35 Ramsbottom United v Marine

rammy news v MARINE 02-09-14

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May I extend a warm welcome to everyone from Marine FC tonight who have made the trip from Crosby.

Well it has been a very tough start to life in the Northern Premier League in terms of us losing four games out of our first five matches. But anyone who has been at the games will know how well the lads have played - in ALL but one of the games we have been leading at some point during the match. e football we have played at times (Nantwich second half apart) has been excellent; we have brought our philosophy, which has taken five years to perfect, into the Evo-Stik Premier league and have been lauded by all our opponents.

BUT, that doesn't mean we're happy with what has happened so far, we have been punished on set pieces conceding 10 goals from them. It's fine margins at this level of football which is where we keep slipping up, we're working hard to eradicate these silly mistakes whilst still trying to continue to play the 'Rammy way'.

It would be very easy for us to make excuses of injuries (Pugh, Stopforth, Gaskell) added to Billy Priestley leaving and Scott Burton missing the FC Utd game but we must keep faith with the squad we have, after all these are the same lads that have had a 70%ish win rate over the last five years. ey are all desperate to get the points on the board but as we keep telling

them, we have to continue doing what we're best at and keep playing football believing that fortunes will turn.

A lot of our new supporters (last three years or so) have only ever seen us winning promotions or battling for play off spots so to see us slugging it out at the bottom of the table might worry you slightly but we can assure you we will be doing everything in our power to continue the glory days at this club but we all need to be patient.

As Billy has left we are delighted to welcome last season’s promotion winning captain back into the fold. Danny didn't really settle at Salford City so as soon as we knew he wasn’t completely happy we moved and mithered to bring him home. It's a real coup for us to get Daniel back as he understand what we as a club are about and is determined to getting us push up the league.

I'd also like to congratulate Pilkie on starting his 200th game last week at Rushall.

As has been mentioned Joel was our very first signing when me and Bernard took over and has witnessed as lot of change at the club, he has been a major factor in our moves through the league and has been a pleasure to work with for so long. So well done pal and here's to the next 200.

-

Jonno

jonno bernard

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tony cunningham and the wonderful world of non-league football Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. A special welcome also to tonight’s match officials, and our opponents, Marine FC. I have to go back to my schooldays to recall the first time I heard of Marine. A pal of mine was selected for Manchester schoolboys, and they were down to play Liverpool schoolboys at a place called Marine. I had naturally never heard of such a place, little realising that it was merely a club name, but assumed it must have been over Liverpool way (what powers of deduction!)

Once I became interested in the nonleague game, I soon realised that our visitors were based in Crosby, and have since made many visits to Rossetts Park, which in itself is most unusual. For those who have never been, most of the accommodation is behind both goals.

Along one side is a narrow covered terrace, whilst the land-locked ground has no access on the opposite side due to the closeness of the gardens of the surrounding houses.

When I was asked to join the committee at Mossley over 30 years ago, I proudly arrived for my first game as an official only to be asked to take over the turnstile, as the usual operator had failed to turn up.

Marine had just gained promotion to the Northern Premier League, and were the visitors that day. It meant that I missed most of the first half, as it is impossible to see the game from the turnstiles at Seel Park. Not the sort of introduction to the game that I had expected as a committee man! Since then, Marine have remained very much at this level, and proved themselves to be a very well run club.

Whilst their start to this campaign would have been a disappointment to them, they will certainly prove to be tough opponent’s tonight.

NOT THE START WE HAD HOPED FOR It’s fair to say that we had hoped for a better beginning than we have had. ere was always going to be a need to adjust to our new level, but four defeats out of five has come as a bit of a culture shock after five seasons of almost unbridled success.

Yet despite the disappointing results, we have hardly disgraced ourselves, or looked out of place in Evo-Stik Premier (I may leave the second half of the Nantwich game out of that statement!) e one concern is the amount of bookings we have received. No-one likes to see yellow cards banded about, but even less so, the red ones. We have so far been on the receiving end of four of the

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Steve Howson joins everyone else in the referee’s book

“despite the disappointing results, we have hardly disgraced ourselves “ latter, and the resultant bans are bound to affect the side.

We began last season in a similarly disappointing manner, but managed to dig ourselves out of it and gradually haul ourselves up the table. Let’s hope that history repeats itself this time round, and that our full quota for the season of dismissals has also been reached.

Injuries may well be part and parcel of football, but we have been particularly badly hit within a short space of time. A return of Lee Gaskell, Lee Pugh, Gary Stopforth and Scott Burton would prove to be a massive shot in the arm for the team and the supporters, so let’s also hope that we see them all back in a blue

shirt before too long.

Billy Priestley’s decision to sign a two year contract at Bradford park Avenue, whilst understandable, was a big blow to us. Fortunately the timely return of former skipper and fans favourite Danny Warrender has helped to soften the blow.

We wish Billy all the best over the hill, and who knows, we may well see him back here again at some time in the future. In the meantime, everyone is delighted to welcome Danny back, as we know just what he brings to the team.

Enjoy tonight’s game, and let’s roar the lads back to winning ways!

Enjoy your non-league football!

