03 Ramsbottom United v AFC Liverpool

rammy news V AFC LIVERPOOL 31.08.13

EDITORIAL - RICHARD ISAACS Good afternoon and welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for this Preliminary Round game in the FA Cup (sponsored by Budweiser) and we offer a welcome to the officials, players and supporters of A.F.C.Liverpool. We hope you have an enjoyable afternoon with us and wish you a safe journey home later this evening.

It is always a real pleasure to play in the world's most famous cup competition and while hopes of a May day at Wembley are something of a non-existant pipedream, there is always something special about being here and playing in it. There are financial benefits of winning too, which is always a plus side too!

Well, we really are in a rather strange position at the moment! Played 4, Lost 4, certainly not something we were expecting. Time to panic? Good grief, no!! It's still August ........

Today, we step away from the league campaign and, although it will be far from easy against an AFC Liverpool side who are going well in the NWCFL (with 5 wins in 7 games) and beat us the last time we met at Prescot a couple of seasons ago, its a chance to get a win under our belts and kick-start our season. We have shown in the recent matches that we can get out of this relative slump so let's get behind the lads as we always do.

So, enjoy the game everyone. I am in the north of England but in Durham for today's T20 Internationals between the men and women of England and Australia. But I will be up again next week ..... really looking forward to it as always. I need a good shout of C'MON RAMMY !!!!!!!

Richard

President: J Smith Chairman: H Williams Secretary: G Shuttleworth Treasurers: H Williams, C Woolfall Committee: C Woolfall, A Edmundson, G Lay, D Wolfenden, K Topping Life Members: FA Rothwell, L Read, A Whalley, F Rothwell, J Wolfenden, P McSherry, A Mcleod Programme Editors: R Isaacs, P Newhouse, R Moss Hospitality Manager: I McCool Catering Manager: S Fletcher Team Managers: A Johnson, B Morley First XI Coaches: J Hunter, G Moses, D Green Physio: K Richardson Recent Honours: NWCFL Champions 2011/12 Premier Runners Up 2010/11 2nd Div Champions 96/97 2nd Div Trophy 95/96 Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 2005/06. 2006/07, 2007/08 The Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire Tel: 01706 822799 www.rammyunited.co.uk

not panicking glenn moses

We welcome A.F.C.Liverpool to the HWRS today for our FA Cup game and there is always a special feel to being a part of the greatest cup competition in the world and today is no different.

We are all really looking forward to what will hopefully be the start of a memorable cup run, although we know A.F.C.Liverpool are in a good run of form and we are expecting a really tough game.

As for ourselves - well, it doesn't need to tell you that we are all extremely disappointed with our start to the league campaign. There are no excuses from our side of things, we simply haven't been good enough and, believe me when I tell you, we are all working as hard as possible to put things right. What we won't be doing is pressing any panic buttons. We are 100% together in this and everyone from Jonno and Bern to myself, Daz, Katie and all of the players are doing everything possible to kick start our season.

Maybe our early season form is still a hangover from what can only be described as the heartbreak we all suffered on the last day of last season at Skelmersdale. We have need from each and every one of you who have supported us through the fantastic times is really to get behind the lads today and together, as a club, we will achieve our goals.

Thank you for your continued support and enjoy the game today.

COYR Glenn.

The nightmare start to the season continued at the sun-baked Harry Williams Stadium, as the east Lancashire neighbours deservedly returned home with all three points.

In front of another crowd of over 300, including one intrepid traveller who had journeyed over from Sweden, the Rams took the field still looking for their first points of the season.

However, they were undone by an old boy who returned to haunt them and leave them still pointless.

It took Keiron Pickup just eleven minutes to rub his old colleagues’ noses in it. Grant Spencer upended Tom Bradley in the area, and Ben Allen stepped up to take the spot-kick. Grant Shenton in the home goal made a fine save, but Pickup

beat the Rams defence to the loose ball and gleefully hammered it home from close range.

Yet before that, Mark Drew could well have given the home side the lead.

On three minutes he sent in a thunderous drive which Sean Davis did well to turn round the Padiham post, before trying his luck again just minutes later with a fine volley from the edge of the box which just sailed wide.

Soon after the goal, Spencer sent over a tantalising low cross which evaded the lunging boot of Lee Gaskell by inches, and Jon Robinson was unlucky to see his close range turn and shot turned away for a corner.

