49 Ramsbottom United v Ashton United

rammy news v ASHTON UNITED 26-12-14

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johnno

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We’ve had to delete this column due to the ongoing investigation into racist incidents amongst the King’s Lynn contingent at the game just before Christmas.

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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 today’s match officials, and of course, everyone connected with Ashton United.

Before I go any further may I, on behalf of the management, players and officials of Ramsbottom United, wish you all a very (slightly belated) MERRY CHRISTMAS, and the hope that you all had an excellent day yesterday.

Now is the time to get out of doors and into the fresh air to enjoy some festive sporting entertainment, and I’m sure our two sides this afternoon will provide plenty of that.

Looking back at our last game here at the HWRS, may I say a massive “ank you” to all our supporters for backing the club as you did, as we attracted the second largest crowd ever to the ground. We appreciate the inconvenience suffered by some of you, but as our hands were somewhat tied, we had to make arrangements to ensure that the afternoon went off smoothly, and I’m delighted to report that it could hardly have gone better.

It seems a lifetime ago when we were attracting gates of around 100. Matchdays then were relatively easy to cope with, but as the team has progressed on the pitch, we’ve

had to put in place measures to ensure everyone’s safety and the ability to stage matches with much bigger crowds. Just as the players and management are adjusting to life higher up the pyramid, so, too, must the club, both on matchdays and behind the scenes during the rest of the week.

An awful lot of work goes on unseen to ensure the smooth running of the club, and the Stockport game gave us all the opportunity to see just how far we had come. Quite a long way, it would appear.

A special thanks to those who turned up from 8 o’clock on the morning of the match, with the pitch sparkling white as a result of the overnight frost. A number from the management team and players also turned up and the hard work in ensuring the game went ahead deserves their praise. Even the referee congratulated us on our preparations, although that was all we got off him all afternoon!

It does, however, give us the confidence to tackle any future game where a larger than normal attendance is anticipated. e police advised us and were delighted with the outcome, so we can all look forward, hopefully, to welcoming ever-increasing numbers to the ground in future, knowing that we have the right methods in place.

As for the game itself, the referee came in for a fair bit of criticism, and certainly that early penalty gave County the

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Steve Howson questions the consistency of referee Tom Nield’s decisions after Wiz goes tumbling in the box

initiative which they never relinquished. e second goal almost killed the game off, but credit to the lads for never giving up. e reporter from the Non-League Paper was very complimentary about us, and it was rather strange sitting in the box next to the local Stockport radio station and listening to their live commentary of the whole game. is is not the first time our matches have been broadcast over the last couple of years. Again, it just shows how far we have come as a club in a short space of time.

We certainly do not wish to return to the NWCFL, and with that I mean no disrespect, but as a club our aim has to be to establish

ourselves at this level, and who knows just how far up we can go. e last few years have, as has been commented upon many times, been one heck of a ride. Radio commentaries, televised highlights and full page write-ups in national papers are now common-place, yet how many of us could have foreseen this not too long ago.

As we enter the final week of 2014, this year is yet another to go down in the annals of Ramsbottom United’s history with much pride and enjoyment.

Just what will 2015 bring???

Enjoy your non-league football!

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 13th December 2014 Att: 907 Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 13th December 2014 Att: 907 Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

Cedric tries to force a way through the stubborn and disciplined Stockport defence

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Stockport fully deserved this win and their passage into the last 32 of the FA Trophy.

However if there is any element of fairness in their assessment of the game they might well reflect that what could have been a winter of discontent has been made into a potentially glorious spring at Wembley by a son of York - in this case the hapless referee from Holmfirth Whatever trepidations the visitors that might have had of facing a difficult afternoon at the Riverside were eased if not removed after only three minutes. e referee somehow saw an imperceptible movement of hand to ball to a drive from outside the penalty area and awarded a penalty which Scott Spencer put away with a minimum of fuss. ere was an unusual sense of resigned acceptance if not expectation at going behind from the Rams. Nonetheless they responded well and for the next 20 minutes or so they pressed forward and had their chances to equalise. Phil Dean might have done better from around the penalty spot but his somewhat diffident shot was diverted over the bar for a corner and twice Danny Hurst in the Stockport goal had to plunge low to his right to palm away shots bound for the bottom corner. On each occasion the Rams were unable to get to the rebound first.

Stockport though were dangerous on the break and looked threatening from numerous free kicks lavished on them by the referee . From one such on 25 minutes the ball fell obligingly to the feet of Danny Gregson who lashed the ball past a helpless Grant Shenton.

For the remainder of the half the Rams became increasingly frustrated by decisions that had the bewildering quality of Fermat's last solution not least the denial of an obvious penalty for handball and then the penalisation of Grant Spencer for falling on the ball with his hand when tripped from behind .

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 13th December 2014 Att: 907 Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

Grant Spencer brought down in the area in just one of a number of decent penalty shouts

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It was no wonder that the referee's reappearance after the break was received with loud catcalls from the home support.

