41 Ramsbottom United v Whitby Town

rammy news v WHITBY TOWN 21-10-14

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johnno

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Hello and welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for tonight’s game, especially to all those who have travelled from the East Coast and the beautiful town of Whitby.

We played Whitby only a few weeks ago in what turned out to be one of our most frustrating nights so far this season. We didn't have a centre forward available which meant Mr Howson had to exit his defensive duties and spearhead our attack - to be fair we were beaten by a very good side on the night and if not for the skipper (Shents) we'd have taken a real hammering. e lads are still disappointed with that performance and can't wait for the chance to put a few wrongs right.

We are now a third of the way through the season (15 games) and we sit in a decent fourth position. e top three teams have got a little bit of a cushion in front of us but we're hopeful that with a string of wins we can close that gap quite quickly. Behind us in the table is getting very congested as teams are all beating each other, but Skem have shown if you can put a run together you can pull away from the chasing pack which has now got to be our aim.

On the player front we are more or less at full strength. We had a behind-closed-doors friendly last Tuesday at Chorley and were able to field two different starting elevens which shows how strong the squad currently is. Lee Gaskell is back in full training and Lee Pugh is over his hamstring issue. e only other players still out are George Grayson who needs to have a scan on his knee that he picked up at Frickley and obviously Andy Dawson is still waiting from his specialist as to when he can start training again.

Finally, I have to mention the crowds this season. e numbers have been staggering at home and Saturday’s was the icing on the cake. I'm pretty certain that 470 has got to be one of our top three crowds so well done to you supporters for getting behind the boys, they love it I can assure you.

COYR - Johnno

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tony cunningham and the wonderful world of non-league football Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. A special welcome to our match officials this evening, and, of course, our visitors from Whitby Town.

We enjoyed the company of Buxton on Saturday – one of my favourite places – and now a team from another town that I always enjoy visiting.

Whitby have already beaten us at their place this season, and as we meet them again in less than a fortnight in the FA Trophy, I think it’s fair to say that we’ll be sick of the sight of one another come 2nd November!

It will be another tough encounter tonight as this run of three home games in eleven days comes to an end, but we’ve already chalked up two wins, so, hopefully, we will be going all out for the hat-trick today.

Another fine performance on Saturday against one of the top teams in the league. I had a wry smile on my face early in the second half, though. eir No. 2 had been lucky to stay on the pitch after a first half fracas, and thinking they would save him from possible further punishment, the Bucks management team decided to substitute him at halftime. Didn’t quite have the desired effect though, did it? Within two minutes of coming on, the

substitute was shown a straight red for giving away the penalty!

Overall, we thoroughly deserved the three points, and, whisper it quietly, it looks as though we are finally getting to grips with this new level of football. It’s continuing to prove attractive and the locals certainly appear to be embracing what the team is doing. A superb crowd of 470 on Saturday was way above what we could have envisaged only a few short years back. Credit to the locals – and, no doubt, one or two from further afield – for supporting the lads. It is much appreciated.

I even heard that on Saturday, a couple of people came up from Portsmouth, which is quite amazing seeing as how the Pompey were playing just six miles away at the JD Stadium. Mind you, seeing that Bury beat them 3-0, it was probably a wise choice!

ONLY IN NON-LEAGUE Heard a lovely tale last week concerning Blyth Spartans visit to Belper Town. Apparently a group of Spartans supporters were stood behind the Belper keeper, and they were making the weekend one of celebration as they were enjoying a bachelor party. As is usually the case, much good humoured banter occurred between them and the

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Buxton’s answer to Luis Suarez ends up in the Naughty Corner after his reaction to Jordan’s enthusiastic tackle

custodian during the game, and the keeper obviously enjoyed it, as the Blyth lads moved on to Nottingham for a night out….and the keeper joined them!! Talk about the camaraderie of non-league football.

PLEASE FEEL FREE Perhaps it’s because I’m cocooned in my box these days, but I can happily report that not too many critical comments have reached my ears this season concerning my choices of music at matches. Yes, I know they are mainly older records, but there again, so am I! However, should anyone wish to put together a compilation on a CD of tunes that they feel would be appreciated by the supporters, then please do so. I will gladly receive all such discs, and play them all for your delight and delectation!

JOIN US ON SATURDAY I have to say that despite the distances being travelled this season (Whitby Town… .you have my sympathies!), the away support that we have been welcoming down here at the HWRS has exceeded my expectations.

So too has the away support following the Rams, which appears to be much larger than during our NWCFL days. Obviously a result of the increased attendances here, and it’s great going to away games and seeing so many familiar faces, and I know the players appreciate the effort that is put in by the fans.

With that in mind, I shall be making my first visit to Marine for quite a few years on Saturday, and with the team playing so well, I hope that as many of you as possible will be making the relatively short trip to Crosby.

Enjoy your non-league football!

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grant shenton shouting from between the sticks Another clean sheet, and a relatively quiet game against one of the top teams - you must be happy with that performance.

I said a few weeks ago to you that I want a game in which I'm a spectator. So I'm very happy with a clean sheet. e lads in front of me were awesome, every one of them - the three in the middle of the park just played out of their skins. Our back four was solid, and there wasn’t a single shot on goal all game, so everyone played their part inthe clean sheet. It's a great feeling.

After Saturday's game the fans feel on top of the world, as though Rammy can go all the way to the play-offs. Do the players share that feeling, or are they a bit more pessimistic?

All the lads in the changing room know we are good enough to go above and beyond because of the ability on the pitch and the knowledge of the management team. We are a very young squad with few older guys so every game adds to that experience, and we will only get better, so why not? Little rammy knocking on the promotion door again!

e reverse situation to last week, with a penalty and their player sent off. Is it the Rammy fighting spirit that saw us win last week's game 4-2 while Buxton seemed to all but crumple.

