29 Ramsbottom United v Prescot Cables

rammy news V PRESCOT 25.03.14

TONY CUNNINGHAM AND THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium tonight, and, for the THIRD time, may I welcome our friends from Merseyside, Prescot Cables! Let’s hope that after two postponements, tonight’s game can finally be given the go-ahead. It will be the same welcome for Farsley when, again hopefully, we manage to stage the game against them here next Tuesday.

We may not have suffered from the snow this winter, but goodness me, the rain has more than made up for it. I have to be honest and say that I was taken aback on Saturday when I arrived to be greeted by Harry telling me it was only 50/50. I had gone into work under blue skies and sunshine. Indeed, I had finally ditched my thick winter jacket and put on my thinner summer version. When I left work at 1.45 it did seem a little miserable, but I must have been unaware that we’d had some heavy rain. When I saw the pitch, it did look as though a lot of water was nestling on the surface, but the forks were out attempting to drain it away. Both sides were ready, team talks having taken place, but the referee looked decidedly unhappy. Despite the pleas to allow the game to go ahead, he declined about 2.15, and sadly we were all left disappointed. As I drove away from the ground at 2.40, on my way to watch the Shakers play a rather disappointing game, the skies darkened and the heavens opened. I guess at that point, the referee was proven to be correct with his decision.

Alas, our inactivity allowed a number of our rivals to take advantage.

Both Lancaster City and Bamber Bridge nudged above us with three point returns, although Darlington would have been disappointed not to have taken all three points against tonight’s opponents (Thanks Cables!), whilst Warrington fell at home to Northwich Vics. Curzon continue to fly, and their promotion is now all but cut and dried. The chase for those four play-off spots continues to attract much attention. We have to play Farsley home and away, whilst Bamber Bridge and Warrington still have to visit the HWRS. It really is a great end to the season.

Elsewhere, I have to congratulate Premier Division team Droylsden for finally notching their first win of the season. Witton were the embarrassed opponents who slinked away from the Butchers Arms on Saturday as the first team to remain pointless after a game against the Bloods. If we fail to gain promotion this time round, then we have another local fixture next season in Tameside. Also down are Stocksbridge Park Steels, who looked a poor side when we played them earlier in the season. And almost certain to join those two are Stafford Rangers. Like Droylsden, it was not too long ago they were plying their trade in the top level of non-league football. Next season it looks like being level four for them as well. I expect Stocksbridge to be in Div. One South, but, dependant upon geographical reorganisation this summer, we could find Stafford in our league next year.

The race to move up to our Division is also a fascinating one in the NWCFL. Runcorn Linnets will no doubt feel that they deserve to move one step closer to the position the former Runcorn club used to play, but little known Norton United (come on, where are they from?!!!) are pushing them all the way. Maine Road are still in the mix, but are probably running out of games. One club to watch, though, is Glossop North End under the management of our former player Chris Wilcox. They are unbeaten since November and are on a terrific run. It may just prove to be a game too far but doesn’t it make for an interesting finish!

Enjoy your non-league football!

President: J Smith Chairman: H Williams Secretary: A Cunningham 07973 416580 Matchday Secretary: A Edmundson 07875 566261 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 Editor: 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 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

glenn moses

s

Welcome everyone to tonight’s fixture, and a particularly warm welcome to Dave and all his staff, players and supporters who have travelled over. We hope you enjoy your evening and all have a safe journey home.

Tonight we welcome Prescot to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, and they will be looking to reverse the defeat we inflicted on them just over three weeks ago. In the four games they have had since, they have picked up three draws; the last one being Saturday against Darlington so we know it will be a tough encounter, and will have to be ‘at it’ from the off. We’re all chomping at the bit to play after the disappointment of having Saturday’s match called off at the last minute. We were prepared, stripped and ready to go when we got the news so naturally we were left deflated, especially as we had some new faces on show and the atmosphere in the dresser was really positive... but thats footy and we focus on tonight and look to get another win chalked off.

That brings me nicely onto the new faces. Fair play to Jonno and Bern last week - the lads have always said that if the players come along that are right for us then we will always look to strengthen, but we wouldnt just make signings for the sake of it. The lads we bring in have got to be the right character in the dressing room, and Rammy is such a tight knit group and we wouldn’t risk someone coming in upsetting that. It has to be said that the lads who have come in have fitted in right away.

