69 Ramsbottom United v Darlington

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 1

26.09.15

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 2

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome

a huge problem for us so far this season,

like to extend a warm Rammy welcome to

tations and Andy Dawson’s injury woes

for today’s game against Darlington. I’d our match officials as well as the players,

management and officials of our opposi-

tion today - I hope you enjoy your visit, and have a safe journey home.

As we found a couple of weeks ago up

in the North-East, Darlington are a very good, solid unit who defend well, and they

have three excellent forwards who will cause problems for every team in the

league. We will approach today’s game as we did the last because we did nothing wrong up there, and were unfortunate (as

is the case in so many of the games of

jon robinson

That said, defensive frailties have been

to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium

late) to come away with nothing. I do agree that at times our football can be

naive and clumsy, but at others it is neat and flowing - we’ve been so hard done by

recently, and with a little bit of luck we could have been on the better side of all these results.

Tuesday night against Stourbridge is a

case in point. We created more than

enough chances to bury the game as,

with youngsters not quite meeting expec-

continuing. Youngsters such as Kieran Nolan have huge potential, but they need

an experienced head like Andy Dawson alongside them. You can see from the last

few results just how much of an impact his

presence (and that of Jamie Rother) has

had on the field. Over the last fortnight we’ve thought long and hard and have decided that it’s time to get out there and

address the problems at the back once

and for all. Budgets are tight, but this week we’re looking at adding a couple of quality

defenders to the squad, one of which we

hope to have all signed up and ready to go

for today’s game, with the other not far behind. It’s been a lot of hard work getting

these lads, as it’s always difficult to persuade players to come to a team in our

predicament, but these fellas, along with our other new signings (the excellent Sam

Grimshaw, and midfielder Matty Crothers) should help do the job for us.

In training we work on all sorts with the

although Stourbridge are seventh in the

players. We go through previous games

couldn’t deal with if we kept our heads. We

keep a smile on players’ faces. The squad

league, there was nothing there that we

were on top for large parts of the match, particularly in the first half, and it was frus-

trating in the extreme to crumple under the

late sucker-punch. Concentration for the full ninety minutes is what I pointed out as

lacking in my last programme column, and

and situations, but make sure that we also is really starting to bond, and we have some decent, loyal people on-board now.

You can really see this in the squad, especially those people who know and are around football.

There have been some calling for my

it was that same problem which came

resignation, but these people are not really

tighten up, and stop that happening.

port at this club and the people who truly

back to bite us on Tuesday. We need to Thankfully team morale doesn’t seem to

have suffered too much after Tuesday’s game. Yes, at the time it felt like the world had ended, and it’s always a killer to con-

cede so late in a game, particularly twice

in less than a week, but we know that we’re getting there now, and we know that we have what it takes.

any interest of mine. I have plenty of sup-

love this club are behind me. Building a

competitive Evostik team at a club such as Rammy will always be a long process. We

don’t have the reputation, budget, or prestige of teams like Darlington, and so I ask

instead for your loyalty, support, and patience. We will get there!

- Robbo

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 3

tony cunningham

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 4

Welcome to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for this afternoon’s clash with Darlington 1883, and a warm welcome to both our match officials and everyone who has made the journey down from the wonderful County Durham.

HAPPY MEMORIES In the eyes of Ramsbottom United fans, that play-off semi-final game at Bishop Auckland will always play a big part of this club’s history. The memories from that night still stay fresh in the mind. The large crowd and the significance of the occasion allowed us to travel to Bamber Bridge four days later and gain promotion.

Despite Darlington’s disappointment on the night, it was always going to happen that they would follow us, and so they have. Promotion to the National League North will be very much an ambition for today’s visitors, hand-in-hand with their desire to return to the town of Darlington. I gather there are still problems moving in with the rugby union club, but no doubt they will eventually be sorted out and “Darlo” can look to the future with much optimism.

As a football fan, I was disappointed when the old club left Feethams. It was a wonderful lower league stadium with so much charm, especially the walk through the gates and around the cricket field.