I think there's a few factors in both games. Last week we lost a man but with the type of game we play we were still comfortable. But against Buxton they lost a man and we used that to our advantage. We used the ball really well and made it very hard for them.

Buxton are a good side and I believe this was the first time they haven't scored in the league. But I think even with eleven men on the pitch we would have come out with the win untroubled.

Whitby again tonight - a team who did for us at their place earlier in the season, albeit with us missing a whole load of players. Do you think they'll be seeing a very different Rammy performance this time around?

Again another good side. At their place I would say that is the only game where we didn't play at 50% of our capabilities, but I think that's down to them playing well. And yes we had few lads out but the lads we bring in have the quality to be in the team. Saying that, this will be a different rammy and another entertaining game for the fans with hopefully another rammy win if we do our jobs well.

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Only two minutes on the pitch and the Buxton sub shuvs Wiz for a penalty, showing that perhaps number 2 wasn’t all that bad after all!

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 18th October 2014 Att: 470 Rammy Goals: Abadaki (49), Dean (69) Buxton Goals:

Like the Napoleonic armies prior to reaching the gates of Moscow, Buxton had been unbeaten on their travels so far this season but found themselves similarly repelled at the Riverside Ground returning home disheveled, disheartened and thoroughly defeated. e score line did not reflect the Rams superiority over the full 90 minutes or a performance that was almost complete and perfect in its execution.

For a few weeks there has been signs of the brewing storm which swept Buxton away; the odd thunderous attack and lightening strike in the area. On Saturday all the elements came together as the Rams gave a sustained display of solid defence, control in midfield and accurate passing at pace in attack. e win was based on 3 partnerships; Steve Howson, firm and resolute, and Cedric Krou all languid elegance in interception and distribution, denying Buxton sight of never mind an effort on goal; Scott Burton and Gary Stopforth whose return to full match fitness is no coincidence with the teams uplift in form providing a firm base to allow Grant Spencer to roam and torment at will and not least Joel Pilkington and Phil Dean down the left .

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Man o f the Match Scott Burton forcing his way through

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 18th October 2014 Att: 470 Rammy Goals: Abadaki (49), Dean (69) Buxton Goals:

For 45 minutes there was an intriguing tussle between Dean and Steve Istead Buxton's right full back. It was matador against bull, Dean attacking at pace with feint and dummy Istead lunging in, turned in and out, sticking to his task bravely but with building desperation and by half time having been booked only one mistimed tackle away from a red card.

Buxton sensing that dilemma substituted him at half time- but what false economy. e first touch of his replacement Stuart Ludlum was a push into Phil Dean's back, clear in the area just two minutes into the second half. Red card not having touched the ball! Osebi Abadaki ripped the penalty high into the roof of the net. Jordan Hulme had a chance to double the lead moments later only to skew wide but it was just a matter of time before the Rams scored again with a goal of beauty in its construction and finish. On 69 minutes a double exchange at pace and with precision between Hulme and Spencer carved out yards of space for Dean on the corner of the box. Dean with the cold eyed calmness of the matador delivering the final thrust steadied himself, touched the ball forward and sent a shot screaming past a bewildered goalkeeper into the far corner. Quite superb.

A flurry of substitutions took some heat out of the Rams attack but there was still time for Tom Williams to show the virtue of the early well delivered ball from wide into the box and Nelson Mota contriving to walk around the keeper twice in the same movement but not find the net from inside the 6 yard box. ere are tough matches ahead but momentum and belief is growing that this just might be another extraordinary season.

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the price of football outrage at the rising costs of watching the beautiful game Here we go again! Yet another thing for us all to get outraged about. Can’t the media let us just have a nice sit down with our cup of tea without needing to whip us up into yet another frenzy of outrage. Whether it’s immigration or nude celebrity photos, Ebola or Wembley attendances, there’s always some outrage for the Daily Mail or the BBC to wave in our faces to try and get us wound up. is time it’s the BBC releasing its annual ‘Cost of Football’ report, and once again we have to put up with Jeremy Vine spouting his inciting rhetoric at poor builders, plumbers and chefs who just want to do their job in peace while listening to a bit of music. e media has cherry-picked all the worst statistics, taken them out of context, and has started trying to thrust outrage on us - and we buy into it, we get outraged about it! We hear about the obscene player wages, about the ridiculous price of pies, and the fact that a season ticket at Southend costs you more than one at City and we start ranting. e biggest headline seems to be that non-league

Kidderminster charges a mammoth £4.50 for a pie, while those loveable crafty cockneys at Arsenal only charge you £3.50. But if you dig through the bare statistics, you very quickly discover that things are perhaps not quite as simple as the BBC tries to make out - are they ever?

To pick the example of the pies - go and have a look at the famous Kidderminster Pie. It’s a Shepherd’s Pie in a chinese takeaway tin ‘the size of your face’ as one supporter so eloquently put it on his blog. e people of Kidderminster could feed a family of four for a week on one of these things.

What do you think a standard Arsenal pie is like? Do you reckon it’s homemade by a lovely old fella in a pinnie?

And then if you look at admission prices you have to ask yourself if they can be taken at face value, or whether there’s more to it than just the pound signs.

Let’s compare, for example, Salford City and Rammy. Backed by a multimillionaire, with a handful of “class of 92” players on-board, what percentage of club income do you think needs to come from gate receipts at Salford?

Indeed, would the gate receipts even

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Arsenal v Manchester City at a packed Emirates last season

come close to covering the playing budget for a week? With that kind of financial backing the setting of the admission prices is almost arbitrary, or at least of relatively minor significance. At Rammy however, the admission price is absolutely crucial as it’s virtually the only income that the club has, and the only means of paying the bills. If Salford spend more each week than they’re getting in gate receipts then they will just need to stump up a bit themselves. e same situation at Rammy would see the club going to the wall overnight like so many others up and down the pyramid.

