Ex-Bury midfielder Neil Danns bids fond farewell to Radcliffe

The former Bury and Bolton midfielder said his stay at the Neuven Stadium was always going to be short-term but will be forever grateful to Boro for giving him the chance to get fit and enjoy his football.

The Guyana international, capped 17 times by his county, played three times for Lee Fowler’s side since joining last month after his departure from Tranmere Rovers last season.

But despite being 37, Danns believes he can do still a job at a higher level and jumped at the chance of joining a club in the top tier of non-league football – two divisions above Boro.

“With the pandemic and everything that has been going on, it has been tough for smaller clubs and it has been tough for players to find clubs,” he told the club website.

“Once I left Tranmere last year, I was looking for a club at the time ideally I wanted to stay in the league but with all the financial constraints with football at the minute that was tough to find a club that fitted me.

“So obviously once Radcliffe gave me the call, it was a no brainer really. I needed somewhere to play, get fit and enjoy my football and Radcliffe was a perfect opportunity.

“It isn’t too far away from where I live so that helped in that respect and if I am honest it was only going to be short-term, I think I still have something to offer higher up in the leagues.

“I was excited and thankful for the opportunity to get playing again.”

Danns played three times for Boro, against Gainsborough Trinity and Whitby Town in the league and Bamber Bridge in the FA Trophy and in that time the former Crystal Palace and Leicester City star said he liked what he saw at the club.

“I really had a good time at Radcliffe and the club is definitely going places,” he added. “You can just see with the way the manager has got the team set up.

“The fans are really positive and they really want what is best for the club. I think Radcliffe is a great little club, a club that I feel will playing its trade higher up in the leagues and I think with everything going on it might take a bit of time but the club is definitely going in the right direction.

He added: “I think the club plays a good brand of football and the players they have got there have definitely adapted to the way the manager wants them to play.

“I can definitely see some of the lads playing higher up in the pyramid.

“The type of football they are playing there, I’m sure a lot of them will get noticed.

“It really is a good thing that the manager has got going there and even for the manager and Thommo (David Thompson) and the club I can see it progressing to much higher level.”

Despite the short stay, Danns said he will be keeping up to date with Radcliffe’s progress in the Northern Premier League.

“I’m hoping the future holds promotion for the club obviously it is really tough at this moment in time with Covid stopping a lot of clubs from getting on a run,” he said.

“I think that has happened with Radcliffe, it is hard to field your strongest 11 so it is hard to get the momentum going.

“I’m sure after everything passes the club can start moving up the table and get to where I think it should be which at the very least should be the Conference North.

“I will be keeping an eye out for results and keeping in contact with the people at the club and I wish nothing but the best for the club.

“I’m really thankful for the opportunity that they gave me to play some games. Radcliffe is a club I will keep an eye out for now and I am really appreciative for the opportunity given to me by the manager, owner and players.”

The club thanked Danns for his “continued professionalism” during his stay and boss Fowler was also full of praise.

“In the short time Neil was with the club, he was superb both on and off the pitch,” he said. “He was a real coup for the club and there is always that worry that a talented player like Neil will be cherry picked by teams higher up than ourselves.

“We wish him all the best with the move and the rest of the season.”