| End of an era 09:47 - Jan 2 with 5834 views | R17ALE |
I'm sure there are plenty on here who have had him knock at your door collecting goldbond and the like, but after a magnificent 20 year stint, Superfan Cloughie is calling it a day this week due to his health not being what it was.
Over the twenty years, Cloughie has mithered the good burghers of Littleborough into parting with nearly half a million quid for his beloved club.
As the person who persuaded him to start doing it back in 1992, it seems only right that I start off by saying well done Cloughie and thank you.
The bike is being hung up, though it wouldn't be out of place in our trophy cabinet! |  |
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| End of an era on 09:51 - Jan 2 with 3718 views | mr_fri_night |
Here here!
He went out in all weathers on that Bicycle.
I know if I had any of my learners who struggled when dealing with cyclists on the road, I would head upto Littleborough as there wasn't many a day in the week when you wouldn't see Cloughie peddling the streets! |  | | |
| End of an era on 10:00 - Jan 2 with 3642 views | PDIDDY |
great effort, clubs like ours need folk like cloughie   |  |
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| End of an era on 10:09 - Jan 2 with 3635 views | electricblue |
Wow £500k over 20yrs the club are surely going to miss him sorry the money...
Your health comes before all.
Surely after his efforts the club can afford a few tickets here and there.. |  |
| My all time favourite Dale player Mr Lyndon Symmonds |
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| End of an era on 10:18 - Jan 2 with 3603 views | R17ALE |
To put it more into perspective, based on his covering ten miles per week (which is probably half what he covered weekly), his total mileage covered would have seen him fall short of Australia by just 162 miles.
20 miles per week would have nearly taken him around the world. [Post edited 1 Jan 1970 1:00]
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| End of an era on 10:22 - Jan 2 with 3576 views | ColDale |
Cloughie's gold bond activity is the stuff of legends. There's even been times where he's left games early to start his round on a Saturday evening. |  | | |
| End of an era on 10:26 - Jan 2 with 3560 views | mr_fri_night |
| End of an era on 10:22 - Jan 2 by ColDale |
Cloughie's gold bond activity is the stuff of legends. There's even been times where he's left games early to start his round on a Saturday evening. |
Left games early? And he calls himself a fan!  | | | |
| End of an era on 10:34 - Jan 2 with 3520 views | TVOS1907 |
"Evening. I've no news. Fookin 'ell."
And all said on your doorstep at the top of his voice with something dripping out of his nose.
What a Dale legend. They should rename part of Spotland as Cloughie Corner.
Anyway, I did an interview with the great man for the Darlington TVOS, which I've reproduced here for those who want to know more about him.
Chances are, if you live in or around Littleborough, you will have had David Clough knocking on your door at some point.
There’s also the likelihood that if you have been driving through Littleborough, you might have nearly knocked David Clough off his bike!
For those of you who are still in the dark, David, or ‘Cloughie’, as he likes to be called, was the winner of the Superfan 2008 competition which the club held in March.
Of the hundreds of vouchers given out by Dale supporters, more of Cloughie’s were handed over at the turnstiles ahead of the Chesterfield match than anybody else’s.
This success earned David the title ‘Superfan 2008’, which entitles him to a whole host of perks, one of which is an interview in The Voice of Spotland.
Not only is Cloughie a regular at Spotland himself, but he is far and away the club’s biggest Goldbond agent.
And it was perhaps fitting that when David turned up for his interview at the Editor’s house, he did so on a wet, miserable afternoon that typified the weather conditions he often has to work in.
Naturally, the first question was to ask him about his early days as a Dale fan.
“I first went to Spotland in 1948,” said the 66-year old, with the memories being as misty-eyed as the lenses on the spectacles he was wearing.
“My mum was a typical red head; she had a really bad temper and one day I must have been getting on her nerves.
“She shouted to my dad: “Take him out of my b****y sight,” so dad decided he’d keep me entertained at Spotland.
“I couldn’t tell you who Dale were playing, but I do know I was hooked and couldn’t wait to go again.”