So when we’re comparing the admission prices at somewhere like Chelsea to those at Bury, we need to scratch through the superficial surface of those statistics and look instead at the reasons that prices are as they are.

If you pick up a copy of the Premier League table, you can reel off ‘e Big

Five’ teams straight away. Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. ese are the clubs for whom gate receipts are almost an incidental income. With fans buying shirts all over the world, huge company backers and investors, and massive telly and sponsorship deals these clubs can almost view their supporters as being the studio audience. If you’re signing Angel di Maria for almost £60 million while selling hundreds of thousands of shirts in Japan and the Middle East then what’s a couple of quid here and there on ticket prices?

But to teams such as Stoke or Burnley, who you could never call big players on the world stage when it comes to shirt sales, the admission price is absolutely critical.

Arsenal’s admission prices are completely insane, as are those of their minted London neighbours’ Chelsea.

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“e Big Five are enormous branded franchises that need to be seen to be the biggest and best” I even remember hearing the Arsenal Chief Executive proudly state, on opening their new stadium, that although Old Trafford is bigger, the Emirates takes more in gate receipts! He was proud of this - proud of screwing his own fans. And it IS all about screwing his own fans because, just like Salford City, Arsenal aren’t dependent on the admission money. ey don’t need every last penny of it to survive, and they don’t need to rip real fans off to be able to afford players costing tens of millions.

While Stoke charge what they need to charge, clubs like Arsenal charge whatever the hell they think they can get away with. e saddest thing is that the ground continues to be full every week, and this says more about their ‘customers’ than their management...

When it comes to outrage in football, few subjects cause more foaming at the mouth than the amount of money that players are paid in wages, and that clubs are willing to stump up in transfer fees.

It horrifies me when clubs like Everton or West Brom start coppering up their loose change to try and bring in players that they patently just cannot

afford. However - and this opinion is likely to get my lynched - e Top Five clubs CAN afford to pay, and indeed they NEED to pay, because they aren’t football clubs that work like the rest of us. ey are enormous branded franchises that need to be seen to be the biggest and best. ey need to stay one of e Big Five and in order to do that they need to compete at the very top level. ere is only one Ronaldo, Rooney, Robin van Persie, and the club who has that player will sell shirts, boots, scarves and overpriced little red flags all over the world. e Top Five clubs can afford to pay out the insane money, and there will always be a full house of gullible fools willing to stump up the ridiculously inflated admission prices to have the experience of watching these players take the field. e Top Five clubs are currently this country’s biggest exports, and they run their businesses extremely well - who are we to criticise? While their stadia are full and their shirts are selling all over the world, who are we to complain? How they spend that money, whether it be on transfer fees or private jets, is up to them, and they’re doing a damn fine job of it.

We just have to remember that they

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Portsmouth fan Graham Scholes brought his family to Rammy even though Portsmouth were just four miles up the road at Bury

are an elite league and this is not football as we know and love it.

So e Top Five are a law unto themselves, and are able to compete on that world stage. e real game of football starts when you rule that lot out of the equation. e real game of football involves Bolton, West Brom, Sunderland, Stoke and so on down. ese are the teams that don’t have the multibillionaire backers and the worldwide marketing deals, and the biggest mistake these clubs can make is to try and compete with e Big Five- they will never manage it, and if they try then they will flounder in the process. And this is where my heart sinks for English football.

As a teenager I used to watch Preston in Division Four, and as we got battered

by Whitley Bay on a drizzling January evening I would dream of one day seeing the Mighty Northend taking the field at Anfield or at (then) Highbury. We got

promoted, and then again. Under David Moyes we found ourselves in the playoffs for the Premiership, and it was then that I realised, having seen the fate of Bolton Wanderers, Coventry and Blackburn Rovers, that the dream was an empty one. Little Preston would never compete with those giants. e end of every season would see us clinging on to a 1-1 draw by the fingernails, praying we’d avoid relegation yet again. What kind of joy is there in that? e dream of promotion is all very well, but what fun is it being the little kid who gets beaten up at school every day?

Just like Harry Williams, Baxi ran Northend sensibly. ey never over-spent on the budget, chasing something that was unsustainable, and that’s why the club continued to exist. What happened since is woeful, as is the case of many a club dreaming of the unattainable Big Time, but we won’t go into that.

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“my advice to those people getting outraged about the BBC report is to vote with their feet” England’s current plight is a fine example of a club that’s trying to ‘walk the talk’ as would be said by those corporate shiny arses who miss ten minutes of each second half cos they’re still in the bar. e FA is trying to emulate e Big Five when they promote the club, create their brand and attempt to charge far too much for tickets. ey need to open their eyes to the reality that England doesn’t have the big backers, doesn’t have the investment, corporate wherewithall, sponsorship or fanatical religious support that e Big Five has. Truth be told, we’re all born England fans, and we’re stuck with it. We can’t just choose to support Brazil in the same way most of e Big Five fans chose their team.

Another inevitable reality for England is that they always lose - that’s not a condemnation of the quality of the team, but it’s the nature of the competitions that they enter. Only one team ever wins the World Cup or the European Championships and that team has to be the best in Europe or the World. If you’re not that team then every time you will crash and burn in

hopeless despair - as has always happened every year since 1966. Fans can’t take that kind of misery every couple of years- they want success, they want goals and wins and to be top of the league. e Big Five are e Big Five because they win stuff, and they don’t scrape out dull wins against San Marino or Andorra. By the very nature of internationals, unless England becomes the best in the world, they will never win anything! at’s why you can’t charge top Premier League admission for England matches, you just don’t have the fanatical support outside of a couple of thousand tub-thumpers who go all over the world with England - the same fans who’ve just had their points system changed, screwing their years of loyalty!

