59 Ramsbottom United v Halesowen

rammy news

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v HALESOWEN 11-04-15

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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 Tues 10th Feb Sat 14th Feb Tues 17th Feb Sat 21st Feb Tues 24th Feb Sat 28th Feb Sat 7th Mar Tues 10th Mar Sat 14th Mar Tues 17th Mar Thurs 19th Mar Sat 21st Mar Tues 24th Mar Sat 28th Mar Sat 4th April Mon 6th April Weds 8th April Sat 11th April Tues 14th April Thur 16th April Sat 18th April Tues 21st April Thur 23rd April Sat 25th April

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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 H FC UNITED OF MCR A Ashton United H FARSLEY LgCup SemiFinal H HALESOWEN TOWN H ASHTON UNITED A Curzon Ashton A Barwell H FRICKLEY ATHLETIC H TRAFFORD 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 3-1 1-1 2-3 1-2 0-2 1-2 0-3 2-1 0-1 1-1 3-3 2-1 0-1 1-0 0-2 0-1 1-2

322 Shenton 415 Shenton 161 Shenton 365 Shenton 1917 Shenton 250 Shenton 357 Shenton 265 Shenton 261 Shenton 231 Shenton 422 Shenton 309 Shenton 215 Shenton 294 Shenton 371 Shenton 470 Shenton 237 Shenton 366 Shenton 233 Shenton 250 Shenton 358 Shenton 132 Shenton 238 Shenton 351 Shenton 140 Shenton 235 Shenton 189 Shenton 257 Shenton 120 Shenton 907 Shenton 510 Shenton 372 Shenton 285 Shenton 158 Shenton 131 Shenton 319 Shenton 223 Shenton 349 Shenton 364 Shenton 290 Shenton 229 Shenton 230 Shenton 261 Shenton 197 Shenton 234 Shenton 221 Shenton 182 Shenton 191 Shenton 2104 Shenton 237 Shenton 189 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 Slaven Bowyer Bowyer Bowyer Bowyer Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Harrop Bowyer Pilkington

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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 Kuba-Kuba Harrop Burke Harrop Slaven Burke + Edghill + Edghill Edghill + Burke Burke Burke # Burke # Bennett Bennett Burke Bennett +

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 Jones Frost Heron Frost + Robinson Robinson Frost Frost Frost Ayres Ayres 1 Ayres Ayres Ayres Ayres Ayres Ayres

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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 Brooks # Baguley # Baguley # Rother 1 Rother * Baguley Baguley Baguley Bennett # Gaskell 1 Gaskell Gaskell + Gaskell Gaskell Gaskell Rother Gaskell

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Hello everyone, and welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for today’s league game against Halesowen Town, who did a fine job of humbling us down in the Midlands earlier in the season. I’d like to extend a warm welcome the match officials as well as everyone associated with Halesowen - I hope you enjoy your short visit to East Lancashire and that you have a safe journey home after the match.

On paper Easter Weekend was not a good one for us. Defeat at the hands of Champions Elect FC United, followed by another loss at play-off hopefuls Ashton United left us unable to post any more points on the board, which was very disappointing. Although so much of football is about the quality of your performances, the points are all that matter at the end of the day. at said, and I’m sure that the fans who travelled the short distance to Tameside will agree, it’s incredible just how different our two performances were.

I did a very poor job of hiding my annoyance at the lack of commitment by a number of our players during the FC United game on Saturday. Yes, it is understandable that a 2000+ crowd will have an effect on the lads, but I felt that too many were playing the occasion rather than the game. If we are to get the points necessary to keep this club in the Evostik Premier then we need to see a level of commitment that was lacking against FC.

ankfully, the game on Monday was almost the exact opposite! e performance was absolutely superb: we worked hard, were industrious in everything we did, and if we had converted our chances then could have easily won the game. Sadly it’s the nature of football that both games count equal - it’s about putting that ball in the net at the end of the day.

We did pick up a few niggles at Ashton.

Luke Heron is suffering with a tight hamstring at the moment, and George Bowyer rolled his ankle. Luke will hopefully be available today after a few days’ rest, but we will have to wait and see with George.

Lee Neville is carrying a bit of a knock too, but as he is cup-tied I’m hoping that a couple of extra days rest will help.

On the flip side, it was excellent to see Alex Frost back in the side and firing on all cylinders on Monday, and we should be welcoming Tom Williams back very soon.

Callum Jones is also now fully fit and available to play, which is very good news.

I don’t think there is anyone at Rammy who’s not been impressed with the commitment and work-rate of David KubaKuba. Since returning from his loan spell he has been inspired in the middle of the park, and I’m really delighted for the lad as he’s had to bide his time more than most. As you can imagine, I’m always impressed with someone willing to give blood, sweat and tears for Rammy and David Kuba-Kuba fits the bill perfectly.

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tony cunningham and the wonderful world of non-league football Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. A special welcome to today’s match officials, and of course, our visitors, Halesowen Town.

A visit to the West Midlands earlier in the season saw our “old team” put on a pretty woeful performance, and we duly returned home with nothing. Let’s see how the “new team” fare against today’s opponents as we look to pick up those valuable points that would help us maintain our status in the Premier Division.

Printing deadlines mean that I have to write this before our semi-final tie against Farsley on Wednesday night.

Did we win? Obviously at this point I have no idea, but as you read this we are either in a position to look forward to a Cup Final and with it the potential to secure some very welcome silver-wear, or we are able to concentrate on digging out those vital league results and with it the much-needed points. Although winning any cup competition is always a welcome distraction, for me, it has to be the league every time. Wouldn’t Wigan Athletic have preferred to stay in the obscene Premier League rather than win the FA Cup a couple of years back? Considering their current plight, you bet they would!

