52
rammy news v NANTWICH TOWN 25-08-14
prammynewsv NANTWICH TOWN25-08-14
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Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for this
Bank Holiday clash with Nantwich.
We offer a warm welcome to Danny and the staff, players
and supporters that have made the journey over today. We
hope you all enjoy your afternoon, result aside of course,
and have a safe journey home.
So life in the Premier Division has begun for us, and despite
still searching for our first points after two defeats, the mood
in the camp is one of what could have been rather than
downbeat - on another day we could have picked up four
or even six points from our opening two fixtures. Although
we are extremely disappointed with the results we haven’t
been with the performances - with a touch of luck things
could have been so different.
We felt that in the King’s Lynn game we played some of
our best football to date and although the performance up
at workington on Tuesday wasn’t as free flowing there were
still good spells and decent chances created.
So we turn to today and at the time of writing this we still
had to travel to Rushall so hopefully we will have got off the
mark by now and looking to continue today.
We know that every game in the Premier is a tough one.
ere are no 'gimmies' in this league but we will be doing
everything possible to keep playing the Rammy way whilst
keeping the back door shut! I must thank everyone who
travelled up to workington on Tuesday night - it was a great
turnout as ever.
Enjoy the game
C.O.Y.R.
- Glenn
p
Welcome to the Harry Williams
Riverside Stadium, and a special welcome
to our match officials and everyone who
has made the relatively short journey up
from south Cheshire this afternoon….it’s
good to renew old acquaintances with
everyone at Nantwich.
e Dabbers were, of course, regular
opponents during our lengthy stay in the
NWCFL. We’ve had many an entertaining
game against them, and I used to enjoy
visiting their old ground, which, alas, is no
longer with us. I’ve not yet been to the
new Weaver Stadium, so look forward to
doing so later in the season. Town have
come on leaps and bounds in recent
years, and have established themselves
well at level three – something we hope
to emulate here at Ramsbottom United.
After a number of successful seasons,
Nantwich will have been disappointed to
have finished 19th last time round, so you
can be sure that today’s contest will be a
tough one for our lads. Let’s hope for an
entertaining game.
SOME RESULT
It’s always interesting to analyse the
early season results to see if
any kind of marker is being
put down.
One result that stood
out on the opening day like a flare at sea
was that from the Sir Tom Finney
Stadium where our opponents in the
end-of-season play-off final, Bamber
Bridge, welcomed Droylsden.
e team from east Manchester had a
torrid time last year, being one of the first
in the country to be relegated after
owner Dave Pace decided to keep the
club going and pay little or no wages,
whilst dealing with a six figure debt.
Credit to Pacey. Many other clubs would
have meekly folded and reformed, leaving
many local traders out of pocket.
But looking at the clubs pre-season
results, they were quite encouraging. I
know you should never read too much
into such games, as the true test comes
with the season proper.
So on paper, an early Brig win looked
likely. Final score: Bamber Bridge 1
Droylsden 7! Where did that come from?
In an effort to find out, whilst our lads
made the long journey up to Workington
on Tuesday (one which work prevented
me from attending as was the case at
Rushall), I decided to take a trip down to
the Butchers Arms to take a, erm,
butchers at the Bloods, as they took on
New Mills. My only conclusion was how
on earth did they score one goal at Brig,
never mind seven. New Mills won 1-0!
tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of
non-league football
p
Unlikely scorelines- Billy Priesltleyheads home duringlast season’s 8-0tonking of Radcliffe
As always, there were many other eye-
popping results, but the other one that
stood out was that of newly-reformed
Hinckley FC. In the Midland League
Division One, the Leicestershire club
began the campaign with a 6-1 walloping
at the hands of Uttoxeter Town. eir
response? A 13-0 drubbing of Pelsall Villa.
Now that’s the ideal way to get a heavy
defeat out of your system!
I have no doubt that as the season
progresses, many a strange score-line will
hit the headlines. We’ve had a number
ourselves over the years (How about the
Radcliffe game last season?) and maybe
we’ll experience it again in the future.
For now, our aim is to become, as
Nantwich have done, established at this
level with the intention of aiming as high
as it is possible to push the good name of
Ramsbottom United.
is may only be the fourth game of
the campaign, but I’m really looking
forward to the next eight months.
Printing deadlines mean that this is
written before the Rushall game. I only
hope that as you read this, we have finally
broken our points duck.
Enjoy your non-league football!
“our aim is to become, as Nantwichhave done, established at this level “
p
New season. New league, Same
Ramsbottom United. On behalf of all the
lads in the changing room, a big thank
you for the support in the play offs and
all of last season. We have a very good
following now at rammy and it just keeps
on growing. For all of this support we
thank you, the fans.
Pre-season was the best i've been
involved in (this is due to having John as
my coach). All the Ramsbottom team
have worked hard in pre-season with the
exception of Gaz Stopforth, this being
due to an unfortunate knee injury he
picked up in the first friendly. is was
the only injury of pre-season and fingers
crossed there will be no more. I think it is
great to have almost exactly the same
squad as last year plus a few more
additions. I believe that this is testomony
to what Johnno and Bernard have
created at Ramsbottom.
I believe that the hard work during pre
season has shown on the pitch. In the
match against Kings Lynn we were 2 up
after only 10 minutes. e fact that we
dominated against a good side for the
majority of the game shows our ability to
play great football. ree cheap goals cost
us the game.
is is a brand new league for us and
as a team we are going to work
harder and push for as high a
finish as possible in our first
season.ere is no doubt we
are a talented team and are
completely capable
After Tuesdsay night's game the lads are
obviously slightly frustrated but the
confidence is still there. We all know that
the goals will come as we are a very good
footballing team. All the new lads have
settled in really well with the team from
last year. We are still waiting for a song
from all the new lads so hopefully I can
tell you all about it soon.