Big mistake, but that’s a different issue. e question for all football clubs outside e Big Five needs to be, “What are you trying to achieve?”

As I’ve grown older, wiser (and chubbier) I’ve learnt that what matters is the ride. Whether they will admit it or not, clubs like FC United will inevitably become everything that they despise as they rise up through the leagues, or they will be easily swept aside by the opposition. AFC Fylde, Salford City and

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Warrington Town seem to be striving for some elusive and nebulous pipe dream that I can’t ever see them achieving, certainly not when the money wanders off.

So what should we all be trying to achieve? We have to strive towards something, and yes, the aim for Rammy has to be onwards and upwards. Seeing Rammy enter the Football League would be a fantastic day, but the day itself would be the realisation of that dream. To compete in the league (or even in the Conference) will require the club to lose just about everything that it currently is, and end up just like all the other Accringtons, Burtons and Shrewsburys. For me it is about the ride, and about the friendships made along the way. Yes, the club will need to work on drumming up more sponsorship, put work into producing merchandise and possibly hunting down some decent financial backing, but at the end of the day we’re here for the passion of the football and of the supporters, a grass roots passion that will inevitably disappear the higher we rise up the leagues.

As to the price of supporting Rammy, it’s gone up 28% this season, which is a mammoth rise when you look down the BBC’s report, but this rise is to pay for the increase in expectations that we now have.

Harry Williams - doing it right!

Knowing the way Harry is, this rise WILL pay the bills, not just the interest on bills, and not just the loan repayments to some evil circling shark of a property developer/speculator who wants to build executive appartments without a care about the flooding issues. Knowing Harry, the decision to increase prices has not been made lightly or from a position of greed, but from a position of grounded reality.

And so my advice to those people wanting to get outraged about the BBC’s report is to calm down and vote with their feet - get their whinging arses down to a decent non-league club and discover what real football is like, played by real players in front of real supporters.

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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 Tues 23rd Sept Sat 27th Sept Sat 4th Oct Sat 11th Oct Sat 18th Oct Tues 21st Oct Sat 25th Oct Sat 1st Nov Tues 4th Nov Sat 8th Nov Tues 11th Nov Tues 18th Nov Sat 22nd Nov Tues 25th 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 FAC 1Q H WITTON ALBION A Ilkeston H CURZON ASHTON A Frickley Athletic A Trafford H BELPER TOWN H BUXTON H WHITBY TOWN A Marine A Whitby Town FAT 1Q H WORKINGTON A Halesowen Town H WEST DIDS Lancs Cup A Witton Albion H GRANTHAM TOWN H BURSCOUGH Lg Cup 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 3-2 4-2 1-1 2-4 1-0 4-2 2-0

322 Shenton 415 Shenton 161 Shenton 365 Shenton 1917 Shenton 250 Shenton 357 Shenton 265 Shenton 261 Shenton 231 Shenton 422 Shenton 309 Shenton 215 Shenton 294 Shenton 371 Shenton 470 Shenton

Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley + Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Grayson * Pilkington Smalley Smalley Smalley

Pugh Pugh Pugh Abadaki * Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington # Pilkington Pugh Pugh Grayson + Pugh Pilkington Pilkington

Spencer Spencer * Spencer * Spencer + Spencer Spencer Spencer + Spencer Spencer Spencer * Spencer * Spencer 1 Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth Stopforth

Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson 1 Howson 1 Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson

Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Warrender Krou Warrender Warrender Warrender + Krou 1 Krou 1 Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou

fixtures & results 2014/15

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Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1+ Hulme Warrender Abadaki + Abadaki Warrender Abadaki Warrender Abadaki Warrender + Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki + Abadaki # Mota 1* Abadaki * Abadaki 1 * Abadaki 1 *

Burton Burton Burton Burton Slaven Burton * Burton Burton Burton Burton Burton 1 Stopforth Burton Burton Burton Burton

Gaskell Gaskell Robinson 1# Robinson 1 Robinson * Slaven 1 Slaven * Slaven + Krou Mota # Pilkington Pilkington Spencer Mota + Hulme # Hulme

Robinson 1* Robinson + Pilkington Pilkington Hulme 1# Hulme 1 Hulme 1# Krou Hulme Hulme 2 Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme Hulme Spencer + Spencer #

Dean + Dean # Dean 2 Dean Dean Dean # Dean 1 Dean Dean * Dean + Williams 1# Williams + Robinson 1# Spencer # Dean 2 Dean 1 +

Pilkington Pilkington * Abadaki * Williams Williams + Williams # Williams + Mota + Mota * Pugh Dean + Burton + Williams * Robinson 1# Williams * Williams +

Slaven Slaven + Slaven + Slaven Krou * Robinson * Robinson # Cook Williams + Williams # Mota # Dean * Cook + Williams + Mota Mota *

Abadaki + Abadaki Ahmadi # Cook * Cook # Cook + Cook Williams Pugh # Irwin Irwin Mota Dean # Slaven Slaven Slaven

Ahmadi * Cook Ahmadi # Cook Cook Williams Krou + Morley Morley Johnson Morley Johnson Morley Krou * Johnson Morley Johnson Morley Slaven * Cook + Slaven * Cook Robinson # Cook Morley Abadaki Pilkington Dean * Robinson 1+ Gaskell # Robinson # Pugh

Today’s other league fixtures: Barwell v Belper v Blyth v Frickley v Grantham v Halesowen v Kings Lynn v Matlock v Trafford v

Stamford Stourbridge Skelmersdale Buxton Nantwich Rushall Ilkeston FC United Ashton United

County Cup: Bootle

Marine

MATCHBAL

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Ramsbottom United Sponsorship A range of sponsorship packages to suit all budgets are now available, including pitchside advertising from £150, matchball sponsorship at £40 and corporate hospitality packages from just £25 per person.