Same here.

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To have reached this position in the football pyramid would have been a pipedream not too long ago. Having received the necessary Ground Grading for this level of football a couple of weeks back, confirming how the club has progressed off the field as well as on it, the last thing we want is to return from whence we came. ere are signs that the lads are beginning to gel after all the mid-season upheavals. We weren’t embarrassed by the champions-elect, and we so nearly returned from that other “in-form” side, promotion-chasing Ashton United, with at least a point, so gradually performances are starting to reflect the fact that the new players are finally becoming used to playing together.

Results over the last week or so have seen struggling sides suddenly finding their feet. is always happens as the end of the season draws closer.

No-one likes to see a whole season “rewarded” with relegation. Belper Town and our neighbours Trafford have already gone, leaving two places still open for any club losing form.

Strange results will occur, and not just in this league. Stalybridge gained their third win in four under the guidance of new boss Liam Watson at promotion-chasing Guiseley, whilst relegated Hyde went over to championship hopefuls AFC Fylde and

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The Champions Elect didn’t have it all their own way last week

secured a point in an unexpected 0-0 draw.

Doomed Padiham produced a remarkable 4-1 win in the east Lancashire derby at Clitheroe, whilst higher up the ladder, who would have seen Bury succumb to Morecambe, having previously won eight out of nine? ere will be many a surprise in store before the season ends, and whilst one or two strugglers will suddenly put on a spurt and escape the clutches of relegation, there will always be a club or more that finds the comfort of mid-table security whipped away from beneath them.

It’s always a fascinating time of year as the season draws to a close, and it’s not just this Division which keeps my interest, but virtually every league in the country (well… within reason) that will play out some dramatic final fixtures, creating some fascinating twists and turns.

We may still have a game or two in hand over the others, but they are worthless unless we pick up some points.

With respect to everyone who has made the journey up the M6, let’s hope we can pick up three of those points this afternoon and secure our place here for next season.

Enjoy your non-league football!

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the returning hero getting stuck in with mark ayres A good number of the Rammy faithful breathed a huge sigh of relief when Robbo announced the signing of through-and-through Rammy player Mark Ayres just a couple of months ago, and already his presence in central defence has been not just a stabilising factor to stem the steady leaking of goals, but has also contributed further upfield, even bagging a goal himself.

Although a relatively late addition to the squad which launched Rammy into the Evostik North, Ayresy embodies a passion and commitment to the cause that rivals that of Gaskell and even Robbo - you just know that if you cut the lad in half then, like a stick of Blackpool rock, you’d find the letters ‘Rammy United’ running right through him.

We caught up with him just after he scored a goal of the season contender during the 3-3 draw with Blyth Spartans, and asked him first of all how it felt as a defender to curl the ball into the top corner from a very tight angle, and whether it had been intended as a shot or was just a crap cross...

“No way! I definitely meant it. I thought that I’d give it a go, even though it felt like a bit of a stupid idea at the time, but then I’ve hit it, and the ball went straight into the top corner! I don’t score goals like

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that normally, I’m up for corners and nearly every goal I’ve scored has been with my head.”

Ayresy’s original spell with Rammy came about after a particularly long drinking session in the clubhouse after a game between Rammy and Salford City.

“I’d known Bernard from playing five-aside with him, and he’d tried to get me down a few times to help out when Rammy were short. I was playing for Salford at the time and stayed on for a few beers after the FA Cup game between the two teams back in 2011, cos I only live up Walmsley Road. I think that by about 3am I’d more or less decided that I was signing for Rammy, and I made my full debut against Alsager in the October.”

Prior to Salford, Ayres played at Irlam, FC United and Flixton, being part of the Flixton team which were the first to beat the original FC United at Gigg Lane, ultimately taking the second promotion spot behind the rebels. It was a very successful spell for Flixton, and Ayres spent three years there with the likes of Franny Vaughan, Graham Vaughan, Josh Mitten and Alex Mortimer. With a couple of older players retiring, the promotion-winning team started to fall apart and the manager got the job at Salford in their Great Escape year, so Ayres ended up there for the first of three spells.

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s “by 3am I’d more or less decided I was signing for Rammy” As a plumber, predominantly working down in Stoke, it has always been a real challenge juggling work and football though.

“I ended up leaving Rammy due to those work commitments - meaning it was going to be a struggle with all the travelling and whatever. It is always difficult for non-league players as we have day jobs to consider. For me, because I can’t use the works van for non-work stuff, even if we were playing down near Stoke, I’d have to drive back up to Rammy after work then get in the car and drive back down there for the match. It’s really awkward, and I’d expected it to get worse, so spoke to Bernard and Johnno about it, and departed Rammy.

“First stop for me was Atherton LR, with my mate Michael Clegg, and then over to Droylsden where my old manager asked me to help him out as they were really struggling.

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“Back to LR and then Radcliffe Borough, though I ended up having a big disagreement with the Radcliffe manager early-doors this season, after the friendly with Rammy, and so that’s when I ended up with Atherton Colls who’ve just bagged themselves promotion.

“I really enjoyed playing at Colls. ey have a very good team spirit, which reminded me very much of what Rammy had when I first arrived here. Everyone got on, everyone went out together, and on the pitch they all played as a team, they’d all die for one another. I really loved my time at Colls. Cleggy’s done an incredible job there with a very tight budget, and with very young lads. ey’re playing a standard of football which is miles above where they are, comfortably beating top teams, and even embarassing Rammy in the cup game over there.

