55 Ramsbottom United v Barwell

rammy news

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v BARWELL 24-03-15

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H KING’S LYNN TOWN A Workington A Rushall Olympic H NANTWICH TOWN A FC United of Manchester H MARINE H STAMFORD A Whitby Town A Buxton FAC 1Q H WITTON ALBION A Ilkeston H CURZON ASHTON A 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 HARROGATE RA LgCup A Stamford H RUSHALL OLYMPIC A Witton Albion A Blyth Spartans H ILKESTON A Skelmersdale United A Stourbridge H STOURBRIDGE A Buxton H BLYTH SPARTANS A Belper H BARWELL A Grantham Town A Curzon Ashton H TRAFFORD H FC UNITED OF MCR A Ashton United H FARSLEY LgCup SemiFinal H HALESOWEN TOWN H ASHTON UNITED A Barwell H FRICKLEY ATHLETIC H MATLOCK TOWN

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ures & results 2014/15 centre

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Firstly I’d like to extend a warm welcome to this evening’s match officials as well as everyone associated with Barwell Football Club. is first meeting of our clubs is long overdue, and we look forward very much to tonight’s game.

Last week proved very good in terms of points, and it’s encouraging that we could have bagged a couple more against the top class opposition we faced in the shape of Blyth. It’s easy to forget the difficult few weeks preceding, but if you look at the way we have turned things around in just one week - from clawing a draw at Buxton, through deserving a win against Blyth and then finally getting that win at Belper - then we can start to at least take a little heart. e Blyth game in particular was very disappointing as we dominated for almost 85 minutes only to concede two goals at the death. For all of us it felt like a defeat after all the hard work put in by tired legs, but Blyth Spartans are a top team with some incredibly talented players - don’t forget what they achieved in the FA Cup just a few weeks ago and they were never going to go down without a fight.

Sometimes in football it’s not about the quality of the performance but rather about results on the pitch, and the critical three points is what we brought back from Belper on Saturday. A dry, hard and bobbly pitch made for a tricky game against a team battling for their survival in this league, and in the end it needed us to really dig deep to pull off the win. e tightly packed fixture list is starting to tell a little bit now, and we were forced to take Lee Gaskell and Tom Brooks off at Belper, which made things difficult for the lads on the pitch due to the immense amount of work that those two had been putting in, but they were both playing on through injuries (Lee to his foot, and

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Brooksy with a dead leg that he picked up on ursday) so it was critical that we gave them a chance to recouperate before we take to the field yet again tonight.

It’s been a very tough week for everyone, and to lift themselves and bag the late winner was testimony of the hard work that the lads are putting in for the Rammy cause, despite the tiredness. Donal’s late finish was excellent, and brought us to five points from three games, which, given the current circumstances, we’d have taken at the start of the week.

I’d like to thank everyone for the positive support that we’ve been getting, particularly from the wonderful fans who travel all over the North (and not so North) of England watching us. We do have a group of ‘fans’ who have really started giving some stick to some of our players, and it’s been very disappointing to all of us. Yes, the football is not pretty at times, and yes we have players struggling to reach the level required of them - through ability, match fitness, or carrying illness or injury, but they’re giving it their all whenever they pull on a Rammy shirt and I’d like to ask the more negative people in the crowd to try and be a bit more supportive. We’ve seen lots of good times at Rammy, and those good times will return, but it’s those who can be supportive through the leaner times that can call themselves real fans. I’m doing my best to keep the negative comments of the few from affecting the confidence of our players, but why is it that I have to defend our own players from our own fans? at is unacceptable.

I’m expecting a tough test tonight from a team that is chasing those play-off spots, so fingers crossed that (with your support) we can post some more points on the board, and with five games in hand on most teams, get ourselves progressing back up that table.

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robbo

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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 Barwell Football Club. is is the first time our two clubs have met (we still have to travel down to Leicestershire) and whilst the play-offs may just be a stretch too far, they are still handily placed to make a late, hopeful charge for the top five spots. It’s a long journey for them in midweek, and I have no doubt they will be looking to make the trip home afterwards with three points in the bag, so it’s another hard contest for Robbo and the lads.

COMING TOGETHER We always knew it would take time, but having had to reassemble a new squad in mid-season, things finally appear to be settling down.

It’s been a traumatic time for the club, and Robbo, in his new role as playermanager has worked tirelessly to steady the ship (I know the amount of work he has put in by the amount he has pushed my way!). ere have been concerns raised as the new-look side struggled to find any consistency, but that was surely expected to be the case.

However, the signs are there that all the

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effort is finally beginning to pay dividends, as our haul of five points from the last nine (or eight points from fifteen) would appear to confirm. ere is still much football to be played as we attempt to haul ourselves away from the lower reaches of the League, and the challenge between now and the end of April is to ensure that we kick off next August in the same League.

