Cup king rewarded with new deal

The Colls boss penned a new deal to keep him at the Kensite Stadium until 2020 on Friday, 48 hours after adding a third cup triumph to two promotions and titles on Wednesday night at Alfreton's Impact Arena with a 2-1 victory over Coalville Town in the Northern Premier League's showpiece cup final.

Appointed in 2014, the Colls boss collected his latest winner's medal from Integro's Barry Greenlees and NPL chairman Mark Harris, courtesy of goals either side of the break from Joshua Messer, on eight minutes when he nodded home his first in five years at Alder Street on his 150th appearance, and Jordan Cover after 65 minutes, Nathan Watson replying for the Ravens with six minutes of normal time to play.

Clegg took Colls the 2017 North West Counties Football League champions up into EVO-STIK League North and officials at Alder Street hailed his commitment to stay in a statement on Friday.

The club said: "Atherton Collieries are proud to announce that manager Michael Clegg has reaffirmed his commitment to the club. Cleggy has lead the club and our supporters on an unthinkable journey over the last four seasons, winning a third cup from six finals on Wednesday night's trip to Alfreton, alongside two league titles and promotions and countless other unforgettable memories."

Clegg said: “I’m delighted to commit to my hometown club. I feel the momentum we have now is something I couldn’t contemplate walking away from. The fans on Wednesday were terrific, and that sealed it for me. The aim now is simple. It’s to progress each year, and to keep raising our profile."

He added: "The current squad are as good as anything I’ve seen, they are a great bunch. They keep you on your toes but they are all a pleasure to be around! It makes me extremely proud to be the man chosen to keep the club moving forward.”

Clegg kicked off his reign by doing the North West Counties First Division and Bolton Hospital Cup double in his first season, as well as reaching the NWCFL League Cup and NWCFL First Division Cup finals. As well winning the NWCFL title with 100 points last season, Clegg also took them on a record-breaking run to the last 16 of the Buildbase FA Vase.

* For the first time ever, the NPL's final was shown live on Facebook for fans who couldn't be in Derbyshire. The broadcast attracted nearly 8,000 views on Facebook alone after kicking off the latest phase in the EVO-STIK League's NPLTV project.

The final was shown in partnership with 29red.com after April's 2018 NPL Player of the Year Awards in Barnsley won a massive worldwide audience of more than three hundred thousand views on Twitter and over ten thousand more on Facebook as Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder honoured the stars of the NPL's historic 50th anniversary season.

Images courtesy of Onionbag Photography & @evostikleague/Twitter

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