Pic: Russ Sheppard
NANTWICH TOWN‘S director of football Clive Jackson has been given a ‘long service award’ by the Northern Premier League for 33-years’ service to the Dabbers.
Jackson, known as ‘Mr Nantwich Town FC’, has been involved with the club since 1992 when he took over as manager from Peter Ward. He was just 28-years-old at the time making him the youngest manager the club has ever had in their history.
He was key to starting the youth set-up at Nantwich that is doing so well today, and also lead the club in becoming one of the first sides to receive Charter Standard from the FA in 2003, just a couple of years after it had been launched.
Moving upstairs in 1998 to become the club’s chairman he was still a key figure at the club and his finest moment as chairman came in May 2006, when Nantwich Town beat Hillingdon Borough 3-1 to lift the FA Vase.
The following season, the Dabbers moved into their new Weaver Stadium home, which Jackson was so instrumental in building planning.
Nantwich continue to prosper and are second in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier this season under boss Phil Parkinson.
Dabbers chairman Tony Davison said: “It’s great to recognize Clive and all his work that he has done for Nantwich Town FC. Without him we wouldn’t be in the fantastic position that we are in now and the first class ground that we call home.
“It’s down to his hard work that we are where we are today and I think it’s right that he has received this award.”
Meanwhile, Jackson said: “It’s an honour to receive the award and it doesn’t feel like five minute 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 an excellent day to St Andrew’s. 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 to see.
“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 that we have come even in the last ten years or so.”