“Colls’ pitch always makes games a challenge for teams though, it was even hard for us to play on it and we knew our way around the hills and divots and things. You can imagine though, for a team that’s got used to trying to play football on that pitch, when they go away from home it’s just so much easier to knock the ball about. ey’ve also got one of the best strikers about in Mark Battersby who’s scored 56 goals. I don’t care what league you’re in, if you’re scoring 56 goals in a season then there’s something seriously good. He reminds me a bit of Lee Gaskell, he does some outrageous stuff with the ball and scores the extraordinary goals.

“For me, coming up three divisions hasn’t been a great challenge. ings are a bit faster, and you have less time on the ball, but you raise your game to accommodate it.

Even in the Nortwest Counties, when Colls played teams like Rammy, the whole Colls side would up their game.

You just have to make sure in this league that you’re on the top of your game all of the time, rather than taking it easy now and again when you’re facing poorer opposition.”

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“Robbo has a real challenge on his hands at the moment. What’s happened here over the last few months is always going to be difficult to recover from, and it’s still proving difficult to get a settled lineup, particularly in defence. In fact, across the whole pitch, with players getting tired and games coming thick and fast, it’s the depth of the squad that gets you through times like this.

Players are still getting to know each other, and I think that’s coming across very much in the performances. It’s tough.

“He asked me to come almost as soon as he took over the managerial job, but it was just the wrong time with things that were going on with work so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make the commitment. But once I managed to change things around a bit so that I could get out of work a bit earlier then I gave Robbo a shout, and here I am, back at Rammy!” e 29-year-old six footer has always had tight hamstrings and a bad back to content with, but we asked whether he’s getting to the stage where age is becoming more important and whether recovery times are starting to increase.

“Robbo will tell you, I hate missing football, and I’ll play even through injuries. My wife hates it because even when we get a game called off, I’ll go out trying to find a match somewhere to play in. I’ve done it since I was seven years old. Even my little lad’s the same! To be honest, I don’t know what I’ll do with myself when I get to that stage where I have to pack up, it means that much to me.

“I’ll be honest though, my game isn’t really about pace, it’s about positioning and agression, and not being afraid to put my body on the line to win personal battles. I have been lucky though, as I very seldom pick up injuries. e only times I haven’t played at Rammy have been when I got dropped.”

After Ayres had spent a season filling in at left-back, and doing a pretty successful job of it, injury-plagued Ian Flannery was finding it difficult to maintain his match fitness, giving Ayres his long-awaited chance in his best position of centre-back.

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back in blue - scoring against Blyth Spartans a couple of weeks ago

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“Flanners got injured pre-season, and I got to start the season at centre-half, but I remember that I was alongside Pilkie for the first game in the Evostik North as Dawson picked up a knock pre-season. Me and Daws struck up a really good partnership that lasted throughout the rest of the season until my form started to drop off for the last few games with both Flanners and Dawson dropping in and out through injury. “at was when I found out about some changes that were going on at work, meaning that I’d probably have to pack up at the end of the season - I’d have to work away all week and it wouldn’t have been fair on my wife and lad if I worked away all week and then disappeared off to play football at the weekends. I also wouldn’t have been able to play Tuesday or make training on ursday, which is no way to be - you can’t play football with that level of commitment. I kept it quiet because I didn’t want to mess up our chances of making the play-offs, but maybe having

scoring against Trafford back in the Northwest Counties days when Ayresy looked 12 and opposition keepers were overweight

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that in the back of my mind affected my game performances.”

Now that he’s back at Rammy, and playing with a team that’s very much finding its feet, and for a manager with little experience, we asked Ayres what it feels like to be part of the New Rammy Family.

“Robbo’s great - he’s got a real bad temper on him, but I’ve played against him since I was 17-18, and I’ve known him for the best part of ten years. He loses his temper, but he definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. He always gives it 100%, and he expects everyone else to do the same. As a player he’s horrible to play against, he’s always getting at you and throwing his arms around. He’s good in the air, strong, and he can score. It’s great to play for him because he knows what I’m about and what I’m capable of so he’ll tell me to just get out there, lead us and just do what you’re doing. Edgy’s a bit different, he’s the calming influence, a bit like Bernard used to be for Rammy.

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in action last week against FC United

“Robbo always gives it 100% and he expects everyone to do the same” “Robbo’s dead fair. He gives everyone a chance to show what they can do, but where Rammy lie at the moment he can’t afford to have people not pulling their weight or coming in and out of games, he needs people to be working hard, and he’s brought in some brilliant players. Kyle’s excelling at the back, Burke’s passing ability is frightening, and Lee Neville’s not put a foot wrong since he joined us. en there’s Benno and the rest, these are good players who are willing to work hard for the cause and dig deep. We need everyone to do that.

“Loyalty and passion is what Rammy needs to be about. Football isn’t all about money if you start throwing money around like some of the other clubs then all you get is players who are after the money. Robbo wants and expects more than that from his players and he’s definitely the kind of person who can get more than that out of us.

“Our confidence is improving game by game, and performances are really starting to get there. We have the makings of a really good squad here, so I’m sure there is a promising future for Rammy.”

