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rammy news v WITTON ALBION 16-09-14
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glenn
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Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for this evening’s clash with Witton Albion. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome all involved with Witton, and their spectators that have travelled over tonight - we hope you enjoy your evening with us and have a safe journey home. Well after two impressive wins on the bounce, which included our win over then table toppers Stamford, we got brought back down to earth with two defeats in our next two outings. First, the game last wednesday over at Whitby, were we looked a little short on the night and probably didn’t do enough to come home with anything. Itss a very long way to go on a midweek night and by no way are we using that as an excuse, but its something we will all have to get accustomed to. ese are the journeys that two promotions see us faced with and these are the challenges we strive to overcome. You have to bear in mind that most lads will have started work early to allow themselves to get away. A three hour journey followed by 90 tough minutes and then the same journey home saw them getting in at 2am, only to be up the next morning at 6 to make up the lost hours from the day before! is brings me onto the F.A. Cup game over at Buxton. We started very leggy and didn’t look ourselves if I’m honest,
and we went in at the break 3-0 down, leaving ourselves a mountain to climb during second half. Maybe this was a result of the long trip to Whitby, but we can take great heart from our second half performance giving a decent Buxton side a big scare. ey were definately relieved to hear the referee’s whistle. eire made a comment to me as we left the field, saying that we are by far the best side they have faced this season, and although it’s results that count, we seem to be attracting the right kind of attention for our performances. Hopefully we can turn those into points from here on in. We've still got a few walking wounded and will have to wait a little longer than we hoped for the injured lads to return, but we have strengthened over the last few days with the signings of Liam Irwin from Bolton Wanderers, Alex Piacentile from C.E.Principado De Andorra in Spain, Nelson Mota from FC United, and Jake Parker from Colwyn Bay. I’m sure you will all get behind the new lads as you always do, and give them a big Rammy welcome. Both Witton and ourselves will be looking to get back on track tonight after going out of the F.A. Cup on Saturday, so I hope you enjoy the game. Coyr! -
Glenn
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tony cunningham and the wonderful world of non-league football Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. And a special welcome to tonight’s officials, and of course our visitors – the only true Northwich-based team, despite three others carrying the name….Witton Albion (who don’t!). We need to bounce back after a couple of defeats. Work, as usual, prevented me from making the long midweek trip to Whitby, although it sounds as though I was the lucky one. I did, however, manage to sneak out in time to travel over to Buxton. Mm! At half-time I had written us off, but credit to the lads for battling back in the second half and making a real game of it. If I’d been there as a neutral supporter, I have to say, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. Plenty of action as the game swung from end to end for much of the time. We may well be disappointed to exit the greatest cup competition in the world at the first hurdle, but I am more convinced than ever that we will settle into life at this level without too many problems. Certainly when it comes to entertainment, it looks like the story of the last five years is bound to continue.
HEAD-SCRATCHER Football has a habit of throwing up results that make one look on in disbelief. e latest example featured Conference North (yes I know!!!) Oxford City. A couple of weeks ago they entertained big-spending AFC Fylde at home and were on the end of an horrendous 8-1 hammering (Shades of the 10-1 defeat I saw Fylde dish out at Droylsden’s ground last season). What a lousy result, and Oxford’s next game just happened to be away at former League side Boston United. ey must have travelled there in trepidation! Final score at Boston? 7-2! Erm….actually, it was 7-2 FOR Oxford. Crazy, isn’t it? Takes me back to my childhood. Back in the late 1950’s, football league teams played on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (they’re soft these days!) Bury beat Bristol Rovers 7-2 at Gigg on Christmas Day(yes, in the days before computers, the fixture planners still couldn’t work out derby matches). Next day they travelled down to the south-west full of confidence and….lost 6-1! FANCY BEING A SCRIBE? As you probably know, I’ve been privileged for the last few seasons to be the Ramsbottom United match reporter and Press Release man. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it!
This man needs help - are you the person?
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However, you probably also know that partway through last season I took on the job of club Secretary. As if that wasn’t enough extra work, I am now in the process of expanding my business (Leckenby’s Award-Winning Licensed Tea Rooms – enough of the plug) with a second outlet, so you can imagine the additional workload. Which basically means that I have to look to cut back somewhere. I thoroughly enjoy the secretarial duties, but my main concern is that I’m not put in a position where my work suffers, especially here at Ramsbottom, where a mere slip can result in fines or worse-still points deductions. So I have reluctantly come to the
conclusion that I should look to off-load the Press side of my involvement, which I shall do with no little disappointment. If anyone feels that they would like to take on the PR role, either individually or with someone else, then can I ask them to get in touch with me on 07973 416580, to allow me to explain just what is required. Ideally you would need to be a supporter who can get to most if not all of the games, but I can assure whoever takes over that I will ensure a smooth transition. And you will enjoy it! Anyone interested, please make yourself known. Enjoy your non-league football!
