At the end of the Christmas festivities, the Boro will look to kick back into gear as Bernard and Jonno’s men face a Chorley side aiming to finish in the play-off places for the second year in a row, and look on course to do so after their start to the season.

The Opposition

Chorley have had a steady start to their 2024/25 National League North campaign, currently occupying the seventh spot on 35 points, just inside of the play-off places. With Andy Preece at the helm, they’ve finished in the top 7 in 2/3 of his seasons in charge, and will be expecting to do so once again this time round.

Since his appointment in 2022, he currently boasts the stat that no other National League North manager has picked up more points, as well as scoring the most goals out of any team in the league, with 183.

The Magpies are in a mixed run of form heading into the game, having consistently recorded a win, immediately followed by a loss in each of their last six fixtures since the middle of November. Radcliffe will need to be on their toes if they’re to claim much-needed points on home soil, which have been hard to come by this season.

Ones To Watch

Gambian striker Mo Touray will be a familiar name to Radcliffe fans having featured against the Boro on a number of occasions for the likes of Marine and Warrington Rylands. With the latter, he averaged a goal every other game to help guide the Cheshire outfit to a fourth-placed finish last season, and has converted four goals since his move to Chorley in the summer.

Dubem Eze has proven to be a highly successful loan player for the Magpies after initially signing for a month in October, before extending his stay until January from League One outfit, Bolton Wanderers. Known for his creativity, eye for goal and the ability to take fans off their seat, he’ll be one to keep an eye out for when he visits the Neuven Stadium.

Stat Pack

22nd – League Position – 7th
20 – Games Played – 21
18 – Points – 35
4 – Wins – 10
6 – Draws – 5
9 – Losses – 6
23 – Goals For – 30
39 – Goals Against – 25
Brad Roscoe, Josh Hancock (5) – Top Goalscorer – Mark Ellis, Craig Hewitt, Mo Touray (4)

Last Time Out

Radcliffe’s last encounter with the Magpies dates back to September 2020, when the Boro picked up a solid 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Luca Navarro and Kole Hall in pre-season.

The latter’s tidy finish into the roof of the net gave Lee Fowler’s side a one-goal advantage heading into the break, and that lead was doubled after the restart as Navarro thumped home before wheeling away in celebration with 70 minutes on the clock.

Chorley then halved the deficit through forward Lewis Reilly, which gave Radcliffe something to think about with nine minutes to go, but Navarro popped up again to restore our advantage with a perfectly-placed curling effort into the top right corner of the net, securing victory in the process.

Matchday Information

Date: 26/12/24
Time: 3pm kick-off
Location: Neuven Stadium

Adult: £15
Concession: £10
U16: Free

Read our ticket information article here.

Tickets can be purchased online here.

Segregation will be in operation at the Neuven Stadium meaning Radcliffe fans are to enter via turnstiles A and B only. Chorley have been allocated 600 tickets in the Fell End and surrounding areas, entering through turnstile C at the bottom end of the ground.

Can’t Attend The Game?

Listen to live kick-by-kick commentary over on Radcliffe Radio, click here to tune in from 2:45pm.

Around The Grounds

Brackley Town v Leamington
Buxton v Alfreton Town
Curzon Ashton v Farsley Celtic
Darlington v Scarborough Athletic
Hereford v Kidderminster Harriers
King’s Lynn Town v Needham Market
Marine v Chester
Peterborough Sports v Scunthorpe United
Rushall Olympic v Oxford City
Southport v Warrington Town
Spennymoor Town v South Shields