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halesowen town the midlands delivers yet another team Records show that Halesowen Town were formed in 1882, although there are claims that the club started life back in 1973 under the name James Grove Factory Team, which would make it one of the oldest teams in the country. ey initially played in the Birmingham Combination before joining the Birmingham and District League in 1946. e Yeltz first notable achievement came in 1955, when they reached the FA Cup First Round proper, eventually losing to Hendon four two at e Grove. During the 1960’s, Halesowen regularly competed in the Birmingham League, where they became known for their goal scoring explots. For nine successive seasons the team scored between 96 and 126 goals in all competitions. By the end of the decade, many of their local rivals moved over to the newly founded Southern League, but unfortunately for Halesowen their fortunes took a downturn. e team really struggled during the 1970’s, finishing bottom of the West Midlands league on three successive occasions. It seemed that the only person, who was keeping the club going, was Harry Rudge, who fulfilled a number of positions that included player-manager, grounds man and secretary. However, at the start of the 1980’s the Yeltz started to move in the opposite direction under manager Paddy Page. e 1982/83 season saw them win the West Midlands League for the first time and they also reached Wembley in the FA Vase Final, where they were beaten by VS Rugby.

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Halesowen’s disappointment did not last long, as two years later they yet gain reached the FA Vase Final and on this occasion they defeated Fleetwood, a feat they achieved again the following year by beating Southall at the home of English football. e 1986/87 season finally saw Halesowen take their place in the Southern League. is only became a reality after extensive work on e Grove, having been denied promotion four years on the trot, due to the ground not be up to scratch. For seven consecutive years, from 1985 to 1991 they reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup, losing four ties to Football League clubs Southend United, Brentford, Cardiff City and Tranmere Rovers.

1990 saw Halesowen Town continue their rise up the Non-League pyramid after they were promoted to the Beazer Premier League after winning the Midland Division. eir stay in the Premier Division was to last eleven years, although their relegation started a ‘yoyo’ effect, as they bounced back up and then down and then back up again in 2003. After a number of near misses, the Yeltz finally managed to reach the Southern League Premier Division Play-Offs in April 2008, where they were beaten by a last minute goal from Team Bath in the Final. e following seasons saw the onset of league struggles and financial problems, which ended in the club being placed in administration and a ten point deduction in August 2009. Halesowen never really recovered from this and after staving

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Aaron Daniels clobbered during the 1-1 home draw with Trafford in March

e Yeltz carried their form from the previous year and improved as the 2013/14 progressed. After hitting the summit of the Northern League Division One South, Halesowen held onto this position going into the final week of the season. With an away match at Belper, they knew this was a must win game to ensure a finish above Coalville.

Two goals from influential striker Ben Haseley sealed the win and promotion, as Champions to the Northern League Premier Division.

With John Hill adding Neil Mackenzie and Iyesden Christie, both of whom have Football league experience, to his squad, Halesowen Town have made an encouraging start to life back in step 3 of the Non-League pyramid. ey currently sit eleventh in mid table, consolidating their status in the Premier Division and will certainly hope to build on this for next year. (words by Gareth Bird)

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relegation the previous year, they lost their Premier Division status in May 2011, after a disastrous season.

With the club being taken over by businessman Steve Lynch, they had an encouraging start to the 2011/12 season, back in the Southern League Division One South and West. Early exits in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy seemed to knock the Yeltz and they eventually finished their league campaign in twelve place. e following season saw Halesowen Town moved to the Northern League Division One South; a new manager in John Hill was instilled, after a successful stint in charge of Tipton Town. e new manger had a poor start, but with an upturn in form in the new year, results improved and Halesowen finished in seventh place, just missing out on the Play-Offs by goal difference.

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Aaron Forde (Midfielder) Aged 21 Previous Clubs; Wolverhampton Wanderers, Walsall, Redditch United, Hinckley United, Rushall Olympic & Bedworth United.

After breaking his leg and overcoming the long term injury while he was a member of Walsall’s youth team, this talented midfielder fought to gain a place on the bench for the first team.

After his release by Walsall, Forde went onto play for a number of teams before signing for Halesowen during last season. Forde is a strong midfielder, with plenty of drive, who can create goals for his team mates. He has made 34 appearances so far this season, scoring once.

Ben Haseley (Striker) Aged 29 Previous Clubs; Great Wyrley & Heath Hayes.

After scoring 107 goals in 172 appearances for his former club Heath Hayes, striker Haseley signed for Halesowen in January 2012. He took just 10 minutes to score on his debut and went onto score 48 goal in 2012/13, his first full season for the club. Since then he has not stopped scoring and before the start of this season he had notched 92 goals for the Yeltz.

Forms a deadly partnership with Christie and this season so far he has found the net 12 times.

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three to watch

Lyesden Christie (Striker) Aged 38 Previous Clubs; Mansfield Town, Leyton Orient, Kidderminster Harriers, Rochdale, Stevenage Borough, Torquay, Kettering Town, Farnborough, Coventry Sphinx, AFC Telford & King’s Lynn.

A vastly experienced striker who has had plenty of experience in the Football League which spanned 14 years, before he dropped down into the Non-League pyramid. Christie has scored goals wherever he has played and his time at Halesowen been no different. So far this season the striker has netted on no less than 16 occasions.

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Lyesden Christie celebrates the opening goal in November’s 2-0 win over Rammy

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meet the away fans

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

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How long have you been a supporter?

Halesowen Town began to progress as a Club in the early 1980’s and as with many Yeltz fans, would say that’s when I began following the team week after week but my first game was in 1980.

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For you who are the players to watch at the moment, and why? ere are a number of players in the Yeltz squad, who have earned their fair share of man of the match awards but ask supporters and they’ll argue, which ever eleven are selected, they play as a team. erefore, to single out individuals would be wrong, fans are proud how our players perform as a team match after match.

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

Following a magnificent extended run, there followed a frustrating phase where the team either lost or drew. Most were against the sides in the top five or six in the league, so our poor run comes with a health warning. In reality, the team is doing little differently, when you compare the two runs but as in most sports, success or failure is determined by fine margins.

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ree trips to Wembley in the FA Vase final would be tough to argue against but then there are eight FA Cup first round games to consider and three promotions as champions to consider too.