Martin has joined us for the remainder of the season from Chester, and the fact he knows three or four of the lads already helps things, and he's a top keeper who I’m sure will do well for us.

Howsy has joined us from our near neigbours Radcliffe and we’re made up he's come on board. He's a top-drawer front man who I’m sure will become a great addition. Like so many of the squad he's versitile and can equally do a job at the back if needed.

Pughy has also rejoined us after a sucessful spell at Chester which was only ended due to him needing an operation. Although he’s a week or so away from fitness I’m sure he will play a big part in our run in.

Also finally available to make his bow is Cederic. It’s taken some time for his international clearance to come through but he'll be a great addition, giving us more options in the middle of the park or in the heart of the defence.

I’m sure you will give them all a warm welcome into the 'Rammy family' Enjoy the game tonight and as normal I’m sure you'll get right behind the lads Coyr...

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 Tues 17th Sept Sat 21st Sept Tues 24th Sept Sat 28th Sept Tues 1st Oct Sat 5th Oct Tues 8 th Oct Sat 12th Oct Weds 16th Oct Sat 19th Oct Sat 26th Oct Sat 2nd Nov Wed 6th Nov Sat 9th Nov Tues 12th Nov Sun 17th Nov Tues 19th Nov Sat 23rd Nov Tues 26th Nov Sat 30th Nov Sat 7th Dec Tues 10th Dec Sat 14th Dec Sat 21st Dec Thurs 26th Dec Sat 4th Jan Sat 11th Jan Sat 18th Jan Sat 25th Jan Sat 1st Feb Tues 4th Feb Sat 8th Feb Sat 22nd Feb Tues 25th Feb Sat 1st Mar Sat 8th Mar Tues 11th Mar Sat 15th Mar Tues 25th Mar Sat 29th Mar Tues 1st Marh Sat 5th Apr Sat 12th Apr Sat 19th Apr Mon 21st Apr Sat 26th Apr

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

OPPOSITION

CURZON ASHTON Ossett Town Warrington Town PADIHAM AFC Liverpool - FA Cup NORTHWICH VICTORIA Ossett Albion Stocksbridge - FA Cup Stocksbridge - FA Cup Mossley DARLINGTON 1883 Barrow - FA Cup Radcliffe Borough Warrington Town FA Trophy LANCASTER CITY Wakefield ATHERTON LR Lancs Trophy WORKSOP FA Trophy 1Q Harrogate Railway Athletic Blyth Spartans FA Trophy Darlington 1883 NEW MILLS FC UNITED Doodson cup Worcester City FA Trophy Padiham Lancs Trophy BURSCOUGH CLITHEROE Kendal Town Curzon Ashton Chorley Lancs Trophy WAKEFIELD Bamber Bridge SALFORD CITY Northwich Victoria MOSSLEY RADCLIFFE BOROUGH Clitheroe Cammell Laird OSSETT ALBION Lancaster City Padiham OSSETT TOWN Prescot Cables CAMMELL LAIRD HARROGATE RAILWAY New Mills PRESCOT CABLES Burscough Farsley KENDAL TOWN Farsley WARRINGTON TOWN Salford City BAMBER BRIDGE

RES ATT STARTING ELEVEN 1-3 0-2 0-1 1-2 5-0 2-2 2-1 2-2 3-0 4-3 3-0 0-3 1-1 2-1 6-0 3-2 3-1 7-2 4-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-2 0-3 4-1 7-1 4-1 3-2 2-2 0-2 3-1 1-2 5-2 4-3 3-1 8-0 4-2 2-1 2-0 3-1 4-1 2-2 3-0 0-2 5-0 3-2

254 100 192 309 238 212 73 129 127 173 396 677 241 103 241 64 69 355 124 298 899 292 464 341 106 229 192 167 233 301 181 248 341 176 371 344 373 73 165 228 271 172 192 305 136 175

Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Chadwick Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton Shenton *

Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender 1 Warrender Warrender # Hulme + Warrender Warrender Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme Warrender Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax Lomax + Lomax Toth Lomax Dean Dean Lomax Toth Lomax Lomax Lomax Fitzgerald * Hulme 1 Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme Hulme 1 Hulme Warrender Warrender 1 Smalley + Smalley Smalley Smalley

Pilkington Pilkington * Pilkington * Pilkington Roberts * Roberts * 1 Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Pilkington Pilkington Hulme Hulme Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Pilkington Roberts Roberts # Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Roberts Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington # Roberts