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jonno

some words from the dug-out

“ I just want people to appreciate how far we’ve come and how fast we’ve done it“

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Obviously it’s been a sticky start. Most of our starts since we’ve had the job have been sticky. With the success we’ve had over the last few years, there’s that expectation of us hitting the ground running. People perhaps need to remember where these lads have come from - 50% have come from Sunday morning football, one or two from better clubs, but mainly we’ve picked them up from smaller clubs. Only one of these lads has ever played at this level before, so we knew from minute one that we’d be going into the unknown. What we owed to them was a return for the loyalty that they have shown to us over the past few years - sticking with us even though they’ve been getting better offers from other clubs. en, in that first game, going 2-0 up in the first ten minutes - all of those expectations were fuelled even more. In every game we’ve been in a position to take the points, so we could have found ourselves on 13 points already, but as we’ve seen, football doesn’t work like that.

One of our problems has been that, bearing in mind that they’re all proving to be good players, our bench has been a bit of an unknown quantity. We’ve not been able to particularly change a game partly because we don’t know these players, and they don’t know us. Bear in mind as well that we’ve been without Gary Stopforth, who hasn’t played a minute yet, we’ve lost our left back, our top scorer, our centre-back Billy Priestley, Scott Burton, and although we’ve signed Danny Warrender, he hadn’t played a game this season. So not only have we stepped up a league, but we’re having to work with new players. We’re also having to look outside of our own contact books

to find players. Remember that us, FC United, Skelmersdale, Curzon Ashton and a few others are trying to compete with big the spending teams such as Salford and Warrington Town for decent players.

Now we won’t just sign a player for the sake of signing a player. We’re looking for players who’ll fit into our plans, and me and Bernard are out on a Tuesday or Wednesday night at places like Stocksbridge or Ashton United looking for the right lads who’ll fit in with the Rammy way of playing - it’s not a guessing game.

Believe it or not, we’ve had more praise from opposition in the first five games of this season than we’ve had in either of our promotion seasons. e fact of the matter is that we’re playing well, and playing good football, but losing through costly mistakes. e FC United manager pulled us over on Saturday because he couldn’t believe what we did to them in the first-half with all of the players that we’ve got missing. Me and Bernard went hell for leather at the players at halftime in Rushall, and when I came out for the second half someone told me how great it was to watch our team get the ball down and try to play football, whereas we think they’re having a bad game. e problem with this league is it isn’t really about football, it’s about big teams who look after the ball. People accuse us of not having a plan B, but I’ll take that criticism because we’re not going to just resort to going long. If we’d have started the season with what I deem our best thirteen players, I’d be expecting us to be pushing top two or three.

I just want people to appreciate how far we’ve come and how fast we’ve done it.

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Not everything just slots in perfectly, and we will not change what we’re about - we all hold our heads up high and know what we’ve done for the club. We’ll keep doing it the Rammy way, rightly or wrongly.

Let’s go through the games - King’s Lynn, we could have won it 3-1 with fifteen minutes to go, but we missed a penalty and got beat. Second game we go down to ten men, should have took a point, they scored the third corner in two games. ird game we blitzed em.

Nantwich we had ten bad minutes after going in at 1-0. We conceded three goals in ten minutes, it’s the way football goes. ree long pumped balls into our box and the game is lost - it’s simply that we didn’t deal with three big balls to the 6’8 lad up front - a big, brutal team played to their strengths and they beat us.

It’s ruthless finishing of half chances, but we have finishers who are as ruthless as anyone. e sides that have beaten us have been in this division for a hell of a long time, and they’re top teams. We’re making mistakes and we’re learning from them. at’s what is important.

A certain amount of our players have never known this kind of run - they have a 70% win rate. But all of a sudden, when you’re conceding goals and you haven’t got the strength of Andy Dawson, Gary Stopforth or Danny Warrender alongside you, it’s difficult for them. Phil Dean, Dom Smalley, Jordan Hulme have all come from nowhere and been absolutely brilliant, but there’s a lot of pressure on them when the more experienced lads aren’t alongside them - it’s like the ‘Class of 92’ characters all leaving United, it’s hard for them.

Injury-wise Lee Pugh tore his hamstring

at Rushall, we’re looking at somewhere between two and six weeks. Lee Gaskell has knee ligaments trouble and there are murmurings of him being back very soon, but if we have him for Whitby then we’re delighted because Jordan and Robbo are missing that one. Gary Stopforth had a scan on Saturday. He’s feeling ok and doing his weights, but we’re not pushing until he gets the results of his scan, so we know what’s wrong. He could be straight back, or may need an op and end up out for six months. Scott Burton was away on Saturday at his stag do. e flip-side is that we have Danny Warrender back, who played fantasically.

We had Malaki Slaven who made his full debut and was fantastic in front of 2000 people, and you’ve got Osebi who only played his second game for us and ran himself completely into the ground for and we’ve got Tom who’s another really good player who stepped up on Saturday.

We have been accused of being a bit light at the back, but don’t forget that Dom really wanted to play at right-back and he’s been very strong in that position.

