28.07.15 04.0815
Hello everyone, and welcome
back after what seems like a very
short summer break, not least for
me and Edgy who have been very
busy building a squad which is
worthy of the Evostik Premier. A
special welcome to our friends
from Burnley and Bolton Wander-
ers as well as tonight’s o#cials.
It feels great to be able to assem-
ble a new squad and watch it take
shape after the upset and rush of
last season. The lads who got us
through the latter part of last sea-
son did a fantastic job given the
circumstances, but we knew that
would never be a squad to make
any great shakes. It has been a
pleasure to watch some of the
training sessions and performances
that these new players have put in
over the last few weeks, and I’m
sure they’ll do us proud tonight.
In the signings we have been
looking for quality, commitment,
and players that believe in our
brand of football - we’re looking to
get the ball down and shift it
around the pitch rather than the
long ball crap that you end up
resorting to if you’re not quite up
to competing fully at this level.
We have looked at a good few
young players as well as a mixture
of experience. To me it's all about
finding the right balance:- in a
young player you get a hunger and
desire to prove they can cut it and
you end up with players who grow
to your beliefs. In older players you
get a wiser head as well as some
assurance and leadership (we all
know what Alan Hansen said).
We have brought in players to
suit every position, as well as still
having the quality lads we were
lucky enought to attract last sea-
son, such as Jamie Rother and
Matty Burke.
Bringing back ‘the Mercurial’
Grant Spencer and Lee Pugh, and
retaining Lee Gaskell, David Kuba-
Kuba and in particular inspirational
keeper Grant Shenton has been a
big bonus. All of these are top
notch players who very much fig-
ure in our plans.
New coach Wayne Goodison is
someone I have known for going
on ten years - he coached me at
Salford and he has been around the
non league scene a lot of years. He
brings experience that is invaluable
to me and Phil - the work the three
of us have done together is some-
thing I hope will speak for itself on
the pitch and give are loyal rammy
fans what they deserve, and that's
a quality brand of football.
Pre-season has been very good so
far and I have really enjoyed having
the time and space to work on
some things and get a good idea of
our strengths. We have welcomed
new players and said goodbye to
old ones - this is the start of a new
era at Rammy; one that I hope will
be fruitful for all.
The first games of the season will
be the total opposite of pre-season.
It's when business starts; its when
people actually start to watch; its
when our job becomes tough and
it's the moment we all look for-
ward to throughout the summer.
To all the fans I hope we deliver
the kind of performances and
results that you deserve across the
next few months, and I hope every-
one enjoys the two home friendlies
we face against real top-quality
opposition.jon
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son
Welcome to the Harry Williams
Riverside Stadium.
OK, so it’s only for pre-season
friendlies, but we all know that when
these come around, the real thing is
just round the corner!
It’s been an enjoyable break after
the traumas of last season, and the
three months have given everyone at
the club time to breathe and regroup.
Not that it has been quiet down here
at the Harry Williams Riverside Sta-
dium! As you enter the gates, you will
again see a stadium in pristine condi-
tion. This is not by accident!
The amount of work carried on
since the Matlock Town game has
been quite phenomenal. 60 tons of
soil has been spread on the pitch,
along with re-seeding, and drainage
work has been carried out at various
points. The paintwork on the stands
has been scraped away and reap-
plied. New fencing panels (almost 30
of them) have been replaced, as has
the floor of the Teabar. The perimeter
walls have been given a new coat of
paint, along with the turnstiles and
main gates, as well as general trim-
ming of the grassed areas and
weeding on the terraces and walk-
ways.
And, incredibly, all this has been
carried out on a voluntary basis by a
group of supporters who have given
their time willingly for the good of
the club. On many occasions, Harry
and the two Jacks have been accom-
panied by up to ten volunteers a day.
A massive “Thank you” goes out to
everyone who has helped out during
the closed season. Your efforts really
are appreciated!
WELCOME
For our two pre-season games, we
welcome two big local Lancashire
clubs, both of whom have been kind
enough to come down and support
their small local non-league side.
We thank both Burnley and Bolton
Wanderers for supporting the non-
league game, and we hope that their
visits encourage them to create a
bond with the Rams for the future.
BURNLEY
The Clarets have had a terrific last
few seasons, bouncing up and down
between the Premier League and the
Championship. Burnley are the clas-
sic case of a football club rooted very
much within it’s town and residents.
The smallest town ever to win the
top tier, with the largest average gate
compared to the population of the
town, it’s pull is evident with the
huge numbers of former players,
from around the country, who make
their home there after their careers
are over.
Yet 30 years ago, things were rather
different. Just over 20 years after that
championship and an appearance at
Wembley in the FA Cup final, the
very prospect of the club being
kicked-out of the Football League
was a genuine threat.
Many will proclaim to have been
present, but I can honestly say “I was
there” as they took on Leyton Orient
at Turf Moor in a desperate bid to
preserve their league status. The
atmosphere was quite surreal. Top
referee George Courtney was
brought in as a replacement, consid-
ering the importance of the match.