With a strong, well drilled back four Stockport clearly considered that they had the game in the bag and for the remainder of the match were content to sit back and soak up the pressure . For long periods the Rams were camped in their half without ever really looking like opening up the visitors except for a diagonal ball into Jordan Hume which presented him with a yard of space and a good shooting opportunity . However his shot just lacked the power to evade a scrambling goalkeeper.

At the other end only a series of brave blocks

by Steve Howson denied Stockport as the Rams pressed forward. ere was a persistent feeling that if the Rams could grab a goal the final stages might prove interesting but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished with 10 minutes left when Grant Shenton neither stuck nor twisted in dealing with a cross and left Jordan Lazenby with the easiest of headers.

It is to be hoped that with a challenging set of fixtures ahead and two cup losses in a week that this is not the start of the Ram's own winter of discontent.

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Apparently this is only handball if you have your back to play and are Gary Stopforth

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ashton united yet another team from tameside Ashton United Football Club was formed in 1878 under its previous name of Hurst FC. e Hurst area boasted several teams of a good standard and the club’s first recorded game came in early 1879 against another local club, Hurst Red Star. Records indicate that the current Hurst Cross ground was first used by the club in 1880, making it one of football’s oldest surviving venues. e club proved a very progressive outfit in their early days, entering the FA Cup as early as 1883 (just the 13th season of the competition) and reaching the second round at the first time of asking, a club best equalled but never bettered since. In 1885 the club landed its first silverware after the Manchester FA started a new competition for member clubs called the Manchester Senior Cup - Hurst won the first ever final against Newton Heath, the forerunners of the present-day Manchester United, taking the trophy after a 3-0 victory. 1885 also saw a ground attendance record set at Hurst Cross, with over 9,000 people paying to watch FA Cup holders Blackburn Rovers play a Lancashire Cup tie. e 1960s started with Ashton as holders of the Manchester Intermediate Cup and later that year (under the managership of his father) the club saw the debut of its youngest ever player - and scorer - a 15-year old schoolboy called Alan Ball, later a World Cup winner in 1966.

In 1984 the club sank to its lowest point as Osebi Abadaki, the muscular menace! they were relegated to the 2nd Division of the

NWCL – four years they won promotion back to the top tier in impressive style as champions, but the club – like many others following the Bradford City fire disaster - were still struggling to improve their facilities off the pitch. Local businessman Terry Liversidge came to Hurst Cross in 1990 and helped transform the club and ground; in 1992, under manager Dave Denby, Ashton became the first team to win the NWCL title and the League Cup double, going on to win the League Challenge Cup and the Manchester Premier Cup for good measure. e Robins posted their best ever FA Trophy run in 1997, before John Coleman’s side lost to Dagenham & Redbridge in the Quarter Finals.

Ashton finally won promotion to the Premier Division via the inaugural NPL playoffs under Gerry Quinn’s stewardship in 2002 and also retained the Manchester Premier Cup they had won the previous season - they were to win it again in 2003 and were beaten finalists in 2004, the same year the club became founder members of the new Conference North. eir stay in the new league was ended after just one season - only the club's third relegation in over one hundred years of football.

Danny Johnson was appointed as manager towards the end of the 2006-07 season as the club just avoided relegation. His six-year tenure at the club saw Ashton establish themselves as a comfortable mid-table team in the NPL - despite the off-field events of 2009/10, when the club were sued by former

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Ashton in action last week against Marine - Photos courtesy of Juel Miah

Altrincham player, Marcus Hallows, following an on-the-pitch injury he sustained playing against Ashton in 2005. e courts subsequently found against the club, who were deemed liable to pay damages to Mr Hallows. e highlight of Johnson’s reign was a first ever NPL League Challenge Cup victory when Ashton beat Northwich Victoria 1-0 in 2011. Johnson moved to league rivals Nantwich Town at the end of the 2012-13 campaign and his assistant-manager, Craig Robinson, was elevated to the role of manager but resigned for personal reasons before the season commenced; as a result, coach Paul Phillips was promoted as manager, bringing

in former Droylsden team-mate (and then Mossley gaffer) Steve Halford as comanager. Few could have foretold that, after such an unusual pre-season, the club would go so close to promotion; after seeing off FC United of Manchester in the most dramatic manner in the play-off semi-final (Ashton equalised in injury time at the end of the 90 minutes and, in injury time of added time, Jack Higgins struck a deserved winner) before losing the play-off final in even more dramatic circumstances, when only the width of a crossbar promoted AFC Fylde after a penalty shootout.

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Dale JOHNSON (Forward) Born 1985 Previous clubs; Woodley Sports, Hyde United, Droylsden, Altrincham, Hyde, Droylsden, Halifax, Barrow, Salford City A forward with significant experience of Conference level football, Dale originally joined Ashton in November 2013 and played a major part in the club reaching the 2014 play-off final; he rejoined in November 2014 after a short spell with Salford City.

four to watch

Chris BAGULEY (Midfield) Born 1987 Previous clubs; Oldham Athletic, FC United of Manchester, Mandurah City (Australia), Leigh Genesis, Salford City, Rossendale Utd, New Mills Midfield playmaker or support striker, ‘Baggers’ joined Ashton in 2012 and became a regular by the end of his first season. Knee surgery meant he missed much of the 2013-14 season however, after a short loan spell at New Mills, he was soon back amongst the goals, looking fit and back to his best.