Stopforth + Drew Drew + Drew + Stopforth + Pilkington Morley + Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth # Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth # Gaskell 1 Stopforth # Stopforth # Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Pilkington Stopforth Stopforth # Stopforth Stopforth # Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth + Stopforth Stopforth 1 Stopforth Stopforth Spencer Spencer Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth

Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson Dawson + Robinson Priestley Dawson Dawson Dawson * Warrender Warrender Dawson * Dawson Warrender Warrender 1 Warrender Warrender 1 Warrender Warrender Warburton * Warrender 2 Warrender Lomax Warrender # Edghill + Toth Warrender 1 Warrender Lacy Lacy Warrender * Warrender Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Warrender Warrender Warrender Warrender

Hulme Hulme Hulme Spencer * Robinson Robinson Robinson Robinson * Robinson Flannery # Flannery + Warrender Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Warburton Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley 1 Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley 1 Priestley 1 Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley

Morning * Morning + Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley 1 + Smalley # Smalley Smalley Smalley * Smalley Smalley Smalley 1 Smalley Prickett Smalley 1 Smalley 1 Smalley Smalley Smalley Toth Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley 1 Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley * Spencer 1 + Spencer Spencer 1 Spencer 1 Spencer * Spencer 1 * Spencer Smalley + Smalley Spencer * Spencer Hulme Spencer

Spencer Spencer Stopforth Stopforth Spencer Spencer Spencer # Spencer Spencer Spencer Spencer Spencer Spencer Spencer Spencer * Spencer Toth Spencer Spencer # Spencer Spencer Spencer + Hulme # Spencer Pilkington Pilkington 1 + Robinson 2 + Robinson + Spencer Spencer Spencer * 1 Spencer + Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Burton Burton Burton Burton Burton Burton 1 Burton * Green Pilkington

Robinson # Robinson Robinson Robinson Gaskell 2 Gaskell Gaskell 2 Gaskell Gaskell 1 Gaskell Gaskell Gaskell Gaskell * Hulme Robinson 1 + Robinson 1 + Smith 2 Robinson 1+ Robinson 1 + Robinson + Robinson Brooks * Robinson Robinson * Brooks + Gaskell 1 * Gaskell 1 Gaskell 1 Gaskell 1 Brooks * Gaskell + Gaskell * Gaskell 2 Gaskell 1 Gaskell 1 Gaskell 2 # Gaskell Gaskell Green + Gaskell 1 Gaskell 1 Gaskell Gaskell 2 Gaskell + Gaskell * Gaskell 3

Brooks 1 Brooks # Gaskell # Gaskell Brooks # 1 Hulme Hulme Hulme # Roberts * 1 Roberts Robinson * 3 Robinson Robinson + Brooks Brooks 2 Brooks * Brooks 1 Brooks 2 * Brooks * Gaskell * Gaskell Gaskell Brooks Gaskell + Hulme 3 Hulme # Hulme * Hulme 2 Pilkington Hulme # Green # 1 Green Green + Green 1 Green + Denham Denham 2 Denham Denham # Hulme Hulme 2 * Hulme * Hulme Hulme Denham + Green +

Dean Dean Dean Dean # Dean 1 Dean 1 Dean * Dean 1 Dean Dean 1* Dean Dean Dean Dean + Dean Dean 1 Gaskell + Dean 2 Dean 2 Dean Dean 1 Dean # Dean * Pilkington Spencer Spencer 2 Spencer 1 Spencer # Dean + Dean Dean Dean Dean 2 Dean # Dean # Dean 3 Dean * Dean + Dean Dean 2 Dean 1 Dean 1 Dean Dean Dean Dean

SUBSTITUTES Drew + Warburton Warburton * Edghill * Pilkington * Bradbury Toth * Roberts + Flannery # Hulme # + Pilkington + Edghill + Brooks * 1 Edghill + Edghill * Edghill + Dean Hulme 1 + Toth * Toth Toth Toth Smalley * Toth Warrender *1 Toth Toth # Toth # Toth Warburton + Warrender Toth Toth Toth Toth Toth Toth Toth Toth # Toth Toth + Toth Toth + Toth * # Toth # Toth