The tenseness was thick in the air, but
ultimately the crowd dispersed safely
in the knowledge that the team had
done enough to prevent what would
have been the ultimate footballing
disaster as far as league positions are
concerned.ton
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am
Since then, there has been a mas-
sive turn-around in the Clarets
fortunes, and I wish them well in
their quest for a speedy return to the
Premier League.
BOLTON WANDERERS
I have watched the Trotters on
many occasions over the years, and
seen some excellent games down at
the old Burnden Park.
They, too, have had their fair share
of problems over the years. At one
time, the finances dictated that part
of the Railway end be sold off and
turned into a Co-op supermarket,
creating a weird look to that end, and
in effect, signalling that the club’s stay
at their traditional venue would not
be far from ending.
After watching a game at Chorley,
I ventured over to Horwich, and
looked at what I thought was the site
of the proposed new stadium. I met
up with another chap who was also
doing the same thing (good to know
I’m not on my own!), and we took
photos of ourselves stood in the mid-
dle of an empty field on the basis
that we would look back in years to
come at us being in the position of
the new ground. As it happens we
were both about 300 yards away
from the actual site!
Not long afterwards, I ventured to
watch Burnden being demolished,
and took photos dangling rather pre-
cariously from the old railway bridge
that crosses the A666. What I’ll do for
my hobby of photographing football
grounds!
Good luck to Neil Lennon and his
side as they too look for a return
to the lofty heights of the Pre-
mier League.
Two of the
volunteers taking a
break from painting
to have a go at the
football equivalent of
playing air guitar
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Bolton Wanderers Football Club
had humble beginnings in 1874
when it was known as Christchurch
FC. However, by 1877, there was a
disagreement between the players
and members and the then
Christchurch president, Reverend
Joseph Farell Wright. The committee
convened a meeting at The Glad-
stone Hotel, where they became
known as Bolton Wanderers. At this
point, home matches took place at
the Recreation Ground, which was
locally referred to as Dick Cockles
Field.
Up to the formation of The Football
League, all Bolton’s matches were
mainly friendlies or Lancashire Cup
games. The Wanderers first major
competition participation came in
the 1881/82 season when they
entered the FA Cup. Their first tie was
against a local team, Eagley, which
ended in a 5-5 draw. In the replay,
Bolton won 1-0. It was also in this
year that the team moved home and
played matches at Pikes Lane. One of
the biggest problems during the
1880’s was the thorny subject of pro-
fessionalism. On more than one
occasion Wanderers fell foul of this.
In the 1884/85 season they withdrew
from the cup, along with opponents,
Preston Zingari.
In 1888, Bolton became founder
members of the Football League and
finished 5th out of the twelve teams.
In February 1890, Bolton achieved
what is still a club record when they
defeated She#eld United 13-0 in an
FA Cup 2nd round tie. It was in the
FA Cup that Bolton excelled and
reached the final in 1894, but was
beaten by Notts County 4-1 at Good-
ison Park. Perhaps the most
significant move came in 1895 when
the Wanderers once again “moved
house”, this time
to the much
loved Burnden
Park. They even
staged an FA
Cup Final replay
between Totten-
ham Hotspur
and She#eld
United here in
1901, with Tot-
tenham winning.
Bolton had
varying luck in
the league and
tended to be a
mid-table side
until 1899 when
they suffered rel-
egation for the
first time and
the same fate on
another 3 occa-
sions during the
next 10 years.
Although relega-
tion came in
1903, they did manage to reach the
1904 FA Cup Final, but lost against
local rivals, Manchester City 1-0 at
The Crystal Palace, despite being a
2nd Division side. John Somerville
became the club’s first manager in
1908; previously the directors had
governed team selection!
Wanderers performed well after
returning to the top division before
league and cup football was sus-
pended in 1915/16 and replaced by
more localised league matches due
to WW1. On the cessation of war,
Bolton took up where they left off,
achieving a best ever league placing
of 3rd in 1921. However, it was in the
cup that Bolton Wanderers gained
much success in the 20’s, winning the
famous trophy 3 times (1923-1926-
1929). The first win against West
Ham United in 1923 was equally
famous for being known as “The
White Horse” final. This was the first
final held at Wembley Stadium, with
an o#cial crowd of 126,000 being
supplemented by people rushing
barriers. An estimated 200,000 plus
attended the match, many standing
along the touchlines; it’s hard to
imagine what it must have been like
for the players.
Cup success bred confidence in the
team and it showed in the league
table where Bolton consistently fin-
ished well placed in the upper half.
The sale of star forward, David Jack,
to Arsenal for £10,750 (a record fee)
caused ripples of discontent. Slowly,
Bolton became less dominant and
was relegated with Blackpool in 1933.
They regained 1st Division status in
1935 and came close to another FA
Cup Final appearance. In the semi-
final, they took West Bromwich
Albion to a replay, finally losing 2-0.