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grant shenton shouting from between the sticks With a number of key players already missing we lost Phil Dean and Dan Warrender during the Buxton game, do we have any news on them, or updates on the other lads? “Dan aggravated an existing injury which he picked up at Whitby and could miss Tuesday’s game but Wizard’s is more of a dead leg so we’re hoping he will be back fit for the midweek game. Lee Gaskell is expected back in next few weeks - it will be a huge boost for the lads knowing we will have more fire power to partner Jordy. Gaz is still awaiting results of his scan and understandably doesn't want to rush back as a big part of his game is covering a lot of grass and he can't do that if he's not 100%.”
You seem to be working overtime in that goal at the moment, this must be a bit of a shock after the last couple of seasons of being mainly a playmaker. “We always knew it was gonna be a big step up this season. And I knew I would be busy. I’m not completely happy with my performances yet as the strikers are different in this
league in that they don't waste the ball much. e gaffers brought john in to improve my game, and I will improve under him - it's good to get an experienced keeper to tell me what I need to improve. But I'm going to have to change my game a little as last season I was only making two saves a game while mainly passing out from the back and sweeping up, so it's a something I've got to adapt to.
Can you talk us through the goals at Whitby. “e first goal was a sickening feeling as I had made a few saves to keep us even. It was a big deflection from a block that looped over my head. And on the second one i slipped while trying to take off to catch it and I didn't get enough on it.”
What was the mood like on the bus back? “e mood was ok, lads obviously disappointed but we don't tend to overthink results - we take each game as they come. Mainly the guys wanted a sleep on the coach as most of us were up early for work.”
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The old cliche says that "Now we're out of the cup, we can properly concentrate on the league." It's easy to say, but now that the Buxton game is done and dusted, is that how you all feel about it? Now we're out I can say yes, but I'm not going to say we didn't want to play some more games in the FA cup because every player wants a good cup run. But yes consistency in the league is what we look to improve now.
With Grant Spencer's miss on Saturday and your screamer at Nelson, you must be climbing up the penalty taker's list rapidly. Can we stick Howson in nets for two minutes while you take them? I've been trying to get on pens from day one. I put a very strong argument forward that I'll score but the gaers are not having it. We have spoken about it but my hand will always be raised to step up that's for sure.
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Ramsbottom United appear to be finding their feet at the higher level, as they tasted victory for the second time in a week. Visitors Stamford had begun the campaign well, but could have no complaints about the score as the Rams thoroughly deserved this victory in the first ever meeting between the two clubs. e home side took the lead as early as the tenth minute. Steve Howson rose above the defenders to power home a header from Grant Spencer’s corner. Spencer, himself, went close to adding to the score six minutes later, but his free-kick lashed against the side netting. Scott Burton played the perfect through ball for Jordan Hulme, but his shot was blocked for a corner, as the Rams attempted to double their advantage. But on 30 minutes, the visitors were back on level terms. Phil Dean was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul just outside the box, and although his yellow card looked tough, the resultant free-kick proved even worse. Nathan Fox took it and was way off target before Michael Built stuck out a leg and sent the ball past a wrongfooted Grant Shenton in the home goal. Hulme had a good shout for a penalty before seeing his fierce drive parried by Richard Knight in the Stamford goal, and the half-time break arrived with the scores level, despite the Rams enjoying the majority of the play. Stamford came out for the second half in more determined mood, and took the game to the home side in the
early minutes. Jordan Smith inexplicably failed to put them in front when a perfect cross from Built saw him with the goal at his mercy, but he somehow managed to screw the ball wide, much to the relief of the absent home defenders. On 59 minutes the Rams regained the lead. Osebi Anadaki, who is quickly becoming a firm crowd favourite, skipped down the right before planting the ball inch-perfect for Hulme to head home. It was no more than the home side deserved, although Stamford continued to make inroads. Nabil Sharriff saw his effort from 20 yards clear the bar, and Lewis Carr raced forward but could not find the target from just outside the box. On 74 minutes, it was a case of game over. Some excellent trickery by Hulme saw him lay the ball across for Dean who had all the time in the world to pick his spot from 15 yards out to extend the lead to 3-1. e home side survived a tricky moment when a ball into their box almost resulted in an embarrassing own goal, and substitute Ryan Robbins went close for the visitors. e nearest they came to reducing the deficit was just before the end when Carr drove home a venomous drive which Shenton did well to fist away. Despite a late flurry, the result never looked in doubt, and the Rams enjoyed their second victory of the week to push them up the table as they become acclimatised to life at Evo-Stik Premier level.
