50 Ramsbottom United v Blyth Spartans

rammy news

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v BLYTH SPARTANS 07-02-15

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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 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 Sun 28th Dec Thu 1st Jan Tues 27th Jan Sat 7th Feb Tues 10th Feb Sat 14th Feb Tues 17th Feb Sat 21st Feb Tues 24th Feb Sat 28th Feb Tues 3rd Mar Sat 7th Mar Sat 14th Mar Tues 24th Mar Sat 28th Mar 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 SKELMERSDALE A Nantwich Town H NORTHWICH VIC LgCup H BLYTH SPARTANS H HARROGATE RA LgCup A Stamford H RUSHALL OLYMPIC A Witton Albion A Blyth Spartans H ILKESTON H BARWELL A Skelmersdale United H STOURBRIDGE H TRAFFORD 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 0-3 2-3 3-1

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 372 Shenton 285 Shenton 158 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 Smalley * Hulme Grayson

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 Grayson Grayson Pugh

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 Stopforth Stopforth Harrop

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 Howson Howson Krou

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 Krou Krou Jones

Hulm Hulm Hulm Hulm Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Mot Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Aba Rob Aba Will Will Aba Will Aba Will Will Will Aba Aba Aba Aba

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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 Burton Burton Bennett +1

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 Hulme Williams # Gaskell

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 Spencer + Robinson 1 Brooks *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 Dean Spencer * Lazenbury #

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 * Williams * Dean 1 + Hartley *

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 + Brooks + Robinson Davies * Johnson Slaven +1 Dawson #

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

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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 # Slaven Morley Slaven # Morley Robinson

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.

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Firstly I’d like to welcome the officials, supporters and players of Blyth Spartans for this long overdue opportunity for me and Edgy to get our first league game underway. We’d also like to welcome the match officials to the Harry Williams Riverside. We hope that you all enjoy your visit and have a safe journey home. e game last Tuesday was a long time coming. Northwich are a good team with promotion aspirations and for the first fifteem mins caught us a bit cold. Once we settled down and Kyle and Benno started getting hold of the ball and dictating play we settled and started playing some really good football. Gassy did a huge amount of work on and off the ball and Brooksy was getting in behind. Also for most parts of the game we looked relatively solid and untroubled. For a first competitive game with almost a completely new squad of players we were extremely happy.

I wasn't surprised how good the new signings were as we will only look to add quality to the team . what I surprised about was how well and fit they looked on a heavy pitch. Benno came off after a hour but still looked full of running, as did Brooksy. I was quite surprised that Kyle managed the full ninety minutes, despite having not played for a few months. We also saw Jordan put some wonderful crosses in and he almost scored a screamer of a goal just before half-time. Young centre-back Callum Jones reminds me of a young Billy Priestley, without the dashing good looks!

I am really happy with the squad depth now given what we had a couple of weeks ago -

some people wouldn't have said it was possible. e quality of players right through the squad is excellent and I thought the subs coming on all showed great attitude and ability. It was a really good night’s work I think the squad is now stocked with quality and cover for all positions and at the moment it's giving me and Phil headaches about starting lineups, but as people say, it's a great headache to have!

We have recently signed another centre back, Alex Frost from Droylsden. Alex has a wealth of experience at this level, formerly with Ashton and Nantwich and is another excellent addition to the squad. ere have been some discussions about Billy Priestley returning to Rammy, but although we enquired at Bradford, he will not be coming back any time soon. at is why we moved to sign Callum and Alex, who I’m sure are more than capable of doing an excellent job at the back.

It's good to have Dawson back although not yet fully match fit ,and maybe a few weeks away from it. His presence in the changing room is good to have and his leadership skills and experience have been missed.

We now have a large squad, but with the amount of games we have to squeeze in before May, it could be exactly what we need. Some players will be disappointed to not be straight in the team, but we have we just have to keep everyone happy and reassure players they will get games and opportunities to play Enjoy the game.

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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 and everyone connected with Blyth Spartans.

I write this more in hope than expectation, having seen yet another game postponed.

Frustration doesn’t quite sum it up. It’s a long time since we’ve experienced so many postponements, yet it’s not really the snow that’s causing us the problems. Excepting last year’s remarkably snow-free winter, the previous two or three years had been much worse than this season, but were not as cold. erein lies the problem. e icy surface and constantly freezing conditions have meant that the surface has not had time to defrost. It could be argued that playing surfaces each August are invariably hard, but an icy hard surface seems to pose more of a threat to player injury than the baked surfaces in summer.

We are all, players, management, officials and supporters, frustrated by the lack of action, and my thoughts are with Robbo who must be straining at the leash to get his managerial position off the ground.

As we look towards the middle of February, is it too much to hope that the worst of the weather is behind us, and that we can concentrate on

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doing what we are supposed to be doing… .playing football matches.

BLYTH SPARTANS If we do manage to play today, then we can look forward to embarking on a run of at least two games a week between now and the end of April.

It will be a tight schedule, and we could not have asked for a tougher way to start the run than a visit from Blyth Spartans. e very name is evocative, and a byword for a successful non-league club. ey have a magnificent history and a great FA Cup tradition, which they enhanced again this season.

For Ramsbottom United to be pitting themselves against one of non-league’s giants is testimony, indeed, as to of how far we have come over recent years. Like ourselves the Northumbrian club are facing a testing run of games, as the two of us have played fewer than any other clubs in the Division. Whilst we will be concerned about the amount of travelling we must do over the next two and a half months, bear a thought for the miles the Spartans will have to travel. Rather them than us, although, to be fair, they are probably used to it. eir remote position is partly a result of the reluctance of other clubs in the North east to move up the pyramid.

Whilst we now have the likes of

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At it again - Blyth v Birmingham City in the FA Cup Photo courtesy of Bill Broadley

Darlington, Spennymoor and Whitby moving away from the parochial Northern League, there seems to be a reluctance of many others to follow suit.

I can half understand it. e cost of playing in a wider based Evo-Stik League is much higher in terms of travel and players expenses. Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay and Durham City have all tried it, but for various reasons, have returned to the local league.