Our last three games have shown the squad beginning to gel. Although we had to battle hard to keep them at bay we earned a well-deserved point at Buxton if only for the sheer determination to grab something from a game which had us on the back foot for large periods. e Blyth game was quite surreal. At 3-1 up with 87 minutes on the clock, three points looked firmly within our grasp.

When Blyth notched a second, I watched their players race back to their half with a determination on their faces that they could still grab a point. Sixty seconds later that optimism proved well founded. David Kuba-Kuba could then have restored our advantage, but there was still time for Spartans to look for an unlikely fourth, and with it all three points. Fortunately the final whistle denied them such a rich picking, and we trooped off with a feeling of desperate disappointment.

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David Kuba-Kuba, who came very close to bagging the midweek win against Blyth

We need to remember though that we had just competed against a club renowned for their FA Cup giant-killing and former members of the Conference. Doesn’t that feeling of disappointment tell you just how far Ramsbottom United have progressed in recent years?

Let’s be honest, if we’d have been offered a point at Buxton and a point against the mighty Blyth Spartans, at the beginning of last week, we would probably have grabbed both results with open arms.

We returned from Belper with Robbo’s second League win under his belt and an invaluable three points to lift us a couple of places up the table.

We have an almighty run-in still to negotiate, and Robbo has, quite rightly, called upon us all to back his new-look team, and encourage them to finish the season in fine fashion.

With everything that has gone on here since the turn of the year, it really is time for everyone within the “Rammy family” to pull together and support the lads and lift their spirits as we look forward to a well-deserved breather come May. Enjoy your non-league football!

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e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 20th March 2015 Att: 234 Rammy Goals: Robinson (16), McDermott (58), Ayres (65) Blyth Goals: Maguire (49,89), Hutchinson (88)

e Rams somehow managed to grab a draw from the jaws of victory on ursday by conceding two goals in the last two minutes of a see-saw game. Going into the two match midweek programme against strong well placed teams they would have settled for a couple of points but the abiding feeling at the final whistle was one of defeat and a marvellous opportunity to leap up the table lost.

Even so on reflection they will see a lot to be built on from a vibrant performance in the first 88 minutes. ere are still some structural issues to be addressed.

Perhaps concerned by an absence of real pace the back four play deep which makes the Rams both vulnerable to the counter attack and prevents them building sustained territorial pressure; and the midfield pair too often find themselves outnumbered. But if they can reproduce the quality of play going forward against Blyth on a consistent basis some team could well get a pasting soon.

In front on 17 minutes from a Jon Robinson goal lashed in with aplomb the Rams grew in confidence getting wide consistently and apart from the odd alarm at the back looked more than a match for the visitors. e lead though lasted only minutes, after the break Danny Macguire powering in an ustoppable header after the Rams had all too easily conceded possession in midfield.

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Undeterred and driven on by a duracel David KubaKuba the Rams seized control. Robinson at full stretch could not control a volley from a Donal McDermott free kick and for a moment that seemed to be a defining moment. But three minutes later McDermott scored by far the best goal seen at the HWRS this season and perhaps for many a season for the cleanliness of its conception and execution. Found in space wide by a 30 yard pass of unerring accuracy from Matt Burke the winger took two strides into the corner of the box and sent a vicious shot that accelerated across the face of the goal and in off the far post. When Mark Ayres sweved in a shot from the most impossible of narrow angles the Rams looked well on the way to a notable success. e ability to close down games though has never been in the Rams DNA. Blyth threw on tall substitutes and then it was only a question of time before a succession of corners and free kicks yielded a goal for the visitors Ryan Hutchinson squeezing in a knock down at the near postwith just a couple of minutes left. e Blyth team sensed redemption and piled forward. e next attack saw Grant Sshenton unable to hold onto a low shot and Macguire was on hand to capitalise.

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î Łe Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 20th March 2015 Att: 234 Rammy Goals: Robinson (16), McDermott (58), Ayres (65) Blyth Goals: Maguire (49,89), Hutchinson (88)

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welcome barwell canaries head north once again Barwell Football Club was formed in 1992, when Barwell Athletic and Hinckley FC merged and started life in the Midland Combination. At the start of the 1994/95 season Barwell became founder members of the newly formed Midland Football Alliance League. Home games are played at the Kirkby Road ground and the complex includes facilities for a number of other sports that include bowling, cricket and a sporting club. e ground actually played host to Leicestershire for two County Cricket Championship matches shortly after the Second World War and is still used by the Leicestershire Second Eleven and Youth teams. e ground saw many developments and upgrades over the first eight years of Barwells existence, which culminated in a new stand being officially opened by England International goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who was originally from Barwell. e first piece of silverware for the new club came during the 2005/06 season under the leadership of manager Bob Steel, when the Canaries beat Leamington to win the Polymac Services League Cup, at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium. Barwell’s nickname the Canaries, comes from their green and yellow home kit. e next few seasons saw mixed results for Barwell and a number of managerial changes. With Bob Steel stepping down and his replacement Ian Blyth also leaving the

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club, Marcus Law took over the reins and steered Barwell to a mid-table finish in 2008, after a difficult campaign.

