NEUVEN STADIUM
FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
AUGUST 24, 2019
GROUND NO 217
I THOUGHT the old fella with the crutch getting a pre-match cuppa looked familiar. He could end up being even more of a familiar sight after the events that unfolded in the coming days.
It turned out he was Kenny Hindle who we'd seen on BBC TV news earlier that day. A die-hard Bury fan, he's spent 70 of his 78 years going to watch The Shakers at Gigg Lane, three short miles away.
After appearing to have found a saviour, a rescue deal to save Bury collapsed three days after Kenny's visit, leaving Radcliffe as only viable local option for a Saturday afternoon football fix. Sad times.
But while Bury have fallen into the abyss and all but ceased to exist as a football club, their neighbours at Neuven Park have been quietly enjoying a steady upturn in fortunes.
With former Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Ireland (along with a few others) striker Jon Macken in charge, they've regained their place in the Northern Premier League.
Formerly known as Radcliffe Borough, they've dropped the suffix now although the ground still contains several references to Boro or Borough and the Radcliffe die-hards still shout "come on Borough" so who knows what the reasoning was? Might save a couple of quid on the stationery bills maybe.
There have been changes to the ground in the last few years too.
A fire in 2016 badly damaged the main stand - unusually situated behind one of the goals, but happily the 250-seat structure and accompanying press box have been repaired and renovated.
A new boardroom, sponsors' lounge and covered turnstile block have been added too and the groundstaff are clearly on good terms with their paintbrushes and tins.
If there was a box marked 'classic non-league grounds' you'd pop this one in straight away.
Concere terracing with barriers down one side, covered standing and a clubhouse on the other, modest covered standing area behind the other goal, it's a lovely place to spend a hot Saturday afternoon in August.
Despite it ending goalless it was a decent game too. But you couldn't help thinking of Kenny Hindle's lot up the road.