Statistically very little has come from that side, so he’s doing the job. We do miss what he gives us up front, but there’s nothing that he’s not giving us as a rightback. Howson played centre-back all season for Radcliffe, and then we’ve got Warrender and Pugh, or Pilkie who are all strong players. I think we’re ok at the back. Nearly all the goals have come from corners, which is infuriating, but these teams are doing a lot of dead-ball training. We struggle with practising corners and dead balls because of where we train. We’re given £30 a week for training and so can’t get on a full-size pitch, that’s just a fact of life for us.

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at’s not just me moaning, as that’s the kind of adversity that makes us successful, that siege mentality. Not one team has managed to go through us and score a goal yet, so we do have a good defence, and if we can get to grips with the corners then we can get these games won. e question “Why the hell do we concede these set pieces” is easy to answer, it’s because these players are bigger and they are stronger, and they are putting in a hell of a lot better delivery than we do.

Currently we’re missing Danny and possibly Dom Smalley, and after Saturday’s game we’ve had an approach made by FC United for one of the lads, so unless we get some deals done pretty sharpish then you might see me and Bernard in a shirt. Any other woman but my wife would have left by now, cos I’m spending all hours on the phone to everyone I can get hold of, trying to pull a couple of players in. It was my lad’s birthday on Friday and I’ve not been able to go out with him through trying to get this sorted - this is just the kind of thing you have to get on with. I love doing this job, but we need the supporters to understand that we are doing this stuff behind the scenes, we’re working our backsides off to make sure Rammy achieves, despite the kind of adversity we’ve faced this last couple of weeks.

We’re not looking to bring in just anyone though; whoever pulls on that Rammy shirt will be a good player, and we go out to win every single match. We don’t go out to not lose, we go out to win it. We need the fans to stick with us, be patient, and understand what it is that we’re trying to achieve.

We have to remember that our squad

has been incredibly loyal, and we’ve had a core of brilliant players who’ve grown up as Rammy lads which has allowed us to gradually introduce other players such as Scott Burton, Billy Priestley and Steve Howson. It’s a condundrum at Rammy how we go about replacing departing players like-for-like with the money we get to spend, particularly with clubs in the league below having so much more than us!

Last year me and Bernard got approached by Salford and Northwich, and there have been other rumours over the last couple of weeks. But at Rammy we’ve started something big. Nearly all the lads at Rammy started with us really young, and they’re now 25 and are achieving at this level. What will they be like when they’re 26-27, and what can they achieve. And besides, we’ve taken our own local team from 80 fans and a dog watching to where we are today.

We’re not here for money, we’re here to see how far we can take it with Rammy.

We’re already a major player in Northwest non-league football. Our players are loyal to us because we’re loyal to them, and to Rammy.

We just need everyone to be patient.

Once we have the key players back, in the next 3-4 weeks, you just watch how we fly up this league. If we didn’t believe that then we’d already be gone, we’d have taken one of those offers - we know that we can set this league on fire.

I really can’t emphasize enough how far we’ve come. I really want people to remember that, and keep the faith that we can continue taking this club to bigger and better things.

- Jonno

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jon robinson tireless and committed rammy Legend

In years to come, when we look back on the achievements of this great Rammy squad, one name will immediately leap to mind as embodying the Never Say Die attitude that gets clubs such as ours heading towards the dizzying heights in non-league football success.

Running himself ragged every match, regularly out-jumping defender with six inches height advantage, and even occasionally popping up in goal if called upon, helping us avoid a repeat of the Bernard-e-Cat experience which still gives Rammy die-hards sleepless nights. e player is of course Jon Robinson, and Roving Reporter Liam Smith took time out from studying for exams to interview the Rammy Legend for us.

Q - After an injury hit season last time out, with that long awaited operation on your ankle, what are your targets for the upcoming season?

A – I want to play as much as possible and hopefully help the team achieve their goals. Missing out so much last season has made me so eager to do that.

Q – You’ve scored a lot of goals for Rammy in the past, do you think you can

make the step up in divisions and continue putting the goals in?

A – Yeah, I don’t see why not. I am fitter than I have been for a few years and my ankle is better than it has been for four years or so. e main thing is, if I thought I couldn’t make the step up I wouldn’t be here now, I’d be in the Salford retirement home!

Q – ere have been one or two players leave and a few new faces have joined but the core of the squad is still in place. Does it help when all the lads have such a close bond and experience of playing alongside each other week-in week-out?

A – Yeah of course it does, you learn to win and lose as a team and that’s a great thing to have at any standard of football.

Loyalty is lost nowadays so it’s good to be a part of an established and settled squad.

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Q – Of the players that have arrived have they impressed and has anyone in particular stood out for you?

A – All the players have impressed me, the work and determination levels they have shown in training have been at an extremely high level. As for players standing out, that’s hard for me to answer, you would have to be a very special player to stand out in this squad.

Q – is season has a good feel to it after what happened at Bamber Bridge last year. What were the celebrations like after that game (if you can remember)?

A – Quality by all associated with the club, I think even Harry Smiled (Maybe it was just the wind).

One of the best things about Rammy is everyone gets on and drinks together.

Q - How do you think the new lads have gelled during preseason and how do you feel it has gone for you and the team?