Law’s first full season in charge in 2008/09, saw the club achieve its best league finish in its short history. e Canaries ended the campaign as runnersup and also lifted the Westerby Cup, defeating Quorn at Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium. e following year saw Barwell go one better and after sixteen consecutive seasons in the Midland Football Alliance, they finally achieved promotion to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. e League Championship was won in style as the Canaries won 36 of their 42 games, scoring 125 goals in the process. ere was also success in the FA Vase as Barwell reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners Whitley Bay over two legs. e 2010/11 season saw Barwell continue their excellent form, this despite manager Marcus Law stepping down and his then assistant Paul O’Brien leaving the club after a brief spell in charge. After losing two managers in quick succession, the Canaries season could easily have folded, but with Jimmy Ginnelly installed as manager Barwell won the Evo-Stik Division One at the first attempt to continue their rise up the Non-League ladder.

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Before the start of the 2011/12 season Barwell were moved into the Southern Premier Division as the club prepared to play at their highest ever level of the NonLeague pyramid. During the campaign there were a number of personnel changes within Jimmy Ginnelly’s coaching staff, but the club still managed a creditable 9th place finish. e following year saw the Canaries stay in the top five for the majority of the season until a dip in form eventually meant they again finished in a respectable position, this time in 8th place.

Another restructure saw Barwell moved back to the Northern Premier League for

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the start of the 2013/14 season. is proved to be a difficult campaign, as the club adjusted to life back up north. ey started reasonably well, but a bad run of results meant Barwell spent a period of time in the relegation zone. Come the end of the season, an upturn in form ensured Jimmy Ginnelly’s men finished in 14th place in the league.

An improvement in performances this season sees Barwell currently sitting in 8th position in the Northern Premier Division, although a place in the play-offs may well elude them this year.

- Words provided by Gareth Bird

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Liam Castle (Goalkeeper) Previous Clubs; Basingstoke & Hinckley An experienced goalkeeper, who originally signed for the club in 2006 and is now in his ninth season. Castle has previously had trials with Northampton Town, which shows the quality he brings to the team. Liam is an excellent shot stopper and off the pitch has taken up long distance race driving .

Kieron Brehon (Midfield) Previous Clubs; Hinckley, Bedworth & Nuneaton Griff.

Now in his second season at Kirkby Road, this young midfielder is definitely a talent who must be watched carefully. Brehon has impressed the home faithful with his ball winning in the centre of the park and his powerful runs. e youngster has provided a number of assists this season and is more than capable of getting his name on the score sheet.

Nigel Julien (Winger) Previous Clubs; Coventry City, Nuneaton Borough, Swaffon Town & Quorn. is talented footballer can play either as a right winger or an attacking midfielder. He previously has been on the books of Coventry City, which is evidence of his pedigree. Julien is known for scoring important goals - during his time with Quorn, he scored a last minute winner to knock FC United out of the FA Cup. Nigel does have a family connection with Barwell as his brother Jouel Potter is a former striker for the club.

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four to watch

Jamie Hood (Centre Back) Previous Clubs; Hinckley, Nuneaton Griff, Nuneaton Borough, Gresley & Leamington.

Quality centre back, who signed in 2013 from Leamington where he was club captain. Hood has a wealth of experience. He has spent the last couple seasons at the heart of Barwell’s defence and adds pace and professionalism.

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meet the away fans james tomlin fills us in What's the mood like in the camp at the moment?

I think on the whole it will be a positive one. We've had a terrific season and look likely to achieve our highest ever finish (we did finish 7th of 22 in the Southern League back in 12/13). e only negative aspect is 5 away trips in March alone Workington, Blyth, Trafford, Whitby & yourselves - a 1,500 miles round trip.

Are things going to plan would you say?

I think only Jimmy could answer this one! On the whole I would say yes. It looks like we may get a top ten finish which a lot of sides would take if offered at the start of the season. We have the nucleus of a very good side which needs to remain together - ideally we can add 2/3 players for next season to get into that top five.

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

We beat second placed Skelmersdale United 2-0 at home in the most complete team performance of the season. We then drew 2-2 with Frickley at home, in a see-saw contest which also saw them have a penalty saved.

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

Ant Carney has had a terrific season so

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far since joining in late August from Coalville Town. Danny Jenno has been the most consistent player with some brilliant displays at the heart of our defence (also a few goals too). Malcolm Melvin & Alex Tomkinson also warrant mentions for their outstanding workrate & commitment during a game.

How long have you been a supporter?

I've been actively involved with the club for 15 years or so, but I can remember sneaking in to watch Barwell in the early years since forming in 1992.

What are your most memorable times with the club, and what sticks out for you this season? e 09/10 season when we won the Midland Alliance without losing a game - we won 36 of 42 league games and missed out on a possible trip to Wembley in the FA Vase - losing to eventual winners Whitley Bay in the Semi Final to an injury time goal - we played 65 minutes with ten men in the 2nd leg. is season would be the FA Trophy replay with FC United of Manchester - it had everything. We were 2-0 up with 13 to play. e win at an in form Curzon Ashton in the FA Trophy was probably the best and most satisfying performance so far.

