58 Ramsbottom United v Farsley

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rammynewsv FARSLEY08-04-15

Farsley Programme_Layout 1 05/04/2015 17:19 Page 1

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Sat 16th Aug H KING’S LYNN TOWN 2-3 322 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer Howson Priestley Hulm Tues 19th Aug A Workington 0-1 415 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley HulmSat 23rd Aug A Rushall Olympic 4-2 161 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley Hulm Mon 25th Aug H NANTWICH TOWN 1-4 365 Shenton Smalley Abadaki * Spencer + Howson Priestley Hulm Sat 30th Aug A FC United of Manchester 1-3 1917 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender Aba Tues 2nd Sept H MARINE 3-2 250 Shenton Smalley + Pilkington Spencer Howson 1 Krou AbaSat 6th Sept H STAMFORD 3-1 357 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer + Howson 1 Warrender AbaWed 10th Sept A Whitby Town 0-2 265 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender AbaSat 13th Sept A Buxton FAC 1Q 2-3 261 Shenton Smalley Pilkington # Spencer Howson Warrender + AbaTues 16th Sept H WITTON ALBION 3-2 231 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer * Howson Krou 1 AbaSat 20th Sept A Ilkeston 4-2 422 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Krou 1 Aba Tues 23rd Sept H CURZON ASHTON 1-1 309 Shenton Grayson * Pugh Spencer 1 Howson Krou Aba Sat 27th Sept A Frickley Athletic 2-4 215 Shenton Pilkington Grayson + Stopforth Howson Krou Mot Sat 4th Oct A Trafford 1-0 294 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 11th Oct H BELPER TOWN 4-2 371 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 18th Oct H BUXTON 2-0 470 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 21st Oct H WHITBY TOWN 4-0 237 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 25th Oct A Marine 3-1 366 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson 2 Robinson Aba Sat 1st Nov A Whitby Town FAT 1Q 2-1 233 Shenton Smalley * Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 4th Nov H WORKINGTON 1-1 250 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 8th Nov A Halesowen Town 0-2 358 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Rob Tues 11th Nov H WEST DIDS Lancs Cup 3-0 132 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer 1 Robinson + Krou Aba Sat 15th Nov A Nantwich FAT 2Q 3-1 238 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Sat 22nd Nov H GRANTHAM TOWN 3-1 351 Shenton Smalley 1 Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Tues 25th Nov H BURSCOUGH Lg Cup 5-1 140 Shenton Williams Piacentile 1 Slaven Howson 1 Krou AbaSat 29th Nov A Banbury United 3-0 235 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth + Howson Krou 1 Will Tues 2nd Dec A Salford City Lg Cup 3-1 189 Shenton Smalley Dean Stopforth Howson Krou AbaSat 6th Dec A Matlock Town 1-1 257 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Mon 8th Dec A Atherton Collieries Lancs 1-2 120 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson Pugh Will Sat 13th Dec H STOCKPORT COUNTY 3-0 907 Shenton Smalley Grayson + Stopforth Howson Krou Will Sat 20th Dec A King’s Lynn Town 1-2 510 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sun 28th Dec H SKELMERSDALE 0-3 372 Shenton Smalley * Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou AbaThu 1st Jan A Nantwich Town 2-3 285 Shenton Hulme Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 27th Jan H NORTHWICH VIC LgCup 3-1 158 Shenton Grayson Pugh Harrop Krou Jones AbaTues 10th Feb H HARROGATE RA LgCup 3-1 131 Shenton Slaven Grayson Kuba-Kuba Jones Pugh 1 Laz Sat 14th Feb A Stamford 1-1 319 Shenton Bowyer Grayson Harrop Frost Pugh Broo Tues 17th Feb H RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2-3 223 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Burke Heron Jones Aba Sat 21st Feb A Witton Albion 1-2 349 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Harrop Frost + Jones # AbaTues 24th Feb A Blyth Spartans 0-2 364 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Slaven Robinson Harrop AbaSat 28th Feb H ILKESTON 1-2 290 Shenton Harrop Pugh Burke + Robinson Jones AbaSat 7th Mar A Skelmersdale United 0-3 229 Shenton Harrop Pugh Edghill + Frost Neville WillTues 10th Mar A Stourbridge 2-1 230 Shenton Harrop Neville Edghill Frost Ayres Aba Sat 14th Mar H STOURBRIDGE 0-1 261 Shenton Harrop Neville Edghill + Frost Ayres Aba Tues 17th Mar A Buxton 1-1 197 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke Ayres Bowyer Will Thurs 19th Mar H BLYTH SPARTANS 3-3 234 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke Ayres 1 Bowyer Will Sat 21st Mar A Belper 2-1 221 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke # Ayres Bowyer Broo Tues 24th Mar H BARWELL 0-1 182 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke # Ayres Bowyer BrooSat 28th Mar A Grantham Town 1-0 191 Shenton Harrop Neville Bennett Ayres Bowyer BrooSat 4th April H FC UNITED OF MCR 0-2 2104 Shenton Harrop Neville * Bennett Ayres Bowyer KubMon 6th April A Ashton UnitedWeds 8th April H FARSLEY LgCup SemiFinalSat 11th April H HALESOWEN TOWNTues 14th April H ASHTON UNITEDThur 16th April A Curzon AshtonSat 18th April A BarwellTues 21st April H FRICKLEY ATHLETICThur 23rd April H TRAFFORDSat 25th April H MATLOCK TOWN


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ey Hulme 1 Burton Gaskell Robinson 1* Dean + Pilkington Slaven Abadaki + Ahmadi * Cookey Hulme Burton Gaskell Robinson + Dean # Pilkington * Slaven + Abadaki Ahmadi # Cookey Hulme 1+ Burton Robinson 1# Pilkington Dean 2 Abadaki * Slaven + Ahmadi # Cook Williamsey Hulme Burton Robinson 1 Pilkington Dean Williams Slaven Cook * Krou + Morleyder Abadaki + Slaven Robinson * Hulme 1# Dean Williams + Krou * Cook # Morley Johnson

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robbo

Good evening everyone, and welcomeback to the Harry Williams RiversideStadium for yet another in our tightly-packed run of matches in this end of seasondash. I’d like to extend a particularly warmwelcome to our matchday officials and toeveryone associated with Farsley, anexcellent club that still leave many of uswondering how the heck we ended up adivision above!

e teamsheet on the back cover of theprogramme won’t really be toorepresentative of tonight’s team, simplybecause so many of our players are cup-tiedwith other clubs. When you’re called on toreplace almost the entire squad in earlyJanuary, it’s always going to be difficult tobring in players who aren’t cup-tiedelsewhere, but the players who are availabletonight have already shown their mettleagainst big-spending Northwich andHarrogate Railway Athletic - teams that thelads managed to make look pretty ordinary.We have a decent squad now at Rammy,and I’m sure that the lads taking the pitchtonight will impress that upon everyone.