A – ey seem to have gelled in well and are coming out of their shells more and more every week. Personally I am happy because I have been able to do a full preseason pain free and I am fighting fit, e team as a group look very sharp.

Q – With the season fast approaching what do you and the lads want to achieve as a club?

A – In an ideal world you would say 10 points clear at the top with one game left but that’s not going to happen. For me a realistic aim would be going into the last five games with a chance of playoffs and a good cup run, beating Darlo and Lancaster on the way!

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Q – Do you set yourself any personal goals and if so what are they?

A – I try to stay below ten yellows for the season with no red cards. I’d like to score 20 goals and stay fit so I can keep my position in the team the season after.

Quick-fire questions Favourite food? – Spanish or Italian Favourite Drink? - A nice bottle of Rioja Favourite holiday destination? - Any Spanish resort that has local culture Favourite film? – e Lord of the Rings And lastly, a night in with the misses or a night on the booze with the lads? - A good night out with the lads doesn’t go a miss but a night in with the misses and my son is as good as I don’t have to suffer the horrors of being rough the next day!

“ I’d like us to go into the last ive games with a chance of the playoffs“

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e Harry Williams Riverside 25th August 2014 Att: 365 Rammy Goals: Robinson (21) Nantwich Goals: Meaney (52), Mukendi (59), Winslade (62), Pepper (89pen)

A disastrous second half proved to be the undoing of a Rams side that had looked comfortable in the first 45 minutes, and had deservedly gone in at the break in front.

What happened after that break takes some explaining. e home side looked the more accomplished from the start, and Jordan Hulme’s fine burst into the area was only stopped by a great save from Town keeper Terry Smith, diving low to his right. e same forward almost got on the end of a long punt from keeper Grant Shenton, but he couldn’t quite deflect the ball goalwards, - it was no surprise when Hulme laid on the opening goal. It came on 21 minutes, and the youngster floated over the perfect cross from the right, leaving Jon Robinson with the simplest of headers from close range to give the Rams a deserved lead.

Osebi Abadaki came close to opening his account for the club, firstly with a fierce drive from 25 yards which Smith did well to smother, and then from close range, but his effort sailed inches wide.

Whilst the home side were enjoying much of the possession and chances, Nantwich looked lively, with lanky winger Vinney Mukendi a constant threat. Twice he was denied, as was defender Adam Jones, who looked on as his looped header hit the bar before being scrambled to safety.

But as the half-time whistle blew, the one

goal lead was a deserved reward for an accomplished performance from the Rams.

Joint-manager Bernard Morley was happy enough at the interval. “All we need now is to keep a clean sheet in the second half” he suggested.

What followed made a mockery of that wish.

Nantwich came out refreshed and determined to improve on their early showing.

After Grant Spencer had showed encouraging signs of adding to the lead, on a couple of occasions, the visitors took complete control of the game, with the home side wilting and apparently short of ideas as to how to combat their opponents. e equalising goal came after 52 minutes. e ever-dangerous Mukendi slipped the ball neatly to Alex Meaney, and he finished from close range to level the match.

Two goals in three minutes completely turned the game, and the Rams rarely looked like finding a way back.

On 59 minutes, Mukendi profited from some hesitant defending by poking the ball home between two dithering defenders, from almost on the goal-line. Barely had the visiting supporters stopped celebrating than they were cheering a third. A quick-fire attack split the home defence and as the ball was played into space, Mark Winslade made no mistake from ten yards out.

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Jordan Hulme on the rampage

Jon Robinson opens the scoring for Rammy using the head that got him sent off later on

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On 65 minutes the Rams task was made almost impossible as they went down to ten men.

Having had a running battle, and a couple of warnings from the referee, Robinson headbutted an opponent in back play, which was spotted by the referee’s assistant, and out came the red card.

Max Harrop had the ball in the net five minutes later for the visitors, but it was ruled out for offside.

However, the former Bury youngster’s run into the box on 88 minutes was unceremoniously ended by the diving Shenton, leaving the referee with little choice than to award a penalty.

Another red card was feared, but the official chose the lenient route and produced just a yellow for Shenton. Up stepped Adam Pepper to

fire home the spot-kick to give the Dabbers a 41 lead. ere was still time, however, for a second red card to be produced. is time it went the way of Hulme. He was cautioned after complaining about Robinson’s dismissal, but a foul in the second minute of time added on, brought another yellow and with it the inevitable dismissal.

So a game that began so brightly for the Rams deteriorated into arguably the worst 45 minutes in the managerial spell of Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley. e lack of ideas and discipline will need to be addressed quickly as the team gets to grip with life at the higher level, especially with some big games coming up.

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tony’s teasers 1.

What colours do Dulwich Hamlet play in?

2.

Who is the manager of Gateshead?

3.

In which league do barmouth & Dyffryn United play?

4.

Former Bury midfielder Mark Carrington is playing for which Vanarama Conference side?

5.

Which former Wrexham striker has recently left Forest Green Rovers for gateshead?

6.

America-based Paul Casson recently took over which north-west non-league club?

Name the home ground of Newcastle Town Which club knocked Padiham out of the FA Cup last weekend?

Where did Ramsbottom United play before moving to the Riverside?