For more details call 07576 390762 or email bobsolo37@googlmail.com

fixtures & results 2014/15

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tony’s teasers 1.

What colours do Coalville Town play in?

2.

Whose ground, that used to be called Hope Street, is now known as Valerie Park?

3.

Which club is bottom of the NWCFL Premier Division?

4.

Who is the manager of AFC Telford?

5.

Stamford is in which county?

6.

Which Evo-Stik club plays at the wonderfully named “Home of Football Stadium”?

7.

Joe Connor scored the only goal of the game last Saturday to win the game for which Conference club?

8.

Who scored Bradford PA’s only goal on the same day?

9.

Which Welsh club plays at Belle Vue? 10.

Grant Spencer’s brother, Scott, moved from Hyde to which other Conference club this summer?

ANSWERS: 1. Black and White 2. Prescot Cables 3. Bacup and Rossendale Borough 4. Liam Watson 5. Lincolnshire 6. Sheffield 7. Southport 8. Billy Priestley! 9. Rhyl 10. Stockport County

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Well, now we’ve done it! Some bright spark had the (dangerous) idea of letting the fans have our say in the matchday programme. And so here is that page!

What we’re after is anything at all related to Rammy - your opinions on away trips, or on the performance of the lads; anything you have to say about footie at a local or national level; even something as strange as a photo of a pretty creepy looking spongebob squarepants holding a Rammy scarf. If you’re a youngster then why not get scribbling with your felt-tips and come up with a life-like portrait of Jon Robinson (complete with occasional red mist!) which we’ll happily print right here in the programme.

If you want to email your contribution then you can send it to qy@dr.com - If you need to post it then just email us at that address and we’ll either come and pick it up, or give you somewhere to send it. We always like photos so if you can accompany your letter/article/ rant with a photo of something then that’d be even better.

We’ve now got a 68 page programme to work with, which allows us to put some proper stuff in here - and what’s more interesting to Rammy fans than what other fans have to say! So please, get scribbling.

We’d also be delighted to hear from fans of other clubs, so if you’ve got something to share with us then feel free to get in touch: qy@dr.com

the fan page

Richard sent us loads of these weird photos after his trip to the USA just wait til you see the one of KISS

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Joel Pilkington

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If your face is circled then congratulations, you’ve just won yourself a cup of tea and a Mars Bar courtesy of Rammy United Supporters Club. Visit the tea bar now to claim your magniďŹ cent prize!

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The Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, Tel: 01706 822799 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

rammy united

Ramsbottom United Football Club President: John Smith 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 Catering Manager: Sophie Fletcher Programme Editor: Rob Moss Contributors: Callum Rigg, Darren Comer, Richard Isaacs, Tony Cunningham Match Reports: Paul Cropper

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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs Good evening everyone - as ever, I hope you are all keeping well.

It is Sunday morning and I am just about coming down off Cloud 9 following my footballing experiences of yesterday.

Naturally, top of the list, was our outstanding 2-0 victory over table climbing Buxton - avenging the FA Cup loss at their place just a month ago. And we are fourth! Good heavens above .....

Just down the road from our 2-0 win was another extremely pleasing home victory, this time coming from our good friends at Bury, who are having a terrific season and sit second in League 2 following their 3-0 success over some hopeless bunch from down the road from me here. It was interesting to hear that there was a spectator at the Buxton game with three children, all wearing Portsmouth shirts. It was a good job I wasn't there! Did he not fancy watching his normal rabble in favour to watch quality football instead?

And then there was my Scottish team winning 3-0 at home. I have followed Queen of the South since I was about 8 years old. I think it was wholly due to them having 'South' in their name that attracted me to them and I have ventured to Dumfries a couple of times to watch them, a dull 0-0 draw with Meadowbank istle and a cup game against Hibernian. I

also watch them in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, losing to Rangers 3-2 in a brilliant game that Queens - still in the second division playing the then mighty Scottish big-guns - were 2-0 down and then levelled to 2-2 before conceding late on.

And was there another result yesterday that springs to mind? Umm, let me have a think!

Ohhhh yes, I knew it would come to me eventually. How about Southampton's incredible, mindboggling 8-0 success over Sunderland in the Premier League? I went out into town last night and it was buzzing with everyone who was anyone talking about it. No-one could quite believe it and continues Saints' sensational run which has seen us sit third at the top table of English football. Not bad for a club and a team that were written off preseason having sold £100m worth of talent to the so-called bigger clubs. Only Chelsea and Manchester City sit above us in the table - none of those players sold went there!

We were a club in crisis. A club in meltdown. Ok ok, no-one in this city is getting carried away purely because we haven't played Chelsea, City, United or Arsenal yet so know that maybe its a little bit false (West Ham are fourth for instance). But to even be third in this table is something of dream land stuff.

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Before the hair weave Richard meets yet another famous footballer

I was watching a rugby match between Havant and Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon with my Dad (which finished in a very enjoyable 29-29 draw) but was watching my phone intently for the updates. I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing from all four fixtures above but took a lot of pleasure out of all of them.

Which brings me back to my main focus. Rammy! Who honestly expected us to be fourth at this stage of the season - especially after we started the season with one win in the first five? at is the beauty of football, you just never know what is going to happen. at is probably why I have never won the pools! Because you have no idea at all what is going to happen. is evening, we welcome Whitby

Town, a side we have already played this season and will play again in just 10 days time in the FA Trophy. We endured, lets say, a difficult evening on the East Coast when we ventured over there and they are having a decent season in eighth place along with a fairly good away record of three wins on their travels. So, who is going to put some money on the match in total confidence that they will win?