Saturday was a real disappointment to meand Edgy. To get a record crowd of 2,104 atthe Riverside is a great achievement, and wewere delighted with the lovely Springweather, but we felt that a few of the ladsmade the mistake of playing the occasionrather than the opposition. At the end ofthe day, whether you’re playing in front of200 or 2000, this is still the Evostik Premier,

and it’s still necessary to give it 100%passion and commitment, which we feltwas missing in some departments. It’s easyto get drawn in to watching the crowd, orstart imagining that you’re playingChampions League football, but in a gamewhich could quite easily have swung eitherway, we desperately needed theconcentration and commitment. In the endthe result came down to a nothing sort ofpenalty (even Margy agreed it wasn’t) anda lapse of concentration at the back, whichleft Rory Fallon with the simplest of headersfor the second. Shents had just one otherdecent save to make in the whole game, soalthough it shows how far we’ve come, ourinability to create a huge amount goingforward was of concern. Words were said inthe dressing room after the match, andwe’re hoping for a lot more passion,commitment and concentration thisevening and going forwards into Saturday.

Due to the ridiculous schedule we have,I’ve needed to write this column ahead ofMonday’s trip to Ashton United whocurrently lie well-placed in a promotionspot. With four teams (us included) on 48points, just five clear of the relegationplaces, there is still a heck of a lot to play forin the league, as well as the excitingpossibility of bagging ourselves a cup finalspot against Shaun Reid’s WarringtonTown.

Enjoy the match, and please give the ladsyour 100% support this evening.


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Welcome to the Harry Williams RiversideStadium. A special welcome to today’s matchofficials, and of course, our visitors, Farsley.

SATURDAYIt was quite a stressful time for all at the

club to put on the game against FC United.Our initial hopes of running things assmoothly as we did against StockportCounty were literally thrown back in ourfaces on the back of accusations of makingmoney. at may have been a by-product,but was not the main reason. Fears of acrowd build-up with many still outside atkick-off time was the real motivation,however, after much discussions anddetrimental comments, we decided to risknormal admission with the hope that queuesdid not result. Also, we were implored by FCUnited not to introduce segregation, andagain, we listened and accepted the

argument.Did it work?

I think on the whole it did.Excepting the usual handful of idiots

which are always expected on bigoccasions, the vast majority of the

crowd behaved impeccably, and theirattitude helped to overcome the actions

of a few who obviouslyhave still to buy into

the ethos of non-league football.

e result was

probably as most people would haveexpected, but the lads did not let themselvesdown.

e crowd though, was way beyond myexpectations. I’d reckoned on around 1200,so it shows what I know! To attract 2104 (thefigure adjusted when we realised we hadn’tincluded the sponsors!), a record for theHWRS, was more than satisfying.

Fears of a last minutes rush were avertedwhen most people heeded the advice toarrive early. At kick-off time, more than 2000were already in place, and the remainingstragglers were through the turnstiles withinminutes.

e whole occasion proved just how far wehave come as a club over recent seasons, aswe can now comfortably deal with suchoccasions and large attendances with muchmore confidence in the future.

And a special “ank you” to all youRammy fans for your help in making sure theafternoon went off without a hitch. I’m sureyou, like me, would have been proud to seethe ground looking as good as it did on theday.

ON TO TONIGHTI write this before the Ashton United game,

due to publishing deadlines, so am unable tocomment on the events at Hurst Cross.However, tonight we welcome our oldfriends from over the hill, Farsley FC, for whatcould prove to be a highly entertaining game.

tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of

non-league football


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Needless to say, a victory is essential as faras both teams are concerned.

Warrington Town, who surprisingly beathigh-flying Ilkeston, apparently rather easily3-0, in the other semi-final, await thewinners of tonight’s clash. e date andvenue of the Final has still to be arranged,but it looks as though it could be on, oraround, the May Bank Holiday.

As the Premier Division team, the oddswill be on a victory for the Rams, butfootball doesn’t work like that – ask Ilkeston!

From our point of view, we would love toprogress through to the Final, despite theincredibly heavy schedule we face over thenext three weeks.

Our main aim, of course, is to remain inthis League come the end of the season, but

after all the upheaval we have had to endurethis campaign, a piece of silver-wear wouldbe very welcome, and a just reward forRobbo and his new-look team foreverything they have had to go through.

Despite the set-backs, this season has seenus draw a record attendance to the ground,and we will finish the season with thehighest ever average attendance in the club’shistory. In years to come when we look backon this defining season, we may actuallyrealise that it wasn’t quite the disaster wethought it was at the time.

With the greatest of respect to our visitors,can I please ask the Rammy faithful to reallyget behind our lads tonight and cheer themon to a thoroughly deserved cup final!

Enjoy you non-league football!

David Kuba-Kuba bossingmidfield, watched by a record-breaking 2,104 people


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It was obvious from both the line ups andapproach that there was much more atstake in this game than simple progressionto the next stage of the league cup. erehas never been much love lost betweenthese two clubs and there was no way thatthe Rams were going to allow theirnouveau riche neighbours from NorthManchester with their money fuelledambitions any kind of bragging rights. isled to a feisty and close fought encounterthat had an undercurrent of niggle, badtemper and latent aggression that was farfrom dampened by irresolute andinconsistent officiating.For all of their pretentions and reallybeing no better than they ought to beSalford are a serious side with far fromunrealistic aspirations for the season. eRams took the lead on 11 minutes JordanHulme hooking in from a corner butdespite some controlled play and havingthe majority of the ball thereafter failed todominate. Salford hung in and just shortof the half hour Nicky Platt seized on aloose cross field pass to hare away downthe right and with Grant Shenton findinghimself in no-mans' land present DannyWebber with the widest of open goals.e equaliser and the hope it provided tothe hosts brought the simmering tensionsto the surface; a few minutes later therewas an unseemly melee in front of the dugouts involving all 22 players and most ofthe touchline staff resulting in thedismissal of Gareth Seddon for the redsand Antony Johnson all baby facedinnocence sent to the stands.

For the remaining hour if anything Salfordplayed better with 10 than they had with11 and the innumerate would not haverealised that the Rams had a manadvantage. e home team kept theirshape in midfield, dominated at the backwhere Chris Lynch and Aaron Walterswere exceptional and despite thenumerical disadvantage often foundthemselves with a man over goingforward. e Rams were content to sitdeep and play on the break but too muchof their play was imprecise and uncertain.Nonetheless chances were created GrantSpencer shooting narrowly wide afterOsebi Abadaki skipped to the bye line andthen Jordan Hulme finding himselfcrowded out after a forceful run into theboxEventually just past the hour the Rams gottheir noses in front for a second timeGrant Spencer picking up a loose ball atthe edge of the area and firing through acrowd of players into the bottom corner.ere is though nothing as dangerous asa team with nothing to lose. Almostimmediately from the restart Sam Madelyseized on the ball 25 yards out and sent ina looping shot which Grant Shenton didwonderfully well to claw away from underthe bar. Salford continued to press butwithout being able to create anotheropening. At the other end the Ramsspurned several chances on the breakagainst a by then 2 man Salford defencebefore on the final whistle they finallyfound the killer pass to Grant Spencerwho slotted home.

salford 1 - 3 rammy


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If this Doodson Cup first roundmatch been a boxing match it wouldnot have been stopped halfwaythrough but never licensed in thefirst place. Such was the Ram'sdominance throughout they barelyseemed to notice that the visitorsnot only scored but had thetemerity to actually take the leadafter only 8 minuted - that goalbeing the product of generousrefereeing which say Cedric Krou'sold fashioned shoulder charge as afoul and a very well taken free kickby Nick Ryan into the top corner.