Like many new fans, Cloughie’s first port-of-call was against the wall behind the Sandy Lane goal.
“I used to love seeing the ball bulge in the back of the net,” he reminisced. “I was only six and the players seemed to belt it harder than seemed possible.
“There was nothing else to do in those days, not like today, so the crowds were really big, even at Spotland.
“You could go to the Regal Theatre, where the Regal Moon is now, to see a show or a film, but nothing beat live football for me.
“In those days you could walk all around the ground as well. I used to like to watch the forwards in one half and the defenders in the next, so we often walked round to get a better look.”
David has a fantastic memory for knowing whether you have paid your Goldbond or not, but he struggled to recall any notable games from his 60 years as a Dale fan.
“I do remember us playing Charlton in the FA Cup in the 1950s,” he said. “Their goalkeeper, Sam Bartram, was the England ‘keeper at the time and it was brilliant to see him at Spotland.
“I also remember us throwing away a 3-1 lead against Colchester in the FA Cup in 1971. They drew 3-3 and stuffed us down there and then beat Leeds in the next round.
“Imagine that? The likes of Hunter, Gray, Sprake and Bremner at Spotland, but it wasn’t to be.”
Dale reached that tie against Colchester after beating Coventry in one of the club’s most famous victories. Sadly, Cloughie missed the Coventry game due to work commitments.
“I was working at Whittle’s Bakery at the time and had to work on the Monday afternoon,” he recalls ruefully. “I know a lot of people were ‘ill’ that day, but I don’t think I would have got away with it!”
David started off driving the delivery vans for Whittle’s before graduating to being a dough maker. And it was through his work at the bakery that he got into collecting for Goldbond.
“A bloke who worked with me, Dave Jenkins, had heard from his nephew that the club were looking for someone to sell scratchcards and collect Goldbond money in Littleborough.
“I said I’d give it a go at work and did really well, so I went back to the club and asked for more. I managed to get rid of all them as well and before I knew it, my round was massive and had me traipsing all over Littleborough.
“I had been collecting pools money for three years, so I was already out and about, but the Goldbond meant I was out for longer.
“It was all for the club, though, and I got to meet loads of people, so it was very worthwhile. A lot of those people are still in the draw now even though they have never won anything from it.
“And it’s funny really, as I now collect from the new houses that have been built where the bakery once was!”
Cloughie and his bike are common sights around Littleborough, but we wondered how many of them he had got through.
“I’ve actually got three bikes,” he told us. “Although I reckon I could do with a new one! I used to keep them in the garage until my wife passed away, so now I can get away with storing them in the spare room!”
However, one of David’s bikes almost bit the dust when he was attempting to record how many miles he did in a normal week.
“My collecting week runs from Saturday teatime to Friday night, so one week I decided I’d measure the distance I travelled.
“I bought a nice new milometer and fitted it to the bike. It was working perfectly until a big dog ran at me at Hollingworth Lake. I fell off the bike and broke the milometer, so I wasn’t able to record the distance for the rest of the week.”
Cloughie laughed as he told us this story, although some other incidents weren’t as amusing.
“Some lads tried to mug me once,” he recalled. “But all I had one me were results sheets and agents filling-in sheets.
“I reported it to the police and asked them to follow me next time I was on that route. They promised to ring me back to confirm whether it would be possible, but I’m still waiting for the call.
“It’s also not nice when people moan at me because they haven’t won. “Aren’t my numbers in there?” is the usual question, but I tell them that I don’t do the draw and if they want to go up to the club on a Saturday morning, they can watch the draw to see that it’s all done properly.
“Despite this, I do enjoy collecting, as it gets me out of the house and it’s nice when I get invited inside for a brew.”
David’s work for the club has seen him have close links with the commercial departments and its staff, but he also has a unique friendship with arguably the club’s greatest ever player, Reg Jenkins.
“When Reg first came to Rochdale from Devon he was lodging with a couple up Wardle,” he recalled.
