The Ben Radcliffe story...

It’s Christmas Day 2009 or ‘Christmassssssssssssssss’ as Noddy Holder might shout!

Stacey Slater has just smashed the Queen Vic bust over Archie Mitchell’s head in EastEnders, Terry Wogan has completed his last ever breakfast show on Radio 2, and in the football world England have recently confirmed a bid to host the 2018 World Cup (long story is that one).

Ben Radcliffe (complete with the grin) signing his contract at The Rams.
(Photo: Derby County FC).

Meanwhile, little six-year-old Ben Radcliffe, bouncing around and fueled by the same infectious energy which has never left him, is beaming, buzzing and has a massive grin on his face because he knows just a few days later his dad will be taking him to watch his first ever live football match.

It’s Bolton Wanderers against Hull City in the Premier League!

As he walks through the turnstiles for that night game on Tuesday 29th December (coat no doubt zipped up because it’s cold at that time of year and probably with a Bolton shirt on underneath), then drifts through the concourse and eventually climbs the steps up to the stand, as the illuminated Reebok Stadium appears before his eyes and his face lights up with joy and excitement, his very first memory inside a football stadium has just been created.

It’s something he’ll remember forever and, from a Bolton Wanderers mad family, it’s a happy start to his football life as the Trotters race into a 2-0 lead; Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies on the score-sheet, only for them to be pegged back by two goals from Stephen Hunt - cue groans and grumbles about Gary Megson from the home fans who weren't happy about dropping points!

At least it wasn’t 0-0...

Football often works in peculiar ways and, fast-forward thirteen and a bit years to the present day, Hunty, the pantomime villain that night, is nowadays Ben’s agent who has just helped him finalise the next move in his career - a move to Derby County.

Burton Albion’s decision to release Radders (as everyone knows him) is mind-blowing - and even writing this over a month after it was announced, I still can’t fathom the rationale or logic behind it. It makes zero sense whatsoever and is one of the most bizarre contract decisions I’ve seen anywhere in recent times.

And that’s because of the hundreds of young players I’ve watched over the past few seasons, Ben is right at the very top amongst those who’ve impressed me most with a brilliant attitude to match his undoubted ability on the pitch which he’s proved on so many different occasions.

On loan at Banbury United in the National League North last season under the tutelage of Andy Whing and Craig Pead (who couldn’t have been better father figures to mentor him and help develop his fledgling career), Radders produced quality performance after quality performance to rack up 43 league appearances in total. He chipped in with goals - including the one against Alfreton to secure the Puritans' safety from relegation, consolidated a place in the starting line-up, scooped the ‘Young Player Of The Year’ award, also won the ‘Player Of The Month’ for April, developed a long-lasting bromance with Alex Babos (top guy and a player himself who was once on the books at Pride Park; football provides these little quirks of fate) and he won the hearts of every Banbury supporter with his committed, passionate, enthusiastic and heart-on-sleeve displays.

Whether he was at right-back, in midfield, somewhere else, or even kitted out as Luigi (got to mention the Christmas night out), his character, enthusiasm, infectious personality and that daft grin resonated with so many different people. He was sublime, just as I saw when I watched him right at the end of last season.

‘Never fall in love with a loan player’ as fans often say, but in 4,000 minutes or so on the pitch in a Banbury shirt, he created so many more than 4,000 memories - and what a wonderful legacy to leave to fans at a club by a lad who still has so much still ahead of him!

There’s not many teenagers who could be thrown into a new environment, handle the physicality, cope, adapt and absolutely thrive but this is Ben Radcliffe we’re talking about - a humble, hard-working, passionate, dedicated and just an incredible person who is determined to do his best and make his family proud of him.

And not bad either for someone who ‘didn’t even know what a Banbury was’ when he initially signed on loan last August but isn’t half glad now that he knew the place to go and got that absolutely invaluable experience under his belt.

Celebrating the goal which kept Banbury in the National League North
(and his Instagram profile photo for the past few months).