Who recently resigned as Witton Albion manager?

ANSWERS: 1. Navy and Pink 2. Gary Mills 3. Welsh Alliance 4. Wrexham 5. Danny Wright 6 Barrow 7. Lyme Valley Stadium 8. Shildon 9. Chatterton 10. Brian Pritchard

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Marine are celebrating 120 years of football, having been formed by a group of local businessmen and former college students – taking its name from the hotel on the River Mersey sea front at Waterloo, seven miles to the north of Liverpool – where the founders met. ey moved to their present ground e Arriva Stadium (formerly known as Rossett Park) in 1903.

Marine quickly made an impression on local football, winning numerous titles in the I Zingari League and the Liverpool Combination. eir greatest success as an amateur team in this period culminated in an F.A. Amateur Cup Final appearance in 1931/32, when they lost 7 – 1 to Dulwich Hamlet in front of a 22,000 crowd at West Ham United. In 1946 they went close again by reaching the semi-final.

In 1972 Roly Howard was appointed first team manager and completed 1,975 competitive games over a 33 year period before retiring at the end of the 2004/05 season. He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the longest serving manager in world football as Marine enjoyed its most successful period winning some 30 trophies. e Club relinquished its amateur status and became professional in 1974. ree Cheshire League Championships were won in five seasons before progressing to the Northern Premier League in 1979/80. ey have twice been Champions (1993/94 and 1994/95) as well as twice being runners-up and have won the League Cup on three occasions (1984/85, 1991/92, and 2002/03).

Marine qualified for the UniBond

Premier play-offs in two seasons, losing to the eventual play off champions on both occasions.

2014-2015 sees a new management team at the helm, Carl Macauley was appointed manager in summer 2014, having previously been manager at conference north club Vauxhall Motors for eight years, and he is assisted by Gary Martindale & Anthony Wright. e new trio are keen to work on their success at their previous club, having brought in a new squad ready for the 2014-2015 campaign.

Marine’s best performance in the F.A. Cup was reaching the 3rd Round in 1992/3 when they lost 3-1 to Crewe Alexandra. Marine have also achieved ten first and two second round appearances in the FA Cup and have beaten two Football League Clubs (Barnsley and Halifax Town) in the competition. Marine have twice reached the semi-finals of the F.A. Trophy in 1983/84 and 1991/92 and have been winners of 13 senior county cups.

Marine have won the Liverpool Senior Cup seven times (most recently in 2008) and the Lancashire Challenge Trophy three times (most recently in 1999/00). e club are looking to make continuing improvements to their Arriva Stadium base, two years ago new floodlights were installed at a cost of £70,000 and further improvement over the next few years is planned, with planning application received for a new 130 seater stand and snack kiosk to be located at the Crossender Road end of the Stadium to balance out spectator facilities

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Andy Fowler – Forward Fowler re-joined the club in July 2012. He originally began as ex-Everton trainee who left after four years to join Bootle in April 2010. He then made the step up to Evo-Stik Premier League football, joining Northwich Victoria, scoring 19 times in league and cup in his first season.

four to watch

Photo by kind permission Susan Nugent

Lewis Codling – Forward Ex Everton Youth Codling joined Bala Town from Aberystwyth Town in July 2012 after leaving the Seasiders due to work commitments in January 2012. Liverpudlian Lewis was released by Everton in 2010 but has made 78 (+24) appearances in his spells with Aberystwyth and Bala Town scoring 20 goals.

Danny Fearnehough – Defender/Midfielder Danny, 22, is a product of the Barnsley Academy who was released in the summer of 2011 before signing for Vauxhall Motors in September 2011. His impressive early displays prompted Carl Macauley to put him on contract and he continued to impress. He is happy either playing as a wing back or equally in midfield. Danny made 40 appearances for the Motors last season.

Andy Nicholas – Central Defender 30 year old Andy has over 140 football league appearances spanning five seasons for Swindon Town before joining Rotherham United in 2008 where he stayed until 2010.

He then moved on loan to Mansfield Town before moving to Vauxhall Motors finally in 2010 after a short spell at Barrow. He started his early career at Liverpool before joining Swindon Town in 2003 under manager Andy King.

p Sat 16th Aug Tues 19th Aug Sat 23rd Aug Mon 25th Aug Sat 30th Aug Tues 2nd Sept Sat 6th Sept Wed 10th Sept Sat 13th Sept Tues 16th Sept Sat 20th Sept Sat 27th Sept Sat 4th Oct Tues 7th Oct Sat 11th Oct Tues 14th Oct Sat 18th Oct Tues 21st Oct Sat 25th Oct Tues 28th Oct Sat 1st Nov Tues 4th Nov Sat 8th Nov Tues 11th Nov Tues 18th Nov Sat 22nd Nov Sat 29th Nov Sat 6th Dec Sat 13th Dec Sat 20th Dec Fri 26th Dec Thu 1st Jan Sat 3rd Jan Sat 10th Jan Sat 17th Jan Sat 24th Jan Sat 31st Jan Sat 7th Feb Sat 14th Feb Sat 21st Feb Sat 28th Feb Sat 7th March Sat 14th March Sat 28th March Sat 4th April Mon 6th April Sat 11th April Sat 18th April Sat 25th April