“The couple moved house a few years later and came to live on the same street as me in Littleborough. Reg used to visit them quite a lot, so I made a point of introducing myself and we became good friends.
“When we had the Centenary Dinner at the Town Hall last May, Reg’s wife, Norma, remembered me and flung her arms around me like I was a long lost cousin. It was very emotional.”
Of course, Jenkins played in the Rochdale side that won promotion in 1969, but rather than look back wistfully at those days, Cloughie prefers to look forward and embrace what has happened at Spotland over the last 18 months.
“Hilly has done a superb job,” said David. “He gets players to play in their best positions and the results have proved he is right.
“Look at Rundle. He has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months because he is being allowed to do what he does best — play on the left wing. I really enjoy watching him take on the full-backs.
“But Mr Parkin wouldn’t allow it and I couldn’t really understand why because he signed Rundle and several other players in the first place.”
Having watched Dale for nigh on 60 years, David must have some funny stories to tell about all the hours he’s spent at Spotland.
“Not really,” he quickly answered. “It’s been deadly serious because we’ve always been struggling.”
Those words sum up David Clough and many thousands of Dale fans who have gone before him and who will no doubt come in later years.
Down to earth, honest and most of all, 100% committed to supporting their club through thick and thin.
We’re all super fans really, but Cloughie took on the challenge posed by the club and proved himself to be perhaps just that little bit more super than the rest of us.
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| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| End of an era on 10:37 - Jan 2 with 3505 views | TVOS1907 |
| End of an era on 10:26 - Jan 2 by mr_fri_night |
Left games early? And he calls himself a fan! |
TalkingSutty took his guidance from Cloughie. | |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| End of an era on 11:08 - Jan 2 with 3431 views | Albert_Whitehurst |
£500k over 20 years...where's the money Dunphy..? Get it spent..!! :-)
So I'm assuming Mr. Clough has to relinquish his title as 'Superfan' now also....and am increasingly worried that there is no official announcement from the club as to who his replacement will be. The silence from the club is deafening etc etc...The transfer window is open shortly, without any known superfan taking up the mantle how can we hope to attract top players.
Sort it out Dale!
(ogrady1 style rant over) |  | | |
| End of an era on 19:42 - Jan 2 with 3051 views | RAFCBLUE |
| End of an era on 11:08 - Jan 2 by Albert_Whitehurst |
£500k over 20 years...where's the money Dunphy..? Get it spent..!! :-)
So I'm assuming Mr. Clough has to relinquish his title as 'Superfan' now also....and am increasingly worried that there is no official announcement from the club as to who his replacement will be. The silence from the club is deafening etc etc...The transfer window is open shortly, without any known superfan taking up the mantle how can we hope to attract top players.
Sort it out Dale!
(ogrady1 style rant over) |
Sadly I'm led to believe that's not all he's had to relinquish - as at the request of certainclub staff - his Goldbond season ticket was today withdrawn.
What a way to thank the most consistent off field performer and financial contributor for 19 years graft who was out in all weathers and also was one of the most recognisable parts of "Team Rochdale" in the town! Do our club really have that little class?
I'm sure there are rules that govern the Goldbond agent season ticket scheme but really does our club have no class in how we treat people? Would other professional clubs have treated Cloughie the same way as ours and/or marked his contribution in the same way?
Can't believe that Dunphy et al are aware (or if they are then shame on them), to me this smells of p*ss poor middle management. When we have a commercial department that brought in the same amount per man/woman as Cloughie did then fair enough.
I won't hold my breath mind!
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| End of an era on 19:46 - Jan 2 with 3021 views | ColDale |
| End of an era on 19:42 - Jan 2 by RAFCBLUE |
Sadly I'm led to believe that's not all he's had to relinquish - as at the request of certainclub staff - his Goldbond season ticket was today withdrawn.
What a way to thank the most consistent off field performer and financial contributor for 19 years graft who was out in all weathers and also was one of the most recognisable parts of "Team Rochdale" in the town! Do our club really have that little class?