Then some idiot comes along promising the earth, builds a ridiculous stadium and the rest is history.

I have no doubt that at some point in the future, this fine old club will return to the Football League, but in the meantime, I hope their fans are enjoying the journey through the divisions of “proper” football.

And I’ve no doubt those fans are preferring to come to Ramsbottom today rather than on the original Tuesday in January date!

TOUGH How on earth do you assess our season so far?

Tuesday was another example of “Lady Luck” deserting us. After we had deservedly equalised, the Stourbridge reporter reckoned there was only going to be one winner. How wrong he was! A draw was the least we deserved, but for some reason we just can’t finish games off.

Let’s be honest, all our home games have been close-run matches. Buxton sneaked it by the odd goal, against Hyde for over an hour there was nothing between the two sides, Frickley was probably the poorest performance but even that wasn’t too bad, Sutton Coldfield Town went home mightily relieved to have scooped all three points, and then Stourbridge on Tuesday. Five defeats when we really deserved a number of points from those games.

I’ve not managed a single away game so far, but by all accounts, with the exception of Rushall Olympic and Workington, again the displays have been encouraging.

Draws at Whitby and Stamford have been the only chinks of light we

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 5

have seen so far, but I gather the performances away to tonight’s visitors and at Buxton were deserving of some reward. However, when you are at the foot of the table, little things appear to go against you, and had the overall performances merited such a position I would be more than a little concerned.

The table may not lie, but I firmly believe we do not deserve to be where we are, and surely the tide will turn? It needs to, and pretty soon, for the last thing I want to see is The Rams being left so far behind that we are playing out the season staring at

Buxton v Rammy in August, Liam Hardy’s 9th minute goal the only difference between the sides.

the club’s first ever relegation.

There is plenty of talent within the squad, and they do appear to be finally gelling. That old mistress “Lady Luck” really is due a visit at some point. Maybe today? Who knows, but as long as the effort continues to be put in by everyone at the club, I would like to think that our customary slow start, albeit taking a little longer to shake off this campaign, will soon be forgotten, and as we reach the end of April, our tenure within Evo-Stik Premier will still be in place.

Keep the faith!

andy dawson

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 6

In the past, players such as Tom Finney or Jimmy Armfield devoted their entire career to just a single club, but in modern football the journeyman player has become virtually the norm. Rammy’s Grant Shenton, Jon Robinson and Lee Gaskell are great examples of players for whom club loyalty comes above everything, between them making almost 600 appearances to date, but another name that truly deserves to be on that list is that of centre-half Andy Dawson.

Plagued by injury, the 30-year-old from Spotland in Rochdale and older brother of West Brom player Craig Dawson, has fought back time and again, needing constant attention from surgeons and physios, to devote almost his entire senior career to Ramsbottom United, making 177 appearances in a career spanning seven years to date. Few can forget the majestic pairing of Dawson and Flannery at the back, a pair of towering and commanding centre-halves who were the bane of many a Northwest Counties team during the club’s promotion season, and the moment that Andy Dawson, in role as captain, held the league trophy aloft after the Winsford game back in 2012.

We began by asking Andy about the injuries that have dogged him, how they first came about, and how things currently stand.

“If I told you my injuries are frustrating it would be a complete understatement, frustration that probably only my family and especially my wife have seen. My main injury was in 2005. When playing basketball I completely ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament, partially tearing my posterior cruciate ligament and partially tearing the cartilage. The surgeon

operated within a week or so and used part of my patella tendon to patch things up, but in doing so needed to remove some of the cartilage in the process. Other than the occasional rolled ankle, strained muscle and broken nose, my main injuries since have been as a result of my knee. Late 2013 I ruptured what little cartilage I had left which resulted in the surgeon drilling holes into the knee joint at the femur to cause it to bleed and grow something similar to new cartilage. This can take 12-18 months to grow and become hard enough to compete. In March 2015 I had this surface trimmed and smoothed off, and that's where I am up to now. Since 2005 I've had to adapt my own training, I cant road run, I cant train on Astroturf, and I've been fortunate that managers have allowed me to manage this flexibly.