H KING’S LYNN TOWN A Workington A Rushall Olympic H NANTWICH TOWN A FC United of Manchester H MARINE H STAMFORD A Whitby Town A Buxton H WITTON ALBION A Ilkeston H SKELMERSDALE UTD A Trafford H CURZON ASHTON H BELPER TOWN A Frickley Athletic H BUXTON H WHITBY TOWN A Blyth Spartans A Marine A Whitby Town FAT 1Q H WORKINGTON A Halesowen Town H BURSCOUGH LGCUP A Witton Albion H GRANTHAM TOWN H BARWELL A Matlock Town H RUSHALL OLYMPIC A King’s Lynn Town H ASHTON UNITED A Nantwich Town A Curzon Ashton H TRAFFORD A Belper Town H FRICKLEY ATHLETIC A Buxton H BLYTH SPARTANS A Stamford A Stourbridge H ILKESTON A Skelmersdale United H STOURBRIDGE A Grantham Town H FC UNITED OF MCR A Ashton United H HALESOWEN TOWN A Barwell H MATLOCK TOWN

2-3 0-1 4-2 1-4 1-3

322 Shenton 415 Shenton 161 Shenton 365 Shenton 1917 Shenton

Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley

Pugh Pugh Pugh Abadaki * Pilkington

Spencer Spencer * Spencer * Spencer + Spencer

Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson

Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Warrender

Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1 + Hulme Abadaki +

fixtures & results 2014/1

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Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1 + Hulme Abadaki +

Burton Burton Burton Burton Slaven

Gaskell Gaskell Robinson# 1 Robinson 1 Robinson *

Robinson 1* Robinson + Pilkington Pilkington Hulme 1 #

Dean + Dean # Dean 2 Dean Dean

Pilkington Pilkington * Abadaki * Williams Williams +

Slaven Slaven + Slaven + Slaven Krou *

Abadaki + Abadaki Ahmadi # Cook * Cook #

Ahmadi * Ahmadi # Cook Krou + Morley

Cook Cook Williams Morley Johnson

Ramsbottom United Football Club Chairman: Harry Williams Vice Chairman: Chris Woolfall Secretary: Tony Cunningham Matchday Secretary: Andy Edmunson Treasurers: H Williams, C Woolfall Committee: Harry Williams, Chris Woolfall, Andy Edmundson, Kevin Hitchen Recent Senior Honours: Bolton Comination Div 1 Champions: 1972/73 Bolton Comb. Premier Champions 1976/77: Bolton Comb. Div2 cup runners up: 1979/80,1982/83 Bolton Comb. Div2 runners up: 1982/83 Bolton Comb. Cup winners: 1976/77, 1979/80, 1983/84 Bolton Comb. Div1 runners up: 1984/85 Bolton Comb. Cup runners up: 1985/86, 1987/88 Manchester League Cup Winners: 1990/91 Manchester League Champions: 1990/91 Yorkshire Cup runners up: 1993/94 Northwest Counties Div2 Champions: 1996/97 Northwest Counties Div2 Trophy: 1995/96 Bolton Hospital Cup winners: 1974/75, 05/06. 06/07, 07/08 Northwest Counties Premier runners Up 2010/11 Northwest Counties Premier Champions: 2011/12 Northern Premier League Div1 playoff winners: 2013/14 The Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire Tel: 01706 822799

ďŹ xtures & results 2014/15

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures For many football followers the Summer can be a barren time, even in a World Cup year, and one of the highlights is when the new seasons fixtures are announced to a waiting world. One of the first fixtures I was looking out for this year was the Rams visit to play our neighbours over at F.C. United as I was looking forward to a visit to their brand new stadium at Moston. Imagine my disappointment then when I saw we were down for a visit before August was over, as their new stadium would not be open by then. So, last Saturday it was an exodus from Ramsbottom, as the travelling Ultras made their way to Stalybridge Celtic, hoping to build on the previous weeks win at Rushall Olympic.

For this game myself and Mrs Darkside travelled on the Traitor’s Bus with my good friend, and dedicated FCUM supporter, Howard and his young son, Jake. We set off at 12.30 and our first stop was e Village Hotel just off the M66, to meet up with another FCUM follower, P.D, to watch the first half of the Burnley v Manchester United game. I have been to a few FCUM games in the past with Howard, Jake and P.D. and

“ FC United proved themselves to be real football supporters“

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Disbelief as goal number three finds the net

om the darkside

always enjoy their company (anyone who turns their back on the Premier League to watch football at non-league level is more than OK in my book and a true supporter of the beautiful game). When we arrived at e Village, a soulless bar for travelling salesmen, we met up with a few travelling Rammy supporters and for the only time in the day we outnumbered the FCUM fans. I was not too bothered about the Premier League, although was willing a Burnley goal to go in, and had a chat with the Rams fans about todays game.

We left e Village at half time of the Burnley game and made our way to Stalybridge where our destination was e Church Inn, about a mile from the ground.

I was hoping some of our supporters would be in there but myself and Mrs Darkside were lost in a pub full of FCUM supporters.