I'm sure there are rules that govern the Goldbond agent season ticket scheme but really does our club have no class in how we treat people? Would other professional clubs have treated Cloughie the same way as ours and/or marked his contribution in the same way?
Can't believe that Dunphy et al are aware (or if they are then shame on them), to me this smells of p*ss poor middle management. When we have a commercial department that brought in the same amount per man/woman as Cloughie did then fair enough.
I won't hold my breath mind!
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I heard similar things today, but can only assume that the powers that be at the club would be equally horrified at such a decision. it's not even like we are talking about a full price season ticket - it'd be at OAP rate. I am sure this decision will be rectified before the end of the week. | | | |
| End of an era on 20:01 - Jan 2 with 2971 views | RAFCBLUE |
| End of an era on 19:46 - Jan 2 by ColDale |
I heard similar things today, but can only assume that the powers that be at the club would be equally horrified at such a decision. it's not even like we are talking about a full price season ticket - it'd be at OAP rate. I am sure this decision will be rectified before the end of the week. |
Fair comment Col but it shouldn't need rectifying!
The club could gift a life season ticket to the man and at 23 league games a year at OAP rates it would still only cost a tiny fraction of the financial contribution brought into the club over the last 19 years.
Bizarrely, I'm sat 190 miles away from Spotland and I seemingly possibly have a finger closer to the commercial pulse than "the powers that be". And I dont think for a minute that ill be the only one!
It smacks of no class whatsoever, but sadly did not come as an amazing surprise. | |
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| End of an era on 20:04 - Jan 2 with 2948 views | Albert_Whitehurst |
| End of an era on 20:01 - Jan 2 by RAFCBLUE |
Fair comment Col but it shouldn't need rectifying!
The club could gift a life season ticket to the man and at 23 league games a year at OAP rates it would still only cost a tiny fraction of the financial contribution brought into the club over the last 19 years.
Bizarrely, I'm sat 190 miles away from Spotland and I seemingly possibly have a finger closer to the commercial pulse than "the powers that be". And I dont think for a minute that ill be the only one!
It smacks of no class whatsoever, but sadly did not come as an amazing surprise. |
Are season tickets for Goldbond Agents controlled/distributed by the Club Shop...? I cannot imagine some reasoned person such a Colin Garlick would take this measure. | | | |
| End of an era on 20:04 - Jan 2 with 2948 views | Albert_Whitehurst |
| End of an era on 20:01 - Jan 2 by RAFCBLUE |
Fair comment Col but it shouldn't need rectifying!
The club could gift a life season ticket to the man and at 23 league games a year at OAP rates it would still only cost a tiny fraction of the financial contribution brought into the club over the last 19 years.
Bizarrely, I'm sat 190 miles away from Spotland and I seemingly possibly have a finger closer to the commercial pulse than "the powers that be". And I dont think for a minute that ill be the only one!
It smacks of no class whatsoever, but sadly did not come as an amazing surprise. |
Bum(p) [Post edited 1 Jan 1970 1:00]
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| End of an era on 20:25 - Jan 2 with 2885 views | R17ALE |
I advised Cloughie a couple of weeks ago to go into the shop today to offer his season ticket back. I was sure the staff would waive this offer in lieu of services rendered.
That it appears the staff actually asked for it back, just drives yet another wedge between the commercial department and the fanbase.
When will they ever learn to exercise a human touch when dealing with people?
I do hope the powers that be investigate this fully tomorrow, reinstate the season ticket, and reward Cloughie with an appropriate memento.
FFS: Half a million quid, and a trip as far as Australia over 20 years!! | |
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| End of an era on 20:39 - Jan 2 with 2844 views | RAFCBLUE |
| End of an era on 20:25 - Jan 2 by R17ALE |
I advised Cloughie a couple of weeks ago to go into the shop today to offer his season ticket back. I was sure the staff would waive this offer in lieu of services rendered.
That it appears the staff actually asked for it back, just drives yet another wedge between the commercial department and the fanbase.