However, for me the memorable times came when a group of supporters came together to develop our ground. Our Club is not simply about watching the team play, it’s about being part of its development. Watching fans toil, summer after summer around the Grove is an experience I’d never forget. is season has been interesting. Highlights; beating Blyth Spartens in the FA Trophy when they were taking all before them in the FA Cup, two fantastic encounters against FC United of Manchester and finally there was Curtis Tilt’s wonder goal away at Stourbridge.

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

What a brilliant question.

However you view your Club, it has to develop and be able to sustain itself when and if the money disappears. I’d have a ten year plan or longer, to increase money put into the Club gradually but there’s no point developing the team, without building the structure around it.

Money in football is necessary but as much as a blessing a lottery win could be, it can quickly change into a curse too.

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How would you describe your supporters?

Yeltz fans can be the best in the land but as with every football supporter alive, occasionally are guilty of leaving their brains at the turnstiles and can be infuriating.

Having said that, I’ve grown up with a significant number of them and consider them as my extended family.

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

I’d argue that Halesowen is ‘Gods country’ but John Hill, our Manager was deluded enough to suggest that accolade goes to Tipton. It’s a good job he’s a brilliant Manager because it helps us forgive such comments. We are saddled with living in the shadow of Birmingham but history proves that the city is insignificant by comparison to our town. We live on the doorstep of the Clent Hills and my recommendation to any interloper is to take a walk to the top. Considering we live in a county with a large population, the view allows u to forget where you are.

I’ve never eaten anything that the Grove catering offers but the smell is intoxicating and judging by the waistlines of those who do partake, my assumption is it must be fantastic.

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

Either the Yeltz Bar on Hawne Lane by the Ground or James Grove Bar in the ground, are the places to go pre and post match. e drink is very good and you can share your view and debate the match.

What's your connection with the club?

I am Rob Edmonds but most, if not all Yeltz fans would know me as Cripcrap. It’s a nickname which came about because I’m disabled and in a wheelchair. Cruel, arguably but more about my sense of humour or maybe just that I write rubbish in our matchday programmes. I began following the Club because one of my brothers was captain and later was asked to help write programmes and then edit is as I do now.

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with all eyes on the FA Cup, Halesowen dispatched Blyth from the FA Trophy

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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 Paul Gaskell Tanners Croft

£2 £2 £4 £1 £2 £1 £1 £1 £1 £2 £2 £1 £1 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £2 £5 £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 e Fans Fund total currently stands at £623

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Luke Heron 0 24

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tony’s teasers 1. Kevin Wilson has been told that he will lose his job as manager of which EvoStik club at the end of the season?

2. Who was sacked as manager of Wrexham immediately after their FA Trophy defeat?

3. In which county are Concord Rangers based?

4. Which colours do Southport play in?

5. What is the nickname of Matlock Town?

6. Chris Cheetham is goalkeeper for which local club?

7. Which club is champion of Evo-Stik Southern League S&W Division?

8. Name the three former Football League sides currently battling it out at the top of the Vanarama Conference?

9. Which two sides will contest the Welsh Cup Final?

10. In which League do former NPL club, South Liverpool play?

ANSWERS: 1. Ilkeston 2. Kevin Wilkin 3. Essex 4. Gold and Black 5. e Gladiators 6. Radcliffe Borough 7. Merthyr Town 8. Barnet, Bristol Rovers and Grimsby Town 9. Newtown and TNS 10. West Cheshire League 0 24

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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!

ANSW 7. Mer

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rammy in exile sky sports statto richard isaacs Good afternoon one and all and I hope you are all well and enjoying the wonderful sunshine (providing the forecasts were all correct over the last few days). Ahhh yes, sunshine .... I am back down in the tropical south and its a glorious day here which must mean that the cricket season is edging ever closer.

Which also means that the football season is reaching its climax and for the first time in the years I have been supporting the Rams, we are facing the flip side of the emotions that we are used to. Over the last few seasons, we have been treated to a rollercoaster of high emotion - the promotion from the Counties, the oh-so-near at Skelmersdale and then the incredible night of Darlington and afternoon of Bamber Bridge. But this season - well, it has been a season to remember for a whole heap of different reasons.

Monday's game at Ashton United was a tough one. Endeavour, yes. Opportunities, yes. Goals ... no. Again! And I left Hurst Cross and headed back south with a heavy heart.

And a fearful one as well. It's not sitting comfortably with me. I have read on the forum that we are all pretty much of one mind in feeling that we will be safe. But time is running out, we have just seven league games left to play of which five are at home and we just have to hope that we gain enough points from

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those to stave off any fears of slipping back to from whence we came. It is concerning - very concerning. Most of us thought that we had done enough in 2014. Since 'it' happened, we have played 17 games and won just 5, losing 9 with 3 draws. When you put it like that - it is not that bad but we have scored just one goal in the last four league games and that, in any language you wish, is not a good record when the relegation trap door creeks open and sucked in Belper Town and Trafford and is waiting for two more to join.

We have faith - we always will. And we still have 'games in hand' but those games are fading fast and we absolutely have to turn in some performances in the next few weeks, otherwise it will be back to Harrogate, Lancaster and Clitheroe again and our wonderful endeavours of April and May 2014 will be just a distant memory. And that will hurt our club. Hugely. I don't want us to go backwards again, we have reached this level through serious hard work. OK, those who rode the Rammy Rollercoaster with us over the last few years have gone but sinking back would be unimaginable. It wasn't that long ago we were talking of "what might be" and checking our ground will be good enough for the next level up. Now, we are wondering "what might be" in completely a difficult situation.