Ironically, had those three clubs stayed the pace, then the much-maligned insular stand of the Northern League clubs (maligned by others, not me) would no longer be relevant, and derby matches for the likes of Spartans would prove to be much more

appealing, no doubt leading to more applications to move up (I believe only one Northern League club has applied again this season).

However, back to reality and today’s fixture with Blyth Spartans (whenever “Today” is!) and hopefully we’ll see a cracker.

Well done to our visitors for putting nonleague and the Evo-Stik League firmly in the otherwise disgracefully neglected spotlight as far as the national media is concerned.

Enjoy the game, and enjoy your nonleague football!

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some of the lads who may not have made the first-choice lineup. It’s a great credit to them that we did such a good job against Northwich, who are a big club that are going great-guns at the top of the Evostik Division One North. Me and Robbo now have a terrible headache about who we choose for the starting lineup for our first league game in charge, but with such a packed schedule coming up, it’s going to be critical that we have a strong squad with a lot of depth.

I think the next couple of matches are going to require a degree of patience from all of us. Without a match for three weeks, the lads looked to be getting a bit tired and leggy towards the end of the Northwich game, and we also have to remember that they have never played together before. ings may get a bit sticky now and again in the next few matches, but we have a great squad here, with a lot of players who have proven quality at this level, so once everyone settles in properly the potential is huge.

I know that the supporters have been used to good times here under Johnno and Bernard, with a fantastic team that took over five years to build. We’re very different characters from those two, but with your continued support, and just a little patience, we will have a team of which we can all be proud.

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It’s definitely been a frantic few weeks behind the scenes, even though a load of our recent games have been postponed due to the weather. Me and Robbo have been calling on all of our contacts to bring in the lads we’re proud to be able to now number amongst our re-constructed squad. e weather problems have been frustrating, but it’s also given us the opportunity to go and approach these lads the right way, giving their clubs the respect that they deserve in the way that we made contact with the players. ere’s no denying that we’ve missed a lot of football, with virtually all of January’s games postponed, and it’ll take a while to get everyone back up to full match fitness, but it’s given us a decent chance to get the lads in and work on some stuff in training.

Now we just want to get the games underway and get going, cos with all the games in hand we have, we’re in a good position and we want to push on.

We’ve been really really impressed with the quality of that lads we’ve managed to bring in. Some of them we invited along because they’ve been recommended to us, and those players have surpassed all of our expectations. It was good to be able to have a proper look at them. With a good number cup-tied, we got the opportunity to see

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After 27 days without action e Rams finally managed to get out on the pitch, in what is looking like a fortunate hole in the bad weather, to start the second half of their season. e repercussions of the enforced lay-off, in terms of chronic fixture congestion are still to be felt but the clear and decisive break with the past it has provided may well be a foundation stone for the future.

With five of the rebuilt squad cup tied any determinative assessment of its strength and potential would be be akin to paying attention to a Ray Winstone halftime on-line betting advert, but there was sufficient in the performance from those who were on display against a team currently top of the Evostik North Division, albeit with their own absences, to offer realistic optimism for the future. e New Year's resolution for all should be to throw away backwards looking rose tinted glasses for that is all history now and the past is a very strange country. For all that, for the first fifteen minutes of the game there was a strange empty feeling on both pitch and terraces-- almost Hamlet without the ghost. at feeling was not helped by the visitors taking the lead after nine minutes with Godwin Abadaki forcing home at the far post after some weak defending down the Ram's right flank. It was inevitable that the Rams would take some time to get going and for a while they were wandering around with the same prospect of finding a mate as a polar bear shipwrecked on the Antarctic, but once Tom Brooks seized on the Northwich defensive indecision in dealing with a hopeful high ball down the middle to fire home from the edge of the box things began to settle down and for the rest of the game the Rams were the better team. ey could count themselves unfortunate not to have gone into the half time break in front. Brooks’ darting diagonal runs offered promise but too often denied by the flag, Lee Gaskell flashing a delicious near post header marginally wide and on 45 minutes Kyle Harrop crashing a 30 yard drive onto the underside of the bar after a lightening break down the right by Osebi Abadaki.

Ian Bennett was growing into a forceful and controlling presence in the middle and on the turn round the Rams took a firm grip on the game. On the hour a quick short free kick found Bennett in space on the edge of the box and his swerving shot into the top corner gave Dave Smith no chance. No doubt with the trip to Buxton in mind Bennett and Brooks were withdrawn shortly after and the loss of the Rams two most influential players on the night it, together with some tiring legs, let Northwich back into the game. For the last 20 minutes the Rams were forced back but kept their shape, defensive composure and, perhaps most crucially, their feet in the tackle. e visitors’ attempts at an equaliser were already petering out when a surpise snap shot from the corner of the box from Malachi Slaven dipped viciously in front of Smith and flew in under his body. e longest journey starts with a single step.

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 27th January 2015 Att: 158 Rammy Goals: Brooks (15), Bennett (62), Slaven (90) Northwich Goals: Abadaki (9)

Osebi Abadaki in one of his best performances of the season

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 27th January 2015 Att: 158 Rammy Goals: Brooks (15), Bennett (62), Slaven (90) Northwich Goals: Abadaki (9)

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Tom Brooks - scrapping like a wild animal up front

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î Łe Rammy Ultras look on as Lee Gaskell hits the post

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blyth spartans Giant Killers hoping for more success Blyth Spartans were formed in 1899 and have certainly left their mark on the world of non-league football over the years. e name ‘Spartans’ was suggested by the then Club Secretary Fred Stoker, naming them after the Greek Spartan army, hoping that the players gave their all as they went into battle on the field of play. Stoker eventually left the North East to form a practice as a Physician in Harley Street, London, but his legacy lives on, with the Spartans name playing a unique part in non-league football.

After initially playing friendly matches, the club joined the Northumberland League in 1901, winning the championship at the first attempt. Further title victories followed, leading the Green Army, as they are also known, to join the Northern Alliance in 1907.

Blyth continued to improve and in 1913 joined the semi-professional ranks in the North Eastern League, where they remained until 1958, when the league folded. Spartans tried their luck in both the Midland League and the Northern Counties League, before returning to the newly revived North Eastern League in the 1960’s, until it eventually folded for good.