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î Łe Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 6th September 2014 Att: 357 Rammy Goals: Howson (10), Hulme (59), Dean (74) Stamford Goals: Built (30)
Danny Warrender celebrating Steve Howson’s goal
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î Łe Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 6th September 2014 Att: 357 Rammy Goals: Howson (10), Hulme (59), Dean (74) Stamford Goals: Built (30)
Team Potty-Mouth Phil Dean tells Ossie what he thinks of scoring, before doing his trademark belly-flop near the corner flag
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î Łe Silverlands 13th September 2014 Att: 261 Rammy Goals: Hardy (2), Taylor (33), Tuton (36) Buxton Goals: Spencer (55), Abadaki (73)
Nelson Mota brought down for Rammy’s second penalty of the afternoon
Phil Dean gets treatment for the knock which saw him limp off after 28 minutes
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A disastrous first half saw Ramsbottom United crash out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. e home side’s direct route un-nerved the visitors defence, and the whistle for the interval sounded with the visitors in disarray and three goals behind. A much-improved second half saw them claw their way back into the game, but an earlier missed penalty proved to be the difference when the final whistle blew with the home side hanging on to a slender lead. An early goal boosted the home side as it took just two minutes for Liam Hardy to find space behind the Rams defence, round keeper Grant Shenton and slide the ball into an empty net. It was hardly the start the Lancastrians wanted, but they should have been on level terms just four minutes later when Osebi Abadaki raced down the right wing before sending over the perfect centre for Jordan Hulme, but the target man completely misplaced his header and it sailed wide. At the other end, Hardy looked on as Shenton pushed his free-kick round the post, before the Rams countered with Cedric Krou firing in a fierce drive which Aaron Jameson in the home goal was happy to punch clear. Scott Burton saw his header from a Spencer corner sail inches wide as the Rams looked to level the scores, but two disastrous minutes proved to be the undoing of the visitors. On 33 minutes, the Rams won a corner which Spencer swung in perfectly. Two colleagues narrowly missed planting home a header, yet as the ball broke to the far side, the Buxton countered magnificently, with a long cross from the right sailing over the heads of the stretched rearguard leaving Alastair Taylor with the simplest of tasks of knocking the ball home at the far post from close range. Hulme instantly went close to reducing the arrears with a fine flick from 20 yards that narrowly missed the post with the keeper well beaten, yet again within seconds, the home side had snatched another. A race down the left ended with the ball being floated into the area and the unchallenged Shaun
Tuton gleefully headed in his side’s third to totally deflate the visitors. Ramsbottom had the chance to narrow the deficit in time added on, but after the referee had penalised a Buxton defender for hand ball, Spencer saw his poor penalty kick easily saved by Jameson. e Rams trooped off for the break with everyone on the ground accepting that the tie was over. How wrong they were! e second half saw a much more accomplished performance as the Rams went all out to overturn the deficit. Greg Young was unlucky to see his header go past the post for the hosts before the Rams got into their stride. Spencer’s low drive took a deflection, but Jameson was equal to it diving to his left, but a reward for their efforts came on 55 minutes. Abadaki set off on a run from the right across the edge of the penalty area, defying three tackles, and he laid the ball off to Spencer on the far side of the area. He looked up and sent in the perfect chip which beat the keeper and sailed in by the far post. Buxton, fearing a revival, attempted to restore the three goal cushion, with Tuton, Hardy and Neil Stevens all having a go. A second goal for the Rams was almost notched by Hulme following more good work from Abadaki. e winger weaved his way into the area, and as he reached the by-line, he flicked the ball goalwards, but Hulme couldn’t quite convert as the ball squirmed from Jameson’s grasp. On 73 minutes, the gap was narrowed however. Substitute Nelson Mota was hauled down in the area, and Abadaki placed the ball on the spot before calmly striking home his side’s second. Both sides went for what would have been a defining goal as the game threatened on a couple of occasions to boil over, but the home side held on, and despite a spirited fightback in the second half, the first period did all the damage, and the Rams interest in the FA Cup came to a shuddering halt in an entertaining game in the heart of the Peak District. Photos courtesy of Dawn Darkside - thanks Dawn!
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Witton Albion celebrated their 125 year existence in perfect style by regaining their place in the NPL Premier Division in 2013, regaining some of the ground on their more successful days in the 1990s. During that three year period in the Conference their achievements included an appearance in the 1992/93 FA Trophy final, losing 3-1 to Colchester. ey reached the semi-final stage of the FA Trophy for the three successive seasons in the early nineties and this remains the club's most successful period of football to date. An extremely rocky road followed, particularly with regard to financial difficulties, and the club relegated twice, with a huge turnover of players and managers. Brian Pritchard was appointed Manager in 2010 and the next season he helped Witton win the Play Offs and return to the NPL Premier Division for season 2012/13. With virtually the same squad the following season saw the team achieve 4th position before being beaten away by FC United of Manchester in the Play-Off semifinal. Last season however saw a very different scenario as the team skirted around the relegation positions for a good while up until early March when a good set of results saw them eventually finish in 16th place.