The visitors doubled their lead on 30 minutes in the simplest of fashions.

return of the

rammy rebels

1-2

Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 26th August 2013 Att: 309 Rammy Goals: Brookes (88) Padiham Goals: Pickup (11,31)

Another Rammy old boy, Mark Sharples spotted the overlapping Lewis Jordan down the right wing, and his low cross was met perfectly by Pickup as he raced between two defenders to prod the ball home from close range.

Gaskell was again inches away, this time from a Joel Pilkington cross, as the Rams tried to reduce the arrears, but for all their possession, they posed little threat to the Storks goal.

A couple of half-time substitutions seemed to rally the home side for the second half, although they so nearly slipped further behind when a great cross from Max Jones found the head of Allen, but the Padiham centre-forward could only watch as his effort went over the bar.

A free-kick from drew was brilliantly saved by Davis as he pushed it away for a corner, then Robinson chanced his arm from 25 yards, but the ball flew over the bar.

Yet another Drew free-kick found Andy Dawson at the far post but he could only turn the ball wide of the post, before the home side’s chances diminished on 59 minutes when substitute Phil Edghill received a red card for an over the top challenge.

That turned the game back in Padiham’s favour, as they missed a host of chances to put the game to bed.

Pickup was inches away from claiming the match ball, whilst Sharples headed over from close range when he ought to have done better.

Pickup, a constant thorn in the side of his old team, cut inside but then fired over, before the miss of the match again saw the Rams old boys involved. Pickup with acres of space on the left, threaded the ball through to Sharples who flicked it sideways to the on-rushing Allen. His shot clipped the top of the bar when a goal looked inevitable.

At the other end, a Robinson header was tipped over by Davis, before Gaskell fired well wide from 25 yards.

Shenton had to be alert to prevent a third goal when fierce drive from the right by Dean Overson was touched over.

Padiham’s profligacy almost came back to haunt them, as with just two minutes of normal time remaining, the home side finally got a foothold in the match.

A looping ball into the box found playermanager Anthony Johnson near the far post, and as he nodded the ball back, Tom Brooks bundled it home to give his side some hope.

But despite a further six minutes, the Rams never looked like sneaking a point they would have barely deserved.

return of the

rammy rebels

TONY CUNNINGHAM AND THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium this afternoon for an early adventure into the world of knock-out competitions.

The FA Cup is, of course, the greatest of these, and so it’s always a pleasure to compete for this famous cup.

Mind you, clubs at our level are never going to get anywhere near the final, but in our case, it’s simply a case of “being a part of it”.

Financially, these games are often a life-line for many non-league clubs, and the £1925 on offer for today’s winners will prove a decent enough incentive.

Ideally, clubs should never budget for any sort of cup run, be it the FA Cup, Trophy or Vase, but sadly many do. To lose out at an early stage invariably causes financial problems for those silly enough to assume a cup run is bound to be forthcoming. Any sort of success should always be regarded as a bonus, so I am sure AFC Liverpool as well as ourselves will be hoping for a decent run, and who knows, a possible real money-spinner should one of us manage to progress through to the First round proper. It’s not impossible, as I well remember our neighbours Radcliffe Borough doing so not that long ago.

So welcome to everyone who has made the journey over from Merseyside this afternoon.

After a couple of disappointing seasons, the Reds look to be flying this time round, so today’s game could well prove to be a very competitive game.

Should it be needed, the replay will be at Prescot Cables ground this coming Tuesday, 3rd September, with a 7.45pm kick-off.

RADIO We are all too aware of the ridiculous amount of air time devoted to the top level of football in this country.

However, those of us who prefer the non-league game, really do struggle to listen to news and comments on our take on football.

The wonderful “Non-League Hour” on Radio Lancashire has been banished to the vaults of history as a result of the BBC’s disgraceful decision to turn local radio into a national station from 7pm each weekday evening, although Radio Manchester still manages to over-ride this instruction most Friday nights, and includes a non-league section. On the same evening on Tameside Radio, Pav has an hour long programme featuring teams from east Manchester and Tameside, many of whom are relevant to us here at Ramsbottom.

Five Live has a nationwide show, although this half-hour is broadcast at 5.30am on a Sunday morning! It can, however, be picked up via the internet at any point during the week.