But the route to Burscough'sdemolition had already been writlarge by a searing run down the rightflank by Osebi Abadaki the first ofseveral , some almost the length ofthe field that left defenders in hiswake. Burscough were unable tohandle his pace and power and opotentially overwhelmingcontribution was spoiled only bydifficulty in getting his head up atthe moment of final delivery.

It took less than 15 minutes for theRams to equalise Alex Piancentiledrivng in past a flat footed keeperfrom 25 yards. e Rams thencontinued an approach to penaltytaking more suited to Twickenhambefore Abadaki twisted away fromthe tightest of positions on thetouchline and induced a own goalfrom Ryan. For the remainder of thehalf Burscough clung to the ropestaking shot after shot and survivingat least a dozen corners until on thewhistle one found Steve Howson to

power in a header that squeezed inbetween goalkeeper and defenderon the line

With Steve Howson and CedricKrou the only recognised defendersin the team and a free spirited desireto produce some re-imagined formof total football that had the fullbacks more intent on attack thandefence it was hardly surprising thatthe visitors were able to find timeand space to give Grant Shentonshot saving practice without everreally looking like scoring again. Justafter the hour Jordan Hulme brokethrough and calmly slotted past adespaired Jack Cookson and thencame the high point of the gameGrant Spencer and Phil Deanexchanging an exquisite one -two toput Spencer in to finish with a chipover Cookson of bone chinadelicacy.

e last 20 minutes were gracedwith Cedric Krou and Jon Robinsonexchanging positions. If this was aconsidered stratagem for somefuture emergency it had all thecunning of a Baldrick plan. To theamused exasperation of all theelegant Frenchman who operates atthe icy end of sang froid and is veryquickly becoming a cult figureamong the Riverside cognoscentimanaged to get into any manner ofscoring opportunities without quitemanaging to get head or foot to theball. By the final whistle though suchwas the Rams control that many ofa small crowd had drifted off homeif not to sleep.


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ramm

y 5 - 1 burscough


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After 27 days without action e Ramsfinally managed to get out on the pitch,in what is looking like a fortunate holein the bad weather, to start the secondhalf of their season. e repercussions ofthe enforced lay-off, in terms of chronicfixture congestion are still to be felt butthe clear and decisive break with thepast it has provided may well be afoundation stone for the future.

With 5 of the rebuilt squad cup tiedany determinative assessment of itsstrength and potential would be be akinto paying attention to a Ray Winstonehalf time on line betting advert butthere was sufficient in the performancefrom those who were on display againsta team currently top of the EvostikNorth Division, albeit with their ownabsences, to offer realistic optimism forthe future.

e New Year's resolution for allshould be to throw away backwardslooking rose tinted glasses for that is allhistory now and the past is a verystrange country.For all that for the first15 minutes of the game there was astrange empty feeling on both pitch andterraces-- almost Hamlet without theghost. at feeling was not helped bythe visitors taking the lead after 9minutes Godwin Abadaki forcing homeat the far post after some weakdefending down the Ram's right flank. Itwas inevitable that the Ram' would takesome time to get going and for a whilethey were wandering around with thesame prospect of finding a mate as apolar bear shipwrecked on theAntarctic but once Tom Brooks seizedon Northwich defensive indecision in

dealing with a hopeful high ball downthe middle to fire home from the edgeof the box things began to settle downand for the rest of the game the Ramswere the better team.

ey could count themselvesunfortunate no to have gone into thehalf time break in front. Brooks dartingdiagonal runs offered promise but toooften denied by the flag, Lee Gaskellflashing a delicious near post headermarginally wide and on 45 minutes KyleHarrop crashing a 30 yard drive onto theunderside of the bar after a lighteningbreak down the right by Osebi Abadaki.

Ian Bennett was growing into aforceful and controlling presence in themiddle and on the turn round eRams took a firm grip on the game. Onthe hour a quick short free kick foundBennett in space on the edge of the boxand his swerving shot into the topcorner gave Dave Smith no chance. Nodoubt with the trip to Buxton in mindBennett and Brooks were withdrawnshortly after and the loss of the Ramstwo most s influential players on thenight l together with some tiring legs letNorthwich back into the game. For thelast 20 minutes the Rams were forcedback but kept their shape , defensivecomposure and perhaps most cruciallytheir feet in the tackle. e visitor'sattempts at an equaliser were alreadypetering out when a surpise snap shotfrom the corner of the box fromMalachi Slaven dipped viciously in frontof Smith and flew in under his body.

e longest journey starts with a singlestep.

r


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rammy 3 - 1 northwich


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Apart from the result and some much needed gametime the most significant outcome from a cold andgloomy night could well be the emergence of new signingDonal McDermott who only joined the club on theafternoon of the match. It was of little surprise that the26 year old who has had football league experience atHuddersfield, Scunthorpe and most significantlyBournmouth and most recently helped Dundalk to aleague title in Ireland should take a little time to adjust tohis new surroundings. Even so in the hour he was on thepitch he brought all 3 moments of quality to a ratherdisjointed Rams performance first skipping past twodefenders on the half hour and scoring neatly into thecorner from the edge of the box, then 5 minutes laterdrawing the penalty converted neatly by Lee Pugh andfinally on the half time whistle finding Lee Gaskell withthe sweetest of diagonal passes only for the striker to bedenied by some alert goalkeeping.

Having established their two goal lead the Rams mighthave been expected to put the game to bed but for themost part they had failed to retain possession and it wasthat failing that allowed the visitors to keep a toe hold inthe match Abu Sanogo scoring calmly following the lossof the ball in the midfield area.

Harrogate Railways are only one in a long list of clubs inthe Evostik facing harsh financial realities and have ayoung inexperienced squad. Nonetheless they werenothing less than resilient and as the Rams energy levelsdropped away in the second half they began to dominatethe game. e Rams were struggling to build anycoherence and as the clock ticked to a mystifying 9:40,bearing in mind the second half had kicked off at 8:50, anequaliser from the visitors would have come as nosurprise. However the Rams defence, well directed fromthe back by another debutant Callum Jones, who morethan filled his self description of a no-nonsense centre halfpest controller, managed to stand firm and as the refereefinally found his watch Tom Hartlley neatly controlled along ball and executed the neatest of lobs with theoutside of his right foot to give the Rams a slightlyflattering margin of victory.