Jason GORTON (Defender) Born 1985 Previous clubs; Glossop North End, Mossley An FA Vase finalist with Glossop in 2009, Jay joined Ashton in the summer of 2013 and his performances at centre half saw him selected as both the Supporters’ and Players’ choice as Player of the Year last season; promoted to team captain in the summer of 2014.

Mark HASLAM (Defender) Born 1987 Previous clubs; Woodley Sports, Curzon Ashton, Mossley A product of Woodley’s youth system, ‘Hazzy’ spent seven years with Sports before moving on, joining Ashton in January 2014; an exciting full-back who likes to get forward, as evidenced by his ‘wonder goal’ at Salford in the FA Cup.

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gary stopforth

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In action against Belper Town Photo Courtesy of Ken Allsebrook

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Now in his fourth season for Rammy, 28year-old Burnley lad Gary Stopforth is really relishing his football after a career that felt like it had hit the rocks eight years ago.

“I’d been playing at the Burnley School of Excellence when Blackburn Rovers scouted me at about age 13,” Gary told us. “Rovers took me on and I played all the way through their youth setup until I was about 20 when I realised that I just wasn’t going to break through into the first team. It was hard for us all as it was a time when Blackburn had decent money to spend on players. No-one from my team or the two years above broke through into the squad as they were signing multi-million pound players from other clubs. It was a very good youth setup because Jack Walker had put it all in place, and in the earlier years David Dunne and Damian Duff broke through, but when Mark Hughes came, he swapped things around because the new youth academy facilities were better than those for the first team. Blackburn keep the youth setup going in the hope that they get a couple of players come through now and again, but it doesn’t happen very often.

“I was supposed to go out on loan to Oldham when I was 20, but I picked up an injury and just ended up playing reserve football, which isn’t competitive like the main game. It wasn’t like at Rammy where it really matters, the games were just like practise matches or friendlies and I started losing heart. After devoting nine years of my life to it all I ended up just packing in, spending a year away from the game completely.

“My mate Joe Byron was at Clitheroe,

and he suggested I get involved again, so I had a chat with the club and they invited me down. I really got into playing again and into all the banter in the dressing room. It wasn’t as pressurised as the football I’d played before and I enjoyed it loads. I played for them for about a year and a half alongside Johnno and Bernard - it was a good side and great fun.

“Clitheroe ended on a bit of a sour note really as there was a lot of behind the scenes stuff going on which meant the the team all got broken up, which was when Bernard and Johnno went into management at Rammy and I headed off to play in America at New Orleans for the summer before joining my local amateur team Burnley United in the autumn.

“Someone came in and invited me to go up to Kendal, who were in the Northern Premier League and felt like a good opportunity. I spent about two years there and it was decent money and so on, but the travelling became a bit of a pain after a while, particularly for training. e first season was a belter, and we made the playoffs, getting beaten in the end by Bradford Park Avenue. “e second season was almost the complete opposite. We weren’t doing that well in the league and the manager had a bust up with a few of the lads so I got a bit tired with it all - particularly the Tuesday night training til 10pm up in Kendal, that meant I wasn’t getting home til half past eleven. I told the manager I was done with it, and ended up speaking to Johnno who said “Yeah, come down and play!”. at was the season when we were chasing New Mills and ended up finishing second in the Counties.

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“It was quite a drop in level, which some people have asked me about, but you’ve got to take it as a whole - it’s not just about playing at this level or for that money, but whether you enjoy it. It’s different if football is your livelihood, but I look on it as a great hobby that I get paid for, and so whether I’m enjoying it is far more important. I’m not saying that there isn’t an amount of money that would persuade you to think seriously, but enjoying your game is crucial.

“It was nice for me to join Rammy as even when I was at Kendal I kept in touch with Johnno, and working in Stacksteads I always checked how things were going in the Free Press. I think I came for a couple of club nights out, even though I didn’t play for Rammy, and I ended up coming down to play and enjoying it.

“AFC Fylde ended up looking at me, and then offering a big salary to head up and play for them, enough that I couldn’t really say no, and so I headed up there and ended up doing really well until about Christmas when I ended up breaking my jaw, which needed wiring. I was out for about two months in all and the manager sent me out to get some games on loan to get properly match fit. So, I ended up at Rammy on loan, waiting for Fylde to show a bit of enthusiasm about having me back, but it was about 6-7 matches before I heard from them, and by that time I’d decided that I was happier at Ramsbottom, and was going to stay. It was about the same time that Danny Warrender came back, and it felt like we had a good chance of getting promoted, so why not stay? “e great thing about Rammy is that it’s such a close knit club, with management, players, club and supporters all being involved in things.

