Legends

Paul Ratcliffe

Joining the club in 2006, Paul Ratcliffe made the one of the most significant contributions to the club in it’s most recent history. After 26 years of waiting, as Chairman Paul oversaw the promotion from the North West Counties into the Northern Premier League alongside a project of major regeneration and development of the club off the field. 

On 28th February 2022, Town were dealt the devastating news that Paul had passed away after a short illness. The club duly announced that his Wife was to become Life President of the Club in honour of Paul’s memory and on Saturday 26th March 2022, we held a Memorial Day on the national Non-League Day.

Furthermore the club subsequently opened the Paul Ratcliffe Lounge and named the Paul Ratcliffe Supporters Player of the Year trophy in his memory.

Watch the video to find out more about the opening of the Paul Ratcliffe Lounge.

jim blakeman

Jim was a lifelong supporter of the club serving in many roles including Club President until his passing in 2023.

A very successful business man, Jim had the interests of the club at heart and supported many projects beyond his chairmanship ending.

Colin Spencer

During an association of 44 years, Colin served in a number of roles, finally developing his passion as groundsman producing one of the best playing surfaces in Staffordshire, winning many grounds person of the year awards and plaudits from the local football community.

In 2019 the club reported:

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of long term servant and groundsman Colin Spencer over the weekend. Colin was Castle through and through, his work and dedication to the club will never be seen again and his daily presence at the Lyme Valley will be sorely missed by many.

All of the local non league football scene will join us in sending our best wishes to the family and in remembering one of non leagues greats!

The outpouring of emotion on the clubs social media pages showed the depth of feeling and loss the football community had. ​

The club paid tribute to Colin in a special match between the Newcastle Town Legends (managed by Dean Gillick) and the 2010 title winning side (managed by Greg Clowes) at the end of the 2019-2020 season. ​Further more, the club opened the Colin Spencer Boardroom in 2022 joined by Colin’s family for the day.

Prior to his passing, Colin recording an interview with Robin Grey which you can listen to here.

Steve Wilmore

‘Will’ as he was known was a driving force behind the start of a youth development at the football club in and around 1995. 

We caught up with Steve at the opening of our 3G pitch at Roe Lane Playing Fields in June 2023, where he explained all about that journey.