I tell you something else that really cheered me up as well. Seeing the total of people watching the game on Saturday too. 470! How terrific is that?!?

New or old spectators (or even Pompey followers!!), welcome to Ramsbottom.

Really looking forward to coming up and watching again very soon. Until then .... COME ON YOU RAMS!!!!!!!!!!

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the boogie bus on the road with rammy Arm yourselves with a cross and a few bulbs of garlic for the first Saturday in November, as the Rams embark another long, journey to take on Whitby Town, for the second time this season. e journey should take around 2 hours 30 minutes each way, but I would suggest leaving enough time to beat the roadworks on the M62 and M1 if you are going to take that route.

Our earlier visit this season saw a mix ‘n’ match Rammy team go down by 2-0, in what was probably one of our poorest performances this season. Hopefully, we can make amends for that result and progress in the 1st Qualifying round of the F.A Trophy Whitby Town were formed in 1892 and play at the Turnbull Ground (YO21 3HZ) which is a traditional ground with a modern main stand and an open terrace behind one goal. e club have played at this level of non-league football for many years and perhaps had their best seasons in the mid 1990’s, winning the Northern League Division One in 1996-97, which

they followed up by claiming the Northern Premier League First Division the following season. e 1996-97 season also saw the Seasiders take a visit to the old Wembley Stadium (before it became just another corporate football stadium blasting music over the P.A. system) where they beat North Ferriby United 3-0 to lift the F.A. Vase. ey also reached the final of the (then prestigious) Amateur Cup in 1964-65 where they lost to Hendon by 3 – 1 at Wembley.

Whitby itself is famous for being the town that inspired Bram Stoker to write his 1897 novel , Dracula, after visiting the town a few years previously. is has led in recent years to the town becoming the Goth capital of the world. e Whitby Goth Weekender takes place annually and this see’s thousands of Goths and other outsiders descend on the town for a music festival and other activities related with the darkside (pun intended) is year e Goth Weekender will take place, yes you guessed it, on the very weekend the Rams are in town.

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“” Whitby is going to be pretty packed with people attending the festival and the safest bet will probably be to grab a prematch pint at the ground or one of the hotels close by. e town centre is about a 10 – 15 minute walk from the ground, and I doubt any of the goths will be bothered with the football when they can be watching the likes of ex-Stranglers frontman, Hugh Cornwell who is headlining the festival. Whilst he is singing ‘No More Heroes’, the Rams players will be proving him wrong and showing there are indeed still some heroes.

On a final note there are links between the Goth Weekender and this particular part of Lancashire where we live. Money raised by people attending the Goth Weekender in 2007 was used to erect a memorial bench on Whitby seafront dedicated to Sophie Lancaster, who I am sure you all know was attacked by a group of youths in Stubbylee Park in Bacup and later died from her injuries. It might be a nice touch to leave some Ramsbottom United related item in tribute to her if you are passing.

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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.

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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Dan WARRENDER Previously club captain of the Rams, who famously lifted the play-off trophy at Bamber Bridge in May 2014, Danny moved to Salford City in the summer, but soon returned. His consistent displays at the back and in midfield have seen him become a firm favourite with the fans.

Nelson MOTA A 24-year old forward player who signed for the Rams in the middle of September.

Previously with FC United of Manchester and Salford City. Prior to that he had spells at Niort, Lilas, DH Saint-Maur and Paris DC in France, as well as Tercera in Spain.

Gary STOPFORTH A skilful battling midfielder who signed full time with the Rams during the summer of 2012 after coming on loan from AFC Fylde the previous season and dominating the midfield. In his third season with the club he was a vital member of the promotion set-up last term.

Alex PIACENTILE A left-back who signed for the Rams in the middle of September. Previously with C.E.Principado De Andorra, a second division Andorran team with whom he experienced Champions League football.

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Liam IRWIN Son of Manchester United player Dennis Irwin, Liam signed for the Rams in the middle of September. Previously with Stockport Sports, Altrincham and Bolton Wanderers. He played at international level for Republic of Ireland youth.

Anthony JOHNSON Appointed joint manager at the start of the 2009/2010 season and took the club to the NWCFL title in 2011/12 season, despite missing much of the season through injury.

He has helped guide the club through another promotion via the play-os into the Evo-Stik Premier League in May 2014.

Lee PUGH î Łe 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.

Bernard MORLEY Re-joined the club in January 2009 and became joint manager at the start of 2009/2010. A Rammy man to his core, a combative and hard-working midfelder who has occasionally taken over with some prowess in goal. Successful in guiding the Rams to two promotions in three seasons.

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John MORREY

George GRAYSON

John is the goalkeeping coach at Ramsbottom, and was formerly manager at NWCFL side Maine Road, where he constantly had them pushing for promotion.

A 20 year old player who joined from Conference side Tamworth early in the 2014/15 season. George is a highly rated fullback capable of playing on either ank, giving the Rams additional defensive exibility.

Darren GREEN A highly respected coach who has experience at all levels of the game, from local football with Walshaw to League One time at Bury. Highly respected coach and a coup for the club to have secured him. Also a holder of a UEFA B Coaches badge.

Glenn MOSES Former manager of Atherton LR, leading them to 10th place in the NWCL in 2010/11.

Resigned from his post with the Crilly Park club and joins Ramsbottom United as a highly rated coach.

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SERIOUSLY STRONG SERIOUSLY VERSATILE

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whitby town driving miles and miles since 1893 After World War One, the town of Whitby had two clubs, both playing in the Scarborough and District League, Whitby Whitehall Swifts and Whitby Town, the latter having first played Northern League football as early as 1893. Ever conscious of Whitby’s more illustrious past, the two clubs in 1926, decided to amalgamate as Whitby United. e new club was admitted into the Northern League and the club's

name was changed to Whitby Town in 1949. !n 1983-84, Whitby came to national prominence when they came back from two goals down to beat Halifax Town 3-2 in the FA Cup first round proper. ey were beaten by a late penalty at Wigan in the following round. e same season, Whitby reached the quarterfinals of the FA Trophy for the first time losing to Dagenham in a replay.