Everyone knows each other and gets on with each other, and like I said before about needing

to enjoy your football, this all goes a long way towards that. I’ve never known a club like this, and that’s why all of these lads have been as loyal as they have, even Robbo who’s now retired six times!

“I think the lads are doing really well this season, though we’re into the rough patch now with pitches starting to cut up which becomes a real leveller. You end up facing teams who aren’t necessarily good footballing sides, but can grind out the results with big strong lads.

Some of these teams are even worse than the league below, but can do a job. Some people might say that Stockport were a bit like this. Big, strong and organised. It didn’t help that we conceded so early on, that threw the game plan up in the air. If we’d have scored that first goal then it would have been a very different game, with them having to come out and try to play us instead of dropping back and then hitting us on the break. As for it being a handball, there was no way on earth. e ball’s bobbled around on the edge of the box, the guy’s hit it into the ground three feet away and it’s bounced up and hit me above the elbow just inside the box - I don’t know how the ref can give a penalty for that. e Trophy is out of the way now though, let’s get on with winning the massive league games over the next few weeks.

“I’m really happy with the way midfield is working out at the moment. It’s a real pleasure to play alongside Scott as we work so well together. He’ll drop back a bit and distribute the ball wide, which will let me get further up, nearer to Spencer and Jordan, but then we can all pull in to break things up. Realistically we play with a front four, and so we need a defensively minded midfield who can drop in and cover. It’s working really well at the moment, and fingers crossed there’s no reason we can’t be pushing top spot come May.”

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gary stopforth

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tony’s teasers 1.

Who have Stockport County drawn in the next round of the FA Trophy?

2.

Which Welsh club used to play at Farrar Road?

3.

What is their new ground called?

4.

Which non-league club did Rochdale knock out of the FA Cup?

5.

Jamie Day left his managerial position at Welling United to move to which other team?

6.

Whitehawk are based in which city?

7.

Who do Blyth Spartans face in the next round of the FA Cup?

8.

Which club plays at Borough Park?

9.

Who is the manger of Alfreton?

10.

What colours do Chelmsford City play in?

1. Wrexham 2. Bangor City 3. Nantporth 4. Aldershot 5. Ebbseet United 6. Brighton 7. Birmingham City 8. Workington 9. Nicky Law 10. Claret and White

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Jon Robinson and Phil Dean during the Doodson Cup demolition of Burscough

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If your face is featured 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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A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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C

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spot the ball and win a customised rammy mug

Simply email your chosen grid reference to qy@dr.com and the winner will be chosen at random from those submitting the correct answer. You can then have your very own personalised rammy mug.

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e time of goodwill to all men apparently hasn’t reached east Anglia, for the Rams furthest visit ever turned out to be a battle of attrition, with events off the pitch transposing themselves on to it.

At a time when even warring factions of a century ago decided to abandon acrimonious actions, sadly a handful of imbeciles from Norfolk decided it would be an appropriate time to relive the draconian days of the 1980’s.

Animal noises and racist remarks aimed at a number of Ramsbottom players and staff set the tone for a game that ultimately saw the referee lose control, with tackles flying in thick and fast, Rammy’s Scott Burton sent off in the dying minutes, and managers from both sides dispatched to the stands after a dug-out altercation.

Peace to all men never came close, as the unpleasant atmosphere created by a number of home fans left both clubs with a nasty taste in their mouths. is is not what football should be about, and as a result, no doubt the F.A. will be looking into the allegations. It was hardly surprising, then, that the game will be remembered more for behaviour off the pitch than on it.

After Scott Burton sent an early header over the bar, Grant Spencer opened the scoring for the visitors with a free-kick from just outside the box that clipped the inside of the keeper’s right hand post before settling in just beyond the left-hand one.

With few chances for either side, the Rams just about deserved their interval lead, but

within seven minutes of the re-start, the home side were level. A free-kick was only partially cleared, and as the ball bobbled about the penalty area, Michael Frew took full advantage and blasted home from ten yards out.

An unseemly scuffle broke out by the dugouts moments later which saw Rams joint-manager Anthony Johnson sent to the stands along with his Kings Lynn counterpart, and yet again tension arose on the field. At one point the game was continuing with three players lying prone at various positions within the pitch.

Tackles were fierce as any thoughts of “the beautiful game” vanished as should a number of the home fans, but lackadaisical stewarding allowed the atmosphere to deteriorate, and the Rams unpleasant experience was made worse in the final few minutes.

On 86 minutes, having swept forward looking to clinch all three points, the visitors left themselves open at the back to a breakaway. e ball fell for Frew in acres of space, and he fired the winner past Grant Shenton’s left to clinch all three points for the Norfolk side. Worse was to follow when Burton reacted angrily to a tackle to earn a yellow card. However, as he had been booked earlier, the subsequent red card appeared and the Rams finished with ten men.

A long journey home, and on the evidence of the welcome received from the moronic few, a future visit to Kings Lynn is hardly one to embrace.