Smalley * Smalley * Brooks # Morley Bradbury # 1 Edghill Prickett Flannery * Morley Brooks * 2 Brooks * Brooks * Hulme + Gaskell * Gaskell + Pilkington * Smalley + Pilkington Gaskell + Brooks * Johnson Robinson * Spencer # Hulme * Gaskell + Robinson * Pilkington + Pilkington + Brooks Bradbury Edghill * Pilkington + Brooks + Brooks Reece # Fitzgerald Fitzgerald Fitzgerald * Warburton * Green Green * Green * Green * Green # Roberts + Hulme +

Gaskell # Gaskell # Spencer + Johnson + Edghill + Prickett Johnson Brooks # Prickett Toth + Toth Toth # Toth Toth Toth # Toth Priestley * Toth # Prickett # Hulme + Brooks Pilkington + Gaskell + Brooks + Smith # Brooks + Brooks * Brooks Robinson + Smith # Brooks + 1 Edghill Robinson * Hulme * Firzgerald Lacy * Reece Green + Bradbury + Morley Morley Warburton Morley Johnson + Nuttall * Morley *

Toth Toth Toth Brooks 1 # Drew Toth Toth * Bradbury # Morley Toth Brooks * Prickett Dawson # Morley Morley Morley Morley Morley Spencer # Gaskell * Chadwick Morley Warburton Chadwick Chadwick Warburton Bradbury Dean 1 # Warburton Johnson Hulme # Gaskell * Johnson # Brooks * Spencer 1 # Denham 1 + Denham 1 + Reece + Morley Morley Smith Johnson Johnson Bradbury Johnson Morley Morley Johnson

Bradbury Bradbury + Bradbury Roberts Warburton Morley Warburton + Prickett Toth+ Hulme Edghill Edghill Johnson Edghill Pilkington Warburton Dawson Robinson Chadwick Johnson Johnson Smith Roberts # Stopforth Bradbury Edghill Chadwick Bradbury Morley Edghill Chadwick Chadwick Johnson Edghill Reece # Johnson Green # Green * Morley Chadwick

inancial Planning Financial F Designed F or For Y YOUR OUR LIFESTYLE For For a confidential initial one to one at our eexpense xpense please contact us... on 01706 822622

advice@northernstarifa.co.uk advice@northernstarifa.co.uk

P Professional rofessional Financial Financial Planning here in Ramsbottom.

Ramsbottom.

Northern Star Financial Financial Management Limited Northern 52 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,BL0 9HX

curzon ashton Saturday 29th March A - Kendal (9th) Saturday 5th April H - Prescot (18th) Monday 7th April A - Harrogate (16th) Saturday 12th April H - Warrington (2nd) Monday 14th April H - Farsley (5th) Saturday 19th April A - Clitheroe (13th) Monday 21st April H - New Mills (19th) Saturday 26th April A - Lancaster (4th) Recent Form: WWWDWW Played: 34 Points: 86 (possible 110) Current League Position: 1 (Winners)

Tuesday 25th March H - Ossett Town (8th) Saturday 29th March A - Mossley (15th) Saturday 5th April H - Clitheroe (13th) Saturday 12th April A - Curzon Ashton (1st) Saturday 19th April A - Rammy (7th) Tuesday 21st April H - Prescot (18th) Saturday 26th April A - Harrogate (16th) Recent Form: LWDDDL Played: 35 Points: 74 (possible 95) Current League Position: 2 (Playoffs)

warrington

the run-in

darlington

Wednesday 26th March H - Wakefield (21st) Saturday 29th March A - Ossett Town (8th) Saturday 5th April H - Radcliffe (20th) Saturday 12th April H - Padiham (17th) Saturday 19th April H - Farsley (5th) Monday 21st April A - Wakefield (21st) Saturday 26th April H - Burscough (14th) Recent Form: DLDWWW Played: 35 Points: 72 (possible 93) Current League Position: 3 (Playoffs)

Monday 24th March A - New Mills (19th) Saturday 29th March H - Bamber Bridge (6th) Tuesday 1st April A - Northwich (12th) Saturday 5th April H - Farsley (5th) Saturday 12th April A - Ossett Town (8th) Saturday 19th April H - Padiham (17th) Monday 21st April A - Kendal Town 9th) Saturday 26th April H - Curzon Ashton (1st) Recent Form: WWWWWW Played: 34 Points: 69 (possible 93) Current League Position: 4 (Playoffs)

lancaster

farsley

Saturday 29th March H - Salford (11th) Saturday 5th April A - Lancaster (4th) Saturday 12th April H - Rammy (7th) Monday 14th April A - Curzon Ashton (1st) Saturday 19th April A - Darlington (3rd) Tuesday 21st April H - Harrogate (16th) Saturday 26th April A - Mossley (15th) TBC A - Rammy (7th) Recent Form: LDLWDW Games Played: 34 Points: 66 (possible 90) Current League Position: 5 (Playoffs)