Following return this year, allbeit my knee will never be 100%, I feel I am able to manage it with appropriate rest in between games.

“The really frustrating thing is that I have picked up a nagging ankle injury in the last three weeks which is something I've not had before and which I’m working to resolve.

“Although giving up basketball due to the injury, I’ve always loved my cricket, and even though I continue to play, I've fitted this more around my football and recovery from injury. I started cricket a little bit later than football and the two became a good combination when I was younger. I probably just preferred football but it was good to play football during winter and cricket in the summer.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 7

andy dawson

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 8

Andy Dawson and Ian Flannery, the commanding Rammy defensive partnership that earned promotion back in 2011-12

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 9

“I've played my cricket at Rochdale from the age of ten and made my first-team debut at sixteen. I had trials at Lancashire but knew deep down that I wasn't really good enough, so I became more focused on football. I have continued to play both when possible and I've been fortunate enough to win the league, a Wood Cup, and a T20 cup with Rochdale, and was first team Captain for two years in 2010/2011 alongside being Captain at Rammy from 2008 - 2013.

“As a Rammy lad through-andthrough, this last few months have been extremely difficult. What I would say is the rise of Rammy both on and off the field happened in a very short period of time. Some may argue that we punched above our weight, however if you look back at Jonno and Bernard’s first full season, it took 40+ players to find the right bunch - the right bunch in terms of spirit, the right bunch in terms of ability and the way they wanted to play. The time was right to give 16/17/18 year olds a chance to develop in adult football, mixing them with more experienced players, but it was easier back then playing in the NWCL compared to where we are now. To start with almost a brand new team at any level is tough and people need to be patient, but also people need to be realistic. To compare Rammy to Darlington's structure/support/finances is unrealistic - to even compare the playing surface or stability of the other clubs in this league is unrealistic.

For us on the inside, we know what Rammy is about. It’s got that family feel to it, that feeling of a close-knit support, it’s got the hard work the Supporters Club puts in, it’s got the excellent website and it’s got the great support both home

and away from a key element of fans. That's what I felt when I came on loan and that's why I stayed, but for an outsider looking in, a potential player for example, they look at the current form, the playing surface, the structure, the support in terms of numbers, and sometimes finances and, to put it simply, it’s difficult to attract players from this level or above. Sometimes it needs extra finances, sometimes it needs good contacts to attract the right players.

That said, we do have a number of very good players at the club at the moment - some that have both the ability and spirit to get us out of the rut we are in and some that still need to prove it. If they can’t prove it then non-league can be harsh and they wont cut it; simple as!

What we must do as a club is stick together and focus on the positives we do have, The management are always looking to strengthen that's life - and with a few more additions and the continued effort that we’ve put into the last few games, I am sure that we can come through this difficult spell and turn it round.”

Andy was born in Rochdale, and brought up in Spotland, with sport being a huge part of his life from a very early age.

“We used to go and watch my wad play when I was a child, and used to watch other local sport at Rochdale Cricket or occasionally Rochdale Football Club, although Ive always been a big Man United fan. My family has played a huge part in my life with my mum Joan and dad Ken, and my brother Craig.

“As a family we always did everything together, mostly involving sport, initially locally but as we got older our parents supported us no matter what, as my wife Sarah does now - travelling all over the country, and abroad at times - they are the reason both me and my brother are what we are today.

“Dad was a centre-half in his playing days, so it was almost inevitable that me and Craig would end up in that same position. No matter where we went as a family, holidays etc, we always we a bat or ball around.

andy dawson

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 10

“The earliest competitive football I can remember playing is for Norden when I was eight. From there I ended up at Blackburn Rovers for about three years from age 12, but at that time I fell out of love with the game a little as I was playing too much: Saturdays travelling all over with Blackburn, Sundays with a local team, school football and then Blackburn training on Tuesday and Thursdays. I wasn't enjoying it as I should and made the decision to leave and play with my friends.