When will they ever learn to exercise a human touch when dealing with people?
I do hope the powers that be investigate this fully tomorrow, reinstate the season ticket, and reward Cloughie with an appropriate memento.
FFS: Half a million quid, and a trip as far as Australia over 20 years!! |
When will they ever learn to exercise a human touch when dealing with people?
What?! Are we an organisation that needs to engage with people?
Not bothered about the commercial/fanbase wedge - that's not the issue in this instance although from the outside looking it needs addressing for the club to progress.
It's about the lack of recognition of an individual's contribution. If Cloughie was a player he'd have had a testimonial years ago. I must have missed the website article about the upcoming black tie dinner for his benefit.
HALF A MILLION QUID FFS! Worth more than most players we've sold and still quicker than Mark Leonard (without the bike) | |
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| End of an era on 20:53 - Jan 2 with 2791 views | Albert_Whitehurst |
| End of an era on 20:25 - Jan 2 by R17ALE |
I advised Cloughie a couple of weeks ago to go into the shop today to offer his season ticket back. I was sure the staff would waive this offer in lieu of services rendered.
That it appears the staff actually asked for it back, just drives yet another wedge between the commercial department and the fanbase.
When will they ever learn to exercise a human touch when dealing with people?
I do hope the powers that be investigate this fully tomorrow, reinstate the season ticket, and reward Cloughie with an appropriate memento.
FFS: Half a million quid, and a trip as far as Australia over 20 years!! |
FFS: Half a million quid, and a trip as far as Australia over 20 years!!
Wasn't that also Paul Williams' signing on fee..??? | | | |
| End of an era on 20:54 - Jan 2 with 2784 views | KenBoon |
4,570 in Spotland today. Probably about 50/50 in terms of fans. When we can only attract 2,250 for a home game against Preston North End, something is seriously wrong. No Manc Clubs playing today. Was everyone at Bury? |  | | |
| End of an era on 21:00 - Jan 2 with 2749 views | D_Alien |
| End of an era on 20:54 - Jan 2 by KenBoon |
4,570 in Spotland today. Probably about 50/50 in terms of fans. When we can only attract 2,250 for a home game against Preston North End, something is seriously wrong. No Manc Clubs playing today. Was everyone at Bury? |
In a word - ticketing
The floating fans won't have bothered looking beyond the "all-ticket, buy by 5pm on Friday" initial announcement.. They're not like us - glued to every morsel of publicity on the OS and on here!!! |  |
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| End of an era on 21:03 - Jan 2 with 2736 views | D_Dale |
| End of an era on 20:54 - Jan 2 by KenBoon |
4,570 in Spotland today. Probably about 50/50 in terms of fans. When we can only attract 2,250 for a home game against Preston North End, something is seriously wrong. No Manc Clubs playing today. Was everyone at Bury? |
Seems not, just 3095 at the Giggle.
But if Preston brought over 2000, it is disappointing - not only a derby game, but there should have been a 'bounce' due to the advent of a new manager and new players appearing, as well as the wish to get a change from the family after the long holiday! | | | |
| End of an era on 21:50 - Jan 2 with 2646 views | TalkingSutty |
| End of an era on 10:34 - Jan 2 by TVOS1907 |
"Evening. I've no news. Fookin 'ell."
And all said on your doorstep at the top of his voice with something dripping out of his nose.
What a Dale legend. They should rename part of Spotland as Cloughie Corner.
Anyway, I did an interview with the great man for the Darlington TVOS, which I've reproduced here for those who want to know more about him.
Chances are, if you live in or around Littleborough, you will have had David Clough knocking on your door at some point.
There’s also the likelihood that if you have been driving through Littleborough, you might have nearly knocked David Clough off his bike!
For those of you who are still in the dark, David, or ‘Cloughie’, as he likes to be called, was the winner of the Superfan 2008 competition which the club held in March.
Of the hundreds of vouchers given out by Dale supporters, more of Cloughie’s were handed over at the turnstiles ahead of the Chesterfield match than anybody else’s.