Saturday 29th March A - Lancaster (4th) Saturday 5th April H - Northwich (12th) Tuesday 8th April A - Prescot (18th) Saturday 12th April H - Clitheroe (13th) Saturday 15th April A - Northwich (12th) Wednesday 19th April A - Radcliffe (20th) Saturday 21st April H - Mossley (15th) Saturday 26th April A - Rammy (7th) Recent Form: WWWLLW Games Played: 34 Points: 66 (possible 90) Current League Position: 6th

bamber bridge

the run-in

rammy

Tuesday 25th March H - Prescot (18th) Saturday 29th March A - Burscough (14th) Saturday 5th April H - Kendal (9th) Saturday 12th April A - Farsley (5th) Saturday 19th April H - Warrington (2nd) Monday 21st April A - Salford (11th) Saturday 26th April H - Bamber Bridge (6th) TBC H - Farsley (5th) Recent Form: WWLWDW Games Played: 34 Points: 65 (possible 89) Current League Position: 7th

Tuesday 25th March A - Warrington (2nd) Saturday 29th March H - Darlington (3rd) Saturday 12th April H - Lancaster (4th) Saturday 19th April A - Mossley (15th) Monday 21st April H - Ossett Albion (22nd) Saturday 26th April A - Northwich (12th) Recent Form: WWDLWD Games Played: 36 Points: 59 (possible 77) Current League Position: 8th

ossett town

Monday 25th March New Mills v Lancaster Tuesday 26th March Cammell Laird v Radcliffe Rammy v Prescot Warrington v Ossett Town Wednesday 27th March Darlington v Wakefield (Cheshire Senior Cup): Northwich v Macclesfield

Saturday 29th March Burscough v Rammy Cammell Laird v Ossett Albion Farsley v Salford Kendal v Curzon Ashton Lancaster v Bamber Bridge Mossley v Warrington New Mills v Padiham Ossett Town v Darlington Prescot v Harrogate Radcliffe v Clitheroe Wakefield v Northwich

RAMMY IN EXILE - RICHARD ISAACS

Good evening one and all and let us hope the weather has picked up a bit to allow us to get some action on the park this evening.

It was such a strange day on Saturday! Cath and I were in Norwich (which is officially the arse end of nowhere, by the way) for a 50th birthday party and were wandering around the shops when the news came through about the game being off. We were really surprised as it was a gloriously sunny day in East Anglia, shirt sleeve order as the city was full of green & yellow bedecked people wearing green and yellow shirts and scarves. It was presumed they were Norwich City supporters but they could have been those disgruntled Manchester United fans, of course!

But with no Rammy game on, no Southampton game on and no rugby to watch – I felt positively empty. It was such an odd feeling and of course, disappointing not to see the game on as that was a really key game in the possible play-off shake-up against a side that are holding one of those coveted spots. That game has been re-arranged for next Tuesday night at the HWRS – 1st April – so lets get as many people down for that game as possible as it really will be massive.

Tonight is another matter of course. Prescot Cables have been a bit of a bogey side and we finally laid to rest the ‘visiting Merseyside’

demon a month ago. Cables are a decent side and will come here with the key intention of putting a spanner in our works. Hence why it is so important that we get our supporters in the ground and I really hope to see a bumper amount here tonight.

I had a great chat with Tony Cunningham on Sunday evening when I got home to talk about the events of the weekend with the game being called off (which, I believe, was the right decision in the end as it hammered down again later on).He endured another torrid 90 minutes of League Two football at Gigg Lane.

He has my sympathies having been with him for the Rochdale game a couple of Friday nights ago. And he said something very poignant … “if only those who watched Bury knew the entertainment on offer a few miles away.” I could not agree more. The entertainment value of watching Rammy play is outstanding – why do you think I continue to take such an interest? Why do you think our crowds have doubled, even trebled in the last few years? I know you do – but tell your friends about what is happening here at the HWRS. Unfortunately, the ICC World T20 is keeping me tied to the computer at the moment so I won’t be up but aiming to there for the Easter game(s). Can’t wait!!!!