Despite Blackburn doing what they could to try and keep me, I wasn't happy, and my parents supported me completely. I left and played for Roach Dynamos for a few years and we had a very successful team, winning the League, the Lancashire Cup, and even representing England in Holland and Germany- a number of players turned pro from that team.

These are some of my best memories. My Dad was Assistant Manager and my mum was also heavily involved - my brother played too, even though he was a lot younger.

“I played baskedtball in the national schools competitions and cricket I have played first Team at Rochdale since around 17. The injury I got playing basketball was probably my worst moment in sport, and certainly a time when I needed the support of my family, but it was also around the time that I met my wife-to-be Sarah, so I had great support throughout.

“It took me almost two years to recover from that injury, so I went back to playing for Rochdale St Clements for almost two seasons.

One of those was a special one not just because I was back playing but as I played a season at centre half

alongside my brother, and we also went on to win the Lancashire League. My brother left the following year to go to Radcliffe Borough and a season later I followed him there, again where we were able to play together for a little while before he went on to Rochdale. I continued to struggle somewhat with injuries and left Radcliffe, initially on loan, to Rammy in October 2008 but quickly made that a permanent move later that year. I had offers from Salford, FC United, Ashton United and Barrow prior to 2013 but I enjoyed the family feel to Rammy and most importantly I enjoyed my football, hence why I came back - I have unfinished business due to the time I missed through injury.

“The original Rammy team of 2008 was poor, there’s no denying. The good times that Jonno and Bernard brought was obviously a key part for every one of the players that played with them and I am no different. The morale in that group was better than anything I have experienced before, it was a one-in all-in approach both on and off the field, sometimes it could be embarrassing (for those of you scarred by ‘The Naked Bus’ episode), but it’s certainly a football memory that will stay with me forever. Obviously lifting the NWCL was a huge part of that, but playing a part in the Evostik North promotion season after the heartbreak the year before was also up there with great memories. I guess the good thing looking back is that I have been through both the good times and the bad, so I'm hopeful I can use that experience in helping get us through the current tough spell, to ensure that's all it is, a bad spell.”

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 11

Having dropped the base and jettisoned the lid, captain Andy Dawson finally hoists the Northwest Counties Trophy in 2011-12

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 12

today’s

opposition

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 13

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 14

Despite finishing second in the division

ing an 89th minute winner. Securing home

League, Darlington suffered the disap-

finalists Bamber Bridge were the visitors in

after winning promotion from the Northern

today’s opposition

pointment of losing out in the play-off semi-final at home to Rammy, who memorably won the final at Bamber Bridge.

Martin Gray kept most of his squad from

the previous season as he attempted

another assault on the Evo-Stik Division

advantage, the previous year’s beaten front of a crowd of just under 1900. After a

goalless first half, two strikes by prolific marksmen Nathan Cartman and Graeme

Armstrong earned Darlington promotion as they continued their rise.

The Quakers have adjusted to life in the

One North in 2104/15. The Quakers

Premier Division well, winning six and los-

always amongst the front runners, along-

have played so far. This has included

started their campaign strongly and were

side Northwich Victoria and Salford City.

They only lost seven league games all

season, with the only team beating them home and away being eventual champions Salford. Yet again the Quakers finished in

second place, four points off top stop, which meant they would have to go through the lottery of the play-offs for the second season in a row.

A thrilling encounter at Heritage Park

saw Darlo just edge out Spennymoor 3-2

in the semi-final, with David Dowson claim-

ing three of the nine league games they impressive wins against Blyth, Colwyn Bay and Halesowen, although they did suffer defeat in the FA Cup to Hyde, who ran out

3-1 winners at Heritage Park. They have also carried on their prolific goal-scoring form, with only two teams having bagged-

more league goals this season. Although looking to consolidate in the Premier Divi-

sion, who would bet against Darlington challenging for those top spots at the end

of the campaign if their current form is anything to go by?