With the club at a loss to find a suitable semi-professional league, they decided to turn amateur and in 1964 they joined the Northern League. e Green Army remained members for 29 years and during this time they won the title on no less than 10 occasions, whilst finishing runners-up 5

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times. With the club eager to progress up the league pyramid, they gained promotion to the Unibond League in the 1993/94 season, winning the First Division Championship and the League Cup at the first attempt. e Spartans held their own in the Premier division until financial trouble nearly ruined the club. By 1999 Blyth found themselves in severe debt, but local businesses and supporters rallied round the club to ensure they staved off closure by the HMRC. With a newly appointed Executive Committee and their future seemingly secured, the experienced Harry Dunn was brought in as manager for his second spell with the club.

Along with assistant Graham Fenton, Blyth won the Unibond Premier Division in 2006, gaining promotion to the Conference North. eir first season in the Conference North saw the Spartans just miss out on a Play-Off place, finishing in a creditable seventh position.

Over the next six years Blyth’s fortunes in the now named Blue Square North, took a downturn, with a number of different managers trying to preserve the Spartans league status. With the club starting the 2011/12 season with just two wins in twenty games, they brought informer Newcastle and Burnley midfielder Tommy Cassidy. Despite performances improving in the second half of the season, the mangers efforts were in vain, as Blyth suffered relegation, the first in their 113 year-old history.

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Dan Hawkins in action against Belper Town. Photo by kind permission Bill Broadley.

Blyth are now under the leadership of manager Tom Wade who took full charge in April 2013 after initially joining as assistant manager back in October 2012.

Wade’s appointment saw a marked improvement last season as the Spartans continually pushed for a Play-Off place, beating eventual Champions Chorley along the way. In the end they had to settle for another season in the Northern Premier Division, after finishing 8th in the table, although Blyth’s quality was recognised at International level, with seven players being called up to an England ‘C’ Representative squad who faced a Northern League side, to mark the League’s 25th anniversary.

Blyth Spartan’s name is already written in FA Cup folklore due to their acts of giant

killing. In previous years they have beaten a number of Football League clubs, including, Chesterfield, Stoke City, Shrewsbury Town and AFC Bournemouth. ey actually reached the Fifth Round in 1978 taking Wrexham to a replay, they would have met Arsenal in the Quarter Finals had they progressed. is season has seen the Spartan’s come to national prominence again with their FA Cup exploits. After beating Hartlepool United live on BBC TV, they led Championship Birmingham City two nil, before eventually losing the ird Round tie by three goals to two.

A tight game can be expected today, with Blyth and Rammy virtually neck-and-neck in the table.

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Stephen Turnbull (Midfielder) Aged 28 Previous Clubs; Hartlepool, Bury, Rochdale, Gateshead, Harrogate Town, Bayswater City & Shildon.

Turnbull is nicknamed ‘Twinny’ and is in his third spell with e Green Army, he scored the equalising goal in the FA Cup second round win over Hartlepool.

Robbie Dale (Midfielder/ Forward) Aged 30 Previous Clubs; Ryton, West Allotment Celtic & Whitley Bay. Spartans legend Dale is a dangerous player who can play out wide, but is just as capable up front as well. His goal scoring prowess was evident when his brace gave Blyth a two goal lead against Championship Birmingham City in the cup.

Daniel Maguire (Centre Forward) Aged 22 Previous Club; Seston Delaval.

Maguire has been a revelation since joining the club in 2012, he was Blyth’s leading goal scorer last season, which attracted attention from Oldham athletic. Maguire made the Northern Premier Division Team of the Year in 2014 and represented England ‘C’.

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four to watch

Jarrett Rivers (Winger) Aged 21 Previous Clubs; Middlesbrough, Whitley Bay e pacey winger signed for the Spartans in the summer and has so far made a big impact in the Northern Premier League.

Since Rivers late winner against Hartlepool live on TV, he has been linked to Football League clubs Oldham Athletic and Cambridge United, where he recently had a short trial.

Dan Maguire denies whatever it was Curzon Ashton accused him of doing.

Photo by kind permission Bill Broadley.

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meet the away fans phil castiaux fills us in What's the mood like in the camp at the moment? e mood at the club is bubbling at the moment. e memories of our fantastic FA Cup run remain vivid and we’ve been able to take the confidence and form from the run in to our league fixtures. Home gates are up and we are going into the business end of the season with spirits high. Don’t spoil it Rammy!

Are things going to plan would you say?

Well, the plan was to have a Cup run – which has now been achieved and to greater extent than could have been envisaged. We also targeted a playoff spot. e downside of the Cup run is a fixture backlog which will mean us playing two games a week till the end of the season. So, getting in to the play offs is going to be a big ask.

Can you talk us through the last couple of results please.

We played at Ilkeston recently on a Monday night and got a highly creditable draw bearing in mind the long travel and their recent run of results. We equalised in added time but it was no more than we deserved and demonstrated our never say die attitude. We were due to play Barwell last Saturday but the game was postponed.

For you who are the players to watch at the moment, and why.

Oh, that’s a tough one. Captain, and long term forward, Robbie Dale is having one of his best seasons ever at Blyth. He scored both of our goals against Birmingham City in the FA

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Cup third round at Croft Park in January.

Another forward taking the eye is young Jarrett Rivers. He also sparkled in our FA Cup games. Jarrett was recently on trial at Cambridge United.

Actually, we have a quality squad at the moment and everyone is playing really well.

How long have you been a supporter?

I’ve been a supporter for about 55 years now. I remember my first matches being around 1960. I was born in Blyth, just about half a mile from Croft Park, at 12.30 one Saturday afternoon. I’ve lived all these years with the seething resentment that my parents didn’t think to take me straight down to Croft Park for the match that day! Humph.

What are your most memorable times with the club, and what sticks out for you this season.

Oh, where to start? Could be here all day!

In general there is, not a specific game or whatever, the gradual development of the club from a struggling Northern League club in the mid ‘60s to a Conference North side and a solid Evo-Stik premier club currently.