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farsley afcanother phoenix rising from the ashes

Farsley AFC were formed in June 2010,following the demise of Farsley Celtic AFCwho were disbanded the previous season.e original club was founded in 1908 by agroup of local men from the village of Farsley,with their early years spent playing in leaguesaround the Leeds area. e Villagers, as theyare affectionately known, purchased theircurrent home the rostle Nest after theSecond World War had ended, and playedtheir first game at the new ground againstFrickley Colliery.

e start of the 1949/50 season saw Celticstep up a level to the Yorkshire LeagueDivision Two and they won theChampionship two years later, gainingpromotion to Division One. e end of the1950’s saw the club crowned YorkshireLeague Division One champions, but theywere denied a further promotion due tofailing ground regulations, with the samesituation occurring ten years later. eVillages first success in the FA Cup came in1974, when they reached the First RoundProper. ey met Football League sideTranmere Rovers, where they lost two nil ina tie played at Elland Road in front of a crowdof 11000 fans.

In 1982 the Yorkshire and Midland Leaguesmerged to form the Northern Counties EastLeague (NCEL), with Celtic placed in DivisionOne North. It wasn’t long before the clubshowed its class, as they secured promotionto the NCEL Premier Division after winningthe League title in 1985. Two years later

Farsley Celtic were invited to join theNorthern Premier League Division One, afterthey finished as runners-up in the NCELPremier Division.

ey initially struggled in the NorthernPremier League, but by the end of the 1990’sthey finished in the top six, three seasons ina row. After finishing third in 2004, Celticwere promoted to the Premier Division, buttheir stay was only short. Promotion to theConference North was secured after a twoone victory over North Ferriby United in thePlay-Offs after extra-time.

e Villages success did not stop in the2006/07, as they reached the First RoundProper of the FA Cup for the second time intheir history. After holding Football leagueside MK Dons to a draw at home, theyeventually lost a heated replay at theNational Hockey Stadium, going down twonil. Farsley Celtic seemed to take heart fromthis and finished the season in the Play-Offplaces yet again. A last minute penalty fromSimeon Bambrook saw them defeat HinckleyUnited four three in the Final, gaining thema second promotion in successive years anda place in the National Conference PremierDivision.

However, Celtic’s fortunes were to take adramatic downturn as their stay in Non-League’s top division only lasted one seasonand they returned to the Conference North.After two seasons in the second tier of Non-League football and already having theAdministrators called in at the beginning of


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the season, Farsley Celtic AFC was finallywound-up in March 2010 due to financialproblems.

Farsley AFC was formed over the summerof 2010 and the new club were placed inthe NCEL Premier Division. With many ofthe former players staying loyal to the club,the League and Cup double was secured intheir first season, with Farsley taking theirplace in the Northern Premier Division OneNorth. e Villages first season back in stepfour of the Non-League pyramid wasalmost as successful, with a top five finishgaining them a place in the Play-Offs.However, a three nil loss to Witton Albionmeant the year finished on a disappointingnote. e last two seasons have seenFarsley finish outside of the Play-Off places,

although they have proved their pedigreein the Doodson Sports Cup having reachedthe Quarter-Finals in both 2013 and 2014,where last year they were knocked out byeventual finalists Skelmersdale United.

is season, Farsley have flitted with thetop five in Division One North, but poorform of late has seen them drop down toninth place and ten points outside the Play-Off places. Yet gain they have achievedsuccess in the Doodson Sports Cup, havingknocked out Curzon Ashton four three onpenalties after a two all draw,on route tothe Semi-Finals. With promotion lookingunlikely, the Villagers will certainly belooking to carry on their cup run.

- words by Gareth Bird

Robbo heads goalwards during Rammy’s2-1 defeat to Farsley back in 2012

“the league and cup double was securedin their first season as Farsley afc”


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Spencer Harris (Central Defender) Aged 24Previous Clubs; Huddersfield Town, CurzonAshton, Ossett Town, Bradford PA, Buxton &Guiseley.Harris started his career in the youth set-up atHuddersfield Town and joined Farsley at thestart of this season. is experienced defenderhas also spent time in Australia, where heplayed for both Balcatta and Floreat Athena.Spencer has also played at Conference Northlevel during his time with Guiseley. He finallylured to the rostle Nest from Bradford ParkAvenue at the third attempt by Neil Parsley.

Aiden Savory (Striker) Aged 27Previous Clubs; Ossett Town, Bradford PA,Harrogate Town, Bunbury Forum Force &Goole.Another new signing for this season, whospent his early career playing in West Yorkshire,before a spell playing down under for BunburyForum Force. On his return from Australia,Savory returned for a second spell at BradfordPark Avenue, before Farsley snapped him up inthe summer. A dangerous customer who hasscored on no less than 14 occasions thisseason.

Lewis Nightingale (Winger) Aged 24Previous Clubs; Huddersfield Town, BradfordPA, Ossett Town, Curzon Ashton, HarrogateRailway & Mossley AFC.e former Huddersfield Town trainee is nowin his second spell with the club, afterpreviously being part of the 2010/11 NCELPremier Division winning side. Having spentthe last couple seasons at Mossley AFC, wherehe was named Fan’s Player of the Year last year,he returned to Farsley in June. Nightingale is aplayer of real talent who can supply his strikerswith the ammunition to score.

a fresh-faced Phil Dean at Farsley in 2012,when we were still pinching ourselvesabout being in the Evostik North


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farsley afcroute to the semis

Scarborough 0 - 2 FarsleyFarsley moved into the second round of the

Doodson Sports Cup with a comprehensivevictory away at Scarborough Athletic. On acold evening by the coast it was Luke Porrittand Aiden Savory who grabbed the goals.

Farsley were dominant in the first halfwhich provided plenty of chances for thevisitors. After just fourteen minutes LewisNightingale played a good cross in for JamesRiley who headed just over. Nightingale againcrossed for top scorer Savory to headtowards goal, but the attacker saw his effortwell saved.

Luke Porritt opened his account for theVillagers with a great solo goal. e winger,who is dual registered with Guiseley, made agreat run through the middle, beating threeor four Scarborough defenders, beforebeating the keeper to grab the opener.

Farsley were enjoying a really good spell andit wasn't long before the second goal camealong. Nightingale had an effort that wentover the bar before Josh Grant, returningafter injury, made his way down the left handside. e Farsley number three then crossedthe ball for Savory to score his tenth of theseason.

e chances didn't stop there for Farsley.Scarborough's keeper made a fine stop todeny Savory, before Nightingale put therebound wide, and then Robbie O'Brien hitthe ball over from distance. Nightingale hadanother effort before the break, but again thechance went over.

In a quieter second half it was the hosts thathad the first chance. After a mix up betweenJake Lofthouse and the defence, the Farsleygoalkeeper made a fantastic save to denyScarborough a way back into the game.Farsley were still looking comfortable, andNightingale was unlucky not to get on theend of a brilliant O'Brien cross.

