Former Bolton Wanderers defender Harry Brockbank has today been unveiled by non-league side RadcIiffe as their newest signing.
Brockbank had recently been applying his trade for Irish Premier side St Patrick’s Athletic, making 24 appearances across all competitions for the Irish side.
He would help St Pat’s to an FAI Cup victory in November, as well as playing his part in a very respectable third-placed finish in the League of Ireland.
Although the defender has most recently applied his trade abroad, with an additional spell at American side El Paso as well, the 25-year-old is most well-known for his performances in England for Bolton Wanderers.
Brockbank has represented the Trotters in each of the Championship, League One and League Two, making a total of 37 appearances for the club in the process. The defender, would first join Bolton as a seven-year-old and represented the club at various age groups prior to making his professional debut in 2019.
During his earlier years with the club, Brockbank was held in a high regard and would also captain the side on two occasions. Though he may have not lived up to his potential, it does come as somewhat of a surprise that the 25-year-old has dropped down to the Northern Premier League.
That being said, Radcliffe have given Brockbank the chance to once again prove himself in English Football, something which it seems no side higher in the football pyramid wanted to do.
Speaking to club media about the move to Radcliffe, the defender said:
“I’m delighted to have joined Radcliffe, I’ve been in training now for a few weeks and enjoyed my time getting to know the lads and working with the managers!
“Obviously the team has been doing well so far this season and I was hoping I could come in and help carry on the good form the lads are in, hopefully ending the campaign with some silverware to our name.
“I’ve got a few friends already here like Nicky (Adams) and Luca (Navarro) and I’ve known the gaffers for a while now, so as soon as I heard about the interest it was something I wanted to be a part of. I’m just looking forward to getting out there now, start playing football and hopefully win something at the end of the year.”
Writer’s View
It comes as a bit of a surprise that Brockbank has dropped as low as the seventh tier, however Radcliffe do seem a rather ambitious club. Currently sat at the top of the table and five points clear of second, they have a great chance of making the National League North next season.
Brockbank should help them on their way to the title and if rediscovering his best form, will no doubt be one of the standout players in the division. At just 25 years of age, the right-back is far from the finished article, and could have even more to come in the right system at Radcliffe.
