Bacup Borough FC manager Brent Peters believed to be longest-serving football manager in the world

Video report by Granada Reports Sports Correspondent Mike Hall

A manager of a local league club has been named the longest-serving football coach in the world.

Brent Peters joined Bacup Borough FC on 1 September 1997, initially expecting to stay until the end of the season.

But, 25 years later and he is still at the helm of the Lancashire club - not only taking on the managerial roles, but also those of the groundsman, repair man and also driving the team's coach.

He is now believed to be the longest-serving manager after Neil Cugley decided to step down as manager for Folkestone Invicta FC at the end of October.

Brent said: "I'm proud to have been here so long - 25 years - it's just another day to me I don't even think about it."

When asked why he has stayed at the club for so long, Brent said: "When I came here I had no intentions of staying here, the place was a shambles."

He added: "Bacup was always one of those teams where, if you were a manager that was ambitious and wanting to go a long way in the game, no disrespect to Bacup but it is not one of the clubs you would go to.

"Bacup never had the tools: I’m talking about the finances. They didn’t have the money; it was as simple as that."

In 2022 the club has come a long way, with a Business Development Officer, Media Officer and a Head of Recruitment onboard to promote the club and create business opportunities.

The crowds have quadrupled over the past 12 months and the junior sections are growing on a weekly basis.

Nine leagues above Bacup Borough FC is the longest serving Premiere League manager Jürgen Klopp, who has spent seven years as the manager of Liverpool FC.

When asked how his role compares, Brent said: "Back in the day I used to turn around and say Sir Alex and Jürgen Klopp couldn't do my job, but I could do their job and I maintain that."

Andrew Knights, Head of Business Development at Bacup Borough FC said: "The football club wouldn't be here without Brent, there'd be houses on it, that's as simple as it is."

When Brent was asked how long he would carry on for he said: "As long as I'm alive, simple as that."

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