This success earned David the title ‘Superfan 2008’, which entitles him to a whole host of perks, one of which is an interview in The Voice of Spotland.
Not only is Cloughie a regular at Spotland himself, but he is far and away the club’s biggest Goldbond agent.
And it was perhaps fitting that when David turned up for his interview at the Editor’s house, he did so on a wet, miserable afternoon that typified the weather conditions he often has to work in.
Naturally, the first question was to ask him about his early days as a Dale fan.
“I first went to Spotland in 1948,” said the 66-year old, with the memories being as misty-eyed as the lenses on the spectacles he was wearing.
“My mum was a typical red head; she had a really bad temper and one day I must have been getting on her nerves.
“She shouted to my dad: “Take him out of my b****y sight,” so dad decided he’d keep me entertained at Spotland.
“I couldn’t tell you who Dale were playing, but I do know I was hooked and couldn’t wait to go again.”
Like many new fans, Cloughie’s first port-of-call was against the wall behind the Sandy Lane goal.
“I used to love seeing the ball bulge in the back of the net,” he reminisced. “I was only six and the players seemed to belt it harder than seemed possible.
“There was nothing else to do in those days, not like today, so the crowds were really big, even at Spotland.
“You could go to the Regal Theatre, where the Regal Moon is now, to see a show or a film, but nothing beat live football for me.
“In those days you could walk all around the ground as well. I used to like to watch the forwards in one half and the defenders in the next, so we often walked round to get a better look.”
David has a fantastic memory for knowing whether you have paid your Goldbond or not, but he struggled to recall any notable games from his 60 years as a Dale fan.
“I do remember us playing Charlton in the FA Cup in the 1950s,” he said. “Their goalkeeper, Sam Bartram, was the England ‘keeper at the time and it was brilliant to see him at Spotland.
“I also remember us throwing away a 3-1 lead against Colchester in the FA Cup in 1971. They drew 3-3 and stuffed us down there and then beat Leeds in the next round.
“Imagine that? The likes of Hunter, Gray, Sprake and Bremner at Spotland, but it wasn’t to be.”
Dale reached that tie against Colchester after beating Coventry in one of the club’s most famous victories. Sadly, Cloughie missed the Coventry game due to work commitments.
“I was working at Whittle’s Bakery at the time and had to work on the Monday afternoon,” he recalls ruefully. “I know a lot of people were ‘ill’ that day, but I don’t think I would have got away with it!”
David started off driving the delivery vans for Whittle’s before graduating to being a dough maker. And it was through his work at the bakery that he got into collecting for Goldbond.
“A bloke who worked with me, Dave Jenkins, had heard from his nephew that the club were looking for someone to sell scratchcards and collect Goldbond money in Littleborough.
“I said I’d give it a go at work and did really well, so I went back to the club and asked for more. I managed to get rid of all them as well and before I knew it, my round was massive and had me traipsing all over Littleborough.
“I had been collecting pools money for three years, so I was already out and about, but the Goldbond meant I was out for longer.
“It was all for the club, though, and I got to meet loads of people, so it was very worthwhile. A lot of those people are still in the draw now even though they have never won anything from it.
“And it’s funny really, as I now collect from the new houses that have been built where the bakery once was!”
Cloughie and his bike are common sights around Littleborough, but we wondered how many of them he had got through.
“I’ve actually got three bikes,” he told us. “Although I reckon I could do with a new one! I used to keep them in the garage until my wife passed away, so now I can get away with storing them in the spare room!”
However, one of David’s bikes almost bit the dust when he was attempting to record how many miles he did in a normal week.
“My collecting week runs from Saturday teatime to Friday night, so one week I decided I’d measure the distance I travelled.
“I bought a nice new milometer and fitted it to the bike. It was working perfectly until a big dog ran at me at Hollingworth Lake. I fell off the bike and broke the milometer, so I wasn’t able to record the distance for the rest of the week.”