1883 1908 1921 1958 1989 1991 Darlington FC were formed and played their home games at Feethams.

Darlington FC turned professional and joined the North Eastern League.

Won election to the newly formed Third Division North of the Football League.

Became members of the brand new Fourth Division.

After successive relegations Darlington were placed in the Vauxhall Conference.

Brian Little inspired club to two promotions in two years and club promoted to the Third Division.

•

•

The town owes much of its development to the Quaker families, hence the club’s nickname.

•

Darlington is a market town in County Durham.

• •

The world’s first passenger rail journey, between Shildon and Stocktonon-Tees, ran via Darlington in 1825.

•

Darlington FC played in the first FA Cup match to be played under floodlights in 1955, at Newcastle’s St James Park.

•

Famous bridge builders Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company have their headquarters in the town.

Between 1969 and 1980 the football club had to apply for re-election on five occasions to stay in the Football league, each time they were successful.

Darlington was the first town in England to allow same-sex civil ceremonies in 2001.

•

In 2000, although they were knocked out in the second round of the FA Cup, Darlington still made the third round after a ‘lucky losers’ draw following Manchester United’s withdrawal.

•

Former ‘Dragon’ Duncan Bannatyne’s company Bannatyne Fitness Ltd has its offices in the town.

did you know?

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 15

1997 2003 2009 2011 2012 2013 2015

Local businessman George Reynolds took over the club.

Moved into a new ground at Neasham Road, later named The Darlington Arena.

Relegated to the Conference after being placed in administration.

Won FA Trophy after beating Mansfield Town.

Fan-run club Darlington 1883 formed but they are demoted four divisions.

Win the Northern League and promoted to the Evo-Stik League First Division North.

Promoted to the Northern Premier Division after winning the Play-Offs.

six to watch

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 16

Alan White (Defender) Age 39 Previous Clubs; Middlesbrough, Luton Town, Colchester United, Leyton Orient, Boston United, Notts County, Darlington, Stalybridge Celtic, Gateshead, Blyth Spartans and Harrogate Town.

This vastly experienced defender has spent most of his career playing in the Football league. White was actually born in Darlington and joined the junior ranks at Middlesbrough, but did not make a first team appearance.

After spending three years at Luton Town, Alan really made a name for himself at Colchester United, making over 140 appearances for the club.

This is his third spell at Darlington, having first joined the Quakers back in 2007. White was part of the team beaten in the League Two Play-Off semi-finals, but he left in May 2009 when they first entered administration. Alan entered his current spell with Darlington, when he re-joined in October 2013 and he was named in the Evo-Stik League Team of the Season last year. He has now made over 100 appearances for the Quakers and somewhat surprisingly, last year’s play-off winners medal was the first one he had won in his senior playing career.

Graeme Armstrong (Striker) Age 32 Previous Clubs; Dunston, Gateshead, Harrogate Town, Blyth Spartans & Whitby Town.

Graeme has spent his entire football career in the non-league game and started out at Northern League Dunston. He joined Gateshead in the summer of 2007 and scored 48 goals in 144 games as they progressed

from the Evo-Stik Premier to the Conference Premier. In order to concentrate on his teaching career, Armstrong next moved onto Conference North Harrogate Town, netting 22 times in his only season at the club. Graeme is a prolific goal scorer and more evidence came of this as he scored 30 goals, all from open play, for Whitby Town in the 2013/14 season. Armstrong moved to the Quakers at the beginning of last season and continued his excellent form, scoring 26 goals for Darlington’s promotion winning squad. He suffered an injury to his pancreas in the closing minutes of the play-off final, but is now fully fit to take on the challenge of the Northern Premier Division.

Nathan Cartman (Striker) Age 25 Previous Clubs; Leeds United, Harrogate Town, Liversedge, Brighouse & Harrogate Railway Athletic.

