Generous Jordan is eager to praise pals

Jordan Hulme – Radcliffe

Step 3&4 Player of the Year

SMILES BETTER: Jordan Hulme is presented with his award by the Isthmian League’s Kellie Discipline

FOX in the box Jordan Hulme scored 22 league goals for Radcliffe this season but the prolific forward insists his teammates deserve all the credit.

Hulme, 33, dropped down two divisions to join Radcliffe and more than lived up to a reputation as one of Non-League’s best strikers over the past seven years, including a hat-trick against title rivals Macclesfield in January, as Boro marched to the Northern Premier League Premier Division title.

The evergreen forward was presented with the Step 3/4 Player of the Year at the 2024 National League Game Awards in association with Isuzu for the second time in his career, with his first triumph coming in 2018 after helping Altrincham return to National League North and Hulme was eager to pay tribute to his Radcliffe teammates.

He said: “I’m six years older, a bit fatter but luckily I had a good team behind me to set me up!

“I didn’t have to do too much running this year, just put the ball in the net.

“I didn’t know what the lads would be like because I was dropping down two leagues.

“They’ve helped me out a lot and it’s been a great season for everyone.

“The lads are absolutely quality, they’ve been amazing.

“It was great from the get-go; we have a great team and we got to know each other straight away through nights out and team bonding and that really helps when you’re in a lower league and we just kicked on.

“We started well, top of the league all season and never looked back so it’s been good.”

With Radcliffe now preparing for their first season at Step 2, with trips to ex-League clubs Scunthorpe United and Hereford looming, Hulme is excited for what’s to come.

He added: ‘’I dropped down two leagues to go to Radcliffe so moving back up a step is somewhere I want to be.

“I know the lads are good enough to play at that level. Some of them have, some of them haven’t but we’ve got a good mix and hopefully we can do what Tamworth did this year and go up and up.

“I’ve played at some of those grounds before, so it’ll be good to show them the ropes when we go to those places.

“Hopefully if we can keep the same group together, we can kick on a bit next season.’’