Despite the opening 3 games taking
place in the 1939/40 season, the out-
break of war again saw league and
cup football suspended for 6 years.
Once more, football became region-
ally based, with matches doubling
for War Cup and Lancashire
Cup matches. Wanderers only
success during the war years
came in the cup. Bolton won
the War Cup North in 1945
beating Manchester United
3-2 over the two legged final.
Winners of the 1923
‘White Horse’ FA Cup
Final against
Tottenham, the first
final at Wembley,
which was attended
by an estimated
200,000 people
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As winners, they went on to meet
Chelsea (South winners) for the FA
War Cup Final; Wanderers won the
tie 2-1. In an FA Cup match against
Stoke City in 1946, 33 people lost
their lives at Burnden when the
incoming fans caused a surge. Barri-
ers and fences gave way under the
pressure.
Bolton signed its most famous
player, Nat Lofthouse, in September
1939, although Lofty had to wait for
his full debut until March 1941 when
he scored 2 goals in a 5-1 mauling of
Bury in the Football League North. A
meagre crowd of 1,587 attended
which shows how the war affected
crowd levels. His style of play could
be described as robust; he was a typ-
ical centre forward of his era. He
played hard and, by modern stan-
dards, took the game beyond the
rules. However, despite his hard style,
Nat was also on the receiving end
from some pretty fearsome defend-
ers (Bolton had theirs too), yet he
accepted this as a hazard of being a
centre forward and never com-
plained.
After the disappointment of miss-
ing out on a cup final medal in 1953,
Nat finally gained his in 1958. The
final itself was clouded by the
Munich Air Disaster in the February
where 8 Manchester United players
lost their lives. Naturally, the British
always like the underdog and, in the
circumstances, the groundswell of
sympathy and opinion of the country
(except Bolton) was with United. Nat
opened the scoring in the 3rd
minute, with the score remaining
until early in the second half. United
had very nearly equalised before
Lofty scored probably the FA Cup’s
most controversial goal. Dennis
Stevens’ shot was parried by keeper
Harry Gregg, who was then uncere-
moniously bundled over the goal
line, ball and all, by Nat’s shoulder
charge. The goal stood as keepers
were there to be challenged in those
days. In the modern game, the goal
would not have stood. How the
game has changed! In the 4 finals
Bolton have won, they never con-
ceded a goal.
Nat’s goals brought the cup back to
Bolton, which is still Bolton Wander-
ers’ last major success. Injury
curtailed Nat’s playing days in 1960.
This didn’t end his involvement with
the club. He went on to serve as
manager, although he never enjoyed
the role, and manager of the Social
Suite at Burnden. Finally, he was
made President of the club he had
loyally stayed with throughout. Nat
passed away in January 2011 after an
illness.
Slowly, Bolton found it increasingly
di#cult to compete with the big city
clubs, as did most of the other mill
town clubs in the North West. Rele-
gation came again in 1964 and
heralded Bolton’s longest absence at
the time from the 1st Division until
1978. During that period, there were
many memorable cup ties; 3-0
against Manchester City springs to
mind, when a Garry Jones hat-trick
sank the city slickers in front of
42,000 at Burnden. 1977 saw a long
League Cup run that was ended by
an Everton 2-1 aggregate win. The
home leg (lost 1-0) was the last
50,000 plus crowd seen at Burnden
Park. Limitations and segregation by
fences vastly reduced ground capac-
ity.
The return to the top flight only
lasted 2 seasons and this was where
the club began to suffer financially as
the club slipped down to the 4th
Division in 1987, thankfully for one
season only. It really was that bad and
the club came close to bankruptcy.
Bolton needed someone who could
get the severity of the situation over
to supporters, and, who better to do
this than Nat Lofthouse, someone we
had a rapport with. Lifeline was born
with pledges of £2 a week with cash
draws as incentive. The supporters
responded with the pledged funds
keeping the club ticking over. Gradu-
ally, times improved with another
final at Wembley achieved in the
lesser known Sherpa Van Trophy, as
opponents Torquay United lost 4-1.
The team improved as did the
crowds, but it was the arrival of Bruce
Rioch that moved the club to
another level. He demanded his team
played proper football, the passing
game. The players took to the idea
and supporters gave approval in
increasing numbers. Bruce laid the
foundations for the future success of
Bolton Wanderers in subsequent sea-
sons. However, after leading them to
the Premier League in 1995, via an
never to be forgotten 4-3 win over
Reading in the play off, Rioch opted
to take up an offer to manage Arse-
nal. It wasn’t the best way to begin
life in the toughest of leagues and rel-
egation came after a season.
The new home of Bolton Wander-
ers, The Reebok Stadium, was ready
for football in 1997 and what better
way to celebrate 102 years of history
at Burnden Park than to leave tri-
umphantly as champions of what
was the old 2nd Division in record
style with 98 points and 100 league
goals. However, pretty football does
not guarantee success at a higher
level and so it proved once again
after one season.