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

Change is probably the wrong word - the people that run the club are fantastic & are an integral part of where we are now.

Financial backing would enable the club to be promoted How would you describe your supporters? î Łe same as most clubs I would imagine? Vocal, opinionated, loyal. It would be nice to increase the core home support.

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“We've had a terrific season and look likely to achieve our highest ever finish”

What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

As I write this we sit in 8th place which isn't a bad place to be going into the latter stages of the season. We can push for a play-off place if we can put a couple of good runs together in the remaining matches. We also had a good cup run in both the FA competitions.

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

Barwell is what I would consider my home town (or village as it actually is).

It's a small enough place to know everyone, but big enough to keep yourself to yourself. e pubs are a real focal point just as they are in most other towns/villages. As for the catering Burger. e Barwell Burger is getting quite a name for itself within non league.

FC United of Manchester fans will definitely miss it next season when they finally achieve promotion from the NPL.

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

I'll have to say 'e Barn' which is located within the Kirkby Road Sports Complex.

It's the base for the club and often has a few decent guest ales to choose from!

Down in the village centre - 'Top Town' Topps, e Blackies & e Queens offer their own unique atmosphere.

What's your connection with the club?

I currently run the official Barwell FC Twitter account (@barwellfc1992) and assist with the PA duties on home matchdays. I have been involved with the club for around 15 years now.

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

I'm a sales manager for Aggregate Industries - a major construction materials supplier. I live with my fiancee Jennie and have recently become a dad with the arrival of baby Georgia.

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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.

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 Paul Gaskell

£2 £2 £4 £1 £2 £1 £1 £1 £1 £2 £2 £1 £1 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £5

F D Y

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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 e Fans Fund total currently stands at £540

North Nor th 52 Bo

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Financial F inancial Planning Designed For For YOUR Y OUR LIFESTYLE F or a confidential initial For one to one at our eexpense xpense please contact us... on 01706 822622

advice@northernstarifa.co.uk advice@northernstarifa.co.uk

P Professional rofessional Financial Financial Planning here in R Ramsbottom. amsbottom.

Northern Financial Nor thern Star F inancial Management Limited 52 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,BL0 9HX

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Ian Bennett

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tony’s teasers 1. Glossop North End entertain St. Austell on Saturday in the FA Vase semi-final second leg. What was the score from the first leg in Cornwall?

2. What is the nickname of our next opponents, Grantham Town?

3. AFC Fylde were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home to which club on Saturday?

4. Who is the new manager of Stalybridge Celtic?

5. Celtic’s former boss Keith Briggs has joined which NPL club as a player?

6. What colours do Harrogate Town play in?

7. Whose home ground is called Stormy Corner?

8. Who is the manager of Bamber Bridge?

9. Which Welsh club plays at Pennydarren Park?

10. In which League do Garstang play?

ANSWERS: 1. St.Austell 0 Glossop North End 2 2. e Gingerbreads 3. Hyde 4. Liam Watson 5. Ashton United 6. Gold and Black 7. Stalybridge Celtic 8. Neil Crowe 9. Merthyr 10. West Lancs. League 0 24

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ANSW 6. Gol

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e Silverlands 18th March 2015 Att: 197 Rammy Goals: Gaskell (66) Buxton Goals: Taylor (64)

Excellent young striker Tom ‘Baby Boris’ Hartley wreaked havoc during his short spell towards the end of the match

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If there were any doubts that the management and team see themselves in other than a vicious fight to retain NPL status , never mind the games in hand, the approach to this game should consign them to the rubbish bin. Apart from the very occasional sporadic attempt to build an attack the Rams spent virtually the whole 90 minutes in 10 and often 11 man desperate and sometimes despairing defence. What the performance lacked in quality, the brief being to win tackles and lump the ball aimlessly forward, was made up by sheer guts, passion and effort.

Such was Buxton’s dominance both in possession and territorially the only real surprise was that it took them 65 minutes to score having carved out any number of openings and wasting some glorious chances, not least when Joe Mcgee shot against the inside of the post the ball rebounding to a Rams foot, and then on 60 minutes Greg Young lofted over from six yards out with the net gaping. At that moment the Rams thought they might just be in for a night of total good fortune but five minutes later the defence was sucked to the near post and Alistair Taylor drove home from an angle. e feeling was that once behind that would be it, but to their credit in a rare couple of minutes of controlled football the Rams managed to push forward and find a bit of pressure. Vinny Mukundi headed back into the path of Lee Gaskell on the edge of the area, who hit the sweetest of shots both in terms of execution and outcome past Aaron Jameson. Buxtons lead had lasted less than two minutes .