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e Walks 20th December 2014 Att: Rammy Goals: Spencer (17) King’s Lynn Goals: Frew (58, 86)

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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs Good afternoon everyone and a very happy Boxing Day to you all. I hope you have all enjoyed your Christmas fun yesterday but please be aware, if you are sat in the stand, that it is just about now that the sprouts might be taking full effect.

Parp!

I am simply not going to mention the events of last Saturday at King's Lynn. I am not going to give it the space and print coverage that it doesn't deserve, save for saying that I was absolutely horrified to hear what was happening and the fact that those in Norfolk continue to dig their heads in the sand when it is quite clear they have a problem. I wasn't there, sadly, but just reading all the comments on the forum and on twitter confirmed just what an awful experience it must have been.

One thing I really did enjoy about Saturday was being able to listen to the match on the radio. BBC Radio Norfolk had the full commentary on, which was absolutely brilliant as I walked around Bury Market getting a few special northern delicacies for our southern Christmas meal yesterday.

Tucking my phone under my coat on my shoulder enabled me to listen to what was going on and, although the commentary was typically biased and continued to mention the silliness on the sidelines at far too regular an interval, it was very

good to be able to listen and keep tabs on what is happening. is has happened a few times in the past - Radio Northumberland did a game at Blyth, I think it was. But my all time favourite was the commentary from Lancaster City on Bailrigg FM, seemingly a student run station but they were there for an evening Lancashire FA Trophy game back in 2009. I didn't go to the game as I was heading to South Africa for work the next morning so was trying to get myself ready so I thought I would plug in and listen to the game courtesy of the local station.

7.45pm came and went and nothing was happening. Time continued to pass and still nothing. ey finally came on air about 20 minutes into the game, in a rather hectic state of panic and fluster. ey had missed their bus and couldn't get to the ground in time. Absolutely brilliant!

Our club has come a long way over the last few seasons, particularly off the field with some terrific innovations starting to come to fruition. Rammy TV is one such. I know it is something on a very long list of Rob's 'things I would like to see happen' but radio commentary of our games would be an amazing addition to our portfolio. It is always going to be difficult in this area of many football clubs - the majority within the football league. Norfolk, obviously, only has Norwich City and our opponents from last Saturday as 'main clubs'. e list in this

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Richard looking concerned, as though he knows there is a top scarer lurking behind him!

area runs well into double figures so getting any sort of mainstream radio coverage and live commentary would be quite an achievement.

But what an achievement it would be for those of us in far flung places and not able to get to every game like so many of our loyal following do. I wanted to head east on Saturday but I am currently working on the Big Bash T20 tournament from Australia, which we are showing every morning so couldn't really make the time to be there, but being able to listen live was a good second best.

I am not going to be around for the next few games either, as I was on cooking duty yesterday and probably today as well. But it is great to welcome Ashton United to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. eir ground at Hurst Cross is one I drive past quite often as it is en-route to Cath's house so I always know

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where it is. I am looking forward to coming up for the Easter period when I can go there for the first time on the Monday and then walk to the Amaani Curry house just up the road for a post match meal. I have it all planned already!

Yes, I am sad!

Anyway, that will probably do me for now.

Have a fantastic Boxing Day - let's hope the result goes our way - and may I wish you all a very Happy New Year as well for those of you who are not going to be here on Sunday.

2014 - yet another year to remember in the history of Ramsbottom United Football Club.

Who will ever forget that day in early May? And the fact that we are in this league at all.

Good luck 2015 ... you have a lot to live up to!

YOUUUUUU RAAAAMS!

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rammy united meet the lads

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.

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

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.

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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Grant SHENTON

Dominic SMALLEY

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.

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.

Steve HOWSON

Cedric KROU

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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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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

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.

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.

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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Jon ROBINSON

Alex PIACENTILE

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..

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.

George GRAYSON

Haroon ABATTI

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 flank, giving the Rams additional defensive flexibility.

Club Physio

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the best 2014 was a vintage year to be a Rammy Ultra, but what have been most? the ry memo the in sticks what away days of the year and of the In a two-part, top-ten rundown, like a 1975 edition of Christmas Top take to going is Comer de’ ‘Darksi Darren ters), presen Pops (without the dodgy agree not may You 2014. in Ultra y Ramm a being of us through his highlights make for a with all his ‘Top of the Trips’, or the order they are in, but it will Club. good topic of conversation over that pint of Wainwrights in the Cricket FC United of Manchester - 30th Augus Despite losing t 2014 3-1 on the da y, this gam into my top e has just ab 10. It wasn’t out sneaked the greatest despite Jord of games f an Hulme gi or T he Rams and ving us an down by 3early lead 1. The main we eventual reason I cho ly went crowd on th se this gam e is the size e day, just under 2,00 of the wearing blu 0, and the e and white amount who . I remembe were r walking th the day wor rough the tu rying if I w ou rn st ld ile be on ab le to find m the Mutton y fellow mem Army, but I ne be ed rs not have wor of was plenty of ried about th blue mixed in at as there w ith re d of FCUM travelled to . Me and Mrs the game w Darkside ith some fri Jake, all pass ends, PD, H ionate suppor oward and ters of the his son get to trav Red Rebels. el with oppo It’s not ofte sition suppor n you this game m ters and for ade my little th at re as on alone list.