1996-97 saw a 0-0 draw against Hull City in the first round proper of the FA Cup, which was played at Scarborough oh police advice. In a remarkable replay at Boothferry Park, Whitby came from behind to take a 4-3 lead which was held until the dying seconds of the game.

With only 49 seconds remaining, Hull levelled the score and went on to win 8-4 in extra time. Superior fitness told in the end. is was to be one of only five defeats in the entire season. e Club came from behind in the Northern League race, winning the Championship in style from neighbours, Billingham Synthonia, before completing an amazing "double" by winning the FA Carlsberg Vase at Wembley, beating North Ferriby United by 3-0. e following season, 1997-98 saw

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continued success at the Turnbull Ground when the Club won the UniBond League First Division Championship by a margin of 7 points at their first attempt as well as beating York City 3-0 in the final of the North Riding Senior Cup to become holders for a fifth time. Whitby again reached the final of the NRSC in 1999 only for York to gain revenge by winning 4-2. In the 19992000 season the Seasiders finished 12th in the UniBond Premier League and were beaten finalists in the President's Cup, losing over two legs to Trafford after a penalty Shootout. e 2001-2002 season saw Whitby finish in a disappointing 15th in the league, but they got to the FA Cup 1st Round for the 7th time, only to lose out to Plymouth Argyle after a replay, 3-2. e first game was at the Turnbull Ground in front of the BBC Match of the Day Cameras.

Season 2003/04 saw another excellent cup run halted at the hands of Hartlepool

United. e blues put up a spirited show at Victoria Park but fell 4-0 to an excellent Pools side. Whitby also managed to finish in the play off zone for the new Conference North but went out on penalties to Radcliffe Borough, a team they had beaten 5-0, 6-2 and 1-0 in the regular season. e Club appointed current manager and ex-Sunderland player Darren Williams in October 2011. 2012/13 saw the club finish a creditable 12th in the league after a poor start, while last season saw them placed ninth, their best finish for eight seasons.

Currently they sit mid-table with draws at home against Trafford and Workington preceded by defeat at the hands of FC United. Saturday saw them make the horrendously long journey (170 miles) to Rushall Olympic, reminding all of us just how lucky we are to be Ramsbottom supporters!

Photos by kind permission Bri Murfield

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STEVEN SNAITH Position: Forward D.O.B 23.05.94.

Steven signed in July 2012 on his release from Hartlepool United and quickly established himself as a tireless forward, who holds the ball up well. He's tough and tidy in possession and was prolific for Pools at Youth Level with 24 goals from 41 appearances- he netted four in five starts for Hartlepool Reserves.

four to watch

MATTHEW WATERS Position: Midfield/Forward D.O.B 14.12.93.

Talented young striker who has looked more accomplished playing deep in midfield for the Blues since signing in July 2014. Came through the ranks at the famous Middlesbrough academy and looks like a bright addition.

LEE BULLOCK Position: Defender/Midfield D.O.B 22.05.81.

Bully's an experienced and versatile former Football League star. Played with Darren Williams at Cardiff City, Bradford and York City and can play central defence or midfield.

Very strong in the air and composed on the ball, which he passes well. Signed from York in July 2013.

DAVE McTIERNAN Position: Midfield D.O.B 13.07.84.

A popular midfielder who re-joined Whitby in the summer of 2010 and has developed from a pacey winger into a tough, classy, grafter in the centre of the park. Macca broke a record when scoring Newcastle Blue Star's SECOND goal on 47 seconds in a 2008 Northern Premier League First Division outing. He later joined Blue Square North Harrogate Town, before returning to the Blues.

Photos by kind permission Bri Murfield

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures Our recent run of away games finally came to an end a fortnight ago when the mighty, mighty Rammy made the short trip down the M62 for a derby game with Trafford. After some recent long trips it was nice to eventually have a Saturday where I had time to have a full, English breakfast before setting off, so trust Mrs Darkside to pick this day to go off and do some of her voluntary work with the National Trust (thank goodness then for Entwistles Deli on Bridge Street for making sure I had a kitchen free morning). With Mrs Darkside saving the planet and Geoff watching Bury, it was all change in the Hulme-mobile with Paul and Cheryl Whizz joining us. is was a nice change, and quite a relief for my ears as I am usually sat in the back with Geoff and Mrs Darkside who never shut up talking ( I should record some of their conversations, they are comedy gold) .

We set off at 2.00, as Martin had been coaching the Rammy Juniors Under 14’s in the morning (that’s the next generation of Rammy players only using their left foot then). As we got on the M62 we hit the traffic jams, which we pretty

soon realised were not going to Trafford F.C., but the Trafford Centre. is led to a conversation in the car about why anyone would spend a Saturday afternoon shopping, and quite a few expletives were used to describe the shoppers as the clock edged closer to 3.00.

Luckily, we made it just in time for the kick off and I bought myself a programme, which wasn’t too bad, and better than quite a few this season. ere was the usual large turnout of Ultras, although many others had turned up late so we were pretty spread out around the ground. Most of us had also missed our pre match pint and a bit of a chat. I always enjoy the pre match with my fellow supporters and it makes Saturday afternoon about much more than just the 90 minutes of the game. is made for a pretty quiet 1st half, although we still heard a few scattered chants of ‘Yooouuuu Raammms’ You were allowed to have a pint (in a plastic glass) while watching the game, so I headed off to the bar to get myself and Martin a pint, while Paul had opted for a pie and a brew to start with. e 1st half was a pretty tight affair and both teams seemed pretty well matched which made for a pretty tense atmosphere on the terraces. It was 0-0 at half time and at that point I would have been happy for it to stay that way.