After that though normal service was resumed. How Buxton did not score again will forever remain a mystery but there were moments when e Rams almost grabbed a victory as unlikely as Custer walking away from the Little Big Horn. A bit more composure might have seen Luke Heron taking another couple of paces into the box before shooting having been sent clear by the magnificint Lee Neviile - but no more magnificent than the others in the back fourand then with only minutes left sub Tom Hartley's cut back from the bye line threw the Buxton defence into confusion and only a set of last ditch blocks from Gaskell and Jon Robinson prevented the Rams from going in front. It was symptomatic of the game though that Buxton turned that alarm into rapid attack and in what seemed an age of added on time into a last frantic unavailing seige of the beleagured Rams defence. At the final whistle the Rams galloped out of the Black Hills of Buxton before the local constabulary across the street could bring charges for grand larceny of a point.

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Stourbridge figured out the only way to contain Donal McDermott

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e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 14th March 2015 Att: 261 Rammy Goals: Stourbridge Goals: Brown (9)

e Rams will be bitterly disappointed to have lost this game having beaten the visitors in the Black Country only 4 days earlier. As they ponder on the defeat and prepare for a hectic spell of 3 games in the next 7 days there are two lessons that need to be taken on baord and dealt with. Firstly, now having had a man sent off in 5 of the last 6 games, it does help to keep 11 men on the pitch and secondly a way has to be found of fielding two strikers.

Another trait that has to be reversed is giving the opposition an early goal start but at least on Saturday the lead conceded was down more to good play from the visitors tha defensive lapses - although the defence was perhaps a liitle too eaily diced and sliced by a slick move down the right after 9 minutes that presented Kayeldon Brown with an untroubled pass into the net. e visitors went on to dominate the half moving the ball quickly out of defence while the Rams were in something of a soporific stouper. When Alex Frost was sent off for a second yellow with one of those mis-timed " honest ref I got there as quick as I could" tackles only monents after a first for an innocuous push it looked very much like one of those days again.

Perhaps shocked at the idea that they had a victory easy to hand Stourbridge failed to press home their advantage. e Rams began to nip and nag at their defence without quite managing to get into the box or test the keeper.

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e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 14th March 2015 Att: 261 Rammy Goals: Stourbridge Goals: Brown (9)

Vinny Mukendi stumbled around in what looks suspiciously like a constant state of languid weariness but with no-one able to get close enough to feed off his knock ons it was all a bit Toshack without Keegan. at changed though with the introduction of Lee Gaskell. e Rams sensing that the visitors were running out of steam and throwing caution to the wind stormed forward. Dean Colemean did well to tip over two long range shots from Lee Neville and then Gaskell and then pulled off just about the best save seen at the HWS this season to tip away a cross shot from Gaskell that was all but in the corner of the net. e keeper was then fortunate to scoop away a Mukendi header that more than one observer thought had crossed the line. By this time all 9 outfield players were camped in the Stourbridge half and only a succession of brave last ditch tackles kept the visitors from breaking out with the back four and Kyle Harrop in particular outstanding But th eequaliser deserved though it was failed to come leaving the Rams in need of at least 4 points from the 3 games ahead- away at Buxton home against Blyth Spartans and then away to Belper.

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Lee Neville tusseling for possession

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Accused by many of taking the money and running to Warrington Town, 29year-old striker Lee Gaskell was one of the first names on Robbo’s must-have list when he took over the job. We grabbed Gassy earlier in the week and posed some of the burning questions on everyones minds. Here’s what he had to say to us.

“Before I joined Warrington a couple of months ago I’d been a Rammy player for over four and a half years. I’d been playing at Walshaw for a couple of years when Bernard gave me a call and asked me to come down. I remember that my debut was against Padiham in the Northwest Counties, and I was bitten by the Rammy bug more or less straight away.

“I started out as a professional player way back, playing at Bury and then at Morecambe, but I ended up with a bad shoulder injury that put me out of the game. I packed in and became an electrician but ended up eventually playing Sunday League with my mates, before getting back into the game properly with Walshaw and then Rammy.

“With regard to Warrington - I didn’t really want to go there, or leave Rammy.

If you recall, I was coming back from an injury early on in the season and was just starting to get properly back to match fitness. e first I learned about Warrington was when I was heading to training and Bernard gave me a call to tell me that Warrington were interested in taking me on loan for one game. It looked like it’d work out perfect all round because I needed a couple of matches to get back to full fitness for

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Rammy and, because I wasn’t cup tied, Warrington could play me in the big FA Cup up at Gateshead in front of millions of people on the tv.

“So I got to training and had a word with Johnno and Bernard, and they told me they weren’t going to let me go. I was a bit miffed really as I wasn’t even playing at Rammy at the time, and it’d be just one game. ey told me that if I wanted to go then I’d have to go permanently.

“When the loan deal was rejected Warrington then put in a seven-days request to talk to me about a permanent move, which I accepted, mainly because of what had happened around the loan offer and because I wasn’t getting game time.