On specifics, the FA Cup runs of 1971/72, 1977/78, 2008/09 stand out. Some great games and fabulous occasions. e 1970s were a brilliant period with us contesting the Northern League with rivals Spennymoor. inking about it your football memories are like stardust. Numerous, sparkling and ever lasting. is season – beating Hartlepool at their place in front of a raucous travelling support

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Lifelong Blyth fans Phil and Bob pose in front of a fridge big enough to keep dead relatives in

was unbelievable. And beating Birmingham City 2-0 at half time in front of the national press, well, what can you say? Dealing with the media over the last two big cup runs has certainly been memorable.

How would you change the club if you won the lottery?

If it was ten quid I’d upgrade my whisky to a large single malt in the Club House one match day.

If it was bit more I’d send the players to ‘Tie Tying Classes’. Blimey, can no-one under 30 wear a tie properly!?

If it was a vast fortune I’d take over the club as a despotic tyrant. I’d get supporters to march up and down in front of me to show their subjugation. I’d be in total charge of all decisions relating to players and team selection. I’d also be in sole charge of the really important decisions – which butcher supplies

the pies and which brewery the beer comes from. I’d build a vast palace, modelled on Versailles, on the spare land behind the goal. en I’d change the name of the club.

‘Spartans’ ? What a stupid name for a football club. It would be ‘Blyth Bobsleighs’; downhill all the way under me. And the green and white strip...well that’s just plain odd. It will become all purple to reflect my divine regency.

I’d then spend lavishly for my funeral as I guess the supporters will revolt and assassinate me. I suppose they would also pull down the 60m high stature of myself that I erected outside the main gates of Croft Park; and then dance on it. e supporters would probably crown Robbie Dale as King Robbie 1st. He would live with his Queen, Susan, in the Palace and bring peace and success to the club. I will never be spoken of again.

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How would you describe your supporters?

How would I describe our supporters? Well – mostly people really. All shapes and sizes. Bear in mind we come from near the home of the Greggs pasty and that will give you an indication of the most common shape.

Plus we do have a pretty strong canine following. My dog is always pawing me to take him to the match. e vast majority are committed, vociferous, colourful and steadfast. at’s certainly true of the travelling supporters. If our Cannock Spartans are at the match today you’ll know!

What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Obviously I’d hope for a playoff spot and ultimately promotion. en there’s the Northumberland Senior Cup which would be nice to win.

Off the pitch, free pies and Bovril at the games would be quite something. Ah, I suppose that is more of a pipedream than a ‘hope’ though.

How would you describe the town for any visitors, and what one word would you use to describe the ground catering?

Blyth could be described as Britain’s answer to Rome. A place of indefinable romance, culture and style? Nope, just full of dilapidated old buildings.

Nah. Only joking. It’s my home town

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and I’m proud of it. It’s reinventing itself from a coal mining and ship building town to a manufacturing hub and a centre for developing off shore wind technology. e people are resilient and welcoming.

Ground catering in one word?

Challenging.

What's the best pub for a prematch / post-match pint, and why's it a good one?

I’d always recommend the Club House at Croft Park. It’s always friendly, cheap and full of good banter. ere’s sport on the tv and a good variety of beers etc. With being at the ground itself it’s pleasingly accessible for a cheeky half time pint.

What's your connection with the club?

I’m a supporter first and foremost but I am the Media Manager too, working with a talented group of lads on press and media matters.

Tell us a little bit about yourself what you do for a living? Married?

Kids?

I am retired having worked in local government and, more recently, for a Government charity using sport as a diversionary activity for young people. I have two grown up sons from a previous marriage. I married again, to Anna, in Italy last year.

Outside of the football season, of course. I’m not daft. We share our house with Bob the border collie.

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goal sponsorship

We’d like to thank the following people who have already pledged to sponsor the team for every goal scored for the remainder of the season.

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Trigger Stephen & David Ste, Angie & Ethan Maria Mr & Mrs Darkside TobyTrotter Little Katie smiffylad Rammy Blue Chris S Johnno & Bernard Tony Cunningham Lui Delverto Rob Moss John Ayers Richard Isaacs Emma James Ian McCool Frank Crook

£2 £2 £4 £1 £2 £1 £1 £1 £1 £2 £2 £1 £1 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2

If you’d like to join in (you get your name in the programme and receive your very own signed team photo as a thankyou) then please make your pledge on the club forum, email rob.sax@musician.org or call Rob on 07944 038512

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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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The Don 0 24

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tony’s teasers 1. Which team ended Tamworth’s 12 game winning streak last Saturday?

2. Christian Jolley has left Newport County for which Conference club?

3. Lee Hughes has moved from Forest Green Rovers to one of his former clubs.

Which one?

4. Name the player recently transferred from Ilkeston to Sheffield United 5. Which club knocked Altrincham out of this year’s FA Trophy?

6. Name Dartford’s home ground.

7. Paul Carden has recently taken over as Manager at which north-west club?

8. Which Conference North club has been taken over by former local man Gareth Roberts, who has made his fortune in America?

9. Which club ended AFC Fylde’s unbeaten home record last Saturday?

10. Who is the manager of Workington?

ANSWERS: 1. Oxford City 2. Grimsby Town 3. Kidderminster Harriers 4. Che Adams 5. Bath City 6. Princes Park 7. Southport 8. Bradford park avenue 9. Chorley 10. Gavin Skelton 0 24

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meet the home fans little katie at the ewe camp

Are things back on the rails would you say?

I reckon so. Obviously we'll know more when we've seen our new-look team play a few games, but there seems to be a sense of anticipation at the club, rather than one of despair.

Certainly among the fans anyway.

Can you talk us through your view of the last couple of results under Johnno and Bernard please.

It seems like so long ago, I'm struggling to remember what I thought! What I do remember is that it seemed for the last month or two that other teams had got the measure of us. ey'd maybe done their research and

sussed out how we play and how to deal with that, cos we didn't seem able to create the chances that we had done previously. Jordan was consistently marked/manhandled out of the games and with only him up front, it was left to the likes of Grant Spencer to score the goals.

For you who are the players to watch at the moment, and why.

Well, there are a whole load of new ones to watch now aren't there, and it’ll take a little while to see them at their peak. But from the players I know about, I think Tom Williams is one to watch. His corners and crosses are consistently good, so I'm really glad he's still at Rammy.

