LEADING Radcliffe into the National League for the first time in their history has given Nicky Adams just as much pleasure as the goal he scored on his Bury debut nearly two decades ago.

The cheeky Breighmet teen who netted at Darlington back in 2005 went on to play more than 600 professional games for the likes of Leicester City, Crawley, Rochdale, Carlisle and Northampton. And next season he will return to where it all began as Boro tackle former Football League clubs like Darlo, Hereford United, Chester and Southport on equal footing.

The Northern Premier title was confirmed on Saturday – Adams watched by his fiancée Megan and kids Kiera, Archie, Violet and Sonny among a 2,500-strong crowd at the Neuven Stadium.

It marked the high point for a club which has never lacked ambition to push into the top tiers of the non-league but has never previously been able to pull it off.

Managed by former Salford City bosses Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson, Radcliffe won the league with games to spare and sit 10 points clear of Macclesfield.

Though realising the dream has been a pinch yourself moment for Adams, now 37, he says the club’s drive was evident from the first day of pre-season. He told The Bolton News: “We were on the training pitch at Goshen and the gaffer asked us: ‘Lads, where do you want to take this club?’ And we all agreed we wanted to win the league.

“You look at the players they had brought in and just knew we had that chance. From the first day game at Warrington, we blew them away 4-0 at their place, and it just set the tone for the whole season.

“The manager wanted us to play front-foot, I think we scored more than 100 league goals, we took Barnet all the way in the FA Trophy, it has been a top season and I don’t think we have anything to fear in the next league at all.

“They are unchartered waters for this football club but we’re not going there to make numbers up, we’ll have a right good go.”

Radcliffe have brought in some familiar faces over the last couple of seasons in pursuit of success, among them ex-Wanderers stars like Jem Karacan, Harry Brockbank and Luca Navarro, plus former Port Vale man Luke Joyce.

And though it has taken investment to transform the team and the stadium – now a far cry from the Stainton Park of old – Adams has been impressed with the professional attitude shown.

“It is run fantastically from top to bottom – from the owner Marcus McCabe, the chairman Paul Hilton, people like Bernard Manning Jnr who is still with the cub and has been there for years and years, it’s those people who deserve it,” he said.

“They brought two top managers in, the best in non-league football, their record is proven.

“But when I joined them people probably said: ‘He’s 35 now, Nicky has probably gone to see out his last few years.’ But I knew where they wanted to take this football club. They had ambition.

“We went close last year, we were good but didn’t quite have enough, but it was a big factor bringing Jonno and Bernard in. The quality they have added has been incredible.

“The owner and chairman said that when they took over the club there was 70 people watching but 2,500 just watched us lift the trophy and we’re averaging 1,500 every week. It is amazing.”

Adams has done his coaching badges but is in no hurry to end his playing days any time soon.

Eyeing his 40th year as a ‘possible’ finishing line, he has lost none of the zest for football that he had breaking through under Chris Casper at Gigg Lane back in the day.

“I still remember talking to you after my debut,” he said. “But you know me, I still play like I’m that 18-year-old looking to make my mark. I know I’m the ripe old age of 37 but I want to win and enjoy playing football with a smile on my face.

“I’m not finishing yet – I get a lot of grief off the other lads and they call me ‘Old Man’ but I have always kept myself fit. I know I’m daft as a brush off the pitch but I take it seriously, I want to win. I’m not as quick as I once was but I still think I’ve got a few years ahead of me and I still want to lead the team and win football matches.”

“It’s mad that I could be playing at Darlington again next year and that it could come a full circle.

“Scoring there as a kid and now coming to play against them again. They are another club who have been in the Football League and the pyramid in this country is incredible, it is so rich in terms of the quality of clubs right the way down. It is going to be brilliant and we are going to enjoy every minute of it.”