Wilcock hailed as best ever boss

In the three seasons since his appointment at Surrey Street in the summer of 2013, Wilcock, pictured, has taken the club from mid-table in the North West Counties Football League to an FA Vase final at Wembley and challenging for promotion to the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight this season.

The 47-year-old celebated his 200th game at the helm in the middle of November when his side beat Brighouse Town 2-0 at home in EVO-STIK NPL First Division North. Tomorrow (Saturday) they travel to the same opponents in the league with Wilcock boasting a win percentage of nearly 65 per cent, the best in their modern history since 1978.

Glossop North End matchday secretary Warren Nolan said: "Chris took over at Surrey Street in the summer of 2013 and not even he could have predicted the success he would bring to the club. In three seasons we have gone from a mid-table North West Counties side to a team that would not look out of place in the Evo-Stik's Premier Division."

Wilcock's sides have scored more than 400 goals since he took the helm and Nolan believes he can now lay claim to being the best manager in their history.

He said: "The club salutes Chris. In the modern era only two managers have managed more games, and one of these will be surpassed by him before Christmas. Yet nobody has a win rate like this or has won anywhere near as many games as our current gaffer.

"With attendances up year on year, the current fan base of old and new have been lucky to witness so much success and glory. The club continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of the club's most successful manager. The stats, open top bus parades and additions to the trophy cabinet all show how lucky we are to have such a top quality manager driving the bus."

Nolan also has a word for the Hillmen's assistant manager Lee Donafee. He added: "Lee has been by his side from the beginning and experienced all of the highs and all of the lows with the gaffer, who probably is not the easiest to work with at times!

"He has been influential on the bench and off the bench a few times as well. Always a character, he always has time for people and we are sure the success of this club owes some to Lee Donafee as well as Chris."

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