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SCOTT BAKKOR – Forward, born 7/6/94, who came from NPL First Division North team Clitheroe in December 2013. Scott made 25 appearances in total last term netting 6 goals from his 20 starts and his potential was seen quite early on when he was placed on a two season contract.
four to watch
IAIN HOWARD – Attacking left sided wing back born 27/11/87. Commenced his career at Manchester United’s Academy before he joined Preston North End YTS set-up. Following spells at Droylsden and Flixton Iain signed for Ashton United in August 2007 scoring 34 goals in 130 matches in his three year spell. He then spent three highly successful years at Chester and then last season at Stockport County starting 39 games and scoring 10 goals. NEIL HARVEY – Striker who signed in July 2014. Neil has represented Barbados at full international level 6 times, scoring twice. Neil joined Macclesfield in 2008 where he scored 76 goals in 134 appearances, helping the team to the NPL Division One South title. He had his first spell at Marine in 2010. Two seasons, 80 matches and 30 goals later he signed for Hednesford, scoring in the Play-Off Final to win promotion. 84 appearances and 31 goals were achieved with the Pitmen before re-signing for Marine in March 2014. CLIFF MOYO – Defensive wing back born 6/4/93. He appeared for Barrow as well as Northwich Victoria and Droylsden. More local to his home he’s also appeared for Stone Dominoes, Newcastle Town and the end of the 2012/13 season was with Market Drayton Town. Going into this campaign Cliff had made 28 starts in his 32 appearances.
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tony’s teasers 1.
Who is the manager of Woking?
2.
What colours do Brighouse Town play in?
3.
Which Evo-Stik League club plays at e Hawthorns?
4.
Former West Ham star Alan Devonshire manages which club?
5.
Which club did AFC Liverpool defeat 9-0 away from home last weekend?
6.
From which club did we recently sign Nelson Mota?
7.
Alex Darlington is player/coach of which Welsh side?
8.
In which league do Garstang play?
9.
Littlehampton Town suffered a 10-0 defeat in the FA Cuplast week. Which
club beat them? Damian Reeves is leading scorer for which Manchester-based non-league club?
ANSWERS: 1. Garry Hill 2. Orange and Black 3. Brigg Town 4. Braintree Town 5. Sty. Helens Town 6 FC United of Manchester 7. TNS 8. West Lancs. 9. Maidstone United 10. Altrincham
10.
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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 FAC 1Q H WITTON ALBION A Ilkeston H CURZON ASHTON A Trafford 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 3-2 3-1 0-2 2-3
322 Shenton 415 Shenton 161 Shenton 365 Shenton 1917 Shenton 250 Shenton 357 Shenton 265 Shenton 261 Shenton
Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley + Smalley Smalley Smalley
Pugh Pugh Pugh Abadaki * Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington #
Spencer Spencer * Spencer * Spencer + Spencer Spencer Spencer + Spencer Spencer
Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson 1 Howson 1 Howson Howson
Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Warrender Krou Warrender Warrender Warrender +
Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1+ Hulme Abadaki + Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki
fixtures & results 2014/1
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Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1+ Hulme Abadaki + Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki
Burton Burton Burton Burton Slaven Burton * Burton Burton Burton
Gaskell Gaskell Robinson 1# Robinson 1 Robinson * Slaven 1 Slaven * Slaven + Krou
Robinson 1* Robinson + Pilkington Pilkington Hulme 1# Hulme 1 Hulme 1# Krou Hulme
Dean + Dean # Dean 2 Dean Dean Dean # Dean 1 Dean Dean *
Pilkington Pilkington * Abadaki * Williams Williams + Williams # Williams + Mota + Mota *
Slaven Slaven + Slaven + Slaven Krou * Robinson * Robinson # Cook Williams +
Abadaki + Abadaki Ahmadi # Cook * Cook # Cook + Cook Williams Pugh #
Ahmadi * Ahmadi # Cook Krou + Morley Morley Morley Johnson Johnson
Cook Cook Williams Morley Johnson Johnson Krou * Morley Morley
Tonight’s Fixtures: Barwell Blyth Coalville Frickley Grantham Halesowen King’s Lynn Marine Trafford Whitby
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 The Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, Tel: 01706 822799
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Stourbridge Ilkeston Belper FC United Rushall Nantwich Buxton Ashton Workington Shildon
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: 2013/1
fixtures & results 2014/15
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Financial Professional Professional Financial Planning here in Ramsbottom. Ramsbottom.