If you search Google, you will find a few others dotted round the country, so if you are a non-league fanatic, like myself, you may well have to search, but it is possible to find sufficient nonleague broadcasts throughout the week.

Sadly, as opposed to the Premier League which is constantly forced down our throats, a little bit of work is needed to finally contact these various programmes. But it’s worth the effort!

Enjoy your non-league football!

AFC Liverpool was formed in 2008, by Liverpool FC fans, who had becoming increasingly frustrated at the cost and difficulty in obtaining tickets for the Premiership. The supposed ‘39th game’ in which Premier League fixtures would be played in different parts of the world proved to be the final straw, highlighting that top flight football is now more concerned about money than its fans.

A website was created and, with the response being positive, work began to move to the next stage and create a steering group to make the club a reality.

At the beginning of March 2008 AFC Liverpool was officially formed and it was made clear that the club was not in any way a response to the ownership issue at Anfield or a protest against Liverpool Football Club, more a reaction to issues at the top end of football in general.

By May, AFC Liverpool had appointed its first manager in Derek Goulding. The following month the club arranged a groundshare with Prescot Cables and had been accepted into the North West Counties Football League.

The club’s first game was a 1-1 draw in a friendly with St Helens Town on 16th July 2008 and they began their inaugural league season extremely well, beating Darwen 5-0 in their first competitive game and going on a run of ten wins in the first eleven games.

However they failed to keep this momentum going, and the club eventually finished fourth in the league. The season did prove fruitful though as a victory in the final of the First Division Trophy over Padiham at Ashton Athletic provided the club’s first piece of silverware.

2009/10 began with three successive victories but after this the season became very indif-

today’s visitors

afc liverpool

today’s visitors

afc liverpool

ferent. After a 5-2 home defeat to Atherton Collieries on Easter Monday, Derek Goulding left the club and ex assistant and goalkeeping coach Paul Moore was appointed caretaker Manager.

Under Moore’s stewardship AFC had a strong end to the 2009/10 campaign, winning five out of their last seven league games to climb to fifth in the league and also retaining the First Division Trophy, coming from behind to beat Cheadle Town 2-1 in the final at Flixton. In doing so, AFC Liverpool became the first club not only to win the Trophy twice but also successfully defend it.

2010/11 also began in promising fashion with the Reds going on a ten game unbeaten run after an opening day loss at AFC Darwen. However despite amassing their highest ever points total promotion never looked probable due to the form of would be Champions AFC Blackpool and second placed Runcorn Town, resulting in a fourth placed finish, missing out on third by goal difference.

There was disappointment too in the First Division Trophy when they reached the final for a third consecutive time only to lose to Atherton Collieries 3-2 in extra time. In the FA Vase, steady progress was made to the third round, where their dreams of Wembley were dashed by a defeat at Whitley Bay, who would go on to claim a third successive triumph.

However at the League AGM in July 2011 there was a surprise when Rossendale were expelled from the

league and Formby were demoted to the First Division. Holker Old Boys, who finished third on goal difference, declined an invitation to take up a place in the Premier Division, meaning that AFC Liverpool were invited to take the place and the club accepted the chance that was offered to them.

The 2011/12 season started badly in terms of results but not performances for AFC Liverpool as they had to wait until November for their first League victory, which came about in the form of a 7-0 demolition of Winsford United.

From that point, AFC Liverpool, who had been rooted to the foot of the table, began the steady climb out of danger, ultimately finishing in nineteenth place, sixteen points clear of the relegation places.

Last season saw AFC Liverpool consolidate their position in the North West Counties Premier Division with an eleventh placed finish, accumulating sixty points in the process. As the season progressed, manager Paul Moore built a core squad of players, which played some of the most exciting, attractive football in the league and post Christmas, won fifteen and drew five of twenty eight games, including a defeat of eventual Premier Division champions Padiham on their home patch.

The performances were rewarded in the final game of the season as the Reds beat recently crowned champions of the Evo-Stik NPL First Division North, Skelmersdale United, 3-0 in the Liverpool Senior Cup semi final to book an all North West Counties clash with Bootle in the final.

this time last season

Ramsbottom United progressed to the next round of the FA Cup with a comfortable victory over a disappointing Brigg Town outfit.