Robbo and Edgy and Shents as skipper - we have every faith in you. Bring it home for us, please!

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don’t be fooled by the cheeky smile, this man turns into a maniac if you try peeing on his daffodils!

Today we welcome Halesowen Town to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. e away match in the West Midlands was one of the games that I saw, enroute back south after a week in the north and we were afforded a very pleasant welcome, very nice ground and pleasant surroundings. I am certainly hoping that the atmosphere in the ground today is so much better than it was last Saturday.

Apologies for my rant in the last programme - as you could probably tell, I was still pretty upset at the goings on and the sheer disrespect that their small minority of 'followers' afforded our ground. ey are still moaning and griping now I notice on our Twitter page, Facebook page and through emails, mainly centered around the match report from that game. However, I really don't think it would have mattered what we put in the report - there was always going to be a section of their support who would criticise it as they have been bullying

us for the last two weeks, throwing their ample weight around in a "We are FC United of Manchester, we can do whatever the hell we like and you will just have to deal with it" kind of way. No, we don't actually!

So where will I be today? It's the final round of rugby fixtures down here and a local derby between Tottonians (from Totton near Southampton) and WInchester (from .... errr Winchester!). Dad and I will be having lunch beforehand and then will probably head over to South Wiltshire Cricket Club in Salisbury to catch the end of my club's first pre-season match of the season. Yes, that time is here once more - the sound of leather on willow, not withstanding my already packed schedule of Indian Premier League matches that I will be working on from home.

But, you know full well where my attention will be this afternoon. Come on you Rams .... today is the day for three good home points and a step closer to salvation.

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returning from suspension, centre-back Alex Frost was solid and clinical in defence

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Hurst Cross 6th April 2015 Att: 237 Rammy Goals: Ashton Goals: Pilkington (70)

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Vinny Mukendi came closest to scoring for the Rams, seeming to freeze when he found himself through on the keeper

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Hurst Cross 6th April 2015 Att: 237 Rammy Goals: Ashton Goals: Pilkington (70)

With a third defeat in their last four outings, Ramsbottom United have been drawn inexorably back into the relegation mire following their narrow 1-0 loss to promotion-chasing Ashton United on a warm, spring day in Tameside.

Whilst there was a considerable amount of endeavour from the Rams, sporting four changes from the 2-0 home defeat on Saturday, the end product continued to be a telling factor proved rather systematically by David Kuba-Kuba's goal at Grantham Town nine days ago being the only time the net has bulged for Rammy in the last 360 minutes of action.

And their cause has certainly not been helped by victories for fellow strugglers Marine (1-0 against Skelmersdale United) and Stamford, who thrashed local rivals Grantham 4-1, meaning just three points now separate Jon Robinson's men and the fourth seat in the unwanted relegation slide.

Played at a fairly frenetic pace throughout, both sides had their chances. Luke Heron curled a shot wide within the first three minutes before the home side, sitting pretty in fourth place in the table, began to create a handful of opportunities, none of which tested the Rammy skipper Grant Shenton. ere are still spells of indecision in and amongst the Blues defence which almost allowed the hosts to break the deadlock after 20 minutes but, thankfully, Shenton was on his guard. e Rams best chance of the game came on 38 minutes when some excellent play from Osebi Abadaki saw his shot palmed away by Paul Phillips in the Ashton net. What followed was a touch of comedy as players from both sides slipped and slid to the ground but the ball finally fell to Mukendi, who only had to pick his spot for the easiest of goals as he stood one-on-one with the keeper, who was led on the ground. Unfortunately for the visitors, he chose to shoot straight at the prone stopper.

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Robbo strikes from range trying to salvage a point for the Rams

Both sides went into the break with plenty to consider but it was the Rams who came out the brighter in the second period and had two decent chances through Alex Frost's header and a shot from Abadaki which skipped wide of the post and then David Kuba-Kuba, a substitute for Heron who limped off late in the first half, teamed with Ian Bennett and provided a beautiful through ball but found no-one in the box to fire home.

All of those opportunities could have come to something had the right player been in the right place with the right ball. But they were closed down quickly and were frustrated throughout by a side with high hopes of being a part of the end of season play-off shake up.

And those hopes were given a huge boost when, from a Rammy attack, Ashton cleared up field and Martin Pilkington just about kept the ball in play on the right touchline and sprinted to the by-line to feed Chris Baguley in the centre who took great delight in scoring against the club he played for briefly a month or so ago.

It was heartbreak for the Rams, who continued to battle but, yet again, with little to show for it. Lee Gaskell and Jon Robinson were both introduced in the final quarter in an attempt to eek something out of the game but, try as they might and alongside Mukendi, who showed signs of excellent skill and also periods that left the travelling support in anguish, the home side grabbed all three points to leave the Rams with plenty to think about as they head into Wednesday night's Doodson Cup semifinal against Farsley.

Ramsbottom United have much bigger things to think about right now and time is running out to pick up the vital points to steer them clear of danger. ere are seven league games to go - five of which are at home. It is going to be a very nervy, tense and nail-biting conclusion to this difficult season.

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Hurst Cross 6th April 2015 Att: 237 Rammy Goals: Ashton Goals: Pilkington (70)

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Hurst Cross 6th April 2015 Att: 237 Rammy Goals: Ashton Goals: Pilkington (70)

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a free-kick just on the edge of the box, but God Knows it was close! centre

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures e town of Grantham in Lincolnshire was only previously on my radar for being the birth place of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, and friend of all us working class Northerners (well, maybe not), Margaret atcher. So loved was she by people round these parts that Burnley’s premier punk band, Not Sensibles, penned the classic ‘Im in Love With Margaret atcher’ in homage to her back in the late 1970’s Oh Margaret atcher is so sexy She's the girl for you and me I go red when she's on the telly Cos I think she fancies me UkePunk, How about working that little ditty into your set, mate ?