Northern Financial Nor thern Star F inancial Management Limited 52 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,BL0 9HX
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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs Good evening one and all. Hope the column finds you well. Everyone enjoying the season? From my far off viewpoint, I think it is pretty much as everyone expected. is is without doubt the biggest step up the club have ever seen so it was always going to be very similar to the way we have started. One thing that is encouraging is the very complimentary words being used by our opponents about us being the best side they have played. It is always good to hear but now we need to turn those good performances into the hard cash of points on the table. e one and a half games I saw the other week showed just how far we have come and are playing, the win over Stamford was quite something!! Our all out skill level was superb, such a joy to watch and long may it continue. Well, for me, my Sky cricket season has finished with my last day of the 2014 season last Friday seeing the County Championship heading north once again but, from those followers of the Red Rose on this side of the hills, it's not here!!! Yorkshire lifted their 31st title by thrashing
Nottinghamshire while Lancashire look to be staring relegation in the face this week. It's been a very enjoyable season, starting way back on May 3rd up at Durham - of course, I wasn't in Durham for long as I swiftly charged down the M6 to Bamber Bridge for much more important matters. So I think I deserve my holiday coming up on Friday when I head over to the States for a couple of weeks ... and, of course, my Rammy scarf is coming with me so prepare for a few shots of me publicising our club over there!! Anyway, come on you Rams, lets start climbing up that table. YOUUUUUUUUUUU RAMS!!!
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e Rams made the long journey to the north Yorkshire coast but returned empty-handed after losing out to a big physical Whitby Town team by two goals to nil. In all fairness, had it not been for a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Grant Shenton, the damage could have been a lot worse. Shenton, time after time thwarted the home side who constantly attacked the visiting defence, and on another night David McTiernan would have been taking the ball home. As it was, he notched just one goal and that came as early as the sixth minute. Town had bombarded the visitors from the off, with Shenton making two outstanding saves, but he could do nothing when a halfclearance found McTierney on the edge of the box, and he retuned the ball with sufficient dip to land in the back of the net from just under the crossbar. e visitors gained three corners in quick succession, but the closest they came to scoring was a header from Cedric Krou which sailed wide. Osebi Abasaki was proving the biggest threat for the visitors with his strong running, but there was no end result as the Ramsbottom forwards looked off the pace all night. e defenders, however, had to be at their best to repel a number of attacks by a home side determined to follow up their recent away victory, which had lifted them away from the foot of the table. Shenton continued to be the final obstacle that the home side failed to penetrate, and the half-time whistle sounded with the Rams going in still only one goal down. e second half was just three minutes old when Town doubled their advantage. A high cross seemed to be Shenton’s but the ball bounced off him, and in via the body of Richard Pell who seemed to know little about it. at goal, however, gave the home side a cushion that the visitors rarely looked like breaching. e Rams played some entertaining football but the end result was never good enough to worry the home defence, and Whitby saw the game out comfortably to deservedly pick up the three points and leave the Rams with a long and miserable return to east Lancashire.
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î Łe Silverlands 13th September 2014 Att: 261 Rammy Goals: Hardy (2), Taylor (33), Tuton (36) Buxton Goals: Spencer (55), Abadaki (73)
Busy shifts for Grant Shenton at the moment
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back in the day 49 years of football under harry williams
Article taken from the Bury Times, August 2001: ere will be something that was a bit special missing when Ramsbottom United launch their bid for the big time on August 18th. Harry’s little blue hut won’t be in its usual spot by the turnstile at the Riverside when the Rams go full belt for a place in the UniBond League next season. President Harry Williams and his men are currently having a brand-new refreshment facility constructed ready for the new season - and that could mean a change of “home” for Harry too. For the likeable Rams’ head man was always to be found behind the counter of the blue hut, taking the speccies’ cash as they clicked through the turnstile from one serving hatch or dishing pie and peas out from the other - a man of many parts is our Harry.