It is really good to see Jordy and Wiz
back in the blue of Rammy rather than
the stateside New Orleans. Both lads
bring something to the team, even if it’s
Jordy being the lead in the majority of
banter with some form of stupidity on
snap chat or the group chat we all have
on whats app. en it's Wiz moaning in
training when Glenn overlooks some
form of cheating by one of the lads in a
five a side game. Understandably it was
good to get them both back midway
through pre-season.
Finally to Nantwich. Some of the lads
still think about the game against them
during the FA cup. We were leading for
so long before a very questionable
decision from the offical forced former
Captain Andy Dawson off the pitch for
treatment. With only a few seconds left
on the clock this resulted in an
unfortunate loss. is for me and i think
most of of the lads is another incentive to
get the win over them. So i hope to hear
all the Rammy Fan's faithful singing and
cheering for the lads today.
p
grant shentonshouting from between the sticks
“ It’s great tohave a couple of Jesters back in
the team“
p
Ramsbottom United was founded in
1966, and one of the founders, Harry
Williams, is still, to this day, Chairman,
almost 50 years later!
Harry has overseen the club progress
from a parks pitch on the outskirts to a
well-appointed stadium in the centre of
Rammy, capable of holding 2,000
supporters.
Early days were spent in the local Bury
Amateur League, before the move to the
Bolton Combination in 1969 and the
Manchester League in 1989.
In 1991, the double of Champions and
Cup Winners in Division One was
achieved, and with it promotion to the
top division.
In 1995 an application to join the
football pyramid at North West Counties
League level was approved, and after
much hard work on the ground, a
grading was received to allow access to
the second tier of the regional league.
Despite finishing 12th in the inaugural
season, the Rams lifted the Divisional
Trophy beating Cheadle Town at
Darwen’s Anchor Ground –
the first of a number of
successes at semi-
professional level.
Tragedy struck in 2001,
as successful manager Ken
Bridge collapsed and died
following a home game
against Cheadle Town, but he is
remembered with the gates at the
entrance of the ground being named in
his honour.
e Chairman took the bold step of
appointing joint-managers in players
Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson at
the beginning of the 2009/10 campaign.
Supporters questioned the appointment
after the first game! A 5-0 drubbing at the
hands of Newcastle Town, although no-
one was to know that Town were to
embark on a 30 game unbeaten run as
they sailed towards the championship.
On the whole, the campaign was a
success. A ten-year best total of 81 points
and a club-record 14 away victories, along
with the April Manager-of-the-Month
award, and, for forward Andy Sensale, the
Player-of-the-Month acclaim for October.
e first season in charge for the two
local lads was merely an indication of
what was to come.
2010/11 proved to be even better as
the crowds began turning up in
increasing numbers at the newly named
“Harry Williams Riverside Stadium” (the
sign going up without the Chairman’s
knowledge!). Finishing runners-up to
New Mills (only one team promoted
from the NWCFL), the team scored over
100 goals winning more league games
than ever before. e managers won two
“Manager-of-the-Month” awards, with
monthly player accolades going to Phil
Dean and Jon Robinson.
rammy united49 years of football under harry williams
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But even better was to come! e 2011/12 season
finally saw the Rams move up again after 17 years in
the North West Counties League.
More goals, more points, more home wins and
more supporters (the club’s current attendance
record of 1653 was achieved against FC United of
Manchester) culminated in the team edging out
Runcorn Town with a magnificent end-of-season
unbeaten run. e Championship trophy was raised
after a 5-2 home win over Winsford United in front
of over 500 fans, and the club could now look
forward to renewing acquaintances with many
former opponents in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier
League.
e Main stand was extended, a new covered
stand erected behind the Railway end, and a
Sponsor’s Lounge arrived at the ground, as
improvements continued to enhance what used to
be a plot of waste land aside the cricket pitch.
e new challenge hardly saw the club falter after
three years of entertaining and successful football.
But for a winning goal scored by the champions
Skelmersdale United in time added on in the last
game of the season in west Lancashire, the Rams
would have competed in the play-offs at the end of
a great first season which saw them agonisingly miss
out in sixth spot.
2013/14 will go down in folklore in the town.
After a dreadful start which saw the club bottom
of the league after the early rounds of games, steady
progression saw a gradual push up the table.
More Player and Manager-of-the-Month awards
were achieved as the race between up to a dozen
clubs for the play-off spots (Curzon Ashton ran
away with the top spot) continued to the very last
week of the season.
A last day home draw with Bamber Bridge saw
both teams qualify, but it meant that the Rams had
to travel up to Durham to meet the re-incarnation
of former Football League side, Darlington.
e home side were expecting to progress, but
having already achieved the double over them, a trip
to Darlo’s temporary home at Bishop Auckland held
no fears. Despite the vociferous and partisan crowd
of almost 2,000, the hundred or so who had made
the journey up from Lancashire were treated to a
performance that silenced the home fans and
deservedly saw a return home with plans afoot for
the short trip to meet Bamber Bridge again at
Irongate four days later.
e play-off final attracted over 1,200 people, and
whilst it was a tight affair with a last kick penalty
squaring the game for the home side, the Rams
notched another in extra time to deservedly win the
game and with it a remarkable second promotion in
three seasons.