March 2014 yshire New Mills – 15th t of the Derb nd in the hear ou gr le litt al on ide Stadium, A traditi our own Rivers of e m ed ind m re ounding and one that hills and surr views of the e th to e gh, so not quite mainly du steam train thou ve ha n’t do y countryside (the ) to as quaint as us really started games when I t rs fi e th of from This was one azing turnouts tting some am ge re we had we ho notice that numbers w mes. The large ga ay aw r ou and Ramsbottom at tense, exciting treated to a re we ts ip tr en Sh injury to made this riller. An early th al go ve fi e rr e bench somewhat biza coming off th ht of Bernard sig e th d ha time to chants meant we the field at full g vin lea d an al go e of to take over in the new nicknam e, and earning On r be m Nu s of England t’ Morley.

Bernard ‘The Ca

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Farsley – 1st April 2014 tive coach for this ed a pretty nice execu hir had h ort ckw Du Tim mmy roller coaster, ire to see if the Ra jaunt into west Yorksh game took place on ng to be on track. The goi l stil s wa h pus n tio promo re left looking the fools was the Rams who we April Fools Day and it having us worrying late goals to lose 3-2 and o tw ay aw ing ow thr after ances. After reaching away our Play-Off ch that we had thrown of pints before going noon we had a couple ter af ly ear the in y Farsle common pub, and us proletariat going to a our separate ways, the ch at a high class wine ed types going for lun ltur cu d, sse cla h hig more ss before we went in). bar (well, it was high cla porter, obviously was a young Farsley sup e gam the of ht hlig The hig onto the playing area the pitch, who wandered bored with events on Play Off battle going a Evo-Stik 1st Division s wa re the t tha re , unawa , rather embarrassed n had the sight of his on around him. We the uld wo Only at non-league on to escort him off.

Father having to come nt of the Sky cameras e if he did this in fro you see this and imagin Mail would be calling e Emirates ? The Daily Th or e idg Br ord mf e. at Sta in today’s modern gam discussing the decay for imprisonment and the m y Casper fro n, who I swear was Bill The young lad in questio terrace wall where we stood in front of the film, Kes, had earlier of his surroundings. e a leak, again unaware tak to d rte sta and d stood nts as the Ultras starte of those classic mome This in turn led to one he nts, he’ll pee where He’ll pee where he wa off a new chant of he wants! kshire, he’ll pee where wants, he is from Yor

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Salford City – 21st April 2014 Easter Monday, the sun is shining and your team is away in a derby day clash they need to win to carry on their push for Play-Off glory. Oh Happy Days. Another five goal thriller in which The Rams came out on top, this time with a late goal from Gassy to send around 200 travelling Ultras into raptures.

Probably one of my favourite grounds from this year and along with Workington they have the most traditional grounds I have visited. They also win my vote for best music played over the tannoy with plenty of Joy Division and The Fall and The Pogues

version of Dirty Old Town, a song originally written by Ewan McCall about life on the streets of Salford. If they pleased noone else with the eclectic music on offer at least myself and UkePunk managed to tap a toe or two.

On a side note, one of my low points of the year has been the takeover of Salford City, by the Class of 92 ©, and their

subsequent attempts to lure some of the Rammy promotion heroes away with the promise of untold riches. It’s not that I’m against people putting much needed money into non-league football, but this is a little too corporate and business like for

my tastes. That made our recent victory and outplaying of Salford in the Lancashire Trophy all the more sweeter.

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Banbury United – 29 th November 2014 Less than a month ago, Ramsbottom Un ited took their furthest ever trip south to take on Banbury United in the final qu alifying round of the FA Trophy, and as usual, they we re accompanied by the usu al large numbers from the Ra m Army. A lunchtime ar riv al meant we had plenty of time of visit the lov ely tow n of Banbury, well its pubs to be more accurat e.

No tice to anyone planning a tri p there - avoid the Wetherspoons with its minimum of staff and undrinkable selection of beers (and wines fo r The Masseys) Another nice tradition al ground with an old terrace behind one goal. Th is was where the tra ve lling ultras parked themselves, the ir horns and their dr um an d flag, in anticipation of the game. And what a ga me it was, well at least for Ra mmy as they took a fifth minute lead through Robbo.

After the early goal there was only going to be one win ner and a celebrator y 90 minutes was in store on the Ba nbury terraces. The second half saw goals from Wizz and Cedric ‘We’re Ha vin g a Party’ Krou, as well as field full of cows coming over to see what all the noise wa s. Again, only in non-le ague football.