My first introduction to Ben was actually a good year before his jaunt to Oxfordshire - playing in a Youth Alliance game for Burton Albion at Doncaster Rovers, wearing the No.4 shirt, and memorable because he rifled a shot into the top corner from 25 yards to put the Brewers 1-0 up!

And even though his spell at Burton has now come to an end after seven seasons (and I still can’t fathom the logic) he’s packed in so many memories to treasure.

From being awarded his scholarship just before Covid to that cold Tuesday night in Stoke-on-Trent when it went to extra-time, beating Southampton, to walking out wearing the captain’s armband at Villa Park in the FA Youth Cup (don’t worry I won’t mention the score), that goal against Doncaster, the BBC competition he won, going out on his first loan and scoring on his debut for Mickleover against Grantham, picking up the ‘Scholar Of The Year’ award and signing his first pro contract, a 90th minute scissor-kick with his lefty (his own words; not one to exaggerate) against Scunthorpe in another youth team game, the banter, the laughs, the stories in the dressing room and the friendships he’s created, to the crowning moment a few months back when he stepped onto the Pirelli Stadium pitch and made his Football League debut in the yellow ‘Radcliffe 30’ shirt which he’ll probably keep forever. It’s been one hell of a journey.

So, when he reads this and the memories come flooding back, there’s certainly plenty to reflect on, take in and smile about. Fond times indeed!

The best characteristic about Radders is that he offers so much more than just his ability on a football pitch though.

He is a lad who took on extra studies in the past to give himself the best chance of being successful in life, should things not work out in football. He’s someone who’ll throw himself ‘head on’ into uncomfortable situations where others won’t through either fear or being judged or embarrassment, and who has a passion and energy that is just so uplifting for everyone to be around.

He is that good, he has the best qualities a person can have, and recognising his values is probably why he was handed the youth team captaincy at Burton in his first-year scholarship - and why Derby have brought him to Pride Park.

On his EFL debut against Cambridge United just a few months ago.
(Photo: Burton Albion F.C.).

There’s a video on YouTube where Sir Bobby Robson talks about Gary Speed and discusses the positive effect he had on everyone who came into contact with him - from his team-mates to the tea ladies, the back office staff, and everyone else connected with the football club.

And I can spot the parallels with Ben Radcliffe!

To be able to go into a dressing room and instantly lift any gloom, just by his big smile which is enough to brighten everyone on their darkest day, have the ability to instantly connect with others and super-glue everyone together through his attitude, personality and enthusiasm are fantastic characteristics. To be able to be one of the lads; have decent banter (he’s 6ft4 before anyone asks) is class. And to be that one reliable person who can help others when they’re struggling and need it most is such a powerful trait.

Like everyone, he does have flaws. His singing in pre-match warm-ups (witnessed a few times) is often so out of tune it scares the local wildlife and he’s certainly more ‘No Direction’ than ‘One Direction’ who won’t be troubling the charts anytime soon, but he’s a leader who’ll pull people together in the trenches - and of the hundreds of young players I’ve watched, only a very small handful have impressed me so much.

To have them all that at such a young age - wow. It’s phenomenal.

It’s impossible not to love him and he’s a credit to himself, his parents who couldn’t have wished for a better son (unless the radio is on and he’s giving them earache), and everyone who has helped him get to where is today and become the quality person that he is!

It doesn’t surprise me one bit that he’s bagged on his debut for the Rams at Matlock today - again that’s just Ben Radcliffe, I couldn’t be happier for him, and I just hope this piece has given him the accolade he deserves as he embarks on this new chapter!

What a lad!

What a player!

What a class act!

And what a brilliant human being!

I can’t wait to see him at a game soon, swap a few football stories, have some banter, have him jab me in the arm again whilst he’s signing a few autographs and above everything watch him blossom and fulfill the kind of dreams he had when he was that little kid stepping into the Reebok Stadium on that cold night in December 2009 with his coat zipped up!

Go on Radders! Up The Rams!