SURELY there can't be a non-league club nationwide that is doing more for it's local community than Radcliffe Boro.

Monday lunchtime sees the official opening of the magnificent new Radcliffe Boro Sports Complex, including the astroturf floodlit playing facility.

Plans for its usage are already well advanced and while any local team can make bookings (0161 724 8346), the focus of the club itself has centred on local youth.

The drive and ambition at Stainton Park is second-to-none and just a month ago first team boss Kevin Glendon gave up his managerial post with the FA Football in the Community Scheme to go into full-time employment with the Boro.

He explains: "I know it was a highly ambitious move, but I am absolutely committed to what club chairman Bernard Manning Junior and the rest of us are trying to do at the Boro.

"People may think I was rash in making that decision but I am firmly convinced that I have made the right choice."

The club's recent summer soccer school was attended by 74 youngsters and was an outstanding success.

Not only did the kids get expert soccer tuition from Kevin and Mike Lester, there was also a trip round Anfield and a variety of other benefits thrown into the five-day course. All the club's current schemes would have remained as brilliant ideas written down on paper had not the club had the backing of some superb sponsors and the involvement of some dedicated hardworking individuals who just don't know the meaning of the word 'no'.

The club has also appointed a youth development officer in Mike Lester and already he visits four local schools weekly to offer soccer coaching to kids.

The course runs over the 12 weeks of the school term and Mike takes complete charge of one gym or games lesson per week, allowing him to concentrate on different aspect of coaching in each session.

The service is offered free of charge to the schools which is possible because the scheme has been sponsored to the tune of £7,500 by Martin Darlington of Martin Darlington Transport. This has helped to fund the whole operation, including purchasing all the necessary equipment.

Such generosity and support from local businesses enables superb schemes like this to get from drawing board to reality. The club is also running after-school coaching sessions at the Boro Sports Complex.

Again this will run over the 12-week school term with numbers limited to 16 on each course. Lower age group sessions will run from 4-5pm; under eights Monday; under-nines Tuesday; under-11's Wednesday; under-13's Thursday and under-15's Friday, all running from 5-6pm.

The charge for the 12-week course is just £15. It is important to note that the courses are limited to 16 youngsters a time. "We need to restrict the numbers on this," says Kevin "because we want to take the opportunity to concentrate on individual quality."

Bookings should be made as soon as possible with Kevin on the Sports Complex number 0161 724 8346.

This second super scheme has been made possible by a £3,000 sponsorship from club chairman Bernard Manning Junior through his company Fun Factory.

Both the sponsorships have been submitted to the FA Sportsmatch Scheme and have been matched pound for pound. Kevin is full of enthusiasm for the whole thing. "I just could never have envisaged how busy it would be," he says. "Obviously you hope it will keep going and I'm sure it will do. We just can't thank Martin and Bernard enough for sponsoring us, and Sportsmatch, for enabling us to get these two initiatives going."

The Boro Park function room is also available for bookings on 0161 724 5937 after 7pm.

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