Despite this we proudly sported our colours

and enjoyed a good pre-match atmosphere with a couple of pints of waites best bitter (and half a lager and lime for my better half).

We arrived at the ground for 2.40 and, despite a crowd of nearly 2,000, could see quite a bit of blue and white mixed in with all the red, black and white of FCUM. A few of us congregated behind the goal to get behind the lads and I had a good pre-match chat with fellow forum member, Carlsberg.

We stayed here for the first half as Rammy were attacking the goal where we were situated and tried to make ourselves heard above the many FCUM supporters around us. Despite us being outnumbered the atmosphere was excellent and we enjoyed some good banter with our opponents, without a single negative comment being passed, and they proved themselves to be real football supporters.

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It was a pleasure to spend time amongst them and a big thank you goes out for the welcome they gave us. After an early goal from Jordan ‘from the halfway line’ Hulme, we went in 2-1 down at half time.

Luckily I was situated near the bar where a large queue was developing and I was one of the lucky few to gain entrance. I got talking with a FCUM supporter in the bar who had attended the Northern Soul nights at Ramsbottom Civic Hall and I spent an enjoyable 15 minutes with

him telling me all about his days frequenting the legendary Twisted Wheel club in Manchester back in the 1970’s. e second half was enjoyable, despite going 3-1 down and we never really looked like getting back into the game.

We had moved to the side of the pitch for the second 45 minutes alongside Little Katie, Andy W, Andy H and Hilary.

Despite our urging Rammy on to the end it was never going to be our day and

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despite another excellent effort from the players we found ourselves coming away pointless again. We stayed back for five minutes after the whistle for a chat with ex- physio and new mother, Katie, and her Dad, Stephen, before meeting up again with Howard, Jake and P.D. on e Traitor Bus. Once on board we soon found ourselves stuck in the traffic coming away from the ground which is quite a unique experience at this level and we had a lengthy discussion about the special buses

that used to be put on in the 1970’s to take supporters to Manchester City and Manchester United for their home games.

After dropping P.D. back off at e Village, we arrived back in Ramsbottom just before 6.00 with a promise we would go and watch young Jake when he makes his debut for Walshaw Sports Club in a couple of weeks time. Another defeat, but we are still trying to play our football in the right way and the Rams fans I spoke to are still confident this will be a good season for us.

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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs

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Well this is fun isn't it. No one said it would be easy this league - despite my tongue in cheek comment after 9 minutes of the season, and with injuries and suspensions already starting to have a major effect on the team we are putting out, things are looking difficult. But we only have to look back at the start of last season to know that this set of lads won't let a mere few defeats affect their thoughts and desires. Bernard and Jonno won't let it happen! So faith is still at its premium so let's not get too concerned.

It has been quite a busy few weeks for me with T20 finals day a couple of weeks ago where Lancashire fielded a guest player in the final in the shape of one Andrew Flintoff and then England's miserable demise in the one day internationals followed straight off.

Now I have had my hands on some

pretty special trophies in my time - top of the list being the North West Counties League trophy a couple of seasons ago and the magnificent Play Off trophy last May. But the chance to hold the Cricket World Cup whilst the rain came down in Bristol on Monday last week was pretty special! Not as special as the NWCL or the play off one but nearly!!

Tonight I will be heading north after the latest England loss at Edgbaston so depending when I get away, I might get the last half hour of the game there! Otherwise i will be up for the Stamford game on Saturday. Can't wait to cheer the lads on and join in the fun as always!!!

Come on you Rams!!!!!!!!!!!

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Ramsbottom United’s difficult start to life at Evo-Stik Premier level was hardly helped by the absence of four influential regulars, all out through injury.

Under such circumstances, a visit to title favourites FC United was always going to prove a difficult obstacle to overcome, but, despite going down to another defeat, the thread-bare squad performed well and took an early lead at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold ground.

In the opening minutes the Rams took the game to their hosts, with Jordan Hulme being denied as his header was blocked on the line with barely two minutes on the clock.

With ten minutes played, the visitors deservedly took the lead. A corner from the left was met by Hulme, and this time his header did reach the back of the net via a deflection off the underside of the bar.

Osebi Abadaki almost doubled the lead when he raced down the right wing, only to screw his shot wide of the far post, and the same player was denied from close range by a block from home keeper David Carnell. e Rams had looked good value for their lead, but they let it slip on 33 minutes, when a saving tackle was played back to Grant Shenton as he raced out of his goal. Confusion reigned as keeper and a defender failed to clear the danger, and FC’s Tom Greaves gleefully nipped in to walk the ball into an empty net. at was harsh on the Rams who were

inches away from regaining the lead three minutes before the break. Jon Robinson’s tenacity won the ball on the left and his perfect cross found Hulme’s head, but the attention of a defender saw the ball beat the keeper but also the wrong side of the post.