On a wet and miserable afternoon, another 200+ crowd were soon cheering the home side as they took the lead as early as the 6th minute. A foul on Phil Dean on the left saw Gary Stopforth stroke the free-kick round the wall and in off the near post.

Minutes later, another Stopforth free-kick from the left evaded the visiting defence and Mark Ayres was inches away from converting at the far post.

Dean fired in from 20 yards but Fenty in the Brigg goal easily defused the shot, whilst moments later Dean was again set up, this

time by Lee Gaskell, but his close range effort was deflected for a corner.

On 32 minutes the home side extended the lead. Stopforth, who had an excellent game, fired in a corner and Ayres rose highest to thump his header home.

Four minutes later and the Rams nearly added to the lead. A fierce cross-cum-shot was parried by Fenty and Jordan Hulme reacted quickest but his header looped over the bar.

Moments later Hulme should have scored as he burst into the box, but Fenty dived bravely at his feet to deny the chance, and a third opportunity in quick succession arrived for the home No.10 as he gathered a half-cleared corner only

to see his acute lob go wide of the far post.

Gaskell had another effort from 20 yards out that sailed wide as a one-sided half drew to a close.

The second half saw a rare foray into the Rams half by the visitors as Grant Shenton, on an under-worked afternoon, had to be alert to gather a drive from Archer.

However, on 49 minutes the home side put the game well out of reach of Brigg.

A fine through ball found Dominic Smalley on the right, and he cut in before crossing for Hulme to net with ease despite a couple of defenders attempting to clear their lines.

It was one way traffic from then on, and the only surprise was a lack of further goals.

Danny Warrender’s excellent right-wing cross was inches away from the on-rushing Dean, Gaskell saw his turn and shot miss the target by inches, whilst

3-0

Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 27th August 2012 Att: 203 Rammy Goals: Stopforth (5), Ayres (32), Hulme (49) Brigg Goals:

Stopforth saw another free-kick fly just over the bar.

Hulme was inches away with a close-range volley, before Matthews created two chances at the other end, the first of which Shenton dealt with well at the foot of the post.

Another Smalley cross saw Hulme head wide, before, on 69 minutes, Dean was upended in the box.

Gaskell took the spot-kick but grazed the outside of the post, a trick he repeated from open play just seconds later. Gaskell realised it was not going to be his day when he finally poked the ball home only to see the referee’s assistant raise his flag for offside.

Hulme and Dean came close to adding to the tally as the minutes ticked down, but in reality, this was a game the Rams won at a canter.

A visit to AFC Fylde in the next round is sure to prove more testing.

rammy united

2013/14

EDITORIAL - GRAHAM SHUTTLEWORTH I fear that my first notes for the programme will be read under something of a cloud of doom and gloom that appears to have descended over the stadium, and created, I suspect, by an understandable air of expectation from what happened last season.

Like others (including the players), I read the comments on the forum, and some were clearly looking forward to this season, so was I, in the hope that the team would carry on from where they left off only a matter of a couple of months ago, but we all know that football isn't always like that, and we also know that good teams don't become bad ones overnight.

No one, especially the team management and players, need reminding that performances haven't been what was expected, either by you or themselves. I thought the performance against Warrington Town was a sign of things to come, and we certainly deserved at the very least a point from the game.

Unfortunately 48 hours later we got what we deserved against Padiham, and I dare anyone to say differently.

It is on record that one of my former clubs was Curzon Ashton who, until last season, were involved in the play-offs every season since their promotion to the Northern Premier League. On this basis alone someone thought the manager, in charge for just 12 months, should be sacked because the club had gone backwards!

As someone with more than a little knowledge of the game would say: " Football, bl**dy h**l!"

Having said that what is needed is for everyone to get behind the lads. They need to relax and play their football in the way you know they can, not be tense and afraid of making a mistake for fear of criticism either during the game or on a public forum, and today they have the chance to put aside their league worries as welcome AFC Liverpool in The FA Cup. A trip to the White Rose County awaits the victors.

Our visitors will no doubt be regarded as the underdogs, for no reason other than they play at a lower level. That is 'scientific' way some people make a judgement: if it was only that easy!

I'll be giving 100% support again today, and I hope that you will too.

(Sir Alex Ferguson: Sometimes in football you have to hold your hands up and say, yeah, they're better than us!)