Sam Allardyce arrived in October
1999 with a different style of football,
not as pleasing to the eye, but sure to
get results. Sam had two near misses
that season. Wanderers missed out in
the FA Cup, losing the semi-final to
Aston Villa on penalties and also a
controversial play off Semi-Final to
Ipswich. What a difference a season
makes as Bolton missed out on auto-
matic promotion, but managed to
beat Preston North End 3-0 at Cardiff
to win promotion to the Premier
League.
Premier League football lasted for
11 seasons in a period when the
names of players who came to the
club resembled a who’s who of foot-
ball. If Sam had a legacy, it would be
bringing European games to The
Reebok, something the older genera-
tion would have never thought
possible. Gary Megson, who took
over from Allardyce, also led the
Wanderers into Europe. Who would
have thought that the mighty Bayern
Munich would be held 2-2 in Munich
and Athletico Madrid defeated over
two legs. Heady days!
Bolton’s tenure in the Premier
League ended in 2012 with a 2-2
draw at Stoke City. Since then they
have struggled and only with the
recent appointment of Neil Lennon
has there been a chink of light of
what might lie ahead. Past achieve-
ments count for nothing, but Lennon
is moulding his own side now and
will have high expectations of them.
Whichever way the season goes,
history shows that football life
for Bolton Wanderers’ sup-
porters is like a roller coaster.
- words and photos kindly
provided by Rammy and
Wanderers Supporter Trevor
James.
tonight’sopposition
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In 1882 Burnley Football Club was
founded after Burnley Rovers
decided to change their allegiance
from rugby union to football. The
club played their first competitive
match in October 1882 against Ast-
ley Bridge in the Lancashire
Challenge Cup, which ended in an
eight nil defeat. Burnley moved to
Turf Moor in 1883, the ground being
their home still to this day, with only
near neighbours Preston North End
occupying the same ground continu-
ously for longer.
Burnley’s first appearance in the FA
Cup came in the 1885/86 season, due
to eligibility restrictions they had to
field a reserve side and the game fin-
ished in a resounding eleven nil
defeat to Darwen. They became
founder members of the Football
League when it was formed in 1888,
finishing ninth out of a league of
twelve in the first year of the compe-
tition. The following season saw
Burnley collect their first of silver-
ware, defeating close rivals Blackburn
Rovers two nil to win the Lancashire
Cup.
The 1910/11 season saw Burnley
change their colours to the now
famous claret and blue, which was in
recognition to Aston Villa, who dom-
inated the early years of the Football
League. After a number of years in
the Second Division, ‘The Clarets’
finally gained promotion back to the
top league in 1913; they also reached
the semi-final of the FA Cup. The fol-
lowing season saw Burnley go one
better in the country’s premier cup
competition; with a one nil win over
Liverpool sealing victory with the
cup presented by a reigning
monarch, King George V, for the first
time.
The Claret’s first League Champi-
onship was won in 1921, this despite
losing their first three games. A thirty
match unbeaten run saw the title
sealed, a record that stood until Arse-
nal went unbeaten throughout the
whole of the 2003/04 season. Relega-
tion in 1930 saw the club struggle for
the next fifteen years; this period also
included narrowly avoiding a further
relegation by two points in 1932.
The first season after the Second
World War had ended saw Burnley’s
fortunes change with promotion
back to the First Division and
another FA Cup Final appearance,
where they were beaten by Charlton
Athletic at Wembley. Former player
Harry Potts took over as manager
during the 1950’s, which saw the
Claret’s finally become a force in the
Football League. Burnley won the
championship for the first time in
1960 after a tense battle with both
Tottenham Hotspur and Wolver-
hampton Wanderers, with the title
clinched at Maine Road against Man-
chester City. The following year
pitched Burnley into European foot-
ball for the first time and another FA
Cup semi-final appearance.
The 1970’s started with relegations
and promotions, before a disastrous
end to the decade saw Burnley rele-
gated to the third division for the first
time in their history. Under the lead-
ership of Brian Miller, Burnley did
return to the second division for one
season in 1982. Despite being rele-
gated again, they did make the
semi-finals of the League Cup, beat-
ing both Spurs and Liverpool during
their run.
By the end of the 1984/85 season
the Burnley faithful surely could not
believe that life could get any worse
as the Clarets found themselves
dropping into the bottom tier of the
Football League for the very first
time. Two seasons later the Football
League introduced automatic pro-
motion and relegation between the
league and the top tier of non-league
football. A horrendous season, which
included a first round FA
Cup defeat to non-league
Telford, saw Burnley go into
the final game needing a win
to stay up. Fortunately a two
one victory at Leyton Ori-
ent, coupled with a loss by
Lincoln City meant Burnley’s
Football League status was
retained.
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Burnley’s recov-
ery started in the
early 1990’s
when they were
the last club to
win the old
Fourth Division.