Ramsbottom United are now members of Evo-Stik
NPL Premier – the third tier of non-league football,
after a remarkable and enjoyable five year ride.
e Chairman, Harry Williams, who began it all
back in 1966 is still at the helm and still at the ground
most days! He is now looking forward to completing
50 years in charge. Could another promotion still
come his way?!
p
When you think of Ramsbottom
United what springs to mind? e
Riverside stadium, Harry Williams,
at day at Bamber Bridge? For
many associated with Ramsbottom
United there is one simple answer -
Joel Pilkington springs.
In June 2009, a fresh faced, 24 year
old central midfielder became
Jonno and Bernard’s first signing.
Dubbed as a real coup for the club
and a sign of great things to come,
Jonno described the then unfamiliar
Pilkington as a “tough tackling box
to box midfielder who scores his fair
share of goals”. After five long and
prosperous years “Pilkie” has
cemented himself in the
Ramsbottom history books and
become a name we have all grown
to love.
Pilkington spent his formative
years in Accrington, where he still
lives with his wife and daughter.
He was offered the chance
to test his wits within
the Burnley youth
setup and at the
age of 10 his
footballing
journey began. Originally playing for
his dad’s team, he punched above
his weight in class and was playing
for the under 11’s at the age of 7!
After attending a summer school for
“abit of fun” Burnley noticed the
talent he held and signed him up
before anybody else came sniffing
around.
e youngster then spent the next
11 years pushing hard to improve
his game and become the best
possible player he could. It took a
lot of hard work and many lonely
training sessions but by 21 Joel had
captained at many of Burnley’s
youth levels and also the reserve
team. On the 20th of April 2004 a
very nervous Pilkington got his
opportunity with Burnley’s first
team; Richard Chaplow made way
as the baby-faced youngster
nervously stepped onto a vibrant
Turf Moor against a strong MK
Dons side. Although Joel was at one
point tipped to become a future
first team player, nothing became of
his Burnley career and he saw
himself without a club on the 9th of
May 2005
pilkie devotion200 matches for rammy, and counting
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“ a bonaide legend who deserves togo down in Rammy folklore”
In action atDarwen during apre-season matchback in 2011
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He doesn’t score very often,but the celebrations alone areworth the admission fee!
p
After a short spell with Hyde, Pilkie
found himself on the books of
Mossley not too long after his initial
release from Burnley, and the still
young central midfielder experienced
a very successful three year spell with
the club, who won the Unibond First
Division very comfortably.
He then found himself in very brief
spells with Chorley, Clitheroe and
Runcorn before signing for
Ramsbottom. During his time with
the Ram’s Pilkie has been an integral
part of the team which has won two
promotions and he has made himself
a name we all love to see on the team
sheet.
Mr reliable, and an extremely versatile
player, who can play anywhere you
put him, always gives 100 percent and
has proved himself to be amongst
some of the greatest to ever pull on a
Ramsbottom shirt. Whilst players
have come and gone, Pilkie has stayed
put and has now seen himself turn
out for the club on 200 occasions,
helping many other players along the
way. Phil dean (Wizz) described Pilkie
as a “top player and a great lad,
someone you can learn a lot from,
absolute legend.”
Although he has played
professionally he never feels the need
to gloat or act like he is better than
anybody else, and Pilkie is seen by
everybody as an all-round nice guy.
New comer Tom Williams after a
short time holds Joel in high regards
saying “Pilkie is a rarity in modern
non-league football, when most are
journey men he’s been loyal to one
club and has been a great servant.
He’s a versatile player who is effective
in many positions and so comfortable
on the ball”. As Pilkie reaches his
200th appearance, an achievement
seldom heard of in modern football,
we should all give him the credit and
recognition he deserves. Pilkie will
undoubtedly go down as one of the
Rammy greats.
Joint Manager Anthony Johnson
holds Pilkie in high regard, and was
very passionate when saying “He was
our first signing back in 2009 and
arguably our best. To play the amount
of games he has for us shows how
much we think about him. He’s a
bonafide legend who deserves to go
down in Rammy folklore when he
finishes with us altogether. I have a
feeling he could double his
appearances with us yet. A top player
for us as we look forward to many
more seasons with him.”
- All the best Pilkie!
“ a rarity in modern football. When mostare journey men he’s been loyal to one club”
p
Life at Evo-Stik Premier level could hardly have
started better. Two goals in the opening nine
minutes of the season had the Rams supporters
in dreamland as visitors Kings Lynn Town
looked shell-shocked.
Alas, that was as good as it got, as the home
side failed to press home the advantage, even
missing a penalty, which allowed the Norfolk
side to claw their way back into the game, and
ultimately claim all three points thanks to a late
winner.
Just six minutes had passed when Lee Gaskell
cleverly won possession on the left hand side.
He played the ball back to Lee Pugh who fired
in the perfect cross for Jon Robinson to latch
on to and he hammered the ball home to open
the scoring.
Within a minute, Gaskell was close to
extending the lead when his header from an
acute angle sailed inches wide.
But just two minutes later, that lead was
doubled. A goal-mouth scramble saw the ball
land at the feet of Jordan Hulme, and despite
some desperate defending, he managed to
scoop the ball home off the underside of the
bar.
Grant Spencer then tried his luck from 25
yards only to see the ball miss the target by a
couple of feet, as the newly-promoted side were
enjoying life at their new level.
Hulme almost grabbed a third for the
rampant Rams, but Alexander Street, in the
visitors goal, managed to tip his speculative lob
over at the last moment.