EDITORIAL - COMING UP Rammy’s next fixtures—both home and away …. Get on the road and support the lads!

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED v NORTHWICH VICTORIA Saturday 7 September 2013—3.00pm kick-off Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One North OSSETT ALBION v RAMSBOTTOM UNITED Tuesday 10 September 2013—7.45pm kick-off Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One North FA CUP (sponsored by Budweiser) FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND Saturday 14 September 2013—3.00pm kick-off (depends on today’s result) MOSSLEY v RAMSBOTTOM UNITED Saturday 21 September 2013—3.00pm kick-off Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One North RAMSBOTTOM UNITED v DARLINGTON 1883 Tuesday 24 September 2013—7.45pm kick-off Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One North GROUND DIRECTIONS: OSSETT ALBION Address: Queen’s Terrace, Dimplewells Road, Ossett, WF5 8JT Directions: M1 junction 40. Take the A638 signposted Dewsbury, 1st exit at sliproad roundabout, then immediately turn off onto B6129 signposted Ossett. Just after the Ossett WMC, turn left into Dale Street staying on B6129 signposted Ossett town centre. At traffic lights turn left into B6128 Prospect Road, and follow road past Ossett Town football ground, over mini roundabout until T-junction. Turn left into Queens Street, then at the 'Tap' pub turn right into Dimplewells Road. At junction in road, bear right for entrance to ground signposted 'Ossett CC & Albion FC'.

MOSSLEY Address: Seel Park, Market Street, Mossley, OL5 0ES Directions: The ground is in the centre of Mossley.

Find the A670 (Stamford Street), which is a oneway road through the town, and then turn left into Market Street. There is very little parking on the ground, so park on the road.

fixtures and results 2013/2014 DATE Sat 17th Aug Tues 20th Aug Sat 24th Aug Mon 26th Aug Sat 31st Aug Sat 7th Sept Tues 10th Sept Sat 14th Sept Sat 21st Sept Tues 24th Sept Sat 28th Sept Tues 1st Oct Sat 5th Oct Sat 12th Oct Tues 15th Oct Sat 19th Oct Tues 22nd Oct Sat 26th Oct Tues 29th Oct Sat 2nd Nov Wed 6th Nov Sat 9th Nov Tues 12th Nov Sat 16th Nov Sat 23rd Nov Sat 30th Nov Wed 4th Dec Sat 7th Dec Sat 14th Dec Sat 21st Dec Thurs 26th Dec Sat 28th Dec Wed 1st Jan Sat 4th Jan Sat 11th Jan Sat 18th Jan Sat 25th Jan Sat 1st Feb Sat 8th Feb Sat 15th Feb Sat 22nd Feb Sat 1st Mar Sat 8th Mar Sat 15th Mar Sat 22nd Mar Sat 29th Mar Sat 5th Apr Sat 12th Apr Sat 19th Apr Mon 21st Apr Sat 26th Apr

H A A H H H A A A H H A A A H H H A H A A H H A H A A A H A H H A A H H A H A H A A H A A A H A H A H

OPPOSITION CURZON ASHTON Ossett Town Warrington Town PADIHAM AFC Liverpool - FA Cup NORTHWICH VICTORIA Ossett Albion (Stocksbridge) FAC 1Q Mossley DARLINGTON 1883 CLITHEROE Radcliffe Borough Warrington Town FAT prel Wakefield LANCASTER CITY (WORKSOP) (FAT1Q) PRESCOT CABLES Harrogate Railway Athletic OSSETT ALBION (FAT 2Q) Darlington 1883 NEW MILLS FC UNITED Doodson cup Cammell Laird BURSCOUGH Kendal Town (Doodson Sport Cup) Curzon Ashton OSSETT TOWN Bamber Bridge SALFORD CITY FARSLEY Padiham Northwich Victoria MOSSLEY RADCLIFFE BOROUGH Clitheroe WAKEFIELD Lancaster City HARROGATE RAILWAY (Doodson Sport Cup) Prescot Cables CAMMELL LAIRD New Mills (Doodson Cup SF) Burscough KENDAL TOWN Farsley WARRINGTON TOWN Salford City BAMBER BRIDGE

RES 1-3 0-2 0-1 1-2

ATT 254 100 192 309

STARTING ELEVEN Shenton Warrender Shenton Warrender Shenton Warrender Shenton Warrender