Promotion to
Division One fol-
lowed two years
later, but their
stay only lasted a
season, before
Stan Ternent
took the Claret’s
back up to the
second tire of
English football
in 2000. Their
stay in the newly
named Champi-
onship would
last a further
nine years before
an Owen Coyle
inspired side
reached the Pre-
mier League via a
one nil win
against She#eld
United at Wem-
bley in the
Play-Offs.
The team
started well in
the top flight and they recorded a
one nil home win over Manchester
United. With Burnley’s form starting
to dip, Owen Coyle left to take over
at Bolton Wanderers and was
replaced by Brian laws. Unfortunately
the new management team could
not stop them slipping out the Pre-
mier League after one season,
although they did go down fighting
beating Spurs four two at home on
the last day of the season.
Brian Laws was dismissed midway
through the next campaign and
replaced with Eddie Howe, an excit-
ing young manager. Burnley never
really threatened the promotion con-
tenders and Howe left to join
Bournemouth in October 2012 and
was replaced with former Watford
manager, Sean Dyche. The 2013/14
season saw Burnley finish as runners-
up in the Championship, gaining
promotion back to the Premier
League. Again their stay in the coun-
try’s top flight was only to be for one
season and Burnley were relegated
back to Championship with two
games to play, this despite an away at
relegation rivals Hull City.
It will be interesting to see how
Burnley adjust to life back in the
Championship this season, especially
with the loss of prolific striker Danny
Ings who has joined Liverpool and
Kieran Trippier who has moved to
the capital with Spurs. I am sure
come the start of the new season the
Claret’s will be amongst the
favourites to gain promo-
tion back to the Premier
Legaue.
- words kindly provided by
Gareth Bird.
fixtures & results 2015-16
Sick of missing out on getting a programme?
Get your copy reserved for the season by getting in touch with Rob on
07944 038512, or by emailing: [email protected]
This season we want to hear first-hand what our supporters think
about everything, from team and player performances right through
to what everyone thought of the pies and the parking!
To that end, we’ve had printed a load of ‘Have Your Say’ cards, which
you can pick up near the tea-bar. Onto these you can write your
thoughts and then post them into the boxes near the exits as you
leave. These will be available at every game from now on.
Alternatively, you can use your phone to text TV444 followed by your
comment to 82055. These cost the same as any other text you would
send.
The comments will be given to Robbo/Harry etc, and will be posted to
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gramme.
For your chance to win a Chocolate Cafe hamper, worth over £40, all
you have to do is write your email address on a card, and post it in the
box on your way out - don’t worry, we won’t spam you with junk mail!
Can you spare an hour or so to deliver fixtures leaflets around your
neighbours?
Please get in touch with Katie on 07836 556177 or by email:
jon robinsonmanager
Date of birth: 28/12/81
Hometown: Salford
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Irlam, Flixton, Salford,
Bacup, New Mills
Height: 5ft 9ins
Occupation: Maintenance Worker
Married? Kids? Married to Hayley. Son
Isaac (2)
Favourite music: Indie and American
Rock
Favourite food: Italian / Spanish
Joined Rammy: September 2009
Description: Scrapping striker who scores
a huge number of goals by sheer will-
power. Surprisingly deadly in the air. A
Rammy lad through and through, he
took over the managerial reins in January
2015.
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15
/16
Since then, there has been a mas-
sive turn-around in the Clarets
fortunes, and I wish them well in
their quest for a speedy return to the
Premier League.
BOLTON WANDERERS
I have watched the Trotters on
many occasions over the years, and
seen some excellent games down at
the old Burnden Park.
They, too, have had their fair share
of problems over the years. At one
time, the finances dictated that part
grant shentongoalkeeper
Date of birth: 28/01/91
Hometown: Newton Heath
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Moston Brook, Maine
Road
Height: 6ft 2ins
Occupation: Claims company Case
Manager
Most memorable moment: Beating
Salford late-on, with Kieran Pickup
scoring.
Married? Kids? Engaged with two
children
Favourite music: Rolling Stones, Elvis,
Oasis, Smiths, Johnny Cash
Favourite food: Mediterranean, especially
tapas
Joined Rammy: 5years ago
Words for the fans: Hope everyone
enjoys the new chapter in the club’s
history.
Description: Charismatic and influential
goalkeeper whose vision helps score as
many goals as his athleticism denies.
ashley shentongoalkeeper
Date of birth: 27/02/87
Hometown: Manchester
Favourite team: Manchester City
Former clubs: Failsworth Dynamos
Height: 5ft 11ins
Occupation: Warehouse Supervisor
Most memorable moment: Winning the
Lancashire Amateur League with
Failsworth
Favourite music: House
Favourite food: Chinese
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Older brother of first-choice
keeper Grant Shenton. Exceptional
reserve keeper to have on the books.
lee pughleft back
Date of birth: 26/05/92
Hometown: Rossendale
Favourite team: Burnley
Former clubs: Bury, Hyde, Bacup,
Clitheroe, Chester
Height: 6ft
Occupation: Production Planner for a
filtration company
Most memorable moment: Getting a
Youth Training contract, and last year’s
playoS with Rammy.