Cartman began his career at Leeds United and graduated through their academy, but did not make a first team appearance. On his release he moved on to local teams that included Harrogate Town, before a move to Harrogate Railway Athletic where his prolific goal-scoring really came to light. In total the striker played 130 games for Harrogate RA and scored 67 goals, with 36 of these coming in 35 appearances last season. It was no surprise when Darlington secured his services early in 2015 and he went onto score a further 7 goals for the Quakers, one of which included the vital opener in the Play-Off final win over Bamber Bridge last May. Cartman’s name will definitely be a regular fixture in the Premier Divisions goal-scoring charts this season.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 17

Stephen Thompson (Striker/Midfield) Aged 26 Previous Clubs; Middlesbrough, Port Vale, Telford United & Durham City.

Another player to start his career at Middlesbrough in the junior ranks.

Thompson joined Port Vale where he made 17 appearances and scored twice. On his release from Vale he moved into the Conference North with Telford United before returning to his North-East roots with Durham City, who at the time were playing in the Northern Premier League. His regular goal-scoring attracted the attention of the Quakers management and he was soon hitting the back of the net for Darlington. 2013/14 was an outstanding season for Thompson as he scored 27 goals and created many more for his team mates. This excellent form meant he was the runaway winner of the league’s Player of the Year award. Thompson is capable of playing both up front and in other attacking roles, and he has already notched three goals this season.

Martin Gray (Manager) Clubs: Sunderland, Oxford United Gray started his career at Sunderland, making 54 appearances, and he also played in the 1992 FA Cup final defeat against Liverpool. He later had four years at Oxford United, before his first spell at Darlington in 1999. After retiring as a player in 2001, Martin moved into coaching and later became Assistant Manager at the Quakers under David Hodgson and then Dave Penney, whom he followed to Oldham Athletic. Gray was appointed manager of Darlington in his own right when he was enticed back to the club after they had been forcibly relegated four steps from the Conference to the Northern League.

His first season in charge bought the Northern League title and with it a triple hundred of points , goals scored and goal difference. After losing out in the 2013/14 play-offs to Ramsbottom United, Gray managed to recharge his side who came through the play-offs last year to win promotion to this seasons Premier Division.

Nathan Cartman having just scored against Rammy a fortnight ago.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 18

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 19

All year round quality Extensive range of quality garden plants.

Exclusive giftware for all the family.

Deli Heaven, a special range of cheeses, meats, pastries and bread.

CafĂŠ - freshly baked cakes and scones and delicious home cooked meals.

WHAT’S ON check out our website for special events.

Fantastic Christmas display.

Railway Street, Summerseat, Bury, Lancs, BL9 5QDTel: 01204 883048 info@summerseatgardencentre.co.uk www.summerseatgardencentre.co.uk

in praise of the hoppers

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 20

Last week the BBC website published an article entitled “The football fan, pub purist and tube taker” which detailed the exploits of (among other people) ex-MP Simon Henig, who is a proud member of “the Elite Club of people who have visited all 92 clubs in the four divisions”. An elite club, apparently. So I got to the arduous task of working out just how many clubs I’ve visited and seen matches at, and my (relatively humble total for a non-league fan) comes out at 152.

I don’t know about you, but as an ex Northend fan, I don’t think you should get membership of this “Elite Club” unless you’ve seen your team relegated at all 92 league grounds!

Like the BBC, and like Simon Henig, I used to think that 92 was a

lot of grounds to visit, but in my years of watching Rammy and various other non-league clubs, I’ve come across more than my fair share of groundhoppers - the slightly unusual breed of people who, quitely and without any kind of fuss, pop up at random matches up and down the country, simply because they can!

Well, coincidentally, less than half an hour after reading the BBC article, I bumped into the fella you can see on the right of this page, who was taking photos of himself outside “Achy Bottom”. Being a photographer myself, I was gripped by the paparazi urge to shoal, and started taking photos of him myself, just incase he was someone famous and I could make money selling the pictures!