Tom Williams in action at Nantwich on New Year’s Day

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How would describe the mood like in the camp at the moment?

I'd say a mixture of excitement and frustration. Excitement cos Robbo looks to have made some great signings, and frustration cos we want to actually see them play a few games after the string of winter postponements.

AN 7.

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How long have you been a supporter?

I started watching in the 2005/2006 season (one of my first matches was watching Rammy win the Hospitals Cup at the Reebok Stadium - I don't remember much except it was really cold!!) but only tended to watch home games. en when Bernard and Jonno took over as managers, I got more involved and haven't missed many games since then.

What are your most memorable times with the club, and what sticks out for you this season? ere are the obvious answers of winning the NWCFL and the playoff matches last season, but there are loads of other great memories such as beating Salford City in the FA Cup, finally beating New Mills last season (with Bernard in net for most of the game), two late goals at home to beat

Warrington and a random game up at Colne where the liner over-ruled the (terrible) ref's decision to award Colne a penalty.

Off the top of my head, this season's stand-out moments were the victory at Ilkeston and "that goal" by Whiz.

How would you change the club if you won the lottery?

I'd buy the old paper mill site so that we could have a training pitch and a carpark. I'd also build a bigger tea-bar and hire a groundsman to take the pressure off Harry. I do buy a ticket every week, so you never know!

How would you describe the supporters?

Close-knit. I think that has really shown in the last few weeks with all the upheaval (although we have lost 20 or so supporters who are parents/family Disbelief up at Colne in 2012 as the ref awards a bizarre penalty.

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Katie (right) and friend Victoria rigging the Golden Goal!

of departed players which is gutting). I reckon it's only in the last couple of seasons that it really feels like we've got a "gang" of supporters and that's great. I think we've been a bit quiet lately so hopefully we'll start making more noise again.

What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

A top half finish and some enjoyable times with the Rammy Family.

What's the best pub for a pre-match / post-match pint, and why's it a good one?

Pre-match I'm selling golden goals but post-match we tend to end up in the Cricket Club bar. I like it cos the players, fans, officials, parents etc all mix together which is what makes nonleague so great. ey also don't mind serving me a Bloody Mary!

Away from that, I like the Irwell Works Brewery for the atmosphere and live music. I've been told that the beer/ale which is brewed on site is very good, but that's not my tipple so I wouldn't know!

What's your connection with the club?

My husband has been watching Rammy for 17 years so I started coming down when I met him 8 years ago. I'm now Golden Goal seller, and Membership Secretary of the Supporters' Club.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Married, two stepsons and two cats. I run the radio mic department for a sound company which provides sound gear for concerts and events - great job!

I play squash and football regularly and enjoy doing jigsaws and number puzzles (geek!).

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rammy united

meet the lads

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Jon ROBINSON

Phil EDGHILL

Date of birth: 28th December 1981 Place of birth: Salford Position: Player Manager / Striker Height: 5ft 9ins Previous clubs: Salford, Flixton, New Mills, Bacup A passionate and never-say-die striker who would score goals by sheer hard work and enthusiasm alone. Took over the managerial reins in January 2015.

Date of birth: 13th September 1979 Place of birth: Oldham Position: Assistant Manager / Midfielder Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Rochdale, Ashton, Chadderton, Rossendale, Curzon Ashton, Hyde, Salford A vastly experienced creative midfielder who returned to Rammy as assistant manager in January 2015.

Danny JONES

Darren GREEN

Date of birth: 3rd January 1976 Place of birth: Salford Position: Coach Previous clubs: Scunthorpe United, Altrincham, Curzon Ashton, Salford, Trafford An excellent and experienced coach with a class pedigree in league and non-league football.

Date of birth: 4th January 1979 Place of birth: Bury Position: Coach Previous clubs: Glossop, Bury, Bolton Wanderers A UEFA trained professional football coach who brings a wealth of expertise to the club.

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Cedric KROU

Date of birth: 28th January 1991 Place of birth: Newton Heath Position: Goalkeeper Height: 6ft 2ins Previous clubs: Maine Road, FC United A fantastic goalkeeper whose vision plays as much a part in creating goals as his athleticism plays in denying them.

Date of birth: 25th July 1991 Place of birth: Paris Position: Central Defender Height: 6ft 2ins Previous clubs: FC United, Trafford A calm and creative centre-back who has the skill to bring the ball out of defence.

Andy DAWSON

Harun Bhatti

Date of birth: 19th September 1985 Place of birth: Rochdale Position: Central Defender Height: 6ft 3ins Previous clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Rochdale St Clements, Radcliffe An ‘old school’ centre-half who loves a tackle.

Deceivingly quick and great in the air.

Date of birth: 31st December 1991 Place of birth: Burnley Position: Club Physio Previous clubs: Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Accrington Stanley A first-rate physio, despite his nickname ‘Rooney’ and his supporting Arsenal

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Grant SHENTON

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rammy united

meet the lads

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Lee PUGH

George BOWYER

Date of birth: 26th May 1992 Place of birth: Rossendale Position: Left-Back Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Bury, Hyde, Bacup, Clitheroe, Chester A strong, no nonsense fullback with a priceless long throw. He also takes a mean free-kick.

Date of birth: 11th November 1990 Place of birth: Stockport Height: 5ft 10ins Position: Full-Back Previous clubs: Rochdale, Woodley, Mossley, Curzon Ashton, Bamber Bridge A determined and committed full-back who likes to get forward.

Kyle HARROP

George GRAYSON

Date of birth: 22nd April 1987 Place of birth: Chadderton Position: Full-Back / Midfielder Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Curzon, Trafford, Sorrento and Mandurah (Australia), Ashton , Nantwich A versatile and experienced player who is equally happy at full back or in a holding midfield role.

Date of birth: 27th September 1994 Place of birth: Sheffield Position: Left Wing-Back Height: 5ft 11ins Previous clubs: Sheffield United, Scunthorpe United, Tamworth Fantastic young left wing-back with bags of pace, skill and potential.

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D P P H P A w

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Jamie ROTHER

Date of birth: 24th February 1996 Place of birth: Bury Position: Wing-Back Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Oldham Athletic,Trafford A versatile wide player who is happy on either wing, or in defence.