Married? Kids? No
Favourite music: Deep House - I’m
matchday DJ for the players.
Favourite food: Sunday Roast
Joined Rammy: Christmas 2013
Description: No nonsense hard-man with
a huge long throw and mean free kick.
kyle harropright back
Date of birth: 22/05/87
Hometown: Chadderton
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Curzon Ashton, Bacup,
TraSord, Sorrento, Mandurah, Ashton
United, Nantwich
Height: 6ft
Occupation: Builder specialising in loft
conversions
Married? Kids? No
Favourite music: Motown
Favourite food: Cheese!
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Words for the fans: I’m really looking
forward to being part of a team pushing
promotion. We can get there!
Description: Full back or holding
midfielder
ben woodswing-back
Date of birth: 1/7/97
Hometown: Manchester
Favourite team: Arsenal
Former clubs: Hough End Gri#ns
Height: 5ft 10ins
Occupation: Student
Favourite music: RnB, Afro Beats
Favourite food: Nandos
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Fast full back back who likes
to get forward and cause a bit of trouble
on the wing.
andy fitzgeraldcentre back / right back
Date of birth: 22/12/93
Hometown: Stockport
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Manchester United,
Blackburn, Stockport, Curzon Ashton,
Hyde
Height: 6ft 1in
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Occupation: Sports Coach and Herbalife
Distributor
Most memorable moment: Making my
debut in the Conference Premier in front
of 3000 fans.
Favourite music: Old School RnB
Favourite food: Spaghetti Carbonara
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Words for the fans: I came to Rammy on
loan a couple of seasons ago, and the
fans are the main reason I decided to
come back. I hope we will give you all
something to be proud of this season.
Description: Hard working full back or
holding midfielder with a great pedigree.
andy dawsoncentre half
Date of birth: 19/9/85
Hometown: Rochdale
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Roach Dynamos,
Blackburn, RadcliSe
Height: 6ft 3ins
Occupation: Warehouse Supervisor
Most memorable moment: Winning the
Northwest Counties and two promotions
with Rammy.
Married? Kids? Married to Sarah.
Favourite music: RnB
Favourite food: Chicken stir-fry
Words for the fans: Keep on making the
noise home and away, it’s a great boost!
Description: A Rammy favourite and one
of the club’s longest serving players, Andy
has struggled with injury for the past
three season, but after a series of knee
operations is back in the squad.
kieran nolancentre half
Date of birth: 12/1/97
Hometown: Salford
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Manchester City, Bolton
Wanderers
Height: 6ft 1in
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Most memorable moment: Playing
against Ajax in Holland and meeting
Dennis Bergkamp.
Biggest influence: My family have always
ben a huge influence keeping me focused
on trying to become a footballer.
Favourite food: Nandos and Indian
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Words for the fans: I hope that I can
bring something new to the team and
please the fans by putting in good
performances and winning games.
Description: Skillful young centre back
who’s come through Bolton Wanderers
Academy setup. Very brave, creative and
has huge potential.
callum jonescentre half
Date of birth: 10/05/90
Hometown: Salford
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Hindsford, Ashton
Athletic, TraSord
Height: 6ft 1ins
Occupation: Pest Controller
Most memorable moment:
Married? Kids? Engaged. Son Alfie (2)
Favourite music: Funky House & Indie
Favourite food: Italian
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Description: No-nonsense centre-half
prince haywoodmidfielder
Date of birth: 2/4/92
Hometown: Modena, Italy
Former clubs: Modenese, Virtus
Pavullese, Stalybridge, Hindsford, Colwyn
Bay
Height: 5ft 7ins
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Favourite team: Inter Milan and Chelsea
Most memorable moment: Playing in
front of 6000 spectators and reaching the
Cheshire Senior Cup Final.
Biggest influence: My mother and
childhood best friend.
Favourite food: Lasagne
Words for the fans: I’d like to prove
myself, have a good season and hopfully
help Rammy reach the playoSs.
Description: No nonsense hardworking
midfielder with bags of experience
despite his young age.
melford knightmidfielder
Former clubs: New Mills, Glossop,
Runcorn Linnets, Mossley, TraSord
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Strong and experienced
midfielder who likes to get stuck in.
alex meaneyattacking midfielder
Former clubs: Stockport, Lancaster,
Nantwich, Chorley, Skelmersdale, Curzon
Ashton
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: A left-footed attacking
midfielder with a great eye for reading
the play.
zack hargreavesmidfielder
Date of birth: 18/10/98
Hometown: Bury
Favourite team: Burnley
Former clubs: Bury, Burnley
Height: 5ft 11ins
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Occupation: Student
Most memorable moment: Winning the
league with Bury.
