Heart and sole

By day, he is very much the hands-on manager at West View - most recently making sure the club's ground was up to the standards required for promotion to the North West Counties League Division One.

By night he is training his players, preparing them and checking they are in peak condition for their next fixture. And when he's not doing that, he's driving a lorry to earn money to plough into the club he adores.

Peters is so passionate about his football, and Bacup Borough, he even went bankrupt for them by ploughing his own cash into the club.

"I was determined to keep this club alive," he said.

"Either I went bankrupt, or the club finished, and I just couldn't see that happen to Bacup Borough.

"It had been a football club through three centuries and I couldn't see its demise."

Three years on, Peters expects to soon be discharged from bankruptcy but if he could go back in time, he would probably do the same all over again.

"If we win the title, it will end over 40 years of heartache for this club," he said.

"Getting promoted is fantastic, but we've not won a major trophy for over 40 years."

The title all depends on Stone Dominoes, Bacup's only rivals for the top spot. Peters' side completed their fixtures for the season on Easter Monday, ironically by beating Stone 1-0.

But Dominoes still have three games left, including a trip to Padiham this afternoon, and if they claim a maximum nine points will pip Bacup to the title.

However, Peters won't worry himself about things he can't affect.

Whatever happens, he is still proud of his squad - a handful of which he is also delighted to reveal are Bacup born and bred.

"Nicky Taylor, Damon Gledhill, Dave Gray and Damien Moran are all from Bacup, so it's especially pleasing for them," he said.

"They have worked so hard this season - all my players have. They've been an absolute pleasure to work with.

"All the players have done their job, and the ground staff have worked tirelessly to make sure we got our ground grading for the First Division.

"League officials only gave us 24 hours to complete the work that we needed doing, and we finished it with 10 minutes to go."

He added: "To go on and win the division would be the icing on the cake.

"I've said all along I've got an abundance of quality at this football club and we are the best team in the league.

"During the course of the season we've had little blips and teams have beaten us along the way. That happens at whatever level of football you are playing at. But, man for man, team against team, we are better than anyone in the league."

And it is that kind of self belief Peters has instilled into his players and is why he feels Bacup Borough will do well in the NWC First Division.

But, he has warned he may not stay to lead them to glory if does not get the guarantee of financial backing.

"I have to see there's a structure in place so we can go forward," he said.

"I don't want to be consolodating any position when we're in the first division next season because I'm a winner.

"I want more people involved off the pitch. I'm not asking people to dip into their pockets but I want people with ideas to come up with ways of helping us generate income because that's an important commodity in non league football."

Peters, who took over as Bacup manager initially as a stop-gap in 1995 but couldn't tear himself away from his post, added: "If I'm going to continue the good work with these lads, I've got to take them to another level. And the only way to do that is by having a leader off the pitch as well.

"That would mean I would have more time to devote to giving the people of Rossendale a football club to be even more proud of."

One person in particular who would be loathe to see Peters leave Bacup Borough is secretary Frank Manning, who marks his 50th year with the club next season.

"I was absolutely delighted when it was confirmed we were promoted. But I can only put it down to one man, and that's Brent Peters for the work and money he has put into this club," he said.

"Bacup Borough was going nowhere only out in 1995. Brent came and breathed new life into the club.

The 69-year-old added: "You could never question Brent's dedication.

"He's a Bacupian, and an honorary West Ender."