United didn’t even apply to have their ground graded last season by league officials to see if it would pass the Unibond criteria. ey finished third in the North West Counties Division One table for the second successive season though and are, undoubtedly strong promotion candidates for the coming season. “We had a lot of things to deal with last season - on and off the pitch. We weren’t right for it mentally, but we are now,” warned Williams. Newly-appointed manager Mike Kelly is ready to meet the challenge head-on, “e ground might need one or two things doing to it, but we are ready for it. After finishing third for the last two seasons we want to go one better and finish runners-up or even champions,” said Kelly. “ere will be an extra team in our division next season, making it a total of 23 and 44 games in all to play. “I don’t know how the structure for promotion and relegation is going to work yet either, but we know we have a a
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chance to aim to finish first or seond to have a chance of going up into the UniBond,” added Kelly. e gaffer got his lads back into training last Saturday and is busy scouring the non-league scene for possible recruits, but he looks set to lose centre-back Mike Smith soon. Neighbours Rossendale United have nipped in and pinched Smith from Rammy just as Kelly was about to offer the 23-year-old defender improved terms. “I’m not happy about the way Rossendale went about it, but the lad wants to play in the UniBond League and that’s the top and bottom of it. “He came down training with us last Saturday and I told him he could come back if things didn’t work out and he said he would do that, so good luck to him.” Players catching Kelly’s eye so far are a centre back at Curzon Ashton and two
midfielders at Abbey Hey and Burscough. Long term inury victims Dave Roach, Warren Brierley and Dave YorkeRobinson are on their way back. Centre back Brierley is expected to do some light training this week following his knee ligament problem and midfield man Yorke-Robinson should be ready for the big kick-off in August after recovering from a knee op. Defender Roach is also making progress, but has a lot of work to do to build up the muscle on his leg following his injury. Ramsbottom have arranged four preseason friendlies so far. ey are away at Padiham from the North West Counties Division Two on August 4, home to Burnley on August 7, away to Nelson, another NWC Div2 outfit, on August 11 and home to Bury on a date still to be finalised.
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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures Another midweek game, and another long trip for the Rammy faithful. After the visit to darkest Cumbria to take on Workington a couple of weeks ago, last Wednesday saw us in Heartbeat country for a game against Whitby Town. is required another early finish at work for the travelling Ultras, but by 3.45 we were sat on the coach and all ready for the off. As the players settled down at the back of the coach, us mere mortals found ourselves with enough room for a double seat each, so I unpacked my ham butties and beers, and made myself comfortable for the long journey. It wasn’t a bad turnout on the coach, as most people were relying on a dash up the M62 after work in their own cars, and I was joined by Carlsberg, Andy Massey, Andy Worsick, Little Katie (with tripod and camera), George, Peter ‘Captain’ Taylor and, of course Mr Harry Williams. e journey actually went quite fast and before we knew it we were off the motorway and travelling through North Yorkshire. is was my first visit to Whitby and I have to say there was some quite spectacular scenery on the way there, helped by the fact it was a sunny evening. Soon we saw Whitby Abbey on the horizon, looking very foreboding, and I understood why Bram Stoker was influenced
to write his novel, Dracula. At this point I made a mental note to bring Mrs Darkside here for a romantic weekend sometime (probably not when Rammy are in town though). We pulled into the Whitby Town car park at 6.30, arriving just behind Chris Wooley, who had driven up with Mick Jonno and Jess, as well as the team’s kit. As Chris unloaded the kit, we all decided to take a stroll for fish and chips, and couple of beers in a local hostelry. For a seaside town it was not easy to find a chippy and after being told by a local that the nearest was a good 10 minute walk away we decided not to waste valuable drinking time and headed to the nearest hotel. is turned out to be e Metropole on the seafront, which was a large Victorian building with many original features inside. We had also been joined by former Rammy favourite, Edgy (the Matt variety, not Phil) and as we got the beers in, Edgy made up for the lack of chippy with a couple of bags of crisps and 4 chocolate bars !!! We made ourselves comfortable in a little room overlooking the sea and had a chat about where would be best to stay when we visit Whitby later in the season, in the cup. e Metropole was an excellent choice for a place to drink, but kick off time was approaching and we headed to the ground for a drink in the club bar. It is a quite big bar in Whitby and on entering we saw plenty of familiar faces who had the journey north from Ramsbottom. As always in non-league club bars, we were made to feel more than welcome and I was happy to see they were serving one of Yorkshire’s finest ales, Black Sheep.
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Mick Johnson and Matt edgington letting Whitby know what’s what.
