Stalwart to head up charity arm

The former assistant manager, keeper, striker and occasional physio, pictured, was unveiled as the head of the promotion-chasing EVO-STIK League South club's newly formed Frickley Athletic Community Foundation on Monday.

Stancliffe has a wealth of experience working in education and has been tasked with developing what officials are hailing as a "fantastic new project" encompassing a host of initiatives including Walking Football, football schools and camps on week nights, weekends and holidays.

Stancliffe, who's already started working on a number of initiatives before his official start date at the Big Fellas Stadium of 1 June, will also run a goalkeeping school with a team of FA and UEFA qualified coaches after being handed responsibility for boosting the club's community engagement and forging links with schools and community organisations.

Frickley Athletic director Ryan McKnight said: “It is great news that Stan is taking up this role. He has spent most of his working life in education undertaking a variety of roles. It is an exciting time for our football club and we are looking forward to developing the foundation to benefit our local community in the years to come.”

Stancliffe told the club's website: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the football club to continue to grow off the field. I am honoured that I have been offered this position to help grow a bond between the local community and the Football Club. The future is definitely bright and exciting for Frickley Athletic and the local community. #ForzaFrickley.”

The Blues have also been hailing their fans after a party of volunteers braved Britain's big freeze on Friday to finish erecting new perimeter fencing at Westfield Lane.

A Blues spokesman said: "The Frickley Crew aren't snowflakes! The club would like to say a massive thanks to the bold Mark Ainge and our superb volunteers who turned up and gave the 'Beast From The East' a sharp blow to the solar plexus and at the same time virtually completed the fencing work behind the town end goals and also repaired the sun roof in the Frank Hill Stand."

He added: "Respect is due to: Dennis Price, Gerry Wray, Terry McCroakam, Mark Ainge, 'Big Bad' Barry Johnson, Pete Bywater, Sam and his dad, sorry we didn't get your full names, and Marc Hyde and Doris. We salute you all, have a powerful weekend."

Images courtesy of Onion Bag Photography/@frickleyafc/Twitter

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