Married? Kids? Girlfriend Ella
Favourite music: Catfish and the
Bottlemen
Favourite food: Pasta
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Young and nippy midfielder
with great skill and masses of potential.
jake cliSemidfielder
Date of birth: 14/9/95
Hometown: Bury
Favourite team: Liverpool
Former clubs: Preston, Bury
Height: 5ft 11ins
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Description: Young and very promising
midfielder who really impressed last
season.
jamie rothercentral midfielder
Date of birth: 28/01/1991
Hometown: Middleton
Favourite team: Manchester City
Former clubs: Oldham Athletic, Salford,
Bacup, New Mills
Height: 5ft 8ins
Occupation: Contracts Manager for a
construction company
Most memorable moment: Playing
against the ‘class of 92’ in front of 12,000
people
Married? Kids? No
Joined Rammy: December 2014
Description: A hard-working midfielder
who likes getting stuck in.
matty burkecentral midfielder
Date of birth: 14/12/1985
Hometown: Salford
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Blackpool, Salford, Barrow,
Vauxhall Motors, Hyde, Alfreton Town,
Ashton United, StaSord Rangers,
Droylsden
Height: 6ft 1ins
Occupation: Maintenance Worker in care
homes
Most memorable moment: Playing for
England Schoolboys U18s
Married? Kids? Engaged to Rachel with a
son Freddie (8 months) and step-
daughter Olivia (8).
Favourite music: House or Old School
Favourite food: A good steak!
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Words for the fans: Keep the faith as we’ll
do the job!
Description: No-nonsense hardworking
and creative midfielder.
david kuba-kubawinger / midfielder
Date of birth: 1/3/95
Hometown: London
Favourite team: Arsenal
Former clubs: Preston, FC United
Height: 5ft 8ins
Occupation: Student
Description: Handy player who’s strong
and confident on the ball. Extremely
influential last season for Rammy.
grant spencercreative midfielder
Date of birth: 4/10/91
Hometown: Manchester
Favourite team: Manchester City
Former clubs: Bolton, Salford, Styal,
Curzon, Rossendale, Hyde
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Height: 5ft 7ins
Occupation: Recruitment Consultant,
Football Coach
Most memorable moment: Playing in the
Youth Cup Quarter Final at Anfield
Married? Kids? Girlfriend Charlotte
Favourite food: Chinese
Description: Creative midfielder and
winger who has the ability to take on
anyone and deliver a great ball. He has an
eye for the sensational and is worth
almost a goal a game.
tom hartleystriker / attacking midfielder
Date of birth: 11/11/96
Hometown: Rawtenstall
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Moston,
Rammy Youth
Height: 5ft 7ins
Occupation: Bricklayer
Most memorable moment: Winning the
FA County Youth Cup with Lancashire
twice.
Married? Kids? No
Favourite music: Anything, even Justin
Bieber haha
Joined Rammy: August 2012
Description: Tough and skillful young
striker / attacking midfielder who is a
very exciting prospect for the future.
clevon beadleright wide player
Date of birth: 19/12/95
Hometown: Manchester
Former clubs: TraSord, RadcliSe
Height: 5ft 11ins
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Leggy young winger with
bags of pace who likes to run at
defenders and can deliver a mean cross.
rhys nevinsforward
Date of birth: 25/5/88
Hometown: Manchester
Former clubs: New Mills, Maine Road,
Jamaica U17s
Height: 6ft 1in
Joined Rammy: July 2015
Description: Fast, skillful and strong
attacking player with a great touch and
an eye for goal.
luke heronwinger
Date of birth: 24/03/96
Hometown: Bury
Favourite team: Manchester City
Former clubs: Oldham Athletic, TraSord
Height: 6ft
Occupation: Student
Most memorable moment: Getting
promotion with Garry Vaughan’s
2012/13 TraSord team
Married? Kids? No
Favourite music: House and Rock
Favourite food: Chinese
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Description: Young wide player who joins
Rammy after 2½ seasons with TraSord.
lee gaskellstriker
Date of birth: 07/02/85
Hometown: Bury
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Bury, Morecambe, TraSord,
Warrington
Height: 6ft
Occupation: Electrician
Most memorable moment: Winning the
playoSs with Rammy, and playing live on
TV in the FA Cup 2nd Round.
Married? Kids? Girlfriend Lindsay
Favourite music: It’s Not Unusual by Tom
Jones is my Karaoke favourite
Favourite food: Curry
Joined Rammy: August 2010
Description: Tall and classy striker who
has an eye for the spectacular but isn’t
afraid to work hard for the cause.
harun bhatticlub physio
Date of birth: 31/12/91
Hometown: Burnley
Favourite team: Arsenal
Former clubs: Burnley, Blackburn Rovers,
Accrington Stanley
Height: 6ft 2ins
Occupation: Car Salesman
Most memorable moment: Representing
England at U14s and meeting Cristiano
Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney at
Blackburn Rovers Academy.