Another celebratory, boozy sing-along of a trip back to Lancashire includ ed, Radio 5live’s Non-L ea gue Show calling up Jonno for a live interview and Super Gary Stopforth taking the on-board microphone and treating us all to his rendition of The Gambler. All in all, just another day on the Rammy Rocket.

So, there are my fir st five selections fo r the best away days of 2014 and the top five wil l appear in the Skelmersdale progra mme on Sunday.

p Sat 16th Aug Tues 19th Aug Sat 23rd Aug Mon 25th Aug Sat 30th Aug Tues 2nd Sept Sat 6th Sept Wed 10th Sept Sat 13th Sept Tues 16th Sept Sat 20th Sept 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 Sat 15th Nov Sat 22nd Nov Tues 25th Nov Sat 29th Nov Tues 2nd Dec Sat 6th Dec Mon 8th Dec Sat 13th Dec Sat 20th Dec Fri 26th Dec Sun 28th Dec Thu 1st Jan Sat 3rd Jan Sat 10th Jan Sat 17th Jan Tues 20th 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 Nantwich FAT 2Q H GRANTHAM TOWN H BURSCOUGH Lg Cup A Banbury United A Salford City Lg Cup A Matlock Town A Atherton Collieries Lancs H STOCKPORT COUNTY A King’s Lynn Town H ASHTON UNITED H SKELMERSDALE A Nantwich Town A Curzon Ashton H TRAFFORD A Belper Town H NORTHWICH VIC LgCup H FRICKLEY ATHLETIC A Buxton H BLYTH SPARTANS A Stamford A Witton Albion 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 4-0 3-1 2-1 1-1 0-2 3-0 3-1 3-1 5-1 3-0 3-1 1-1 1-2 3-0 1-2

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 237 Shenton 366 Shenton 233 Shenton 250 Shenton 358 Shenton 132 Shenton 238 Shenton 351 Shenton 140 Shenton 235 Shenton 189 Shenton 257 Shenton 120 Shenton 907 Shenton 510 Shenton

Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley + Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Grayson * Pilkington Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley * Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley 1 Williams Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley Smalley

Pugh Pugh Pugh Abadaki * Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington # Pilkington Pugh Pugh Grayson + Pugh Pilkington Pilkington Pilkington Pugh Pugh Pugh Pugh Pugh Pugh Pugh Piacentile 1 Pugh Dean Pugh Grayson Grayson + Grayson

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

Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson 1 Howson 1 Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson 2 Howson Howson Howson Robinson + Howson Howson Howson 1 Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson Howson

Priestley Priestley Priestley Priestley Warrender Krou Warrender Warrender Warrender + Krou 1 Krou 1 Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou Robinson Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou Krou 1 Krou Krou Pugh Krou Krou

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Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme 1+ Hulme Abadaki + Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki + Abadaki Abadaki Abadaki + Abadaki # Mota 1* Abadaki * Abadaki 1 * Abadaki 1 * Abadaki + Abadaki 1 Abadaki # Abadaki + Robinson # Abadaki * Williams 1* Williams * Abadaki Williams # Abadaki Williams 1 Williams * Williams * Abadaki *

Burton Burton Burton Burton Slaven Burton * Burton Burton Burton Burton Burton 1 Stopforth Burton Burton Burton Burton Burton Pilkington * Burton Burton Burton Williams Burton Burton Kuba-Kuba Burton * Burton + Burton Burton Burton Burton

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

Robinson 1* Robinson + Pilkington Pilkington Hulme 1# Hulme 1 Hulme 1# Krou Hulme Hulme 2 Hulme 1 Hulme Hulme Hulme Spencer + Spencer # Spencer * Spencer # Spencer 1 Spencer * Gaskell * Mota # Spencer 1+ Spencer + Robinson Dean 1 Robinson * Spencer * Brooks Spencer Spencer 1

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

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

Slaven Abadaki + Slaven + Abadaki Slaven + Ahmadi # Slaven Cook * Krou * Cook # Robinson * Cook + Robinson # Cook Cook Williams Williams + Pugh # Williams # Irwin Mota # Irwin Dean * Mota Cook + Dean # Williams + Slaven Mota Slaven Mota * Slaven Mota Gaskell + Mota # Gaskell Mota Gaskell # Williams # Mota Abadaki # Spencer * Piacentile Burton * Gaskell + Robinson # Gaskell + Robinson 1* Burton Stopforth Kuba-Kuba * Slaven + Slaven Piacentile Kuba-Kuba* Robinson + Spencer +1 Hulme # Abadaki * Morley Kuba-Kuba Robinson +

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 Robinson #1 Pugh Slaven * Piacentile Robinson + Pilkington * Gaskell + Robinson * Mota Piacentile Hulme # Mota Piacentile Kuba-Kuba Piacentile Dean * Johnson Piacentile Kuba-Kuba + Brooks Grayson Brooks Hartley Morley Kuba-Kuba Slaven Slaven Brooks #

MATCHBAL

Our Club Needs Our Help

If you can spare as little as half an hour to help Harry Williams keep Rammy’s pitch and ground in the impeccable condition that we’ve all become so proud of then please just come down and help, any day of the week from 11am onwards.

res & results 2014/15 15

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supporters club on the terraces of rammy What a strange atmosphere we had at the Stockport County game! It’s the kind of atmosphere I’ve experienced a few times before at these big games and it’s always a little bit eerie. e reasons are pretty obvious...