“I didn’t fall out with Johnno and Bernard or anything. I’ve known them for years and we’re all better than that. I did see one article in the paper where Johnno said that I’d seen my best playing years and that they’d got the best out of me, and I don’t think that’s true, but we’ve not fallen out. I’d have expected a little bit more respect from them as I’ve put a lot of effort into helping get the club where it is, and I’d like to hope that people appreciate my contribution.

“On my return from injury it was definitely proving difficult to get back into the team and, although I felt that I was just about back firing on all cylinders, the lads were going with a three-man midfield with just Jordan up front. Jordan’s a great player, and came back from America on fire, so it was frustrating to be sitting on the bench through no real fault of my own, I won’t deny it.

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the prodigal gassy who needs the money when you’ve got the rammy thang?

Unforgettable goal, unforgettable game, Gaskell scores the opener at Bamber Bridge last season

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at’s why, when the opportunity came to play in that massive game, I felt like I was being held back a bit, unnecessarily.

“When I did join Warrington I was astonished at how well the club is set up and run - as a player you really get treated like a professional. For example, when I got a bit of a knock on my hamstring they put me straight into yoga classes to get it moving. ey have a couple of masseurs and a kit man and all that stuff, it’s very well set up. If anything though, things are a little bit disjointed. ey have three coaches who work everyone really hard on pass-pass-pass, but then when you take the pitch in a match it’s all about long ball. It doesn’t make much sense to be working on different things in training from what you’re using in a game situation, but that’s the way it works over there.

“Shaun Reid is quite a character. He is a headcase, but he’s also quite a funny guy. It’s

not at all like Rammy though because you never really get to see much of him. I certainly had few dealings with him - he’d come in for five minutes before kick-off, do his team talk, and then disappear for the rest of the game.

Sometimes he’d come in for a talk at halftime, other times he wouldn’t. It’s a bit of a strange one cos I’ve been constantly with Johnno and Bernard for almost five years, and you definitely feel the difference!

“Gateshead in the FA Cup was a fantastic experience though, and I’m really glad I took that opportunity. We trained on the Saturday morning, and then went up on a coach to the northeast on Saturday afternoon. We did all the media interviews in the afternoon and then stayed over for the night. Sunday morning and we were driven to the ground for a load more interviews before getting ready for the game. We all got treated like top professionals for the weekend, it was great.

“Warrington was fun, and a great experience, but it’s good to be able to return

Doing it in style - why not make your 100th goal part of a hat-trick?

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Our favourite Rammy photo ever - Mossley put to the sword in a 4-0 Rams win

“At the end of the day, I love playing for Ramsbottom, and that’s not going to change!” to Rammy. It was about three or four days after Robbo took over that the seven day notice came to Warrington. I was down at training and one of the coaches came over to tell me that Ramsbottom had put seven days in for me. It was a bit of a shock at first because people had moved on and what have you, but I said I would speak to them like I have (out of courtesy) with any other club who’s asked to speak to me. Robbo rang me when the seven days were up, and we had a chat about what he wants to do and

how he wants to progress, and to be honest it was a no-brainer to come back. Robbo knows me well, and he knows how I play so it worked out as the perfect opportunity to come back.

“Warrington weren’t best pleased, it has to be said. I think they’d been surprised that I signed for them in the first place, so to be losing me after just six weeks came as a bit of a shock to them. I told them that, at the end of the day, I love playing for Ramsbottom, and that’s not going to change.

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“I get on really well with Robbo both on and off the pitch. ere is a weird connection that we have when we play though, everything just clicks. Sometimes that’s just the way things happen, a bit like a Yorke and Cole type partnership.

“Perhaps some people are concerned that my fitness might start to suffer now that I’m pushing 30, but I’m not that kind of player - I’m not a fast Dom Smalley type who will just chase around like a terrier all afternoon. To be honest, when I first started playing I used to go looking for the ball a lot more, but you learn off players like Robbo - it’s not fluke that you happen to be in the right place at the right time to just score a simple tap-in, It’s my ball control that buys me time and

space rather than chasing around, as I like the ball at my feet.

I think I’ve got a good few years yet before my play starts suffering, infact if anything I expect to get better over the next couple of years.

“I am looking forward to working under Robbo as a manager, that’s for sure. I think we’re all seeing a new side to Robbo. You’ll never take the passion out of him because that’s the kind of fella he is, but now that he’s a manager you’ll definitely see a more professional side of him. He’s already showing that in training with the lads, he’s brilliant, absolutely spot-on for the job. Phil Edghill and Danny Jones are excellent additions as well. I’ve known Edgy for ages and Danny Playing at Gateshead during Warrington’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat

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Back in the day - when the socks and shorts didn’t fit and we still had to play teams like Bacup!

was the reserve team coach when I was a youngster down at Trafford - he was the one that pushed me to break through into the first team. ey’re both really good with people too, particularly Edgy - I’ve got a lot of time for both of them. “ey’ve definitely had their work cut out over the last few weeks, what with bringing in new players and the like, and when I turned up to training I didn’t know what to expect. But the players they’ve brought in are fantastic, with great promise. Robbo’s done very well to bring that quality of player in with so little time to do it. e two lads who really stand out for me are Kyle and Jamie - they cause so

much trouble. “e key thing for us now is to get out and get some points on the board. With the cup runs and the weather we’ve got a big backlog of games and, although a short break was a nice chance to get the lads used to playing together, we’re paying for that now.