Kings Lynn reduced the arrears on 26 minutes,
when some poor marking from a corner
allowed Ryan Fryatt the space to direct his
header home past a couple of defenders.
e home side continued to take the game
to their opponents as the half wore on. Steve
Howson should have done better when the ball
landed perfectly for him ten yards out, but he
somehow managed to send it sailing high over
the bar. Phil Dean then created a chance for
Hulme. With the keeper seemingly happy to let
the ball go out for a goal-kick, Dean nipped in
and laid the ball back to Hulme who seemed
taken by surprise and the chance went begging.
So the half-time whistle sounded on a fine
opening half for the Rams who thoroughly
deserved the interval lead.
It could and should have been even better just
two minutes after the restart.
Spencer skipped into the area only to be
brought down by Lynn’s Jordan Yong, leaving
the referee with no option other than to point
to the spot. Last season’s leading scorer Lee
Gaskell had the ideal opportunity to extend the
lead, but his penalty sailed high over the bar,
offering a reprieve that the visitors took with
both hands.
Despite opportunities still falling to the home
side in the shape of Spencer, Hulme and Pugh,
Kings Lynn were beginning to look more
comfortable on the ball.
Whereas the first half belonged to
Ramsbottom, the second period was a much
more even affair.
e equaliser finally arrived on 65 minutes,
and once again, the Rams were undone by
another set piece. A corner from the right was
headed back across goal, and there was Fryatt
again to direct the second header inside the far
post.
Spencer fired inches wide with a free-kick
before home keeper Grant Shenton was forced
into a superb save from substitute Jake Jones as
both sides looked for a winner.
It fell to the visitors with just three minutes
remaining.
Again it was a set-piece sucker punch. Scott
Burton gave away a free-kick 25 yards out, and
a routine from the training ground saw two
players step over the ball leaving George
omson to blast it past the wall and Shenton,
much to the delight of the travelling contingent.
So a fast-paced and entertaining game left the
Rams ultimately pointless. ree goals from
three set pieces will have taught the
management team that at this level, any
slackness is likely to be punished. But overall, if
this is the standard to be expected, then the
Lancashire side should be more than capable of
holding their own.
p
2 - 3e Harry Williams Riverside
16th August 2014
Att: 322
Rammy Goals: Robinson (6), Hulme (9)
Kings Lynn Goals: Fryatt (26, 65), ompson (87)Robbo volleys home Rammy’s opener
p
Penalty, as Grant Shenton is tripped in the box
p
p
Goal two - and the crowd starts naively expecting a rout
A real screamer of a training-ground free kick
p
ANSWERS: 1. All Red 2. Walsall 3. Truro City 4. Trevor Sinclair 5. Vanarama 6 Dale Belford 7. Bright Street
8. Gainsborough Trinity 9. Both are nicknamed “e Rams” 10. Nantwich Town!
tony’s teasers1. What colours do Stamford play in?
2. In what town are Rushall Olympic based?
3. Former Premier League player Barry Hayles has just signed for which non-
league club for the third time?
4. Which former England International has joined Lancaster City as assistant
manager?
5. Which company is the new sponsor of the Conference?
6. Name the manager of Tamworth
7. What was the name of Radcliffe Borough’s ground before they moved to
Stainton Park?
8. Steve Housham is manager of which Lincolnshire non-league club?
9. What links Ramsbottom United and Beaconsfield SYCOB football clubs?
10. e Weaver Stadium is home to which club?
p
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Our first away game of the season saw
us having to make a long Tuesday night
trip to Cumbria to face newly relegated
Workington. It would seem that the days
when we could go home, have some tea
and then set off on the road to watch
Rammy on their travels are behind us and
I had to do some negotiating (and
fibbing) to get away from work early. So,
at 3.30 I was heading back from the
darkside, over Owd Betts, to get home in
time for my lift to Workington.
Armed with a big pack of sandwiches
lovingly prepared by Mrs Darkside (who
could not make the journey due to work
commitments) and a couple of bottles of
Bavaria I was picked up at 4.30 by Martin
and Joanne. Now some of you may think
that romance is dead, but Martin proved
the exception to that rule as he and
Joanne were celebrating their Silver
Wedding Anniversary that day and rather
than taking Joanne to Paris, celebrations
were to take place in Workington (or
Accrington by the
Sea as we later
christened the town)
We were joined on
the journey by
Joanne’s dad, Geoff
and the Rams physio,
young Sarah.
It was not long
before we were
heading up the M6
with myself and Martin trying to outdo
each other by guessing the years of songs
being played on the radio. is was
particularly bad news for Sarah who was
constantly on her I-Phone to settle our
disputes on which year songs were
released and a new phrase entered
Martins vocabulary, “Google it”. I also had
a good chat with Geoff about the
evening’s football league fixtures, in
particular those giants of the local
football scene, Bury and Rochdale, and
we came to the conclusion that both
would take a beating that evening. e
journey went pretty quickly and there
cannot be many more picturesque
motorway journeys than the one that
takes you up through Cumbria.
We arrived at the ground for 6.30 and
got a prime parking space after telling the
stewards we had the physio on board. As
we parked up at our prime spot another
car pulled in behind us containing Uncle
Dave, Mary and some of the Morley clan.
When we quizzed them on how they had
also got a parking spot right outside the
players entrance, Mary said she had told
the steward she was the physio’s Mother
and was allowed in. We were
contemplating finding a pub where we
could get a pre-match drink and some
food, but it looked pretty desolate
around Borough Park so we decided to
hit the bar in the ground.
from the darksidedarren comer reports on the latest
rammy ultras adventures
p
from the darkside
Freezing cold buton tour, so the roofstays down nomatter what!Borough Park is a traditional ground
and it looks pretty much how I imagine
it did when it was built in the 1930’s,
which I was impressed with. Part of the
beauty of watching football at this level
is that we can go to the more traditional
grounds, rather than those modern,
soul-less bowls such as the Emirates or
the Etihad which to me lack atmosphere.
