Stalwart Reno Leaves Blues
POPULAR Clitheroe stalwart Neil Reynolds has expressed his love for the club after leaving to join UniBond League First Division North rivals Bamber Bridge.
The club's longest serving player will be firmly and gracefully etched into Clitheroe's history books after scoring the goal that secured the North-West Counties League title on the final day of the 2003-04 campaign.
The Blues faithful who pack into Shawbridge at every opportunity will remember "Reno" for his passion for Clitheroe and for wearing his footballing heart on his sleeve.
In just under 10 years of being involved at the Ribble Valley club he has pulled on the shirt as a player, manager and player-coach.
He said: "I have loved my time at Clitheroe, absolutely loved it. I have left before but unfortunately I have now left for the final time as a player.
"But I have loved every single minute of my time, through both the good times and the bad. No matter what occasion it was I have always been proud and privileged to pull on a blue shirt.
"It hasn't been an easy decision to leave, I can assure you that, because it is where my heart will always be. I love the place. "When people pull on that blue shirt they feel extremely proud and everyone tries their best. I have the blue of Clitheroe running through my veins."
"Reno" added: "The club has certainly got the stability and the potential to achieve success. The fan base is there, the nucleus of the team is there; we now have the new clubhouse and good stadium facilities so it would be nice for them to win a trophy. They deserve to be recognised and put back on the non-league map."
And the midfielder admits that he is not looking forward to meeting the club he loves when he pulls on the white shirt of Bamber Bridge, who finished one place and one point above Clitheroe last season.
"I am moving to further my career and I am relishing this new challenge at Bamber Bridge.
"I'm not looking forward to playing Clitheroe next year though. I left the club with a heavy heart but they will always be a part of me.
"I did a bit of everything at Clitheroe, whether it be as player, manager or player-manager but I'm going to Bamber Bridge as a player and I am looking forward to be judged on my ability as a football player.
"It will be sad not being able to complete my 10th year at the club but it's time to move on and see what I can do."
Clitheroe Chairman Carl Garner recently heaped praise on "Reno" for the time he spent at the club on Clitheroe's unofficial football club website "Blue Swayed Views".
The pair have spent many years together and the club and formed a "rock solid" friendship.
Reynolds said: "Words could not sum up what I want to say about Carl (Garner). We have come a long way together and I class him as one of my best friends in football.
"He has always had belief in the club and has always believed in me. I just hope I did him proud. He is a fantastic guy and has given so much and worked incredibly hard for Clitheroe.
"Without him the club would certainly struggle. He has always stood by me and has been a rock for me. He's pushed the club on so far and people don't recognise the level of hard work that he and the rest of those behind the scenes have done.
"There is a lot of hard work on behind the scenes from everybody. Everyone chips in which is a big reason for the club's success. But you never know, we may work together again in the future."
He added: "I can't see myself returning as a manager just yet, certainly not in the short term anyway. I don't want to manage just yet. Managing Clitheroe took a lot out of me and I have a young family that I want to focus on and bring up.
"If the opportunity arises in a few years time and myself and the club was still as hungry then I'd definitely take the chance. I will reassess my options when it comes round to it. I never want to say never though because I know I have unfinished business at Clitheroe as a manager. It is certainly a dream of mine to return sometime in the future."
And in a parting word he said: "The fans have been rock solid for me and the club and I wish them all the success for the future. The Clitheroe score will be the first result I look out for on a Saturday and I will still be in touch from time to time to see how they've got on. I just don't want anybody to think that I have taken this decision lightly.
"There has been a number of issues and reasons behind why I have left the club. It just felt like the right decision. But I hope Peter (Smith) can take them from strength to strength as a manager and give the club the success that it craves and deserves. I really hope they win something in the near future."
He added that he wanted to say a big thank you to everybody involved with the club including sponsor David Fish, Carl Garner, Peter Smith, the fans, Ann Barker, Colin Wilson, Reg Lawson, Margaret and Ian Rimmer, Andy and Vicki Pratt, Keith Lord and everybody involved with the new clubhouse.
Chairman Carl Garner, who has known Reno for seven years, said: "I would like to thank him for everything he's brought to the club over the past two seasons, he took us to the top of our league which was no mean achievement, even if it didn't last too long and we've had some great cup scalps too.
"The relationship we had between chairman and manager was second to none and I've never met anyone in my life who saw football exactly as I saw it and had the same goals and ambition for Clitheroe FC. I will miss him badly."
"I totally understand his reasons for leaving and I want to wish him all the best and the greatest success for the future. One day somewhere down the line I hope will return to complete unfinished business here and become the great manager he has shown us he can be."
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Weather for Clitheroe
Friday 25 May 2012
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