om the darkside
Photos courtesy of Ste ‘Carlsberg’ Heard
We got into the ground just as the teams were coming out and I stood with Carlsberg, Mick and Andy Massey to get some singing going. We must have done OK with the singing as a few minutes into the game I got a text message from Rob Moss to say that the Rammy faithful could be heard loud and clear on Whitby’s radio station. I seemed to spend much of the 1st half sending updates to those left back in Rammy and to Martin Hulme in his hotel room in Folkestone. By half time we were 1-0 down and not looking like we were going to get back into the game so I headed back to the bar with Mick and Carlsberg. Now, I seem to be gathering a reputation for attracting the stranger elements of the home support on our away days and tonight was no exception. As I was chatting
The Rammy Rocket arrives at the seaside
with Mick and Carlsberg we were joined by some stranger and we ended up discussing the fortunes of his team, Leeds United. It turned out he was camping in Whitby for the week, by himself, and had decided to take in a non-league game. On entering the ground for the second half I got myself a potato pie and a steak pie, which weren’t amongst the best I’ve had at a football, and made my way to the side of the ground we were attacking. We spent the second half stood with Mary, Joanne, Uncle Dave, Young Dave and the suspended Jordan Hulme, and despite our urging the Rams to score, it was never going to be our night in front of goal. Despite this we applauded the team off the pitch, which they seemed to really appreciate, and went back to the club bar to wait for the coach to depart. We set off at 10pm and, after a quick stop at a petrol station for the players to pick up drinks and snacks, we were soon heading through the foggy North Yorkshire countryside back to Lancashire. Despite sleeping from Heywood to York on the journey up, Andy Worswick was soon asleep again, and I had a good chat with Carlsberg and Little Katie about all things Rammy United. I also had an interesting talk with George about televised football and how it doesn’t compare to actually attending a live game. Again, the journey seemed to go quickly and we were back in Rammy for 12.45 and all looking forward to a visit to Buxton the following Saturday.
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rammy united meet the lads
Grant SHENTON Born in January 1991, this 6ft 2” goalkeeper joined Rammy from FC United at the end of August 2010. He was number two at FC United, but a superb season in 2010/11 saw him win Player of the Year for the Rams. He Signed full-time with the club at the start of 2011/12.
Lee PUGH e talented left full-back rejoined the club from Chester during the 2013/14 season having had a short spell here a couple of years earlier. His long throw-in is always a dangerous piece of his armory.
Dominic SMALLEY Signed for the club after impressing the managers when he played against the Rams for Atherton LR. Adds a whole new dimension to the Riversiders’ squad, and equally at home on the right side as either a defender or attacking winger.. Brother of Plymouth Argyle’s Deane Smalley.
Grant SPENCER Battling midfield who signed for the club in 2011 following the demise of Rossendale United, for whom he scored a hat-trick in the ridiculous 7-5 Rammy win the previous season. Won the NWCFL title with the club and was offered terms with Conference Premier side Hyde but returned to the club on loan, eventually signing full terms.
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Steve HOWSON Signed from local rivals Radcliffe Borough after a spell playing in Australia, the big man is equally at home in the heart of the defence, or up front poaching goals.
Tom WILLIAMS Wing man Tom came on as a sub in the playoff game for our opponents Bamber Bridge. e Rams management team acted swiftly in the summer to bring him down to Ramsbottom
Joel PILKINGTON Former Burnley professional player who is a model of consistency, wherever he is picked. A previous Player of the Year award-winner, Joel is a firm favourite with the fans at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, and has played over 200 games for the club.
Scott BURTON It has taken some two years for the management to finally get Scott to join the Rams. Bernard and Jonno have followed Scott’s career with Runcorn Town and he finally joined the club in late January 2014. A hard-working midfielder, similar in style to Gary Stopforth, and an integral part of the promotion winning team.
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Jon ROBINSON Experienced striker Jon was signed from New Mills and despite plentiful interest from other clubs has remained loyal to the Rams for a number of seasons now, and always finishes near the top of the goal-scoring charts. Regarded as a “Rammy legend” in east Lancashire..
Phil DEAN A constant threat in attack, a solid performer in defence. Awarded Clubman of the Year award in 2011. Continues to cause plentiful problems to defences around the leagues.
Lee GASKELL Signed at the end of August 2011 from Manchester League side Walshaw Sports and has taken his opportunity with some relish. Last season the 29 year old won the Golden Boot accolade for being the highest scorer in the Division One North.
Jordan HULME Joined the club in December 2011 from Clitheroe via Padiham. Son of a former 1990s Rammy favourite Martin, midfielder Jordan is highly rated and scored 8 goals for the Storks before going to Clitheroe. A versatile player – he can play anywhere from defence to striker.
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Sam COOK
Malachi SLAVEN
Having spent time at University, the youngster spent last season with Shepshed Dynamo before moving back to the northwest, where joint-managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson snapped him up for the Rams.
Joined the Rams in the summer of 2014, this midfield player spent last season as a member of the struggling Droylsden side which changed places with e Rams at the end of the campaign.
Osebi ABADAKI e speedy wingman joined the Rams at the beginning of the 2014/15 season, having spent the previous campaign at fellow EvoStik Premier club Nantwich Town.
Cedric KROU Cedric joined the club in January 2014 having impressed the management team during his time with rivals Trafford FC. Essentially a defender, Cedric has the ability to fit in other positions for the team.