I got myself a pint of Cumberland
Smooth and the bar started filling up
quickly with the travelling Ultras. It was
a great turnout from the Rammy
support, especially with it being a long,
Tuesday night journey and there must
have been around 50 of us in a crowd of
415. Talk turned to how people were
getting to Rushall Olympic the following
Saturday which made me especially
envious as my Sister was get married that
day in Norfolk, hence I would not be
making the journey. A message to any
young females reading this column, you
have a good 6-8 weeks during the
Summer when there are no Rammy
games, use these Saturdays to get
married and not the football season !!!
e first half saw Rammy dominating,
but unable to beat a well organised
Workington defence and despite hitting
the bar a couple of times we went in at
half time goalless, and we retreated back
to the bar.
Now, I have been watching football for
over 40 years and have tasted a lot of
(usually poor) food on offer at football
grounds, but I have to say the pies at
Workington are amongst the best I have
ever tasted, and it would seem my fellow
Ultras would agree with me as we sat
there tucking into our half time
delicacies. contd.
25 ye
ars of
marr
iage, a
nd ba
rely c
hang
ed!
p
A special mention to the staff in the bar
who were extremely friendly, as was
everyone else we encountered on the
evening, from the stewards to the
Workington supporters, and they will be
made more than welcome when they
visit the Riverside in November.
Workington came out in the second
half a different team and were soon on
top in the game as the Rams struggled to
get through their defence, and their
Number 8 dominated the midfield
battles. We then lost Billy Priestley to a
red card, and despite Shents saving the
resulting penalty, it was backs to the walls
time. With less than 15 minutes left to
play Workington eventually made the
breakthrough to take the lead and
despite a spirited fight back that is how
it stayed to the end of the game. I felt the
referee was biased towards the home
team and we had a nailed on penalty
appeal turned down near the end when
substitute Porya Ahmadi was clearly
brought down in the area. is was
backed up by the Workington fans
around us who agreed that it was a lot
clearer than the penalty given against our
Billy.
We decided to forsake the bar after the
game and hit the road for our long
journey home. We thought we might
have had to wait for Sarah to complete
her physio duties but she soon left the
ground and was in the car with us. We
asked if Jonno was giving the lads a
shouting at and her reply of “He’s just
revving up” caused much hilarity in the
car. Martin put on 5Live so we could
listen to evenings results and mine and
Geoffs predictions of defeats for Bury
and Rochdale showed why we are not
football pundits as neither side had been
defeated. Again the journey home went
pretty quickly and we arrived back in
Rammy just before midnight.
On a final note, a message for Martin. I
left a banana tucked down the back of
your drivers seat. You might want to
move it as I guess it is quite rotten by
now.
- Darren
p
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Good afternoon one and all - hope all
is well. Sadly, I won't be with you today
as it is the first one-day international of
the series against India down in Bristol
but you can be assured that my Twitter
feed will be up on the computer and I
will be having a sneaky look, as always!
Well, it has been an interesting
embarkation into the unknown of this
league. Being 2-0 up against King's Lynn
Town after just nine minutes certainly
set the pulses racing although my
tongue-in-cheek effort on Twitter (I was
doing the club feed with Katie and
Andy away on holiday) of
#easyleaguethis caused a certain
amount of mirth and comment. Some
people just don't have a sense of
humour! Quite a few coming back with
"don't count your chickens" and all that
sort of thing - good heavens people,
take it in the method it was intended!
Sadly, of course, that King's Lynn
game ended in defeat as did the
follow up match in the deepest North
West at Workington. But, by all
reports and my own eyes last
Saturday at home, we just need a
little bit of fortune, a little bit of luck
and that mean streak of hitting the
back of the net when the
opportunities arise. We will find
out very quickly - and already have
done - that teams at this level of
football will take their chances. You
only have to look at Lynn's third goal,
that superb free-kick fresh off the
training pitch, to know what we are up
against.
But, oh we of plenty of faith, we know
we have been in this situation before,
don't we. See 2013/14 season for full
details and while it is disappointing not
to have claimed anything from the
opening couple of fixtures, we are just
getting going in this new world.
Of course, we have found out the
extend of the travel implications of this
league. Whilst all of you were at Rushall
Olympic on Saturday which is down
near Walsall (I was just down the road
in Birmingham on Saturday at
Twenty20 Finals Day at Edgbaston) -
there was just 204 miles between where
we were on Tuesday (Workington) to
the Saturday (at Rushall). For me down
here in the south, that is the equivalent
of Newbury to Ramsbottom up the
A34. And this is the NORTHERN
Premier League, apparently!!!!!
Anyway, I had better get back to work
- at Trent Bridge today for a 50-over
game! Enjoy yourself, see you soon!
rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs
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Steve Phillips
e obvious choice for this list. Steve
has bags of football league experience
with over 100 games worth of play
time. Most recently at Crewe, Steve
was part of the League Two
promotion team which featured
players such as Max Clayton and
Nicky Powell. Seen as a huge signing
as many, Steve brings bags of
experience to guide the team and is a
class above most keepers at this level.
Steve Jones
Former Northern Ireland
international who joined the Dabbers
from Airbus UK Broughton in the
summer. Steve started out in non-
league football with Chadderton and
got his break in League football with
Crewe Alexandra who signed him
from Leigh RMI in July 2001 for a fee
totalling £150,000.