Date of birth: 8th March 1989 Place of birth: Middleton Position: Midfielder Height: 5ft 8ins Previous clubs: Oldham, FC United, Bacup, Salford A hard working centre-midfielder who’s not afraid to get stuck in when necessary.

Malachi SLAVEN

Ian BENNETT

Date of birth: 17th May 1994 Position: Midfielder A decent quality midfielder who joined Rammy pre-season but has been out on loan, only returning to the club just before Christmas.

Date of birth: 24th February 1986 Place of birth: Middleton Position: Midfielder Height: 5ft 7ins Previous clubs: Manchester City, Ashton United A creative attacking midfielder returning to football after a break to study at university.

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Luke HERON

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rammy united

meet the lads

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Osebi ABADAKI

Tom WILLIAMS

Date of birth: 22nd April 1991 Place of birth: Nigeria Position: Winger Height: 5ft 10ins Previous clubs: Nantwich, Halifax A speedy and tricky winger who can take on defenders for fun and whip in a mean cross.

Date of birth: 4th September 1990 Place of birth: Bolton Position: Winger Height: 5ft 11ins Previous clubs: Bamber Bridge A class winger whose corners and crosses are exquisite.

Tom HARTLEY

Chris BAGULEY

Date of birth: 11th November 1996 Place of birth: Rawtenstall Position: Midfielder / Striker Height: 5ft 7ins Previous clubs: Blackburn Rovers, Moston, Ramsbottom United Youth A young attacking midfielder/striker who progressed through Ramsbottom United’s youth setup.

Date of birth: Place of birth: Position: Midfielder Height: Previous clubs: Oldham Athletic, FC United, Mandurah (Aus), Leigh, Salford, New Mills, Rossendale, Ashton United A cultured attacking midfielder and playmaker.

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T S P H

D P P H P W A r 2

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Team: Rammy U7s School: St Joseph’s, Ramsbottom Position: Mascot Hobbies: Football, Karate

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Sonny MYERS

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Max MYERS Team: Rammy U9s School: St Joseph’s, Ramsbottom Position: Mascot Hobbies: Football, Karate

Lee GASKELL Date of birth: 7th February 1985 Place of birth: Salford Position: Striker Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Morecambe, Trafford, Walshaw, Warrington An incredibly skillful and creative striker who received the Evostik golden boot for season 2013-14.

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures New Years Day 2015, and there was something in the air that night. No, it wasn’t the stars that shone so bright for ABBA’s Fernando, rather a sense of doom and despondency for the Rammy faithful.

Not only had we just witnessed our fifth defeat in a row that afternoon at Nantwich Town but, if the rumours on the terraces were to be believed, it also seemed we had just bore witness to the end of the most successful period in our clubs history. Word had started to spread among the travelling Rammy following at Nantwich on New Years Day afternoon that Jonno and Bernard had been offered the Salford City managerial post after the recent departure of former Ammies boss, Phil Power. It wasn’t the first time we had heard rumours along these lines, remember Northwich Victoria just a year earlier, but our much loved and much respected management team had always stayed loyal to the Rammy cause.

Somehow though, and I’m sure many of us felt the same, this time was different.

And so a couple of days later I was woken from my slumber by Mrs Darkside with the

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news we had all been dreading “Johnno and Bernard have gone… ey’re going to Salford!”

So an away day at Nantwich Town was the end of an era and, as I mentioned earlier, it was a pretty muted atmosphere, on and off the pitch, from the Rams. is I put down to a few things such as hangovers from New Years Eve, open terraces behind the goal and the run of defeats that we didn’t look like putting a stop to on the day. For once, it seemed people had worse hangovers than me. e previous evening myself and Mrs Darkside, along with Martin and Joanne, Paul and Cheryl Whizz and Uncle Dave had celebrated seeing in the New Year at the Phoenix Nights style, Buchanan Club, although I had taken it easy (by my standards) on the alcohol consumption in order to enjoy a good ol’ away day in the morning. What a waste that was, especially with the prices in the Nantwich bar which I have already complained about in a previous column, so wont bore you further. e bar was pretty full and, like any loyal Rammy supporter, I went straight over to the table occupied by Uncle Harry to shake his hand and wish him all the best for 2015. It also gave me the chance to swap greetings with Andy and Little Katie, Sir Paul Cropper and his better half Karol, as well as one of the great unsung heroines

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Going out on a low - Bernard and Johnno at Nantwich

of the Rammy Family, Sophie. I also managed a quick chat before the game with Rob, who has continued to take RammyTV from strength to strength, backed of course by his loyal and hard working camera operatives, Jack and David, not forgetting their Dads, Mike and Stephen.

As always there was an excellent turnout from the Mutton Army, including the Hampshire Branch of the Rammy Ultras consisting of Richard, Statto Vic and, making her debut watching the Rams, Ma Issacs. is helped make up for the absence of Uke Punk who had cried off with the dreaded Xmas-Lurgie that was going around, although the rumour was he had stayed at home with his son, Young Joel and was watching the Man United game on TV. is later led to serious accusations on the forum, with UkePunks Premier League consumption

being compared to e Clash’s signing to CBS (cheers for the info, Jake! at’s a tenner less in your birthday card from Uncle Paul this year).

Despite the downbeat tone of much of this column it was actually quite an entertaining ninety minutes we were treated to. Just six weeks earlier we had won 3-1, in a one-sided F.A. Trophy game at Nantwich and when Robbo opened the scoring on the quarter-hour, quite a few of us felt the three points would be a formality, but how wrong we were. One of Jonno and Bernard’s strengths is that they know how to instil passion into a group of players, but sometimes this seems to rub off on the other team. is was certainly the case with Nantwich who suddenly woke up after the opening goal and started attacking Shents goal with some vim and much vigour.

