Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to a hard-working football club chairman who is remembered as "Mr Radcliffe".

Radcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton died suddenly last month aged 43.

Paul joined the club in 2016 as the club sat in the Northern Premier League West Division, with crowds of two figures on a weekly basis.

Radcliffe eventually gained promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2019, winning 2-1 in the play-off final against Leek Town after a second-placed finish behind near neighbours Atherton Collieries.

After a couple of Covid-hit seasons, the club maintained their place in the division with a mid-table finish in the 2021/22 campaign, before finishing eighth in the 2022/23 season.

And last season, the Boro finished top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division to become champions and gain promotion to the National League North, with an average attendance of 1,400.

Off the field, Paul worked incredibly hard to transform not only the club, but the town as a whole.

Radcliffe FC chairman Paul HiltonRadcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton (Image: Supplied) Radcliffe FC chairman Paul HiltonRadcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton (Image: Supplied) He played a major part in helping the club gain a three-star FA accreditation, introducing a women’s team, deaf team and almost 100 junior teams.

Paul also helped to create the town’s first-ever 3G astroturf facility on Red Bank Playing Fields, which is now used by hundreds of people daily.

On Thursday, October 17, hundreds of people turned out to see Paul return to the Neuven Stadium for one final time, before going to Blackley Crematorium for his funeral, and to be buried.

It was an emotional day as his friends, family and colleagues paid for their respects and said their final goodbyes.

Radcliffe FC chairman Paul HiltonRadcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton (Image: Supplied) Radcliffe FC chairman Paul HiltonRadcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton (Image: Supplied) A club spokesperson added: "Paul's passing sent a shockwave through the club and the local community, as we lost a man that worked tirelessly to put smiles on faces and create memories that'll last a lifetime.

"It was a sudden loss which the club is working hard to overcome.

"But we now have the closure we need to move on, and remember the life and legacy of a man we now refer to as 'Mr Radcliffe'."