Mark Jones
e 28-year-old midfielder can also
play at centre half or right back and
spent five years at Radcliffe Borough
before joining the Dabbers during the
2013 close season, being made club
captain ahead of the 2014/15 season.
Adam Jones
Former Curzon Ashton centre half
who originally joined the Dabbers on
loan from FC United in November
2013 on a one month deal that was
subsequently extended. Made his
Nantwich debut in the 2-0 FA Trophy
defeat away to Northwich Victoria,
16/11/2013, making a permanent
switch to the Weaver Stadium in June
2014. fou
r to
wat
ch
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Founded back in 1884 as Nantwich Football Club, the club
took up residence at the football pitch off London Road with
the Leopard Inn as its headquarters and changing rooms. Early
years were spent playing friendly and cup matches but in 1891
the club joined the Shropshire & District League, finishing as
runners-up in the first season.
Nantwich moved into the stronger Combination the
following season and on 15th October 1892 hosted Liverpool
in the Merseysiders’ first ever FA Cup match (Liverpool won
4-0).
1982 saw Nantwich become founder members of the North
West Counties. Unfortunately Nantwich had the unenviable
honour of finishing bottom and were relegated to Division 2
where the club remained (except for one season in Division 3)
until 1989 when the Dabbers were promoted to Division One.
In 2006/07, Nantwich finished third, gaining promotion from
the North West Counties so that the move to the new £4m
Weaver Stadium at Kingsley Fields in July 2007 co-incided with
starting life in the First Division South of the Northern Premier
League. Progress continued on the pitch with Cheshire Senior
Cup glory as Conference big guns Altrincham were defeated
on penalties in the final after supersub Pavol Suhaj netted a
hat-trick in a compelling 3-3 draw. In the league, Nantwich
finished third and secured promotion after beating Sheffield
FC on penalties in the Play Off Final. e 2008/09 season saw
the Dabbers narrowly miss out on a third successive
promotion, losing the UniBond Premier Play Off Final 2-1 to
Ilkeston Town after extra-time and shortly afterwards Steve
Davis was appointed Assistant, and later Manager, at Crewe
Alexandra.
Former Reading, Swindon, Shrewsbury and Bournemouth
boss Jimmy Quinn was appointed Manager in March 2011,
guiding the club to safety on a nail-biting last day of the
season. Quinn had been blooded by Nantwich as a lanky 19
year-old back in 1979 and went on to play football at the
highest level with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United,
gaining 48 caps for Northern Ireland and becoming the fourth
highest scorer in his country’s international history. e
Dabbers enjoyed a more successful 2011/12 campaign in the
Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division, finishing in 10th place.
at season also saw the club embark on its most successful
run in the FA Cup – reaching the First Round Proper for the
first time in the club’s history. Victories over Rammy,
Northwich Victoria, Kendal Town and Nuneaton Town gave
Nantwich an enticing tie at MK Dons and although the
Dabbers went down 6-0 on the day, their brave performance
earned many plaudits.
Former Ashton United boss Danny Johnson was appointed
Manager ahead of the 2013/14 campaign and after a
disappointing 19th place finish, Johnson and new assistant Phil
Eastwood are looking for an improvement in 2014/15 the
club’s 130th anniversary season.
p
Ramsbottom United made what proved
to be a long and fruitless journey up to
former Football League side Workington,
and finished up rueing missed chances.
In a first half dominated by the visitors,
the inability to convert a number of
openings came back to haunt them as the
home team stepped up to the mark in the
second period and grabbed the all-
important winner.
It had started so brightly for the Rams.
A Lee Pugh free-kick on six minutes was
hacked clear by the Reds defence, before
Lee Gaskell squandered an ideal
opportunity to open the scoring two
minutes later, as he blasted the ball high
over the bar from six yards, following a
corner.
Home keeper Jamieson then fumbled a
free-kick over the top, and Grant Spencer
saw his header miss the target as the
visitors looked lively.
Having withstood the early pressure, the
home side gradually began to open up,
and a couple of chances fell their way
midway through the half, but it was the
Rams who looked more likely to score. A
fine run by Jordan Hulme saw his cross
desperately cleared, but the second ideal
opportunity fell to Spencer who should
have done better than see his effort hit
the bar, having been left unmarked at the
far post.
As the half closed down, Workington
began to pose a threat for the first time in
the match. Billy Priestley made a superb
intercepting tackle, whilst Grant Shenton
in goal, had to be alert to collect a poor
back header from Steve Howson, as an
attacker raced in. Just before the break,
the Reds almost grabbed the opener
when Connor ompson watched on as
his attempt was deflected on to the post.
1 - 0Borough Park
19th August 2014
Att: 415
Rammy Goals:
Workington Goals: Coleman (79)
Workington began the second half in
much more determined mood, with a
Salmon free-kick almost catching the
Rams out as it dipped but not quite
enough to land under the bar.
On 67 minutes the Rams were reduced
to ten men. Priestley was harshly judged
to have tangled with a Workington
forward in the box, and the referee
pointed to the spot and produced the red
card. No further damage was inflicted as
Shenton kept out the spot-kick.
Ten minutes later, however, came the
all-important winner. A Workington
corner sailed into a crowded penalty area,
and Martin Colman did enough to strike
home the only goal of the game.
e Rams went in search of an equaliser,
with Gaskell taking too much time on the
ball when through, before the visitors had
an good shout for a penalty of their own
when substitute Porya Ahmadi appeared
to suffer the same fate that saw Priestley
sent off. However, Workington survived
the appeal as the referee waved play on.