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from the darkside

40 minutes in, and already mentally preparing for a 0-0 draw

e 2nd half saw the Rams start to dominate the game and we were frequently attacking the Trafford defence.

By this point the travelling Ultras had made their way to the side of the ground Rammy were attacking and the atmosphere suddenly seemed more positive. Looking around it seemed to me that there was almost as many Rammy fans as there was Trafford, and it was another amazing turnout from Ramsbottom to watch the ‘tiny’ team.

We were finally rewarded with just over 10 minutes left to play when substitute Robbo banged in a great goal from the edge of the area. e celebrations after the goal, when Robbo ran over to celebrate with the Rammy fans, were the highlight of the day for me, and I’m sure a few of you will agree. Trafford, who were not a bad team at all, tried to pressure us in the last minutes, but Shents was looking unbeatable and at 90 minutes we were

celebrating another three points. As usual, the players applauded the travelling supporters, and of course, we gave the players a rousing applause.

We stayed back for a couple pints after the game, and sat outside in the sunshine talking about another wonderful performance. We were soon joined by Jonno and Bernard along with the players, and as always they were more than happy to have a chat with the supporters. ankfully, the trip home did not entail any traffic jams and we were back in the cricket club in no time, where we were joined by Mrs Darkside. We were also joined by the Gaz and Mary Chain, who had missed the game, and Mary had brought along her cousins Bernard and Mandy, who were down from Glasgow. A few pints of Moorehouses and we were off to the Eastern Eye for a good old nosh up and to continue yet another day of celebrating our little ol’ football club.

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supporters club on the terraces of rammy Four hundred and seventy! It’s hard to believe that four hundred and seventy people watched Rammy on Saturday the kind of attendance earlyish on in the season that promises so much should the team still be performing that well come May - and I can see no reason why they won’t. e question I asked myself is why so many new faces? Two of my neighbours came to the game along with their kids, even though last week it would have cost them a whole lot less (Quid a Kid). So there was me wondering why they weren’t at the match the week before, and how come they were so keen to attend this Saturday? So I asked them...

Apparently, all the kids at school had been talking about Rammy’s great win last week. All those kids who’d come along for a quid went straight to school and advertised Rammy to all of their friends - by the time it got to Saturday morning they were whinging and begging their parents to take them to the match.

Rob, who lives two doors down, came for just his second visit in three years, and brought his seven-year-old daughter Millie, all because she’d heard how great Rammy were from kids who came last week. ese young supporters are the future of Rammy, and the Quid a Kid,

timed as it was to coincide with a great performance and great win, meant that this week the crowd became the second biggest we’ve ever seen at Rammy (if we discount the two games where the away fans came on a fleet of coaches).

We need these kids coming to games more regularly, and we need to do everything in our power to persuade them to attend matches. Even the atmosphere was something special because there were families all around the ground. To this day I remember every detail of my dad and my uncle Bill taking me to my first ever football match at Anfield, and the blokey bond that’s always been there between us as a result. A lot of these kids are getting their first ever taste of footy down at the Riverside, and even if they ultimately sell their souls and become City fans, there will always be a little part of them that is Rammy.

Sadly, the league fixtures computer has now served us up a pretty crumby run of games that will do its best to undo the good work. It’s exactly a month until our next Saturday home game and the away matches are bleedin’ miles away. So we’re going to have to remind these newcomers to get back down here on 22nd November, and remind them what a fantastic day out local non-league footy can be. How we do that is a question we definitely need to work on answering.

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The future of Rammy: a huge proportion of Saturday’s gate was youngsters - the way it should be.

“the 4ft tall dwarf fella stubbed out his fag to get on and score the winning goal“ I’m just going to have to say a word or two about a match that Bri Murfield (Whitby Town’s photographer) told me he attended on Saturday. For me it epitomises the fantastic thing that is lower-league football.

Bri freely admits that the insane distances Whitby have to travel (Saturday they had a 340 mile round trip to Rushall Olympic!) means that he can’t realistically get to many away games. He’s also a taxi driver, so missing the Saturday night trade in Whitby is not great for business.

Anyway, he went to a match between Sleights Reserves and Falsgrave Reserves on a local park pitch, and sent me a link to the photos he took. e game looks to have had just about everything you could ever

wish for in park football - an incredibly rotund referee whose belly defied all laws of gravity, a load of clatteringly agricultural tackles with the players trying to lug the ball through three inch thick grass, and my favourite photos of all shows the 4ft tall dwarf fella stubbing out his fag to get on the pitch and score the winning goal!

Football at these lower levels is a truly wonderful game, and I love it that the result of a Sleights Reserves v Falsgrave Reserves match is as important to those lads as the result is to players at any level.

So I’d like to thank Bri. He probably won’t be at tonight’s game, but I’d very much appreciate one of you die-hard Whitby fans passing on my appreciation of his fabulous photos. - Rob

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Managers: Anthony Johnson, Bernard Morley

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

Managers: Darren Williams

Shane BLAND Ibrahim HASSAN Mark ROBINSON Lee BULLOCK Richard PELL David McTIERNAN Matthew BROWN Dale HOPSON Matthew WATERS Steven SNAITH Liam SHEPARD Darren WILLIAMS Lee MASON Ross GARDNER Craig FARRELL Kevin BURGESS

Referee: Alan Bennett (Wigan) Referee’s Assistants: James Morgan (Wigan), Liam Ockleshaw (Skelmersdale)

Next home game: Tuesday 14th November 7:45pm, Rammy v Workington

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