C’mon you Rams!!!!!!!!!

squad

rammy Joint Manager and striker Anthony Johnson

Goalkeeper Grant Shenton

Left-back Owen Roberts

Midfield Tom Toth

Joint Manager and midfielder Bernard Morley

Centre-Back Billy Priestley

Centre-back Dan Warrender

Midfield Joel Pilkington

Midfielder Gary Stopforth

Midfielder Scott Burton

Left-wing Phil Dean

Striker Lee Gaskell

Midfielder Grant Spencer

Right-wing Dom Smalley

Striker Jordan Hulme

Striker Darren Green

today’s visitors

prescot cables

today’s visitors

prescot cables

Prescot Football Club was formed in 1884 and the first organised game of Association Football ever played in Prescot took place against the second team of a local St Helens side, St Thomas. Prescot lost 3-1.

For the season 2004-05, Prescot found themselves playing at the highest level in their history. Due to a suitable finishing position, and the re-organisation of the football pyramid, Prescot took their place in the Unibond Premier Division. As a result of a team unable to fulfil their fixtures, and after the controversial intervention of the FA, Cables were elevated to 5th position in the league. Cables had the opportunity to gain promotion to the Conference North, however, defeat at Workington in the first play-off game ended that dream - for now !

For the season 2005-06, it was a case of consolidation with a new football committee being formed from the Supporters Club. The previous football club, Prescot Cables, was transferred over to another organisation, namely Prescot Football Club Ltd (although trading as Prescot Cables Football Club).The club produced another mid-table finish in the following season to avoid becoming involved in another non-league ‘shake-up’ that saw two Unibond First Divisions being created for the 2007/08 season.

On the final game of the 2007/08 campaign, Prescot was 15 minutes from relegation. Two late goals secured a win at Lincoln United and survival. Due to the tightness of points and goal difference, Cables eventually finished in 13th place !

Shortly after the season’s end, the ground was purchased by Triman Developments Ltd from Mr Mercer’s company (the former Chairman of the club, Prescot Cables AFC). The current football club are working on ground improvements in order to provide the team and supporters with an opportunity to move forward.

A dreadful 2008/09 season saw Prescot propping up the Premier Division. Manager Andy Gray departed for Burscough.

He was replaced by Joe Gibiliru who embarked on a fresh start with player personnel. Joe managed to bring some

much needed stability to the club as the team finished in mid table. 2010 saw some of Cables regular performers leave for pastures new and several fresh faces arrive.

Gibiliru was relieved of his duties around the time of the big freeze in December 2010 and assistant Dave Ridler took over. He managed to secure Cables Evo-Stik league status for another season.

The 2011-12 season was a tale of five managers. Dave Ridler (who left for Australia in January 2012), Karl Bell, Karl Connolly all took charge for at least one match. Following the controversial departure of Shaun Reid to Warrington Town in March, Joe Gibiliru took over for the remaining games. The team and club re-grouped after the Reid fiasco to finish the season strongly to defy the odds and remain part of the Evo-Stik League.

David Powell was the new man in charge for the 2012-13 season. The playing surface and weather conditions forced many postponements. When matches finally began in earnest in the new year, Cables produced one of their most successful periods since the 2003 North West Counties campaign.

A scheme asking donators to sponsor a pitch square in order to afford the much needed renovation the pitch, took on a life of its own. In the end the scheme became over subscribed.

David Powell - Manager Took over a much depleted squad in the summer of 2012 after most of the previous seasons squad left for pastures new.

With the support of the loyal Club players rebuilt the squad throughout the season and guided the team to a most respectable 17th place finish. The UEFA B Licensed coach joined Cables from Ashton United, where he has spent the last two seasons as first team coach and Head of Player Development.

The appointment represents a return to a management role for Powell who previously guided Wigan based Ashton Athletic from the local leagues into the First then the Premier Division of the North West Counties League during a four year stint.

LLooking ooking a after fter your your Health Natur Naturally ally D Diabetes iabetes ly 4 million people with diabet es in the UK man manyy of whom but don TThere here ar ’t aree near nearly diabetes don’t kknow now it ype 2 diabet es ac counts for for ar ound 90% of all people with diabet diabetes es. it.. TType diabetes accounts around diabetes.