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures e upturn in the game certainly suited the hosts and by half time they had a 2-1 lead, and were facing a Rammy team who were down to ten men after Gaz Stopforth got his marching orders just before the interval. Now, I witnessed the sending off through Rammy tinted glasses but, even the Nantwich supporters I spoke to at half time agreed it was simply a mistimed tackle that deserved a yellow at most. Not the first dodgy refereeing decision that has gone against us this season, and I’m sure not the last, but rather than just

complaining (again) let us all just hope and pray that we start getting some going our way in the second half of the season. e substitution of Whizz for Osebi, at half time seemed to work for the Rams and for the first fifteen minutes of the second half you couldn’t really tell who had the ten men and who had the eleven.

Unfortunately, on the hour, Nantwich extended their lead and this seemed to signal the end of any chance we had of coming away with any points on the day.

With ten minutes left on the clock Rammy

Gary Stopforth heads off for an early shower

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Paul and Cheryl Whizz, complete with New Year’s Day hangover

were awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by Whizz, to set up a frantic finale. Despite an all-out attack and several goal mouth scrambles it just wasn’t to be our day as we stretched our winless run to six games. We didn’t even stop for a drink at the ground after the game and made our way straight back home to Ramsbottom where we convened in e Railway, due to e Irwell Works Brewery being shut, to drown our sorrows and discuss the big question on all our minds.

So, this was the last game under Jonno and Bernard and now we must look to the future under Robbo and Edgy. ey will be a hard act to follow, as will the players who left and followed them to Salford, but I think the biggest loss for many of us will be the members of the Rammy Family who will now being watching their family try to

further their football careers elsewhere. We have had some amazing days watching this club, and met some people we can be proud to call good friends, but the Rammy Ultras will still grow and gain new members for the exciting new era we have ahead of us under Robbo and Edgy. With that in mind I would like to mention the following, honorary lifetime Ultras who helped make so many days, so special for many of us: Martin and Joanne Geoff e Gaz and Mary Chain Paul and Cheryl Whizz Uncle Dave Young Dave Mick Jonno ...it’s been emotional and you will always be welcome down at e Riverside COME ON YOU RAMS!

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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs Good afternoon everyone, I hope you are keeping well and, hopefully, this game will actually take place.

It has been a very barren run of action for us over the last five weeks or so with just a single game played (the excellent home Cup victory over Northwich Victoria) since the disappointing New Year's Day defeat at Nantwich Town. e league table has taken a worrying look to it with us down in about 16th place but we, as well as our visitors today, have a monsterous amount of 'games in hand' over the majority of those above us so there is no reason to panic or fret just yet.

Naturally, it has been a very disappointing few weeks - both on and off the pitch. I think I speak for us all right now in that all we want is to watch some football, watch Robbo's new look team take to the park and show what they can do. e lingering wait for something to happen has only heightened the anticipation for what is to come. But having 22 league games plus a cup quarter-final and who knows what will happen with that, still to play at this stage of the season is going to mean a hell of lot of matches to watch in the coming weeks. is situation is positively Bacupesque (although I did have a sneaky peak at the NWCFL table and noticed that they are still sitting with one

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win all season in 25 games!).

My long weekend up in the north sadly culminated in three postponements two on the football field and one at the Manchester Arena on Saturday evening.

Yes, I was at the Arena to watch the opening night of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights Live show and yes, it was the one that ended after about 10 minutes of the second half due to Ted Robbins collapsing on stage. It was actually quite scary to see it happen and we had a view through a gap in the curtain to see him receiving CPR. Of course the show had to end there and then so he could receive treatment, so this hasn't exactly been the most productive of few days in the north .... and it's bloody cold too!

However, it was good to visit the ground on Tuesday afternoon to see for myself the state of the pitch and it was certainly the right decision to call the game off. It allowed me a brief time to catch up with Harry and also with Rob, who popped down as well. I have been doing a lot of thinking over the last few weeks or so, ever since the departures took place. At this juncture, I will state that I did visit Moor Lane on Saturday for Salfordbottom United's match against Darlington 1883 and I absolutely hated it! e atmosphere was toxic, the match was poor and to see 'our' lads not in 'our' shirts actually really hurt. I couldn't give

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a monkey's who actually won the game, I just wanted to get out and get home. I wish them all well, of course I do, but .... well, you know!

Anyway, I digress. I have been thinking about how we show we have real ambition.

Over the last five and a bit seasons, our club has gone from being utterly crap to being a club on a meteoric rise. e ground continues to thrive and develop, the team on the park have produced exciting, thrilling football and the support has grown and grown to levels never seen before. But the CLUB itself needs to start thinking very seriously about what it has to do to keep up. e CLUB in this context is not the team or the stadium, but everything around it.

I had a very enjoyable chat with Tony Cunningham on Monday when I was up. It was there that thoughts came into my head about - what next? What happens next for Ramsbottom United.

It was very interesting to read some of the recent programmes around the Christmas period and all of us said "what does 2015 have in store". It started pretty ordinarily with the mass exodus but my personal feeling is that 2015 should be the start of when the club starts to leave its legacy.

What I mean is to really start putting some markers down. Really get involved in every aspect. It was mentioned on the fans web forum about the plethora of committee and hierarchy that Blyth Spartans have whereas we don't. And that is because the club is still running itself like it always used to and always has. Babies don't grow from toddlers to adults in the

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space of four years and neither should we expect our club to. But we have to start learning, have to start going to school and looking at ways to improve ourselves and giving more and more every week, month and year. It needs more input, more drive, more assistance because Harry can't go on forever. Yes, this has all been discussed before and probably at some length, but there is a real need to see ourselves getting more into the community and generating more revenue through sponsorships and arrangements.

OK, this all might be pie in the sky and, oh, have I had some thoughts about many things, including a purpose built stadium at Top Park, 3G/4G pitches and the like.

But that all takes considerable amounts of money, time, effort, planning ... oh, and a lot more money! And it is not necessarily what we have, but it might be something we have to generate and look into a variety of different streams of funding. A 3G/4G pitch would be a real money spinner and also save multiple hours of diviting and match postponements. is costs thousands however!

I will shut up now, I have let my imagination run wild. But I am sure you can see and feel the sentiment and is it possible? Nothing is impossible ... it just needs some nurturing, some careful consideration and someone(s) with the ambition. It is said that our recent exits have been because we haven't shown ambition.

Wouldn't this prove something, eh!

COME ON YOU RAMS!

