Simon Ratcliffe
Encyclopedia
Simon Ratcliffe is an English
former professional football player. His clubs included Norwich City
, Brentford
and Gillingham
, where he made over 100 Football League appearances.
Born in Davyhulme
, Ratcliffe began his footballing career as a Manchester United apprentice on leaving school in 1983, and two years later was granted a professional contract by manager Ron Atkinson
. However, he never played a first team game for United and was transferred to Norwich City
, their First Division rivals, in 1987 - by which time United were being managed by Alex Ferguson
.
Ratcliffe joined the Canaries at one of the most successful points in their history, when they had just finished fifth in the league a season after promotion. Though Ratcliffe would not be guaranteed a first team place at Carrow Road
, his chances of first team action in Norfolk
would be better than they had been at Old Trafford
. He managed nine league appearances over the next two years, before leaving in 1989 - at the end of what was arguably the most successful season in Norwich's history, when they finished fourth in the league and reached the FA Cup
semi-finals.
On leaving Norwich, Ratcliffe signed for Third Division
Brentford and was soon a regular first team player, helping them win the Third Division title in 1992 and gain a place in the new Division One (as the Second Division was called following the creation of the FA Premier League
for the 1992-93 season
). For a while Brentford were looking like they could establish themselves as a Division One club and possibly even push for a place in the Premier League, as they entered 1993 in tenth place and just one point outside the playoff zone, but a dreadful run of form in the second half of the season saw them relegated on the final day of the season. Two years later, they finished second in Division Two but were denied automatic promotion because of a restructuring of the league. They lost to Huddersfield Town in the playoff semi-finals and remained in Division Two, while Ratcliffe dropped down a division to sign for Gillingham
.
When Ratcliffe signed for Gillingham, new owner Paul Scally
had rescued the club from the brink of bankruptcy and appointed Tony Pulis
as manager. Ratcliffe was a regular player in the side that won promotion from Division Three that season, and helped them stay in Division Two before playing his last professional game for them in 1998 at the age of 31.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football player. His clubs included Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, where he made over 100 Football League appearances.
Born in Davyhulme
Davyhulme
Davyhulme is a locality within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. Historically part of Lancashire, it is contiguous with the town of Urmston....
, Ratcliffe began his footballing career as a Manchester United apprentice on leaving school in 1983, and two years later was granted a professional contract by manager Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
. However, he never played a first team game for United and was transferred to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, their First Division rivals, in 1987 - by which time United were being managed by Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
.
Ratcliffe joined the Canaries at one of the most successful points in their history, when they had just finished fifth in the league a season after promotion. Though Ratcliffe would not be guaranteed a first team place at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
, his chances of first team action in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
would be better than they had been at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. He managed nine league appearances over the next two years, before leaving in 1989 - at the end of what was arguably the most successful season in Norwich's history, when they finished fourth in the league and reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finals.
On leaving Norwich, Ratcliffe signed for Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Brentford and was soon a regular first team player, helping them win the Third Division title in 1992 and gain a place in the new Division One (as the Second Division was called following the creation of the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
for the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
). For a while Brentford were looking like they could establish themselves as a Division One club and possibly even push for a place in the Premier League, as they entered 1993 in tenth place and just one point outside the playoff zone, but a dreadful run of form in the second half of the season saw them relegated on the final day of the season. Two years later, they finished second in Division Two but were denied automatic promotion because of a restructuring of the league. They lost to Huddersfield Town in the playoff semi-finals and remained in Division Two, while Ratcliffe dropped down a division to sign for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
.
When Ratcliffe signed for Gillingham, new owner Paul Scally
Paul Scally
Paul Damien Phillip Scally is a London-born businessman who has been the chairman of association football club Gillingham since 1995.-Career:...
had rescued the club from the brink of bankruptcy and appointed Tony Pulis
Tony Pulis
Anthony Richard "Tony" Pulis is a Welsh former football player and is currently the manager of Stoke City. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at the age of 19, followed by his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification...
as manager. Ratcliffe was a regular player in the side that won promotion from Division Three that season, and helped them stay in Division Two before playing his last professional game for them in 1998 at the age of 31.