Farsley did well to play the game out witha few more chances, with Nightingaleunlucky not to grab a third on two occasions.e visitors were looking comfortable andgave substitute appearances to Academyplayers Cody Cromack, Corben Pankhurstand Karl Exton in the last 15 minutes -meaning that 7 of the 14 used players were20 or under.

Farsley 2 - 2 Curzon Ashton (Farsley won 4-3 on penalties)With the Premier League taking centre

stage while people around the countryopened the second doors on their adventcalendars, non-league action was on thetable at rostle Nest where Farsley AFCtook on Curzon Ashton in round two of theDoodson Sport Cup.

Neither side managed to carve clearopenings in the opening quarter of an hourbut the first chance fell to Curzon when LukeHorrocks passed to Remeo Coley who's effortwas well saved by Tom Taylor. Curzon thentook the lead when Jonathan Hunt headedin at the near post. Farsley almost respondedjust before the half hour mark when O'Brien


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slipped in Adam Priestley who fired incheswide. Just moments later Nightingalerattled the cross bar with a curling free-kickfrom 25 yards out.

Curzon doubled their lead on the hourmark when Taylor parried Simon Lakeland'sfree-kick straight to the feet of RemeoColey who tapped home. Farsley almostgot a goal back when a Kyle Hancock crosswas headed wide by Adam Priestley. Farsleygot back in the game when Michael Aspindelivered a cross from deep, and KyleHancock headed home. With less than tenminutes remaining Farsley pulled off thecomeback when Adam Priestley nipped inbehind the defence and slotted under

Curzon keeper Cameron Mason.Under cup rules there was no extra time

and the game proceeded straight to thedreaded penalty shootout. Both teamsscored their first, however Curzon missedtheir second giving Farsley the upper hand.Priestley failed to take advantage, howeverDarren ornton blasted over to give themomentum back to Farsley. Both sidesscored their next two to make it 3-3 withFarsley having the chance to win it. SpencerHarris stepped up and blasted home to giveFarsley a cup upset as they progressed tothe third round of the Doodson SportsCup.


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Farsley 4 - 2 Sheffield FCFarsley are through to the quarter-finals of

the Doodson Sport Cup for the third seasonin a row thanks to tonight’s 4-2 win overSheffield FC.

e Villagers produced a fine second halfperformance after trailing 2-0 at the breakwith Kieran Walker and Jamie Hadfield nettingin the opening 45 minutes for Sheffield.

But a brace from Adam Priestley plus strikesfrom Josh Grant and Lewis Nightingalesecured a convincing win in wintry conditions,guaranteeing Farsley’s progress into the lasteight.

Priestley had forced a good save from JoshGreen on seven minutes but the visitorsopened the scoring three minutes laterfollowing a defensive mix-up. e ball wascrossed in and Tom Taylor came to claim in acrowded box but was beaten to it by Walkerwho flicked the ball in the net.

Winger Luke Porritt went on a great rundown the left on 24 minutes, evading severalSheffield defenders but was unable to drawFarsley level with keeper Green palming awayto safety.

e visitors made it 2-0 though ten minuteslater as an unmarked Hadfield took advantageof further sloppy defending, heading in froma corner.

It could have been worse for Farsley at theinterval had Taylor made a great save on 43minutes to keep the score at 2-0. e ball waspinged to Ashley Longstaff who managed toturn and shoot but the Farsley shot-stopper

got a vital touch to divert the shot onto thecrossbar.

Roused by the half-time team talk, the hostswasted no time into reducing their arrears andmade it 2-1 on 48 minutes. Porritt sent theball in from the left and Priestley made a quickturn before firing into the bottom corner.

Following light flurries in the first half, thesnow really began to fall at the Nest as thesecond period ticked on but the conditionsdid not hinder Farsley’s comeback trail asproceedings were levelled on the hour.Spencer Harris got on the end of a corner anddiverted the ball goal-wards and althoughGreen made the save, it fell right to the feet ofGrant who tapped home from a couple ofyards out.

It didn’t take the hosts long to take the lead– just two minutes later Nightingale waspicked out and the winger tucked the ballunder Green for 3-2.

Sheffield almost equalised on 77 minuteswhen Longstaff received the ball and had agreat chance to finish with Taylor off his linebut was denied by a last ditch block whichsent the ball out for a corner.

Farsley finished the game off with theirfourth in stoppage time after a great run downthe right from debutant Jamie Tonkinson. eacademy player, younger brother of formerFarsley attacker Craig Tonkinson, took the balldown the flank before squaring to the feet ofPriestley who knocked home his 17th of thecampaign and his sixth in the last five games


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Farsley 3 - 0 LancasterFarsley progressed to the semi-finals of

the Doodson Sports Cup thanks to aclinical second half performance againstLancaster City.

e first half was a tight affair, withLancaster having the better chances andhad an early chance when Reece Pearce hadan effort well saved by Farsley 'keeper TomTaylor. Farsley had a chance moments laterwhen Aiden Savory headed straight atMichael Hale after a terrific cross by JoshGrant. Nightingale then took a quick free-kick and Hale had to be alert to push theball away. Lancaster had another chancejust after the half-hour mark when ReecePearce had another chance saved well byTaylor.

Farsley then came to life early on in thesecond-half with two goals in five minutes.e first of those was from Luke Porrittwhen he turned in Spencer Harris' effort onthe line following a corner. Robbie O'Brienthen doubled Farsley's lead when heheaded home following an Aiden Savorycross. Farsley then took control of the gameand soon went 3-0 in front when Savoryplayed in substitute Jamie Tonkinson,brother of ex-Farsley player Craig, who firedhome with his first touch of the game fromthe edge if the box. Moments later Halehad to be at his best to brilliantly tip over aKyle Hancock free-kick. e game thenfizzled out over the last fifteen minutes,with Farsley in control and Lancaster failingto create any opportunities to perhapsforce a comeback.


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1. Name Glossop North End’s FA Vase semi-final opponents .

2. Which former Ram currently manages Glossop?

3. Which club ended Bristol Rovers 20 game unbeaten run?

4. Kevin Wilkin is manager of which Conference club?

5. Jody Browns stint as manager of which club lasted just 73 days?

6. Whilst waiting for their new ground to be completed, where are FC United of

Manchester playing their “home” games?

7. Which club is stranded at the bottom of Conference South?

8. Wrexham attracted a gate of over 6,000. Why?

9. Which welsh club plays at Belle Vue?

10. In which League do Garstang play?

ANSWERS: 1. St.Austell 2. Chrius Wilcock 3. Eastleigh 4. Wrexham 5. Welling United 6. Curzon Ashton7. Staines Town 8. Local derby v Chester 9. Rhyl 10. West Lancs. League

tony’s teasers


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goal

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We’d like to thank the following people who havealready pledged to sponsor the team for every goalscored for the remainder of the season.