TType ype 2 diabet es is wher ose in yyour our blood is ttoo oo high because diabetes wheree the amoun amountt of gluc glucose the insulin tha oduced b our body does not w ork pr oper . It operly It usually appears thatt is pr produced byy yyour work properly. in people o ver the age of 40 but is bec oming mor ommon in childr ents en, adolesc over becoming moree ccommon children, adolescents and yyoung oung people people.. oms including being vver P eople with ttype ype 2 diabet es eexperience xperience ccertain ertain sympt ery People diabetes symptoms very thirst y, fr ry vision, ir ritability, tingling or numbness in the equent ur ination, blur thirsty, frequent urination, blurry irritability, eet or eextreme tigue. hands or ffeet xtreme une xplained fa unexplained fatigue.

P Physical hysical ac activity, tivity, ccombined ombined with health healthyy ea eating ting is used tto o help manage diabet diabetes es and pr event long-t erm diabet es ccomplications. omplications. This This includes ea prevent long-term diabetes eating moree star starchy ting mor chy carbocarbobo h ydrate foods foods and cutting do turated fa ts. P eople with wn on fa t, par ticularly sa hydrate down fat, particularly saturated fats.

People diabet es should also st op smok ing and reduce reduce alc ohol in take. diabetes stop smoking alcohol intake.

TThere here ar bs yyou ou can take tto o help lo wer or rregulate egulate yyour our blood gluc ose, such aree also her herbs lower glucose, as cinnamon, g inger and goa ts rue itality + can provide provide mor ginger goats rue.. V Vitality moree advic advicee on thes thesee as ǁ Ğůů ĂƐ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ Ă ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ ŶƵƚƌŝƟŽŶŝƐƚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ ŽŶ Ă ŚĞĂůƚŚLJ ĚŝĞƚ͘ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ Ă ƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚ ŶƵƚƌŝƟŽŶŝƐƚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ ŽŶ Ă ŚĞĂůƚŚLJ ĚŝĞƚ͘ 41 B Bolton olton Street, Street, R Ramsbottom amsbottom Visit Visit Vitality Vitality + for for more more help and advice advice TTel: el: 01706 558904

“dressitheng mostroomatI’mospher v e ev e hadinvolvethde wiprithv;ilerealge lyto tob lads! ,,

gary stopforth

rierc beop

Gary Stopfort

th

Whether it’s up-ending an opposition midfielder or trying to hospitalise Pilky for scoring a goal, Gary Stopforth is never one to give anything less than 100 percent. Our brand-new roving reporter Liam Smith drew the short straw and spent an hour chatting with the surprisingly calm and polite Gary Stopforth.

How did you get into football, was it in the blood?

Well I used to watch my dad play on Saturdays for Worsthorne. I used to kick the ball around on the sideline with my granddad Tom. I will always remember those times!

Sounds fun! Is football a big part of your family life then?

Who did you all support?

Well we are from Burnley so “the Clarets” obviously, and me and my dad like Arsenal. My mum comes to Rammy games but she’d much rather be shopping with auntie Debs!

Burnley then, you must be buzzing this season, you often get to a game?

Not as much as I’d like too, what with our games falling mostly on the same days, but it’s the first result I look out for.

Where did your playing career begin? Any fond memories of your time at your first club?

It began for Brunlea juniors between the ages of nine and twelve. I played in an older age group. We had a great team and a lot of our players also played down at Burnley, including me (before I was scouted by Blackburn). A fond memory of Brunlea was our right back Dace Jagger always doing backflips when he scored, I scored, or basically anyone scored! That kid just loved doing backflips.

You should try a backflip the next time you score! You had a short stint in America didn’t you, how did that come about and what was it like?

It came through a few contacts I made in football. I’ve done it over two summers now and honestly they have been the best summers of my life. I go to New Orleans and have a lot of good friends there, but the main factor is the weather which is always perfect; well apart from the odd hurricane which I have thankfully avoided.

With quite a lot of experience in a few different leagues do the younger lads look up to you, are you the top dog of the bunch then?

If they don’t they should do; especially if you look at the grounds and players I’ve played for, with and against... No, the only top dogs at Rammy are the two managers, most atmospheric dressing room I’ve ever had the privilege to be involved with; really top lads!

That’s good to hear then, as nice as they sound I bet they can hand out a right roasting at times!

To be honest the roastings are few and far between. You can’t play well every week, and after each defeat (since the first seven) we have bounced back and gone on a run of five or six wins. Screaming until you’re blue in the face doesn’t do much in my opinion.