“It’s great to be back at Rammy, and it’s a real testimony of the quality of fans we’ve got that when I scored my first goal for Warrington, the first people I noticed in the crowd behind the goal were Rammy fans Dave Holt and his son Henry. I hope they’re as glad that I’ve come back as I am to be back.”

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1-2

Christchurch Meadow 21st March 2015 Att: 221 Rammy Goals: Brooks (32), McDermott (88) Belper Goals: Towey (86)

A very tired bunch of Rams players ended a very satisfying week on a positive note with a well deserved if somewhat nervy win against a determined but all but doomed Belper team. It will be a great shame to see this well organised, welcoming and well appointed club return to the first division after just one season. e Rams might have been in front after only 15 minutes, many being positive that Vinny Mukendi's header had crossed the line before being clawed back by the Belper keeper.ey went in front just after the half hour when Mukendi neatly turned Lee Neville's raking diagonal pass into the path of Tom Brooks and could have been sitting comfortably in their armchairs had first Donal McDermott and then Tom Brooks converted when one and one on the keeper either side of half time. Driven on by David KubaKuba who put in a second outstanding performance the Rams created several more clear openings that lacked only a bit of composure and accuracy and timing of the final pass. But while the game stayed 1-0 there was the risk and vulnerability to Belper equalising and ruining a lot of

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hard work. So it seemed when with only four minutes left Michael Towey glancing in a knock on from a long throw. e Rams were nothing less than positive in their immediate response.

Donal McDermott skipped away from the half way line, neatly evaded a lunging tackle designed only to take him out of the game and slipped the ball neatly round the advancing keeper. e win takes the Rams up to 17th position with a five point cushion and still a number of games in hand over the teams around them.e fact that Rams rather lost their way in the last 30 minutes or so can be attributed to the understandable fatigue of playing four games in seven days but in letting Belper back into the game demonstrates that the undoubted positive direction of team cohesion and understanding has to be balanced against a residual fragility in confidence to put games to bed. For all that the Rams are in a much better place both in terms of league position and belief and conviction than they were a few short weeks ago.

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Vinny Mukendi grapples with the Belper defender for possession

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grant shenton shouting from between the sticks A hell of a week with some excellent patches and some woeful patches, but five points at the end of it is no bad thing.

How did you feel about the week overall?

Well five points from nine playing Buxton and Belper away and Blyth at home is a very good return I'd say in our position. Maybe we could have had all nine with how we have played but if we would have been offered 5 points from a possible 9 everyone in the changing room would have taken it.

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minutes which I was understandable given the games we've played and the opposition we were up against. ey had the quality on the bench to make it really difficult for us. e lads were down but we have games left to make it right so we are still confident.

Did we set out to defend and get a hardearned point at Buxton, or was it just a case of sitting too deep?

Going away to Buxton is never easy whether you’re top of the league or nearer the bottom. So we arrived with our game plan and we had some luck, but in football you make your own luck. We had chances to win the game as well so a good point away to a team I rank as the best attacking front line in the league.

Were you beating yourself up about the last goal, or are you level-headed enough to realise the number of times you kept us in that game as well as so many others?

I was very disappointed with the last two goals yes. If I make a mistake I think of ways to prevent it happening again rather than thinking that I made two saves earlier in the game which make up for it. I know the risks of being a keeper and it's one of the reasons I love playing in net so much. I've been at the club a long time and I have matured so much that I know how to move on from silly little mistakes. e older I get the better my game will develop.

After the confidence boost at Buxton we thoroughly outplayed Blyth for long periods of the match. Did it dent the lads' confidence to concede two late goals?

It definately felt like a loss on ursday because of how well we played, but we faded in the last 10

After Gassy and Brooks went off at Belper we found ourselves seriously on the back foot, and almost losing out on the three points. Was the change as simple as losing Gassy’s mammoth work-rate on the field, perhaps tiredness, or was it something else?

It looked on paper to be the game where we would be most likely to pick up three

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points but if you look at their results at home it wasn't an easy place to go.

Gassy gives us so much protection from the front and we probably did miss his energy but we are playing a lot of games and the management has to think of squad balance, so I back their decision making - they are doing an amazing job at short notice and getting the best out of the players we have.

Conceding goals does seem to be the ďŹ rework up the backside that we need at times, and again we rose to the challenge after Belper's equaliser. Do you think think there is a less damaging way of getting our tails up than conceding a goal?

I wish I could put my ďŹ nger on why it takes us to concede to get on the front foot. I'm not sure.

I just hope it can stop - we're all grown men and should know how to start a game.

