Radcliffe Football Club Information

The club was formed on the 24th May 1949 at the Owd Tower Inn in Radcliffe by Jack Pickford & a committee of 17 and became a member of the South East Lancashire Football League. In 1974 it was accepted into the Cheshire League, which subsequently became the North West Counties League. The first season in the North West Counties brought success when Radcliffe secured the Second Division championship in front of a record Stainton Park crowd of 1,468. After one season in the First Division, Radcliffe lifted the First Division championship in 1985 and made the step up into the newly formed Northern Premier League First Division in 1987. After many years in the division the 90s saw an upturn in fortunes on the pitch. In 1996 the club reached the last 16 of the FA Trophy and in 1997 won the league. The stay lasted for one season as having to invest in the stadium to be allowed to compete at that level, on the pitch suffered and was relegated back to the first division. Radcliffe reached the first round of the FA Cup in 2000 losing 4-1 at home to Division Three side York City at Gigg Lane, Bury in front of 2,495 supporters. In 2016 the management changed, a new chairman and manager took the reins. Off the field investment was given to the stadium, much needed after many years, a new stand at the Pilkington Road end of the stadium, a new press area and director’s area after being destroyed by fire. And a new covered turnstile block. Giving the stadium a fresh new look, the club also changed their name dropping the borough officially in 2018.