Just as the Rams were preparing to curse their luck, after a half they edged, a killer blow was struck in time added on. A corner from the right was not dealt with, and as the ball was headed back across goal, Greaves was in the right place to head home from close range. at goal seemed to deflate the visitors, whilst the hosts were determined to press home the advantage as they stepped up a gear in the second half. Playing down the slope, the Reds looked the more likely to add to the tally, and so it proved on 63 minutes when they made the game safe. Having seen a dipping shot from Matthew Wolfenden clip the top of the Rams bar minutes earlier, Liam Brownhill swung in a corner from the right, and the unmarked Chris Lynch applied the merest of touches to guide it into the back of the net.

A fourth was ruled out for offside, as Wolfenden’s close range effort was tucked in from a couple of feet out by Mike Norton, but a further goal was always likely to go to the home side.

Some stout defending ensured that it did not happen, whilst the closest the Rams came to reducing the lead was when Cedric Krou broke through, but his effort was blocked.

3-1

Bower Fold 30th August 2014 Att: 1917 Rammy Goals: Hulme (9) FC United Goals: Greaves (33,45), Lynch (62)

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Steve Howson and Grant Shenton wonder what went wrong.

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Jordan opens the scoring

To round off a miserable afternoon, yet another red card went against the visitors, their fourth of the season. Malachi Slaven, having been booked in the first half, found himself on the wrong side of an opponent as time added on ticked down, and as the player hit the ground, the referee reached for the yellow card once more, swiftly followed by the red.

e leap up in to Evo-Stik Premier is proving a tough one for the team, as they search for the winning formula which has evaded them in all but one of the opening five matches, but a return of the injured players may well instil some stability as the Rams become accustomed to playing against better quality opposition.

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SERIOUSLY STRONG SERIOUSLY VERSATILE

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IT EVEN WORKS UNDER WATER

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supporters club on the terraces of rammy Oh, it’s painful isn’t it! To watch Rammy get beaten by FC United and Nantwich was really unpleasant, and hard to take for us fans who are used to seeing Rammy romp to victory. As I sat in the stand at Stalybridge (and I NEVER sit at the footy unless it’s really bad) with my head in my hands, I started reminiscing about the Crap Old Days of watching Preston. It’s easy to remember the great moments, like promotion from Division 4 and tonking the Donkey Lashers, but the woeful despair of at Away Game at Whitley Bay in the FA Cup, or losing at Hartlepool in front of three mockGeordies and a whippet come all too readily flooding back. is is the time when football separates out the men from the boys. When we see the team taking the pitch with Bernard and Johnno listed as subs, without Stopforth and Burton in the middle, without Gaskell up front, and on the back of a poor run of form, we know we’re going to have a long and desperate 90 minutes.

And then, to make matters worse, a goal from Jordan, a bit of hope! Time to

mis-quote ‘Mr Stimpson’, ably played by John Cleese in that great Sunday afternoon film ‘Clockwise’: “It’s not the despair Laura, I can cope with the despair - it’s the hope that’s the real killer!”

And then we get yet another player sent off. Bernard’s reaction said it all for me, though I can’t repeat any of it here.

Let’s be honest folks, we’re struggling to cut it at the moment. We’re starting brightly, with enthusiasm and va-vavoom, but we’re getting shoved around and frustrated. We’re playing out of our

Jordan’s getting his wages docked for setting about the fence after getting sent off!

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Play the man first - the ‘professionalism’ at this level is something we’re struggling to adapt to.

“ e despair I can cope with - it’s the hope that’s the real killer“ skins to compete, and have to keep it going almost twice a week for the rest of the season. It’s frightening me, to be honest.

We do have to remember that this is a very high level of football that we’ve reached now. e lads are giving it their best shot, and trying to adjust to what I feel to be the biggest leap we’ve made in footballing terms. I always suspected that the transition from the Northwest Counties would be difficult, but with just one going up from that league, you have to be pretty good to even get the promotion. Skem, Trafford, us, Salford have all shown that step to be ok. is one though - just look at the professionalism

of some of the players that lined up against us for Nantwich and King’s Lynn, let alone FC United - who earned their first win of the season against us on Saturday!

We need to be brave and strong, and as fans we’re going to have to dig deep and keep the support going. It’s easy to jump in the car and watch us win playoffs, but the real support is when we’re struggling to put out a team, or are getting put to the sword after a four hour trip down the M1.

I still have faith that we can turn things around, but if we don’t then let’s not turn our backs and jump off the Rammy Bandwagon. We’re here for the long haul!

Come on you Rams!

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Managers: Anthony Johnson, Bernard Morley

Grant SHENTON Dominic SMALLEY Lee PUGH Grant SPENCER Steve HOWSON Dan WARRENDER Tom WILLIAMS Scott BURTON Jon ROBINSON Lee GASKELL Phil DEAN Jordan HULME Sam COOK Osebi ABADAKI Gary STOPFORTH Malaki SLAVEN Cedric KROU

Manager: Carl Macualey

Matthew COOPER Stephen WAINWRIGHT James SHORT Ian LATHAM John SHAW Daniel FEARNEHOUGH Karl CLAIR Andy FOWLER Aaron BURNS Matty WILLIAMS James FOLEY Jonathan GOULDING Lewis CODLING omas OWENS Andy NICHOLAS

Referee: Peter Gooch Referee’s Assistants: Oliver Lynn, James Morgan

Next home game: Saturday 6th September 3pm, Rammy v Stamford