out 18 months due to
injury but he came back at Christmas and has been
magnificent since. I could go around the whole
team, Lee Cryer leads by example, Paul Stansfield,
new to the club last season, has had a fantastic
season but I must say Barrie Hart has been
outstanding for us, and one of the reasons why we
have won this league title is down to Barrie Hart.
The man is made of steel - he hates to get beat."
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He added: "Hopefully now that
we have won something, this will be the start of
great things to come, because it is a winning
habit and sometimes it only takes one step to go
on a winning run. Looking ahead, we'll look to
bring in one or two new additions but me and
Martin Eatough would like every one of the
present squad to be there for this new adventure
that we are going to embark on come August in the
UniBond League"
Read the match report and
players' reactions here
For photos from the day
click here
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