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supporters club on the terraces of rammy Man Flu! Bleugh! e worst kind too - it’s just as well we back on to the paper mill in Stubbins or we’d have run out by now! Hopefully I’ll be much more ship-shape by tonight’s game or I’ll be slimming down like Andy and Richard - and I’ve worked extremely hard to maintain this fine figure! I ended up listening to Whitby Town Radio on Wednesday, and I have to say that they did a fantastic job with the commentary. I’d like to hope that we can take on this kind of thing in coming months as, thanks to Darren and the Hopwood Hall media students, we’re starting to really get shifting with the rammy.tv footage. As a quick aside, if you haven’t seen Dom Smalley’s incredible goal celebration then go and have a look at rammy.tv (click on the link at the top right of Rammy’s website just next to the blue twitter bird). Rammy.tv has been a bit of an ordeal the last week or so, and we have a lot of thanking of people to do... First of all to Katie Worsick, who stepped in to film the Whitby Town game for us. It’s not much fun as a football fan if you have to watch the match through a tiny little screen, particularly if you’ve travelled for hours, and I don’t think Katie had a great time, but her footage was fantastic and greatly appreciated by those of us unable to bunk off work early. We also need to thank
John Ayers for kindly taking our media student Olla over for the Buxton game. When the Man Flu appeared I thought we’d had it for footage, but John kindly leapt in at the last minute to get Olla to the game. Olla’s footage was erm... interesting, shall we say. He certainly seemed to enjoy playing with the zoom more than he was bothered with the football, and so that, coupled with a dodgy camera and a shortage of tapes meant that we got virtually nowt worth having, but that all goes to make me appreciate more the talent and ability of Callum, who is our regular man. He’s a bit jerky when he gets excited (what 17-year-old lad isn’t), but his contribution to rammy.tv is priceless. Hopefully we’ll have him back with us tonight. Darren and Dawn deserve a big pat on the back too. Darren’s contribution to the new style programme, as well as his enthusiastic commitment to rammy.tv has been a real help in getting the thing off the ground. Dawn kindly puts up with Darren’s frantic scribblings on a Sunday, and waved a camera around for us at Buxton on saturday, getting us the photos on page 12 of Nelson Mota getting hacked down, and Wiz getting treatment for his injury. It’s really great that we now have such a strong and enthusiastic supporters club. We had a team of volunteers out on Sunday’s Black Pudding rowing, giving people leaflets about the forthcoming matches, and generally evangelising the Rammy cause - which is no mean feat with the way results are currently going. e last couple of years it’s been me and
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Keith Powell of Irwell Works Brewery presents Jordan Hulme with his Supporters’ Player of the Month award.
Katie handing the things out, so to have John Ste, Karol and Andy helping out is fantastic. We also need to thank Phil Taylor (180!!!!) and Chris Woolly for allowing us to put a hefting great Rammy advert on the scaffolding tower. e Black Pudding event is a real biggie for Rammy, and that kind of exposure is priceless for the club. While we’re doling out the thanks, I’d also like to add a couple of other mentions. Dave Aspinall at the Oaks in Rammy has kindly helped us meet the costs of rammy.tv for the season, and is up for us making ursday night into ‘Rammy Night’ at the Oaks. I think this is a great idea, and once rammy.tv gets a settled team of operators, we aim to show extended highlights on their big screen. Us fans are becoming a real Rammy Family now, and a regular night down the pub would be great. We could even get a couple of the players down for a chat etc. Watch this space. Keith Powell (pictured above) of Irwell Works Brewery, which I know is also a popular haunt for the Rammy Ultras, has kindly sponsored our Supporters’ Player of
the Month award for the season. Well done to Jordan for deservedly winning the first award. SCA Stubbins are here as our guests tonight, and we are especially grateful for their support in buying the training kit which they will be formally presenting to the team before tonight’s match. Andy Massey has been working for a while with SCA on a number of local projects, and we are extremely pleased that such a large and prominent company has decided to get involved with All ings Rammy. It’s such a lovely town and, with the mill having a long and influential history in the area, we really are delighted that they’ve become so active locally. e last word of thanks goes to everyone who’s already pitched in to have their name on a square on page 8. Half of the money raised will go straight to the club, and the other half will go into helping further fundraising projects to pay for players - of which there area loads in the pipeline: more on these later.
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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 Malachi SLAVEN Cedric KROU Nelson MOTA
Manager: Anthony SHEEHAN Nigel DEELEY
Chris SANNA Anthony GARDENER Mike LEA Ben HARRISON Cliff MOYO Ross DAVIDSON Jon DAWSON Micheal POWELL Scott BAKKOR Neil HARVEY Danny ANDREWS Iain HOWARD Alex TITCHINER Anthony SHEEHAN Zac CORBETT Ryan SWIFT
Referee: Andrew Halliday Referee’s Assistants: Ian Jones, Michael Hooper
Next home game: Tuesday 23rd September 3pm, Rammy v Curzon Ashton