Anyway, with the Rams promotion to the Northern Premier League, Grantham was back on the radar and a couple of weeks ago I, and a few other members of the Rammy Ultras, made our first visit to this infamous, little town. I had missed the previous week’s jaunt to Belper, as I was moving out of my Garden Court Palace and into Dawn Darkside’s, Kay Brow residence (without putting a ring on her finger this is about as

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official as a relationship can be and the closest I can get to making an honest woman of her). With missing the Belper game, and victory, I was really looking forward to this game and another ride on the Rammy Rocket (who needs the Rammy Rattler, when you’ve got the Rammy Rocket, eh?) although for a variety of reasons it was a pretty small turnout compared to previous away days. Joining the Darksides were the ever present Carlsberg, Chairman Harry, Sophie, Andy Edmunson and, of course, the players.

We arrived at Grantham’s, South Kesteven Sports Stadium for 1.00 and rather than go straight into the ground/sports complex we decided to have a walk and find a nearby hostelry.

Unfortunately with the stadium being a modern construction it was also out of the town centre and we found ourselves wandering around a local estate until we found a pub, which in this case was e Priory. Now, I’m not saying this was a rough ‘n’ ready watering hole but we kept waiting for Frank Gallagher, from Shameless, to appear and tell us that he ‘knew how to throw a paarrrttty’. Once the young lad behind the bar had finished fannying around on his mobile phone (a more than sackable offence in Darkside’s book) we got served our much anticipated beers. With no real ale on tap, or in bottles, we were never going to stay

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straining to see the pitch away off in the distance, the hard-core Rammy Ultras

long amongst the local, but friendly oddbods (think e Oaks at last orders on a Tuesday night) and were soon heading back to the generically monikered, South Kesteven Sports Stadium.

Back at the ground there was some decent beer on offer but, as with some other modern grounds we have been to this season, the price was over £3.00 a pint. Better value for money came with the catering on offer and although I was nearly tempted into the posh pie, I eventually decided on the home made chilli and chips which was certainly one of the finest meals I have tasted this, or any other, season. As always, the staff/unpaid volunteers were very hospitable and deserve a special mention as up and down the country these are the people who many non-league clubs could not exist without. After a quick chat with some of the other travelling Ultras, including Roger who was going for his Grandfather of the Year award by bringing Young Jake along, we made our

way out onto the ground just before 3.00 to welcome the team onto the pitch.

Now, no disrespect to Grantham Town but I did not like their stadium, mainly due to it having a running track around the perimeter, although it was light years ahead of the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield where Rotherham United used to play for a few seasons. e far side of the stadium had a large terrace running the length of the touchline and we made our way over to it with our flags, banners and horns to cheer the lads on to a, hopefully, much needed three points. e Grantham fans gathered on that terrace had a number of flags, so once we had the Ultras flag and Lancashire red rose flying it made for quite a colourful sight. e terrace at Grantham was reminiscent of the one we stood on at Kings Lynn a few months ago, the only difference being that the Grantham support was friendly and welcoming, rather than abusive and vindictive.

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from the darkside darren comer reports on the latest rammy ultras adventures e first half was spent waiting for a game of football to begin as both teams struggled with the wind that was blowing around the stadium. Rammy were kicking against the wind which made it very difficult to get any flowing football going and Grantham, with the wind behind them, never really threatening the goal that Shents was in. I had a good chat with Little Katie and Karol, apologising for my outburst at Maria at the recent Supporters Club meeting (I told her to zip it, when she accused me of not being a true supporter). Paul ‘Cream of the Crop’ Cropper was also stood with us which always

Rammy won and Harry got a cheap raffle prize - happy days!

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helps when the game is a little drab as the saying ‘there’s never a dull moment’, was probably first spoken with him in mind.

When the half time whistle blew we made the long walk back to the bar for another overpriced pint, albeit an overpriced pint that was served with a smile. As we watched the half time scores coming through on Grandstand we found out that our neighbours, Bury, had their home game against Southend United abandoned after five minutes due to a waterlogged pitch (I bet there were some mightily peed off Shrimpers supporters at Gigg Lane). It was a good job

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we were away on the day as our own Riverside Stadium would certainly have been unplayable which would have added to the congested backlog of matches we already have ahead of us.

With the wind behind us in the second half, there only ever looked like being one winner and that was to be Rammy. e only goal of the game came early in the second half from the ever impressive, Kuba-Kuba, and how it only remained 1-0 at the final whistle was a mystery to all.

Although, Rammy should have had more goals, we could have easily conceded a late equaliser when one of the Grantham forwards mishit a shot with only Shents to beat, which was the cue for the usual circus/clown tune from the Mutton Army.

As the referee blew the final whistle there was the usual uproar from the Rammy support as we celebrated a much needed three points towards our relegation fight.

‘We Love You, Rammy…. We Do’ rang around the ground, backed up by Carlsbergs horn and Andy Massey’s vuvuzela (e Masseys had travelled up with the Gaskell Family as Andy had an engagement that evening and was auditioning for a part in the remake of the old television show, ‘CHiPS’, but more about that in my Ashton United column).

On a side note, has anyone else seen Hilary running around Ramsbottom? Stop it, Hilary ! I feel unfit enough as it, without seeing you haring up and down Bridge Street in the morning.