Trigger £2 Stephen & David £2Ste, Angie & Ethan £4Maria £1Mr & Mrs Darkside £2TobyTrotter £1Little Katie £1smiffylad £1Rammy Blue £1Chris S £2Johnno & Bernard £2Tony Cunningham £1Lui Delverto £1Rob Moss £2John Ayers £2Richard Isaacs £2Emma James £2Ian McCool £2Frank Crook £2Paul Gaskell £5Tanners Croft £2

If you’d like to join in (you get your name in theprogramme and receive your very own signed teamphoto as a thankyou) then please make your pledgeon the club forum, email [email protected] orcall Rob on 07944 038512

e Fans Fund total currently stands at £623

ANSWERS: 1. St.Austell 2. Chrius Wilcock 3. Eastleigh 4. Wrexham 5. Welling United 6. Curzon Ashton7. Staines Town 8. Local derby v Chester 9. Rhyl 10. West Lancs. League


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meet the away fansrob winterbottom talks farsley pies

What's the mood like in the camp at themoment?

We have a really positive dressing roomand a really good set of lads, who are allfriendly and always happy to help. e lastfew results haven't gone how we wouldhave liked, and has ended our play-offhopes for another season.

Are things going to plan would you say?e hope was always to get into the

play-offs this season, but it is hard whenwe have such big teams in our division,making it a hard league to get out of.Obviously there's the likes of Darlingtonand Salford, who can afford to splash thecash, as well as other big clubs likeScarborough, Droylsden and Northwichwho have all played Conference level orabove in the not too distant past.

For you who are the players to watch atthe moment, and why.

Adam Priestley always gets a mentionwith him playing internationally forGibraltar, and starting against Scotlandlast week. Ross Daly has had a goodseason this time after struggling for formlast season. Probably the highlights thisyear have been the performances of twoplayers who have come through the

Academy. Kyle Hancock, 17, has hadplenty of game time and done well inmidfield, and Tom Taylor, 22, has beenmagnificent between the sticks. eirform has earned both players contractswith the club.

How long have you been a supporter?I have supported the club since I moved

to the area in 2009, pretty much just asFarsley Celtic were folding. Since then Ihave been a regular supporter of FarsleyAFC since they were formed in 2010.

What are your most memorable timeswith the club, and what sticks out for youthis season.

Definitely that first full season back inexistence, when we won the League andCup double. It was important to get outof the Northern Counties League asquickly as we did, it is showing again thisseason what a difficult league it is to getout of with only one team promoted.

I would say that our best performancethis season was away at Kendal. It is a longjourney, and to play so well and bringthree points back was great. BeatingDarlington at home and Droylsden awayare close too.


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meet the away fansrob winterbottom talks farsley pies

“e hope wasalways to get intothe play-offs, butit’s hard when we

have such bigteams in our

division”


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How would you change the club if you wonthe lottery?

Build a nice new large club house. I wouldthen take all those who voluntarily do sucha good job for the club on a knees up abroadsomewhere!

How would you describe your supporters?I would say that we have a loyal group who

attend both home and away. I also think thaton the whole we are a realistic group, whoare happy to have a team to support afterthe demise of Farsley Celtic.

What are your hopes for the rest of theseason?

A Cup final would be nice! With the play-off's gone I think it is important to finish ashigh as we can up the table and look to takesome confidence into next season.

How would you describe the town for anyvisitors, and what one word would you useto describe the ground catering?

We are a small Village on the outskirts ofLeeds, with plenty of shops and amenities.e village also has a successful cricket teamand has a good history of sport. Pies!

Farsley Ladies just before kick-off in the CountyCup Final against Bradford City last Wednesday -rob is their chairman


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When you finally get yourselves thatpromotion spot we’ll need to know what'sthe best pub for a pre-match / post-matchpint, and why's it a good one?

To be honest although there are 7 or 8 pubsin the village, most supporters head straightfor our bar at the club which is a decent pintand reasonably priced.

What's your connection with the club?I look after the media side of things at the

club, which involves updating the website,match reports, press releases, as well asmatch day twitter coverage - which I will be

doing tonight. I also co-edit the programme,and I am helped by a group of others.

I am also Chairman of Farsley AFC Ladies,who are having a very successful season

Tell us a little bit about yourself - what youdo for a living? Married? Kids?

I work for a contract Caterer as a PrimarySchool Business Development Manager, in arole that takes me all over the country. Ialways make sure I am back in time for amatch though!


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Although the squad is starting to settledown after the turbulence earlier in theseason, the FC United game on Saturdaywas a real disappointment to me. It waseasy to see why FC United are up there atthe top of the table, and although ability isa part of it, much more important is thatthey were well organised, battled foreverything, ran for everything, and justwanted it much more than we did, rightfrom the off.

Overall, apart from the penalty (some ofthose I’ve seen given, others not) and a sillylapse of concentration for the second goal,I only had one decent shot to save - a lotquieter than I’ve been of late.

A big worry for me, as a person who reallywants to win, is that some of the lads havegot used to losing. I hope that’s not thecase - I said in the changing room that Ihope people don’t accept losing because Icertainly don’t. I’ve played for a long timein a Rammy team that’s won a lot of games.I’m a winner at heart - I don’t want to lose.

I wonder how people can’t get themselvesfired up for a game like the FC United

one on Saturday. Playing in frontof 2000 people is what it’s

about, it’s why we were outin the street playingfootball till half past tenwhen we were kids, it’s

what football’s all about.Maybe some of the

younger players get a bit intimidated bythat, I don’t know, but they have to getover that and get on with playing. But it’snot just Saturday’s game. ere are somepeople who don’t seem to love the game,or don’t seem to want to be in the game,and I find that a bit annoying. Perhaps partof it is because we’ve been getting beatenand their heads have dropped a bit, whoknows why it is - I don’t think even theyknow why. ey know who they are, andthey know that their heart’s not in it, Isuppose they just have to find a way to digdeep and get their attitude to where itneeds to be.

I do get wound up, and I’ve gone into thechanging room after Saturday’s match andstarted shouting and bawling at lads, oftenshouting crap. e players themselves holdtheir hands up and admit they’re notgetting stuck in enough, but we’restruggling to get the attitudes right. Andit’s not just individuals. As a team we’restruggling to concentrate for the full 90minutes, and that even pre-dates Robboand Edgy taking over. If you drop theconcentration for just a moment thenyou’ll concede a silly goal like the secondon Saturday and you’ve lost the game!

You’ll notice that we don’t play many (ifany) teams that’ll come to Rammy and cutus open; it’s not often that happens. It’salways little lapses in concentration or astupid mistake which gives away a goal. We

grant shentonshouting from between the sticks


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score good goals ourselves, but moreoften than not it’s our mistakes thatgift the opposition the goal and thepoints.