So a disappointing result which, had the
Rams taken their chances in the first half,
could have been so different.
p
p
Our next away day is a relatively short
journey to take on those ‘big fish in a
small pond’ at F.C. United. As I’m sure you
are all aware the club was formed by a
group of Manchester United supporters
shortly after the takeover by the Glazer
family, and in a short time they have
established themselves as one of the best
supported non-league teams in the
country. I have mixed views on this club
and have some good friends who
passionately follow them wherever they
play and I have also been known to
attend a few of their games (obviously
only when the Rams do not have a
fixture). I fully admire their fans in turning
their backs on the corporate entity that
is Manchester United and now have a
club that is run on the decisions of their
supporters. Although, as someone who
has always had a passionate dislike for
Manchester United I still find it hard to
be surrounded by their fans when I have
been to see them. ey also strike me as
still wanting to be
the previously
mentioned ‘big fish in
a small pond’ despite
playing at this level.
at’s just my point of
view and I will not
allow this to influence
my journalistic professionalism
though, as any club who claim to play
‘Punk Football’ is fine with me.
e club was formed in 2005 and started
life alongside Rammy in the NWCL. ey
are managed by Karl Marginson who has
now taken on legendary status at the
club having been there since the club’s
inception. ey reached the second
round of the F.A. Cup in 2010 before
losing in a replay to Brighton, in front of
a record crowd of 6, 731 (with the 1 being
yours truly) . FC United have been in this
division for quite a while now and have
the unenviable record of reaching the
play-offs in the last four seasons without
actually achieving promotion. Maybe Mr
Marginson should get in touch with our
Rob at Rammy TV for a copy of the
Bamber Bridge DVD to show him how to
win a play-off final.
A new ground is nearing completion at
Broadhurst Park in Moston, although this
will not be completed for a few months
yet so we will be facing them at Bower
Fold, home of Stalybridge Celtic (SK15
2RT) I have visited this ground several
times and must say it is a great, old
ground with a wonderful atmosphere.
With an average attendance of just less
than 2,000 last season, the Rammy Ultras
will need to be in fine voice to make
ourselves heard on the day, but those of
you who travelled up to Darlington last
the boogie buson the road with rammy
p
season will know we are more than
capable of doing that. It should also be a
big day for the best goalkeeper outside of
the football league, Grant Shenton, who
was previously at F.C. United.
e ground is easy enough to find and
the journey should take less than 30
minutes. From Ramsbottom you need to
head onto the M66 and then M60, before
exiting at Junction 23. From here you will
join the A635 which leads onto the
A6018 into Stalybridge where the ground
is clearly signposted. If you are getting
there early and going for food and drink
you might like to try out the following.
e Old irteenth Cheshire Astley
Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn (SK15 2AL)
not only serves real ales and home
cooked food, it also has the claim to fame
of having the longest pub name in the
country. If pubs with long names are not
what you are into then you could try Q,
which amazingly has the shortest pub
name in the country. I am going to travel
into Manchester and get the train to
Stalybridge where the station has an
amazing trackside bar serving a wide
range of real ales. For those of you into
surreal comedies, you may want to go
sightseeing and see if you can spot any of
the locations used in the filming of e
League of Gentlemen, which used
Stalybridge as a backdrop. I will be taking
Mrs Darkside and hoping we can bump
into Papa Lazaru from that programme
as she does seem to have (quite rightly)
a fear of that character.
Lets make sure it’s a good turnout for
this derby day fixture and we can be sure
that we the give the FCUM supporters a
run for their money in the noise-making
department.
- Darren
“ a relatively short journey to take onthose ‘big ish in a small pond’“
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Here we go again! On paper we’ve
started this season just like we did the
last campaign. I say “on paper” because
anyone who suffered those horrible
defeats to Padiham and away at Ossett
Town will recall that we played
desperately bad and created next to
nowt. In contrast, we seem to be creating
hat-loads of chances, and are just failing
to put these games to bed.
How many times in a game can we hit
the woodwork, sky penalties, find Row Z
with an unmarked shot from 8-yards out
and side-foot towards an open goal only
to conceded a throw-in over the far side?
I’m not blaming players. On a different
day all of these will end up in the back of
the net, and we know that those different
days are just around the corner. Hopefully
one of those days arrived on Saturday
when we played at Rushall (whose
supporter Terry prints this programme
for us, so I have to be nice about
them).
ese are the times
when the team needs us
to be positive and
encouraging - which is
something that Rammy
fans are thankfully really
good at. ere are lots of
clubs I’ve visited that have the
whinging, moaning miserable sods
amongst their fans, for whom 8-0 wins
are never enough, and shout things like
“he’s not fit to wear the shirt” or “gerrim
off the bloody pitch.” My home-town
team of Preston has loads of these, and
there seemed to be more whingers than
supporters at Clitheroe when we visited
them pre-season.
I know we have one or two amongst us,
and sadly their voices then to carry quite
far, but it is literally just one or two.
As Rammy’s players and supporters, we
have had it incredibly good over the past
few years. Johnno pointed out to me last
week that Wiz (to take one example) has
won 75% of the games that he’s played
since starting at Rammy. at is unheard
of in football, unless you play for one of
the top three Premiership teams, and
we’ve grown used to that success. Yes,
we’ve tasted abject disappointment, but
only really at Skem in the playoffs in 2013.
Other than that, it’s been up and up and
up.