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grant shenton shouting from between the sticks Yet another postponement on Tuesday night, which is really starting to get the supporters frustrated. Is it just as frustrating for you fellas, and how does it disrupt preparations for matches?

It's not great as we would all like to be playing matches. I've never been in this position before so it's hard to say if it disrupts preparation. We will soon find out I guess.

When we finally get a match played do you think that the lads will struggle a little bit with fitness and match sharpness and what does the squad try to do to minimise these problems?

We are working hard in training and the lads are very fit and can play a solid 90 mins, so that's fine. But match sharpness may be a little low as you may have seen with our start against Northwich, but we grew into the game quickly, so the only way we will get sharp is by playing games.

What have you been up to in the last couple of weeks of training, and are the players starting to get to know each other now?

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We have been doing a lot of new drills under the new management which is a nice change. And we definitely have a team spirit developing - all the lads have gelled really well and it's good to have that feeling of a close changing room.

How do you as players view the possibility of three games a week as we head towards the end of the season? Is it a nightmare scenario, or do you relish the challenge?

Well I can't talk for other the lads who will be putting in the shifts three times a week, but I know it will be good for me - the more times I’ve got a ball in my hands the better. It's not the most ideal situation for the team.

We seem to suddenly have a very large squad of players. Do you think some will get frustrated if they don't get a game, or does everyone acknowledge that we'll need a big squad for all the fixtures that are stacking up?

It's a good thing to have a big squad with the amount of games we have left.

Players will need rests so everyone will be getting plenty of game time.

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“all the lads have gelled really well and it’s great to have that feeling of a close changing room”

Do any of the new players really stand out for you as being 'one to watch'?

All the lads bring something to the table. Baggers has got great feet and distribution and is very pleasing on the eye. Jamie has got great work rate and will be big part of all these games we have coming up. George has come in as the new right back and brings valuable experience which will help in making our back five very solid I could list them all but you ( the fans) will have your chance to make your minds up for yourselves this afternoon.

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supporters club on the terraces of rammy So here we are - those of us that are still here! Astonishingly, 40+ volunteer hours were put into clearing the snow from the pitch a fortnight ago, in the hope that Robbo and the new squad could finally get a league match under their belts. ose same supporters have so far pledged a total of £36 which will be given to Robbo for each and every goal that the team scores through to the end of the season. ese are the supporters who have well and truly nailed their colours to the mast, whose loyalty is not to the club who pays them the most or plans to set the league alight, but to the club that they voluntarily help out, and that they actually PAY to watch! Some would say that our club is run by an evil dictator, a Kim Sung Un with a tea urn and a pile of multi-pack mars bars, but to those who know better, it is a club to which we all belong. It is ours, and it is a club to which our loyalty cannot be bought off or stolen away.

I was reading on the internet some load of bollocks about “e Spirit of the Kop” - the Liverpool fans’ way of trying to suggest that the sanitised rows of plastic seats that now line Anfield are in some way connected with the drunken, urine smelling armpit of a terrace that us realists remember as e Kop.

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ey view the original Kop in the romantic, soft-focus light of nostalgia, forgetting that you never got out of the ground with the programme you bought cos some scally would nick it before the game was ten minutes old, and that the soft-focus was actually due to the billowing clouds of woodbine smoke drifting across the pitch.

But maybe there is a “Spirit of the Kop”.

Maybe there is something that is more than just a stand, or a ground, or a manager, or a squad of players. Maybe there really is something tangible that is Liverpool FC. Here at Rammy our managers and our players have almost to a man disappeared off to affluent pastures new, and although we’ve all felt the Wrath of Williams in our time, we’re still here. Ten of the former Ramsbottom squad showed up for a beer at the cricket club after their match against Darlington, and Jordan could be seen skulking around the place for the Northwich match last Tuesday. Maybe it is the “Spirit of the Ram” that stopped the rest of us even considering watching Salford, that left most of us in no doubt that come hell or high water we would still be here week-on-week, even if we have to once again watch Baz Shuttleworth pull on his Rammy shirt for our trip up to Bacup in the Northwest Counties First Division.

Lee Gaskell told me last week that, even though he was getting paid a shed-load and being treated like some kind of primadonna

P le t in a Ja y li e t it

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

Premiership player at Warrington, he instantly leapt at Robbo’s invitation to return to Rammy, the club he says that he “loves playing for”. Add into that mix passionate Rammy legend Robbo, and Andy Dawson, not to mention Tony, Harry, Jack and a slack handful of die-hard fans, and yes, we already have the makings of our own little “Spirit of the Ram”. We’ve shared the elation of Bamber Bridge and Darlington, and the despair at Skem, which help the club worm its way into our hearts. ese are all the reasons

why seeds of “e Spirit of the Ram” are beginning to germinate in all of us, and those budding seeds are the reason why we are all still here, and will be here for a long time to come.

So while I’ve got you all choked up, give us a shout if you’d like to help sponsor the team per goal. You get a signed team photo at the end of the season and your name in the programme every week. Get in touch: rob.sax@musician.org or telephone 07944 038512.

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Manager: Jon ROBINSON

Grant SHENTON George BOWYER George GRAYSON Jamie ROTHER Callum JONES Cedric KROU Osebi ABADAKI Kyle HARROP Lee GASKELL Tom WILLIAMS Ian BENNETT Luke HERON Chris BAGULEY David KUBA-KUBA Matty BURKE Jon ROBINSON Lee PUGH Andy DAWSON Malachi SLAVEN Tom BROOKS

Manager: Tom WADE

Peter JEFFERIES Joel DIXON Jordan WATSON Ryan HUTCHINSON Nathan BUDDLE Stephen TURNBULL Damen MULLEN Jarrett RIVERS Dan HAWKINS Dan MAGUIRE Robbie DALE Arran WEARMOUTH Neal HOOKS Matthew WADE Niall HARRISON Alex NICHOLSON Danny PARKER Michael RICHARDSON

Referee: William Smallwood Referee’s Assistants: Peter Gibbon, Paul Johnson

Next home game: Tuesday 10th February 7:45pm - Rammy v Harrogate Railway Athletic Doodson Cup Quarter Final

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