Pilkington Pilkington * Pilkington * Pilkington

Stopforth + Drew Drew + Drew +

Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson

Hulme Hulme Hulme Spencer *

Morning * Morning + Smalley Smalley

Spencer Spencer Stopforth Stopforth

Robinson # Robinson Robinson Robinson

Brookes 1 Brookes # Gaskell # Gaskell

Dean Dean Dean Dean #

66/7: Parks Cup Runners-Up 67/8:Parks Cup Runners-Up 67/8: Kenyon Cup Winners 71/2: Cornall Cup Winners 72/3: Bolton Combination Div One Champions 74/5: Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 76/7: Bolton Combination Premier Division Champions 76/7: Bolton Combination Open Cup Winners 79/80: Bolton Combination Jackson Cup Winners 81/2: Bolton Combination Jackson Cup Runners-Up 82/3: Bolton Combination Second Division Cup Runners-Up 82/3: Bolton Combination Second Division Runners-Up 83/4: Bolton Combination Open Cup Winners 84/5: Bolton Combination First Division Runners-Up 84/5: Bolton Boys Federation Under-16’s League Champions 85/6: Bolton Combination Jackson Cup Runners-Up 85/6: Bolton Boys Federation U18’s League Runners-Up 85/6: Bolton Boys Federation U18’s Jubilee Cup Winners 86/7: Lancashire FA Under-18’s Cup Winners 86/7: Bolton Boys Federation U18’s Jubilee Cup Winners 86/7: Bolton Boys Federation Under-18’s League Champions 87/8: Bolton Combination Open Cup Runners-Up

SUBSTITUTES Drew + Smalley * Warburton Smalley * Warburton * Brookes # Edghill * Morley

Gaskell # Gaskell # Spencer + Johnson +

Toth Toth Toth Brookes 1 #

Bradbury Bradbury + Bradbury Roberts

90/1: Manchester League Division One Cup Winners 90/1: Manchester League Division One Champions 93/4: Yorkshire Cup Runners-Up 93/4: Bury & Radcliffe Junior Under-16’s Cup Winners 93/4: Bury & Radcliffe Junior Under-16’s Champions 94/5: Gylchrist Cup Winners 94/5: Manchester Festival of Football Runners-Up 94/5: Manchester County FA Youth Cup Winners 94/5: Bolton Boys Federation Jubilee Cup Winners 94/5: Bolton Boys Federation Cup Winners 94/5: Bolton Boys Federation Premier League Champions 95/6: North West Counties Division Two Cup Winners 96/7: North West Counties Division Two Champions 97/8: North West Counties Reserve Division Cup Winners 98/9: Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 98/9: North West Counties Reserve North Champions 2000/01: Bolton Bys Federation Jubilee Cup Runners-Up 01/2: Bolton Boys Federation Premier League Champions 01/2; Bolton Hospital Cup Runners-Up 05/6: Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 06/7: Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 07/8: Bolton Hospital Cup Winners 10/11: North West Counties Division One Runners-Up 11/12: North West Counties Division One Champions

rammy club honours

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TONY’S NON-LEAGUE TEASERS 1 Name the former ground of Bangor City before they moved to Nantport.

2 Which non-league club was once managed by Bobby Moore?

3 Which club relocated to Leigh, buying the ground of the local rugby league side and saving them from going out of business?

4 Who was the manager of Farnborough when they played an FA cup tie against Arsenal?

5 Which club played for a while with the suffix “Freeport”?

6 What colours do Durham City play in?

7 Which two non-league sides did Neil Warnock manage?

8 In which town do Grimsby Town play?

9 Name the club based in Warrington that had a spell in the North West Counties League before being kicked off their ground?