Ever fancy getting into management yourself, taking some inspiration from the men in charge now?

Not yet. I want to keep playing for as long as I can.

I’ve got my UEFA B coaching licence but I’ve only really used it to coach youngsters. I think Bern and Jonno are the exception and not the rule, they make it work, and many wouldn’t.

They have done very well. Last one now – A little birdy has told me you are a little bit of a nutter!

Any truth in this, who do you think told me?

Who knows! I usually like to have a drink after a game on Saturday, and as that’s the only day I drink. I think a lot of the lads are cut from the same cloth and love a good laugh after a game, Blyth away springs to mind!

Quick fire round: Favourite Holiday destination – Ibiza Favourite Movie – The Departed Favourite Song – Hot creations “reverse sky diving” Favourite food dish – Fillet Steak Favourite Drink – Morreti Night in with the missus or night out with the lads – Night out with the box of toys!

G

Gary Stopforth

EDITORIAL - SUPPORTERS CLUB

At first I was astonished and furious when I discovered that the referee had called off Saturday’s match. With the sun shining all morning and the washing happily drying on the line, I also had to wonder what it was that made him wait until 2:15 to call it off. The players were warming up, and the Farsley team, fans and officials had travelled all the way over from Leeds-way. Katie texted me to say it was off, but I decided to go and have a look at the pitch, which was heavy, but only had a bit of standing water on the touchlines where the linesman do their thing.

So I mosey’d off to the market, thankfully deciding against a trip to watch Radcliffe Borough with its attendent silliness... when the heavens suddenly opened and it absolutely tipped it down for about 10-15 minutes. A few lighter showers came later on, but with that hindsight I really have to hand it to the referee who called the game off. If we had have kicked off then I reckon the match would probably have lasted about ten minutes. I’ve not heard anything about what the ref said, but although the pitch was playable, it was completely saturated and wouldn’t have stood that downpour. I guess that once you start a game, you will try to play on through slightly worse conditions than you’d like; and with a game as important as that against Farsley I think it’s important we can play proper football - besides it’ll also work in our favour for them to have to travel over on a Tuesday night! The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday 1st April by the way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tonight sees us trying out the new Supporters Club camcorder. Liam Smith has come on-board to try and help us out with some of the quite ambitious media stuff that we’re planning to take on, and as well as scribbling an exclusive interview with Gary Stopforth (that you can see in the online version of tonight’s programme - at issuu.com/rufc ), he’s agreed to have a go at filming the matches. The plan is for us to interview players and produce at the very least a highlights video from each match. Particularly important or distant games will see a full match video uploaded as quickly as possible - we may be able to get the first half uploaded within the halftime break, depending what mobile reception is like at away games, with the second half going online ten minutes after the final whistle. We will need to restrict match footage to supporters club members, to stop other clubs from being able to watch us, and we intend to provide a copy of all the footage to Bernard and Jonno so that they can analyze things that they may not have seen at the time.

Obviously, the quality of our recordings is going to be very much dependent on the facilities and layout of grounds. Rammy’s ground for example will be very difficult, as we have no raised cover down the sides of the ground with an unrestricted view perhaps meaning that we will need to build some kind of small raised gantry, Harry permitting. Salford, Burscough, Curzon, Prescot and others have raised stands which will be a dream to film from.

So, tonight’s filming is a bit of an exercise in feasibility of filming our games. We will keep you posted on how it goes and will hopefully manage to get rammy.tv properly off the ground very soon.

Managers: Anthony JOHNSON Bernard MORLEY

Martin FEARON Joel PILKINGTON Owen ROBERTS Gary STOPFORTH Danny WARRENDER Billy PRIESTLEY Grant SPENCER Scott BURTON Lee GASKELL Jordan HULME Phil DEAN Steve HOWSON Tom TOTH Darren GREEN Andy DAWSON Dominic SMALLEY Grant SHENTON

Manager: David POWELL

Daniel LOWTON Antony SHINKS Dave DEMPSEY Ged MURPHY Lewis COYLE Joseph EVANS James McCULLOCH Philip BANNISTER Isaac KUSALOKA Connor McCARTHY Paul CLIFF Pavel PINTO-VIEIRA Robert GILROY Max POUNCEY Jamie WATKINSON Ben MORROW

Referee: Nick Gibbons Assistants: Slawomir Osiadacz, Ian Muncaster Next home game: Saturday 5th April 3pm, Rammy v Kendal Town