Cloughie laughed as he told us this story, although some other incidents weren’t as amusing.
“Some lads tried to mug me once,” he recalled. “But all I had one me were results sheets and agents filling-in sheets.
“I reported it to the police and asked them to follow me next time I was on that route. They promised to ring me back to confirm whether it would be possible, but I’m still waiting for the call.
“It’s also not nice when people moan at me because they haven’t won. “Aren’t my numbers in there?” is the usual question, but I tell them that I don’t do the draw and if they want to go up to the club on a Saturday morning, they can watch the draw to see that it’s all done properly.
“Despite this, I do enjoy collecting, as it gets me out of the house and it’s nice when I get invited inside for a brew.”
David’s work for the club has seen him have close links with the commercial departments and its staff, but he also has a unique friendship with arguably the club’s greatest ever player, Reg Jenkins.
“When Reg first came to Rochdale from Devon he was lodging with a couple up Wardle,” he recalled.
“The couple moved house a few years later and came to live on the same street as me in Littleborough. Reg used to visit them quite a lot, so I made a point of introducing myself and we became good friends.
“When we had the Centenary Dinner at the Town Hall last May, Reg’s wife, Norma, remembered me and flung her arms around me like I was a long lost cousin. It was very emotional.”
Of course, Jenkins played in the Rochdale side that won promotion in 1969, but rather than look back wistfully at those days, Cloughie prefers to look forward and embrace what has happened at Spotland over the last 18 months.
“Hilly has done a superb job,” said David. “He gets players to play in their best positions and the results have proved he is right.
“Look at Rundle. He has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 12 months because he is being allowed to do what he does best — play on the left wing. I really enjoy watching him take on the full-backs.
“But Mr Parkin wouldn’t allow it and I couldn’t really understand why because he signed Rundle and several other players in the first place.”
Having watched Dale for nigh on 60 years, David must have some funny stories to tell about all the hours he’s spent at Spotland.
“Not really,” he quickly answered. “It’s been deadly serious because we’ve always been struggling.”
Those words sum up David Clough and many thousands of Dale fans who have gone before him and who will no doubt come in later years.
Down to earth, honest and most of all, 100% committed to supporting their club through thick and thin.
We’re all super fans really, but Cloughie took on the challenge posed by the club and proved himself to be perhaps just that little bit more super than the rest of us.
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8 45 am on New Years day morning and the weather in Littleborough was abysmal, it was absolutely driving rain and daylight had hardly broken. I was driving through the Borough and saw only one person, David Clough on his bike pushing Goldbond results through letter boxes.
In all honesty it was a sad sight, he was soaked through to the skin. When everybody was nursing hangovers from New years eve and probably fast asleep in there beds, Cloughy was doing his duty for the club. A true superfan, the like of which we will never see again.
The member of staff who took his season ticket off him needs to have a good look at themself, the day Cloughy has to pay to watch the Dale will be the day i stop going and i mean that !! |  | | |
| End of an era on 22:13 - Jan 2 with 2603 views | R17ALE |
Like I said RAFC BLUE, a rift.
It's absolutely disgraceful treatment of arguably Dale's greatest ever off pitch servant. Which is why the fans are hurting on this issue. | |
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| End of an era on 22:48 - Jan 2 with 2530 views | blackpoolcol |
I've had the pleasure of two spells working at the club with the gold bond and all I can say about Cloughie is that he is an absolute legend.
People talk about Big Reg and Jonah but this is a real legend of the club and he deserves all the accolades that he has had and will get from his fellow supporters.
To put it in perspective Cloughie covered from Littleborough Summit thru to the Lake, up towards Wardle then down to almost Hamer for the club and in reality this was around TEN large rounds
I can only hope that Cloughie will have an enjoyable long retirement from collecting and will be able to watch the full game including some evening games as he didnt get to many as he was that dedicated to his collecting.
I doff my cap to the king of the collectors and a true Legend!
Col |  |
| With my little stick of Blackpool Rock, along the promenade I'll stroll |
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