10 Which local club had considerable success in the FA Amateur Cup and played at “Grimshaws”?

Answers: 1 Farrar Road 2 Oxford City 3 Horwich RMI 4 Graham Westley 5 Fleetwood 6 Yellow shirts and Blue shorts 7 Burton Albion and Scarborough 8 Cleethorpes 9 Tetley Walker 10 Prestwich Heys

photo courtesy of Jon Bennett

rammy squad Joint Manager and midfielder Bernard Morley

Joint Manager and striker Anthony Johnson

Coach Glenn Moses

Coach Darren Green

Coach John Hunter

Goalkeeper Grant Shenton

Physio Katie Richardson

Centre-back and Captain Andy Dawson Right-back Dan Warrender

Right-back Jordan Hulme

Left-back Joel Pilkington

Midfielder Tom Toth Midfielder Mark Drew

Midfielder Grant Spencer Midfielder Midfielder Phil Phil Edghill Edghill

Midfielder Gary Stopforth Left-wing Phil Dean

Right-wing Right-wing Dom Dom Smalley Smalley Striker Tom Brookes

Striker Jon Robinson Striker Lee Gaskell

Striker Matty Warburton Midfielder Tom Toth

Striker Luke Bradbury Striker Adam Morning

EDITORIAL - SUPPORTERS CLUB What a fantastic turnout we’ve had for our first two home games this season! 254 for the opener against Curzon Ashton, and then 309 for the match against Padiham. Although we lost both games, which is something that’s quite a new experience to us Rammy fans, I think it’s important that we gave a very good account of ourselves to those who came down to last week’s game (the less said about the Curzon Ashton game the better!)

Over the last few weeks we’ve delivered about 7000 fixtures flyers through every letterbox we can find within half a mile of the Riverside. We’ve still got a few to go, notably Peel Brow, the Nuttall Lane Estate, and a few up round Holcombe Book, but it’s been a mammoth task and I’m really pleased that we managed it. I’d like to hope that a few of today’s supporters, as well as a good number of those at the last two matches, are here as a result of this campaign.

Given the number of new faces we’ve seen at the ground (a good number of women, I noticed), I reckon that flyers is probably the most effective way of telling people we exist, and of persuading folks to come to our matches. We just don’t read the newspapers like we used to - and as Tony said in his column, the media focuses exclusively on the top flight of football, forgetting that the rest of us exist.

I’ve been really proud to be a Rammy fan over the last couple of weeks. It’s easy to support a team that’s running away with the Northwest Counties League title, or is up there challenging for promotion in the Evostik, but it’s another thing entirely to give such strong encouragement when our team is on a horrible losing streak. I think we all know that our players have given 100% over the last few matches, and absolutely don’t deserve to be on the wrong end of every result. We’re better than those scorelines, and our players are amongst the best in the league. How can it be that Robbo and Gaskell haven’t yet found the net when they were English football’s highest strike duo last season? Along with Tom Brookes, who is going to be one of the most prolific goalscorers this season, we have a fantastic attack. We’ve undoubtedly missed Gary Stopforth and Phil Edghill in the middle, and the loss of Mark Ayres at the back has been pivotal, but these are problems that the lads will rise above. What matters is that we keep our heads up, that we keep the support positive, and that we are patient.

Today’s game is another potential banana skin. If we win then in the back of our minds is the thought that Liverpool are a Northwest Counties team. If we lose then the effect on our confidence could be dire. The only way we can really gain much from today’s game would be to put six past em - and I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen. And we still have Northwich and Darlington to come. God help us! Patient and positive is what we need though as supporters - it’s going to come together soon. Keep up the good work on the terraces, and let’s hope for better times to come!

Managers: Anthony JOHNSON Bernard MORLEY

Grant SHENTON Danny WARRENDER Joel PILKINGTON Gary STOPFORTH Andy DAWSON Jordan HULME Mark DREW Adam MORNING Grant SPENCER Jon ROBINSON Tom BROOKES Phil DEAN Lee GASKELL Dominic SMALLEY Tommy TOTH Luke BRADBURY Phil EDGHILL Owen ROBERTS Matthew RUSSELL Adam NUTTALL Sam HOWELL Callum SMITH

Manager: Paul Moore Assistant: Jay Forshaw

Stephen LONGRIGG Michael GIRVAN Anthony BROWN Shaun HARRIS Darren TORPEY Jack SINNOTT Liam LOUGHLIN Steven JONES John LAWLESS Ronald MORGAN Robert LAMONT Steven CORRIS Steven WILLIAMS Paul BROWN Ionut CUCIORVA Dean PYE Nevil PICTON Jack McDOWELL Christopher ROONEY Joshua PURCELL

Referee: Darren Referee: Strain (Runcorn) Assistants: Henry Naylor (Halifax), Assistants: Samuel Barrott (Huddersfield) Next home game: Saturday Next 7thhome September game: 3pm, Northwich Victoria