I do have to admit that the oppositionis a lot better than we expected whenwe got promoted to this league. We’dbeen winning and winning, andexpected to just go on doing the samein the new division - a bit naive on ourpart certainly. You only have to look at theplight of Trafford, who managed mid-tablein their first season after promotion, but thisseason have dropped right off into therelegation zone and look to be almostcertainly going down. It’s upsetting thatwe’ve got into that same trend - understandableperhaps after everything that’s happened, but notacceptable. But if you look at the recent results, perhapsit is turning. We drew with Blyth in a game that wedeserved to win, went to Buxton and got a point whichis very hard to do, and we’ve shown that we’ve gotthe quality in the squad, there’s no denying that.We just need to learn as a team how to grind outa result.

In reality there’s only so much that Robbo cando about things. Once you cross that white lineonto the pitch it’s up to you to get and keepyourself fired up and concentrating. He’ll getfifteen minutes at half-time and before thegame, and apart from that it’s justshouting from the touchline or from onthe pitch, which is a lot more difficultfor him.

Tonight’s a good chance for us toturn things around and hopefully getthings right on the pitch.


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0 - 2e Harry Williams Riverside4th April 2015Att: 2,104Rammy Goals: FC United Goals: Stott (31), Fallon (62)


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David Kuba-Kuba :inspirational and tireless


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Robbo ‘getting stuck in’


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is was a very comfortable and largely untroubled victory forFC United who are now just 3 points away from assuredpromotion. Apart from a brilliantly understated performancefrom Callum Byrne there was little to delight in a tepid andsometimes tedious stop start match not helped by some overfussy refereeing. e visitors must have contributed at least 70%of the record 2100 crowd at the Harry Williams RiversideStadium and being so close to promotion it was perhaps to beexpected that the red hordes would descend with no littleswagger. It was a great disappointment though that a very smallminority of their supporters rather spoilt what could and shouldhave been a festive Easter atmosphere by indulging in abusivefoul mouthed vitriol and venom against the home team and itssupporters. It was a throw back to the dark ages of professionalfootball which drove so may supporters to this level of football.It would be wrong to castigate the majority for the failings ofthe few but there is a great danger of FC United becoming nobetter than they ought to be mini me clones of the club theyabandoned for some thing new cleaner and fresher - whichwould be great shame.

None of which detracts from their performance on the pitchand a well earned promotion. It is not to damn Callum Byrnewith faint praise to say he is only capable of doing the simplething. e ability he has to find space time and awareness to doit - and do it quickly accurately and effectively - marks him outas an exceptional performer at this level. e fact that the Ramsdisdained to try to man mark him or even get anyone close tohim helped of course- but he did not need any invitation toshuffle back and forth along the half way line barely needing tomake a tackle, almost constantly in possession and findingteammates with neat progressive passes.




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For the first 30 minutes or so aided by the slow pace of thegame the Rams rather held their own and could have taken thelead after 10 minutes when David Kuba Kuba's shot was turnedwide after a strong run from the half way line got him into thebox. But once FCU took the lead on the half hour from thepenalty spot after Shelton Payne found a defending leg to fallover the game was all but over as a contest.e Rams as is theirnorm battled away and Mark Ayrws and George Bowyer whereresolute at the back. But as a team the Rams are verticallychallenged and hence constantly susceptible to the dead ball.It was from that route that FCU scored the second goal that putany doubt in the final outcome firmly to rest. Rory Fallon foundit all to easy to spin of his marker at the far post and head in ateasing out swinging corner from almost under the bar. A neatwell worked goal.

While they were well beaten on the day the Rams were farfrom disgraced. e resilience they showed in the face of a verygood team marks the progress they are making. With resultsgoing their way and a healthy goal difference compared withthose around them another 3 or 4 points from the last 8matches will see them comfortably safe.


Mark Ayres’s late header bouncesoff the goal-line courtesy of ScottCheatham’s backside

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Rory Fallon’s easy headerfor FC United’s second


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rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs

Good evening to all and I hope I find youwell. Also a warm welcome to those whohave crossed "them there hills" andhopped across from Farsley for this semi-final of the Doodson League Cup. Somewill always deride Cup competitions butwe are the only club left from the PremierDivision so will probably be described asfavourites today and wouldn't it just besuperb for us as a club to lift this particulartrophy considering all that has gonebefore. So let's get right behind the ladstonight.

As I write this column, it's Sundaymorning on a foggy, dank Oldhammorning (I bet its lovely and tropical downin the south!). And I am still fumingfollowing the events of yesterday'sencounter with the vile FC United ofManchester thugs. Are they the new faceof non-league football? Is that what we areto expect now when rocking up to watchour team play at this level of football?

It was scenes like yesterday which turnedmy father away from footballback in the 1980s and we started

to watch more and more rugbyunion. As a youngster, I used towatch Southampton all of the time,standing in the Family Centre ate Dell where we were seasonticket holders. But the increase ofhooliganism turned our backsaway from the game when a friend

of ours, Peter Andrews, suggested we gowith him to watch a rugby match ... andthat is what we have done predominently,ever since. at is before I got involvedwith Ramsbottom United, courtesy ofHarry's persuasion when we were involvedin the cricket club in the mid 2000s.

However, much of yesterday's eventshave turned me cold and certainlyappreciative of what I have back homewatching the oval ball game. I know it wasa one-off occasion and 2,104 spectators inthe ground (the official attendancealthough I know many climbed the fenceand got in without paying) was our groundrecord but would I like to see that again?Or would I like to see FC United ofManchester again? No thanks!

As you fully well know, I am passionateabout my club. Ask the question of meanywhere in the country who I supportand I will respond in only one way -Ramsbottom United. I am a Southamptonboy born and bred, and am proud of whatthe club is achieving down there but Idon't watch them (last time I watchedthem, I think was in League One). I takemore pride in Ramsbottom United'sresults than I do of Southampton's. is ismy club and I will defend it to the hilt.

e barbed comments about priceincrease (which didn't happen) riled me.FC United of Manchester - you got yourway. But if their supporters wanted to


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#boycott the game all because of a £1, thendo so. Cheerio, goodbye, have a nice dayshopping! Ohhh it's because of theirprinciples ... ohhh I see! Does your club'sprinciples involve ruining our ground,including ripping down our flags andruining them? Urinating wherever youwant? Climbing the fence to get in for free?Abusing opponents supporters, includingyoung children? Intimidating and

threatening those said supporters? Eventhe bringing of a banner saying "We are nota Cash Cow, we are FC United" is completenonsense. Who the hell do they think theyare - running roughshod over everyone intheir path, just because they are thisjumped up little club pretending to bestanding side-by-side with one of the mostfamous clubs in the world. YOU ARE NOT!THEY HATE YOU!

rebel heroes or plasticmorons? Perhaps asmattering of both

“the plastic, bandwagonjumping morons descended

upon us en masse”


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rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs

And you are not non-league supporters.You are supporters of Manchester UnitedFootball Club - not FC United ofManchester. You are pretending to besomething you are not. On the way in, theysang of Eric Cantona! Errrr, he never playedfor you. "Yeah but he played for Man Uwhen we supported them, you fat c**t", saidone 'person' entering the ground. But hedidn't play for the club that you arewatching today! Even before kick-off, theinsults began.

e plastic, bandwagon jumping moronsdescended upon us en masse, all pretendingto be FC United of Manchester followersbut you can be damn sure they were ontheir phones looking for the score from OldTrafford once our game was over. Non-league football does not need you.Ramsbottom United does not need youand it looks like they will be promoted thisseason into the Conference North. Bye! -don't let the door hit you on the way out.