First of all, because some folk apparently struggle with the idea of intermingling with opposition fans, we had to stay on the railway end where the accoustics are pretty rubbish. Segregation at our level is crap and it makes you feel as though everything is happening miles up the other end. It’s been a good while since I’ve been made to stay put at half time (they also tried to make me sit down, but there are limits!) and I’m not a great fan of it. ankfully, because I wave a camera around and put on a hi-viz jacket, I was allowed up the other end, but even that felt weird without the massed Rammy hoards behind me.

I’m not sure why the decision was taken to give Stockport the top end of the ground - I guess it’s probably larger and they may have been expecting some more travelling supporters. All in all I think the home fans outnumbered the away by quite a bit, though I did notice that the donkey lasher from Bacup (who I know from his drunken and loud contributions at the cricket) was in the Stockport end best place for him!

Another reason for the strangely quiet atmosphere was us being intermingled with observers rather than supporters. I’m sure Warrington Town felt similar in their recent FA Cup foray as when you suddenly get a large crowd you find the die-hards get diluted to such an extent that the atmosphere falls flat. With Bury at Oxford and various other games (rightly) called off, we must have been quite a draw for the impartial fan, and they were definitely with us in numbers.

All in all I didn’t feel that the Stockport game did Rammy justice though. Yes, the weather didn’t add to the occasion, and I’m sure that Harry’s had a whole load of sleepless nights getting the pitch ready for this match, but the general performance and lack of that certain Rammy-ness on the terraces will probably not have won over too many new fans, which is a terrible shame. It’s always the case with these big games though - the new attendees get to see your lads struggling to compete with a higher level club, on this occasion happy to shield their 2-0 lead and maybe bag another on the break. How much better if these folks had come to today’s game against Ashton or Sunday’s against Skem - I’m sure that both will be much more a display of football than the FA Trophy game was.

And so onto other bits and bobs...

You probably noticed that the supporters club people were fighting the weather in an attempt to display and sell some of the fantastic Rammy merchandise that we’ve

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After winning a tenner this kind chap has kindly agreed to buy everyone a drink after today’s game!

been working on of late. e torrential hail storm that began at 2:45 made their job particularly difficult and they really do need a pat on the back for gritting their teeth and continuing their thankless task. Maria our new recruit was magnificent outside the turnstiles as was Darren (who didn’t piss off for a pint as rumoured, but helped marshall the carpark after the 17 stewards somehow failed to show up). Inside the ground we had Angie, Karol and a couple of others valiantly giving it their all, as was Katie who rushed back from A&E after Andy had keeled over earlier in the day (due to low blood sugar it seems). e merchandise is very smart and includes personalised mugs at £6, a fantastic 125 page photobook at £10, a Rammy calendar at a fiver and the usual hats, scarves, badges and so on. I believe the supporters club will be on duty again today and Sunday, so please stock up on your Rammy gear and help us show that there is a demand for this stuff from our supporters. e final word in this programme has to be

reserved for the magnificent unsung heroes who worked on the ground and the pitch before and after the Stockport County game.

When I looked out of the window first-thing I was trying to think of excuses to not go Christmas shopping at the Trafford Centre, as I was in no doubt that the game would be off.

But then I turned up at the ground to find a huge number of people with brushes and flame-throwers going at the frozen patches. It’s a great testimony to their hard work that a game which ordinarily would never have taken place did so.

I fear that those same people will be called upon tomorrow and Sunday morning in order to try and get the pitch ready for Skem’s visit.

Two games in three days is a nightmare for a groundsman, but two games of this calibre over Christmas is a dream for the fans!

If you are able to spare an hour or so tomorrow or Sunday then please come down and help with pitch preparations.

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Managers: Anthony Johnson, Bernard Morley

Grant SHENTON Dominic SMALLEY George GRAYSON Gary STOPFORTH Steve HOWSON Cedric KROU Osebi ABADAKI Scott BURTON Jordan HULME Grant SPENCER Phil DEAN Jon ROBINSON Tom WILLIAMS Malachi SLAVEN David KUBA-KUBA Lee PUGH Tom BROOKS

Managers: Paul Phillips Steve Halford

Sam MODLINSKY Sam WILSON Mark HASLAM Jay GORTON Jack HIGGINS ASh YOUNG Martin HILL Gary GEE Dale JOHNSON Chris BAGULEY Kayde COPPIN Steve HALFORD Josh STEADMAN Dominic BARRETT Greg PEARSON Lee RICK

Referee: Paul Hodskinson Referee’s Assistants: Robert Walsh, Keith Martin

Next home game: Sunday 28th December 3pm, Rammy v Skelmersdale United