Nantwich Town director of football Clive Jackson has received an award for 33-years service to the club from the Northern Premier league.
Clive, known as ‘Mr Nantwich Town FC’, was presented with the award by Alan Allcock, Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Operations manager.
Clive has been involved with the Dabbers since he started helping out with the reserves.
Then in 1992, he took over as manager from Peter Ward as the club’s first team manager making the step up from reserve team manager.
He was just 28-years-old at the time, making him the youngest manager in Nantwich Town’s history.
He also started the youth set up, which he developed from the under 7s and now runs up to a youth team with players progressing to first team.
He led the club to become one of the first to receive Charter Standard from the FA in 2003.
Clive moved upstairs in 1998 to become the club’s chairman, and was still a key figure at the club.
His finest moment came as chairman in May 2006, when Nantwich Town beat Hillingdon Borough 3-1 at St.Andrews to lift the FA Vase with Steve Davis, now manager of Crewe Alexandra, at the helm.
The following season, Jackson Avenue closed for one last time and the club moved into their new Weaver Stadium.
That final season at Jackson Avenue coincided with Nantwich gaining promotion to the Northern Premier League.
Nantwich continued to find success with Jackson as chairman.
They won the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time in 30 years as they beat Altrincham, before making the First Division South play offs and beating Sheffield FC on penalties to make it back-to-back promotions.
The following season Nantwich made the play off final, but were beaten 2-1 by Ilkeston Town as the Dabbers went so close to making it into the Conference North.
Current chairman Tony Davison said: “It’s great to recognise Clive and all his work done for Nantwich Town FC.
“Without him we wouldn’t be in the fantastic position we are in now and the first class ground that we call home.”
Clive added: “It’s an honour to receive the award and it doesn’t feel like five minutes since I started out at the club.
“I’ve enjoyed so many great moments at Nantwich Town it’s hard to pick a top moment.
“But for me it has to be when Nantwich Town won the FA Vase.
“It was a fantastic run that we had, and excellent day to St Andrews. It’s a day I will never forget.
“A lot has changed in my time at the club.
“We now play and challenge in a higher league as well play at the fantastic Weaver Stadium. But the club’s core values remain the same, which is great.
“Hopefully Phil Parkinson can lead the club into the next division, which will be fantastic for the club to make and shows the long way we have come even in the last 10 years.”
(Pic: Clive collects award from Northern Premier League, league operations manager Alan Allcock. Courtesy of by Russ Sheppard)
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