Behind your goal I could see the frustration at conceding the equaliser at Belper, and I think we all shared that. Was the mood in the changing room more positive after bagging the winner, or did people feel we'd made a meal of getting the win?

For me personally I have high standards and I wasn't happy with our second half display. And when they scored it got to me and it took me until the coach to calm down and remember we got 3 points.

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supporters club on the terraces of rammy Regular readers of the programme will be a little bit surprised at what I’m about to say as I’m generally nothing but complimentary about the wonderful support that we get down here at Rammy, but Robbo expressed some disappointment and upset to me on the phone this week, and I feel that it’s something that needs bringing up here.

You may recall a couple of issues ago that I recounted my experiences at a Boxing Day game I went to in Northampton a few years ago, where I felt that the whingers and nay-sayers in the crowd helped Northampton’s opposition overturn a halftime lead of 2-0 and come away victors.

I’ve also been quite out-spoken in the past about supporters that are so busy eating their prawn sandwiches at Wembley that they don’t bother re-taking their posh corporate seats until ten minutes into the second half, and then they all leg it ten minutes before the end of the game.

Now I don’t care if you’ve paid your tenner to get in, or your four quid or whatever. I firmly believe that you are thoroughly entitled to your opinion on the ability of the players and the performances of the team, but I also believe that anyone wearing the Rammy shirt should be treated

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with respect and encouragement, particularly players that are absolutely exhausted from the rapidly increasing pressure that the dense fixture list is putting on them - lads that, don’t forget, all have to get up and do a day’s work before turning out for Rammy as far afield as Stourbridge and Blyth on Tuesday nights. We also have players who are pulling on the club shirt despite carrying injuries, illness, or are lacking in true match fitness. Add to that something Kyle Harrop said to me after the Stourbridge match... “If we were capable of completing every pass or controlling every ball then we’d be multi-millionaires playing for United week in, week out!”

So what’s the point I’m trying to make through all this waffling? e point is - if you have something negative to say then can I suggest that you keep it to yourself for the duration of the match because it’s affecting the confidence and performances of OUR OWN PLAYERS! You might feel that Donal McDermott isn’t contributing enough to the game, or that Grant Shenton is at fault for the third goal, and you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, but during the 90 minutes (or 85 minutes for those of you that have somewhere to so urgently rush off to after the match) we’d all appreciate it if you shove those opinions up your arse!

Never, in my 35 years of watching football have I ever before had to witness the

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Legia Den Haag supporters in the Netherlands showing what supporting a team is all about

debacle of my own manager having to defend his players against his own supposed supporters, and I’d like to hope that I never have to witness that kind of pathetic display again, certainly not while supporting as close-knit a club as Ramsbottom United.

Your wife may be a miserable sod, you may have whinged and moaned your way through your sad ‘cup half-empty’ life, and you may have suffered through 40 years of a God-awful job, but it’s unacceptable that the team I support has to put up with your loud, incessant and unacceptable rantings. is isn’t Old Trafford or e Etihad, where you paid £70 to get in and where the players are full-time professionals paid tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, this is Ramsbottom United where they get a can of Coke and a Mars Bar (a multipack one at that)!

Right now we have a team and club in transition. We have players who are having

to up their game, and do it three times a week to try and keep our club’s head above the relegation zone - a club that very few of these players have yet developed any loyalty to. Which of those players do you think are likely to leave when they’re getting abuse from the touch-line while trying to run off a knock? And if they leave, what do we have left? How do we attract and keep the good ones if they’re suffering a tirade of abuse from us? We aren’t paying them enough for that, and if you put yourself in their position, would you stand for it?

All of that said, I still maintain that we have the best support of any club at our level, and I’d like to ask everyone who hears this kind of stick being handing out to have a quiet word with the perpetrators. Paying £4 to get in doesn’t entitle anyone to be abusive to our players, and I hope that those of us properly supporting our team don’t have to endure any more of this kind of behaviour.

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points total

league position

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Manager: Jon ROBINSON

Grant SHENTON Kyle HARROP Lee NEVILLE Jamie ROTHER Alex FROST Mark AYRES Osebi ABADAKI Matty BURKE Lee GASKELL Vinny MUKENDI Donal McDERMOTT Ian BENNETT George BOWYER Tom WILLIAMS Luke HERON Malachi SLAVEN Callum JONES Tom BROOKS Phil EDGHILL Jon ROBINSON

Manager: Jimmy GINNELLY

Liam CASTLE Scott LOWER Eddie NISEVIC Danny JENNO Jamie HOOD Richard LAVERY Alex TOMKINSON Callum WOODWARD Jamie TOWERS Malcolm MELVIN Anthony CARNEY Nigel JULIAN Declan TOWERS Kieron BREHON Danny GAUNT Jack COLLEY

Referee: Matthew Donohue Referee’s Assistants: Justin Bebbington, Stephen Howard

Next home game: Wednesday 1st April, Rammy v Trafford

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