When I lived in Prestwich and FC Unitedof Manchester were formed in2005, it was mentioned to me

that, as I like football, I should goalong and support them. By god, Iam so glad that I didn't. at clubwas formed as a 'protest againstthe exploitation of supporters'.Do you actually think thatManchester United actuallyCARE? 2,000 odd regulars

throwing their season tickets away. ereyou go, Mr and Mrs Someone-Else, you canhave it instead - we have a big waiting list.Kerching!

I am quite a mild mannered person. Butyesterday really got my back up. And myejecting of an FC United of Manchestersupporter for urinating at the side of theour sponsors lounge at half-time was thefinal straw. We had ensured that we hadmobile toilet facilities installed, there wereTHREE such avenues to relieve yourself souse them! is is my club. is is theground of my club, the club I love. And I willnot have 'people' abusing it like that. Getout and stay out.

Sorry if that sounds like an absolute rant -it is really. But I am just not having my clubtrashed, abused, intimated and threatenedlike it was yesterday. I am just lookingforward to tomorrow's match againstAshton United and returning to what non-league football is all about ... fun,camaraderie and enjoyment of the matchon the pitch.

I am not going to be here today - I wenthome after the game on Monday. But,come on lads, bring it home today - a finalagainst Warrington Town would besomething to really look forward to andsomething to remember the 2014/2015season for - rather than the upheaval andthe antagonistic nature of Saturday.

COME ON YOU RAMS!


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Blimey, what a lot of handbag swingingwe’ve been witnessing over the last weekor so on ‘social media’. As we saw with theinfamous Radcliffe Borough Incidentinvolving our former managers, trial byTwitter can be a pretty unpleasant affairwhich can leave lasting scars for thoseinvolved. I read the other articles by Tonyand Richard in this programme (Tonybeing his usual ultra-diplomatic self, whileRichard threw everything he had at ‘theplastic Mancs’) while wondering how I feltabout it all.

To summarise the situation for those whohave got better things to do than sitreading Twitter garbage all day and night,Rammy attempted to raise the admissionprices to £10 and £5 for the FC Unitedgame. e reason? Basically it’s a throw-back to the Stockport County game earlierin the season. e police were very keen toalleviate queueing at the turnstiles and sowere demanding that the game should beall-ticket. is would have been a bit of adisaster for the club as a load of fans

wouldn’t have time to get ticketsand the attendance would

suffer enormously.at’s when Tonysuggested that wecould speed upground admissions

by charging a ‘round’tenner and fiver for

people to get in - no need

for working anything out and giving outchange (two adults and two concessions is£30, not erm... £26, and here’s your £4change). e police agreed and theStockport game went off with a decent-ishcrowd and no hitches.

Harry decided to do the exact same thingwith FC United, for the exact samereasons... which is when the FC UnitedMilitant Tendency started jumping up anddown demanding that their club isn’t acash cow and that their fans should paythe same as every other club. Rammyhastily retreated, abandoned segregation(freeing up three turnstiles for away fans),advised everyone to arrive early and wentback to £9/£4.

My opinion? I’m afraid I probably agreewith FC United. Why should they becharged more for bringing more fans? Idon’t agree with their public whinging,whining and mud-slinging but then Isuspect I’d be the same if I were in theirposition. End of Part One...

...Part Two - the day of the match arrives,and 1800 or so FC United fans arrive inRammy, come onto the ground and,according to a good few of our supporters,proceed to piss everywhere, rip down flags,tear up flowers and leave an obsceneamount of litter everywhere. “e plastic,bandwagon jumping morons descendedon us en masse” with their Cantona flagsand their deluded ideals....

My opinion? A difficult one, but the

supporters clubon the terraces of rammy


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question for me has to be, can the majoritytake the blame for the behaviour of a smallnumber of scrotes?

ere’s no denying that thecondescending Manc-ness that youencounter with the Big United seems tohave attached itself to the Little United,and I find that a bit irritating, but that’s all- a bit irritating. And the way that someviewed us as some kind of tiny team thatthe were honouring with their prescenceand their money was a tad patronising, butno more than that.

Now, the handful of dickheads whoabused our supporters, pissed up the wallsand destroyed our flags are what we are leftto consider. In the grand scheme of hooliebehaviour, ripping down flags and callingthe keeper names is pretty tame and littlemore than handbags. Anyone whoremembers the darts and razor-bladed golf-balls that used to come flying over the

barriers in the 1980s will surely agree that,albeit objectionable, the behaviour of thefew dickheads is relatively tame.

Most importantly though, someone inthe ground (illegally) set off a couple ofblue smoke bombs. I think it’s pretty safe tosay that an FC United fan wouldn’t evenbuy blue smoke bombs, let alone be seenwith them in public. e question I ask you,is whether we blame Rammy as a whole forthe behaviour of two idiot bandwagonjumpers from Bury with a couple of smokebombs. Of course we don’t.

Similarly, do we blame FC United as awhole for the objectionable behaviour of ahandful of their 1800 supporters? Of coursewe don’t. is doesn’t mean we have to likethem, but we do need to be fair. In mymind, the FC United fans behavedadmirably, with a few exceptions. As far asI’m concerned, good luck to em, and here’slooking forward to their next visit.

This is not acceptableat Ramsbottom United


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Tom TAYLORMichael ASPINJosh GRANTRob O’BRIENAlex MCQUADESpencer HARRISJames RILEYRoss DALYAdam PRIESTLEYAiden SAVORYAndy WELSHJake LOFTHOUSEKyle HANCOCKLewis NIGHTINGALERyan SERRANTMatthew DEMPSEYLuke PORRITTJamie TONKINSON

Manager: Jon ROBINSON Manager: Neil PARSLEY

Referee: Richard WildReferee’s Assistants: James orburn, Christopher Bega

Next home game: Saturday 11th April 3pm, Rammy v Halesowen Town

Grant SHENTONKyle HARROP

Lee NEVILLEJamie ROTHER

Alex FROSTMark AYRES

Osebi ABADAKIMatty BURKELee GASKELL

Vinny MUKENDIDonal McDERMOTT

Ian BENNETTGeorge BOWYER

Tom WILLIAMSLuke HERON

Malachi SLAVEN Callum JONESTom BROOKSPhil EDGHILL

Jon ROBINSON


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58 Ramsbottom United v Farsley

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