WILKES TO HIT 1300 GAME MILESTONE

Steve Wilkes celebrating a managerial career about to enter its 29th year!

It was 1997 when a former professional footballer with Wigan Athletic and Preston North End took his first tentative steps into management.

Some 28 and a bit years later from putting his first team out with Darwen FC, Stephen Brian Wilkes will celebrate his 1,300th match as a manager when Pilkington visit tomorrow.

58-year-old Steve, who joined Ramsbottom United at the start of the 2023/24 season, has earned the respect of the local footballing fraternity through his longevity in a role which has seen him manage six different club, all with successes along the way.

The former midfielder in the Football League with Preston, where he played just three games before switching to Southport and Morecambe having started out in the youth ranks at Wigan Athletic, his pro career was cut short in 1989 when he was involved in a car crash, breaking his right femur.

He did recover and enjoyed for spells at Bamber Bridge and Darwen before deciding to hang up his boots and take on the managerial role at the Anchor Ground.

With former Ramsbottom United defender Phil Rose as his captain at Darwen, Steve would spend seven years with the club before moving down the M65 and taking over at Padiham for the first of two spells at The Arbories.

He left to take on the position at Runcorn Linnets for some two and a half years and then had a short time at Ashton Athletic before going back to Padiham once more, where he would enjoy his most successful period of his managerial career.

He guided the Storks to the NWCFL Premier Division title in 2013, taking them into the Northern Premier League for the first time in their history.

Working with a decidedly small budget, they escaped relegation in their first season, finishing in 19th place and would stay with the Well Street outfit for some 500 games until 2017 and then he would move to Northwich Victoria.

A club with a mixed recent history, Steve spent six years with them, offering them a little bit of stability on the field even if on it, there were considerable hurdles.

But he would lead the supporter-led club with great aplomb including a historical run in the FA Vase where he took the Vics to a memorable semi-final and a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat at eventual winners Chertsey Town having held the Surrey side to a 0-0 second leg scoreline – the game finishing 1-1 on aggregate.

The club also finished fourth in that season and a fifth-place ending in 2022/23 season was more than acceptable for the club but he decided to call time on his time with them, aiming for a break from the game and take time with his wife and family.

However, a phone call from his former skipper at Darwen, lead sponsor and now President at Ramsbottom United came and he was very happy to take on the Rammy mantle with the aim to take them back to the great times again.

Of course, such a long and very proud career wouldn’t have happened without his very supportive family and Steve paid tribute to them as he looked forward to celebrating the significant milestone.

“I am proud of the achievement is an understatement,” he said, having dried out from his 1,299th managerial match on Tuesday, having never seen a football match wrecked in such a way.  “I remember my first game as manager of Darwen back in August 1997, a 1-1 draw away at Congleton.  I believe a bloke called Pep celebrated 1,000 last weekend … is that all?!

“On a serious note, I’d like to thank every player that’s pulled on a short for me in the last 28 years.  There’s been some good times and some not so good times along the way but, honestly, I think the group of players I have with me at Ramsbottom this season is possibly the best set of players I’ve had.  The Northwich Victoria team of 2019 runs a close second.

“My thanks also go to all my coaching staff that have had to put up with me when I’m in a bad mood.  But the biggest thank you of all goes to my family.  My three children, Louis, Zack and Olivia have given me huge support along the way.  I also get a phone call from my two grandchildren Freddie and William on a Saturday morning saying ‘Good luck Grandad’.

And, of course, my biggest supporter is my wife of 35 years, Alison.  Without her love, support and encouragement and being there when the dark days are around, I wouldn’t have made it to 100 games, never mind 1,300.  So thank you Alison for being there.”

Many of his family members will be at Saturday’s game at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium to celebrate his landmark match with him.  We congratulate him on his outstanding record – he has a 67.2% win rate as Ramsbottom manager in the last two seasons, which ranks him as one of our most successful. 

Carry on Steve – we love having you!