But this season is going to see us losing
a couple of matches. is is a high level of
grown-up football that we’re playing at
now, and we will come across teams who
will take us apart. at’s when our loyalty
and our camaraderie will get us all
through, when our attitude off the pitch
supporters clubon the terraces of rammy
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Yet another chancegoes begging,prompting the age-old question, “Justwhat do we need todo to score?”
can help spur the players and
management on to the top of their game
and their ability.
ese lads’ heads will go down
particularly easily after tasting success
upon success, and I think it’s very
important that we continue to give them
the support and encouragement that
they deserve. e “I’ve paid to get in, so I
can say what I like” attitude is fine, but say
it after the final whistle. While that game
is in progress, let’s continue to give it
100% support on the terraces, as we
expect 100% from the lads on the pitch.
“let’s continue to give the lads the supportand encouragement they deserve “
One of Rammy’sanimals runningaround on the pitchduring the match,delaying the game.And you thoughtwe just had sheep!
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Sat 16th Aug H KING’S LYNN TOWN 2-3 322 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer Howson Priestley Hulme 1Tues 19th Aug A Workington 0-1 415 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley HulmeSat 23rd Aug A Rushall OlympicMon 25th Aug H NANTWICH TOWNSat 30th Aug A FC United of ManchesterTues 2nd Sept H MARINESat 6th Sept H STAMFORDWed 10th Sept A Whitby TownSat 13th Sept A BuxtonTues 16th Sept H WITTON ALBIONSat 20th Sept A IlkestonSat 27th Sept H SKELMERSDALE UTDSat 4th Oct A TraffordTues 7th Oct H CURZON ASHTONSat 11th Oct H BELPER TOWNTues 14th Oct A Frickley AthleticSat 18th Oct H BUXTONTues 21st Oct H WHITBY TOWNSat 25th Oct A Blyth SpartansTues 28th Oct A MarineSat 1st Nov A Whitby Town FAT 1QTues 4th Nov H WORKINGTONSat 8th Nov A Halesowen TownTues 11th Nov H BURSCOUGH LGCUPTues 18th Nov A Witton AlbionSat 22nd Nov H GRANTHAM TOWNSat 29th Nov H BARWELLSat 6th Dec A Matlock TownSat 13th Dec H RUSHALL OLYMPICSat 20th Dec A King’s Lynn TownFri 26th Dec H ASHTON UNITEDThu 1st Jan A Nantwich TownSat 3rd Jan A Curzon AshtonSat 10th Jan H TRAFFORDSat 17th Jan A Belper TownSat 24th Jan H FRICKLEY ATHLETICSat 31st Jan A BuxtonSat 7th Feb H BLYTH SPARTANSSat 14th Feb A StamfordSat 21st Feb A StourbridgeSat 28th Feb H ILKESTONSat 7th March A Skelmersdale UnitedSat 14th March H STOURBRIDGESat 28th March A Grantham TownSat 4th April H FC UNITED OF MCRMon 6th April A Ashton UnitedSat 11th April H HALESOWEN TOWNSat 18th April A BarwellSat 25th April H MATLOCK TOWN
fixtures & results 2014/15
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Hulme 1 Burton Gaskell Robinson 1* Dean + Pilkington Slaven Abadaki + Ahmadi * CookHulme Burton Gaskell Robinson + Dean # Pilkington * Slaven + Abadaki Ahmadi # Cook
fixtures & results 2014/15
Ramsbottom United Football ClubChairman: Harry WilliamsVice Chairman: Chris WoolfallSecretary: Tony Cunningham Matchday Secretary: Andy Edmunson Treasurers: H Williams, C WoolfallCommittee: Harry Williams, Chris Woolfall, Andy Edmund-son, Kevin HitchenRecent Senior Honours: Bolton Comination Div 1 Champions: 1972/73Bolton Comb. Premier Champions 1976/77: Bolton Comb. Div2 cup runners up: 1979/80,1982/83Bolton Comb. Div2 runners up: 1982/83Bolton Comb. Cup winners: 1976/77, 1979/80, 1983/84Bolton Comb. Div1 runners up: 1984/85Bolton Comb. Cup runners up: 1985/86, 1987/88Manchester League Cup Winners: 1990/91Manchester League Champions: 1990/91Yorkshire Cup runners up: 1993/94Northwest Counties Div2 Champions: 1996/97Northwest Counties Div2 Trophy: 1995/96Bolton Hospital Cup winners: 1974/75, 05/06. 06/07, 07/08Northwest Counties Premier runners Up 2010/11Northwest Counties Premier Champions: 2011/12Northern Premier League Div1 playoff winners: 2013/14The Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, LancashireTel: 01706 822799
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Grant SHENTON
Dominic SMALLEY
Lee PUGH
Grant SPENCER
Steve HOWSON
Billy PRIESTLEY
Tom WILLIAMS
Scott BURTON
Jon ROBINSON
Lee GASKELL
Phil DEAN
Jordan HULME
Sam COOK
Porya AHMADI
Osebi ABADAKI
Gary STOPFORTH
Terry SMITH
Sam WILSON
Andy WHITE
Mark JONES
Adam JONES
Matt BAILEY
Steve JONES
Kyle BLAKE
Vinny MUKENDI
Alex MEANEY
Scott LYCETT
Harry CLAYTON
Jordan JOHNSON
Louis CALLAGHAN
Cohen BRAMALL
Managers: Anthony Johnson,
Bernard Morley
Manager: Danny Johnson
Referee: Paul Hodskinson
Referee’s Assistants: Peter Shacklady and Abid Hussain
Next home game: Tuesday 2nd September, 7:45pm Rammy v Marine