In the bar after the game we had a pint with some of the Grantham supporters who seemed quite chipper to say they had just seen their team defeated. e reason for their good mood was the news that Belper had been relegated from the NPL

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that day. It would seem they had suffered the same fate as us earlier in the season, in losing their manager and several players to Belper, so I’m sure we could all sympathise with their plight and appreciate the good mood they were in. e Grantham supporters were a great bunch and I will look forward to reacquainting the friendship next season. e Grantham sponsors were giving out the Man of the Match awards which went to Ian Bennett from the Rammy side, a decision most of the travelling support agreed with, although it was a close run thing with several players putting in superb performances on the day.

Ian won a bottle of champagne as his reward, which was soon in Chairmans Harrys hands for a princely sum of £3 and heading to being a raffle price at a future game at e Riverside. Non-League football, you’ve just gotta love it.

Another wonderful trip home with the usual consumption of booze and renditions of Rammy Ultras standards (check out Carlsberg’s classic montage on the forum or YouTube). is continued back at the Cricket Club with several players staying on and buying us drinks as an apology for the performance at home to Stourbridge earlier in the week, which were gratefully received by us. We even had an appearance from a couple of former Rammy legends, Jordan Hulme and Steve Howson, later in the evening which only added to the good mood.

Everywhere we go Everywhere we go It’s the Rammy boys Making all the noise Everywhere we go a big thank you to Carlsberg for the photos

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Harry Williams Riverside Stadium 8th April 2015 Att: 189 Rammy Goals: Abadaki (32) Farsley Goals: Grant (15), O’Brien (52)

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in a bizarre Suarez type incident, Callum Jones gets his hair pulled by the Farsley captain

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a word of thanks from the programme editor I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thankyou to everyone who’s providing content for the Rammy programme. No fewer than fifteen people have provided editorial content for today’s issue (and that’s not even considering the people involved in printing it), and it is largely due to them that we can produce such a great programme that I know is the envy of many a club. Most important is that these people are solid, committed and reliable, because the work involved in getting these things written, laid-out, and printed for this month’s quite terrifying set of home fixtures is pretty non-stop.

I’d like to say a particularly big thankyou to those who go the extra mile, and are largely unsung. It’s pretty obvious that Darren, Shents, Tony, Richard and Robbo contribute, and normally there’s an Edgy column in amongst that lot, but it’s people like Ste ‘Carlsberg’ Heard and Gareth Bird who really help to keep the programme as good as it is. Ste is a fantastic member of the team as he has a great eye for capturing photos of the day out, not just of the action on the pitch.

Coupled with the scribblings of Darren ‘Darkside’, these photos capture the things that are most memorable and most important to us supporters. At the end of the day, the result is just a number on a page or a match report in a newspaper (no disrespect intended to Sir Paul Cropper there - his match reports are

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honest, literate and highly entertaining to read) but we as fans most value the experience. We may remember the performance and the goals at Whitby, but it is the fancy dress and the pub and the goths that will stick with us forever. Ste has a great way of spotting and capturing those moments, and so I’m really grateful to him.

Gareth Bird is probably unknown to most folks at Rammy, but it’s him we have to thank for the four pages in each programme about the opposition club, as well as making sure we have a pretty up to date team sheet for our visitors on the back cover. Some clubs are excellent with the information they provide, but for many it’s quite an ordeal getting hold of some up to date text. Gareth religiously delivers this stuff on time and in a format that I can more or less copy and paste straight into the programme.

Unfortunately his involvement came after I’d had the page printed which lists everyone (I got 2000 copies of this printed to save money), much to the disappointment of his lovely other half Anna, and so I hope they’ll both forgive me that fact by accepting my thanks here.

I know that it’s often quite difficult to get hold of a programme at some matches, and I’d like to have a chat with Harry over the next few weeks to see if there’s something we can do about this for next season. It’s always disappointing

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While we continue to sell out we are showing that the programme is good quality and is worth getting printed in higher numbers. We are also showing the large team of people involved in producing this programme (including Terry down in Rushall, the 4 Colour Digital team in Port Talbot South Wales, the Fairprint team in Edinburgh and all the editorial people mentioned earlier) that their hard work is valued and very much appreciated.

And so to finish up, I’d like to say thanks once again to everyone for all your hard work continuing to make Rammy’s programme one of the best around.

- Rob

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to produce an 80-page fullcolour glossy thing that we all believe is worth reading, only for it to be sold out well before kick-off. I know that some clubs have schemes where you can reserve programmes, which we will perhaps look at, or there is the possibility of getting a subscription for the season (though postage prices are getting ridiculous now). Ideally I’d like to try and reduce the print costs without losing any content - this will mainly be down to the amount and value of advertising that’s included. Currently the adverts printed in here are just about breaking even across the season, which is a ludicrous state of affairs which has to change as a matter of urgency.

If we can bring in a decent amount of money from adverts then I’d like to hope we can find a way of subsidising some of the printing costs in order to help us get more copies printed, while also providing a good, healthy income for the club. I’d really like to avoid having to put the price up, because football is expensive enough for everyone already. e best thing you can do to help is to keep buying copies of the programme.

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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: John HILL

Matthew SARGEANT Kristian GREEN Aaron GRIFFITHS Curtis TILT Aaron FORDE Joseph HULL Asa CHARLTON omas TONKS Iyesden CHRISTIE Ben HASELEY Daniel BRAGOLI Sam PEARSON Aaron DANIELS Elliot TURNER Aaron LLOYD Daniel WATSON Neil MACKENZIE Lawrence HEARD

Referee: Joe Hull Referee’s Assistants: Scott Healey, Ian Mcguinness

Next home game: Tuesday 14th April 7:45pm, Rammy v Ashton United

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