Married? Kids? No
Favourite music: RnB and loads of other
stuS
Favourite food: Anything chicken
Joined Rammy: August 2014
Words for the fans: We have some of the
best fans in football, particularly given
how far we have to travel. Keep up the
good work.
wayne goodisoncoach
Hometown: Wakfield
Former clubs: Barnsley, Crewe, Rochdale,
Hyde, Accrington, Buxton
Joined Rammy: May 2015
Description: Vastly experienced coach
with some great ideas for getting the best
out of his players. Former right-back,
playing over 200 matches in professional
football.
phil edghillassistant manager
Date of birth: 13/09/79
Hometown: Oldham
Favourite team: Manchester United
Former clubs: Rochdale, Ashton United,
Chadderton, Rossendale, Curzon Ashton,
Hyde, Salford
Height: 6ft
Most memorable moment: Winning the
Conference North with Hyde
Married? Kids? Engaged with three kids
Favourite music: RnB
Favourite food: Chicken curry
Joined Rammy: January 2015
Description: Versatile ball-playing
midfielder who’s happy to play anywhere
on the pitch. Intelligent, mature and
articulate addition to Rammy’s
management staS.
mark molyneauxgoalkeeping coach
Description: Ex Rossendale United
manager turned goalkeeping coach. Well
known for his slightly bizarre sense of
humour.
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I’ve just finished writing a letter to
Bernard Manning Junior, chairman of
Radcliffe Borough Football Club to
ask him what the heck his board
were thinking of when they set the
prices for their pre-season friendlies.
In desperation over the last few
weeks, I’ve been going to watch the
(very accomplished) fellas over the
other side of the wall hitting a little
red ball about the place, and I’ve got
used to paying the much more ami-
able £4 admission fee, and then
about the same for a huge Sunday
roast as cooked by the magnificent
Sandra! To then be whacked about
the chops with the £8 each that Rad-
cliffe were charging came to us as
doubly surprising... and not only us -
I understand a good handful of peo-
ple told the chap on the turnstile to
stick his eight quid, and turned on
their heels straight back to Rammy.
I had a quick word with our com-
mittee members during the second
half, who were loitering sheepishly
outside the Radcliffe Corporate Con-
servatory, which has been the site of
a whole load of unpleasantness over
the last few months (say no more!)
and basically I accosted them with
my opinion on not only paying eight
quid, but also on having to pay £3
more than Huddersfield Town had
just a couple of days before!
It turned out that their sheepish-
ness had been brought about just a
few minutes earlier by what can only
be called ‘A Good Masseying’ that
they’d witnessed Bernard Manning Jr
receiving from our very own Rabble-
Rouser Andy Massey. I must admit
that I calmed down a bit at that
news, as anyone who’s had the pleas-
ure of meeting Andy Massey will
attest that he’s hard to beat when it
comes to telling people The Way It Is!
When I got home, I got to wonder-
ing about the situation. We’ve had
long and happy associations with
Radcliffe Borough over the years, and
this last few months has done quite a
bit to sour the relationship. If you
look at any of the photos I took at
the game, you can see that virtually
all the crowd had travelled over from
Rammy, and for me the regular pre-
season friendly is up there with our
visits when Rammy’s matches are
called off. For those reasons I thought
sup
po
rter
s cl
ub
it best to write to Radcliffe, and ask
them why they’d chosen to charge us
the full league prices for the game.
They must have had a good reason in
their own minds, and I reckon it’ll do
a bit to calm tempers up the hill if we
were party to what they were think-
ing. I got the idea cleared at a
Supporters Club Meeting on Thurs-
day and have just sent the letter.
We’ll have to see what their reply
says, and I’ll be sure to put it in a sub-
sequent programme.
I don’t know much about Radcliffe’s
fortunes off the pitch of late, but the
ground and crowds certainly seem to
be suffering. The pitch was always
one of the best I’d come across, but
it’s not looking a patch on its former
self. The programme (a monthly
magazine with just a team sheet
inserted) seemed just a little bizarre.
Someone told me that the clubhouse
no longer belongs to the club, and I
guess that’s the case for the training
facilities alongside - I hope not. It did
feel like a club on the slippery slope.
Let’s hope they can pull it around.
Tonight’s programme has been a bit
of an ordeal to put together, not least
because Burnley’s media team have
promised me photos and articles,
and have delivered precisely nothing!
As a result, I’ve made it predomi-
nantly a guide to the raft of new
players that Robbo has brought into
the club, which I hope everyone finds
helpful.
It only remains to thank
Trevor James for put-
ting together the
stuff about Bolton
Wanderers. His
collection of Wan-
derers
memorabilia is
absolutely amaz-
ing, and I hope it’s
of interest.
It didn’t take Stevie
Wonder to see that
virtually everyone
at the game was a
Rammy fan!
“a great performance, but why did
it cost us eight quid to watch it?”