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 21

It seems that he is actually a chap from Nuneaton called Nick Winwood, who had taken a week off work to drive around the country and tick a few more grounds off his list. Apparently he’d done a few in London on the Wednesday, Portsmouth Thursday, and because there was a music festival in the Isle of Wight he’d decided to change his schedule to take in Rammy, Burnley and a couple of others around the NorthWest. A trip that had begun at 5:20am that day, and would finish at 8pm involved pitching up at the grounds and taking a few photos before moving on to the next.

Nick Winwood from Nuneaton a fifteen hour day out visiting four empty football grounds.

in praise of the hoppers

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 22

Nick has been pursuing his Herculean quest for just over ten years, and, during that time has taken in over 310 grounds and travelled 30,000 miles.

“It all began when I was a courier travelling up and down the country,” Nick told us. “If I had a spare five minutes then I’d nip slightly off-route and visit a footie ground. My boss was really good about it and didn’t mind as long as it was on my timesheet. What was a bit of a hobby has since become more of an obsession, and now I book all my annual holidays around visiting grounds. Surprisingly, my wife Michele doesn’t mind at all she’s probably glad to see the back of me as I head off to ‘look at grass’, as she calls it.”

The life-long Wolves fan was even planning another 250 mile trip back up to Lancashire the next day to watch his team take on Bolton Wanderers, despite never bothering to visit Molyneux nowadays.

965 grounds for this chap! Makes your 92 look like child’s play!

“Home games have no appeal for me any more, they just blend into one memory as it’s the same old routine every time. I’ve been to Molyneux hundreds of times over the years, it’s nothing new for me.”

And Nick’s definitely not alone in non-league circles. For every person trying to “join the elite club” by “doing the 92”, there are ten who turn up at bizarre out-of-the-way non-league games just because they can, making a paltry 92 look like the work of a child. Take for example the fella below, who everyone associated with non-league has come across more than once on their travels.

His latest sign, that we saw preseason at Colne, proclaims that he’s visted 965 grounds, and hitched/walked 58,701 miles.

Now there’s a big sceptical part of me that finds that pretty difficult to believe, and so I waded back through my old photos to see if he’s maybe magicked up a few, and exaggerated

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 23

a bit (or a lot). 965 is hell of a lot of grounds! Finding the photos was easier said than done, because although you remember seeing him, it’s pretty tough to recall where or when, and I’ve got thousands of photos of obscure Rammy matches... and then it hit me, it was at that Wakefield Wildcats rugby stadium about three years ago... found it... 20th October 2012... and there’s the photo... what does his sign say? “889 grounds, 51,248 miles!”

So in three years he’s done 76 more grounds - I reckon he’s being dead straight with us! Blimey!

These are just two examples of the kind of characters that are meandering around the country watching our beloved game, or even, in Nick’s case, just turning up at empty stadia!

Another of our favourites, apart from ‘Macclesfield John’ and that little fella from Charnock Richard, neither of whom we’ve seen for ages, is Kilmarnock Craig, who we’re all doing our best to convert whole-heartedly to the Rammy cause - Scottish people are best able to cope with the misery of our current run of form, and are more than happy with multipack Mars Bars and a can of Irn-Bru, so we reckon it’s our best way of boosting attendances!

Since moving to the area Craig’s decided on his own crusade to visit all of Greater Manchester’s grounds, and, from what he tells us, he’s doing pretty well with it. Like the vast majority of ground-hoppers, Craig doesn’t drive, and so grounds like Rammy’s (our only train service being steam) hold an extra challenge which seems to be irresitible to the explorer instinct in them.

And so, we dedicate this article to all of those people who can see

beyond “the 92” league grounds, and we’ll give the last word to Nick who had this to say about Rammy’s ground...

“I prefer grounds that are traditional and have character, just like Ramsbottom’s. It’s a hell of a lovely ground - very picturesque and really well looked after, infact everything a nonleague ground should be. It’s my first visit, but I already love the place!”

Love at first sight, Darren Comer with our adopted groundhopper “Kilmarnock Craig” (left)

non-league’s very own Forrest Gump back in 2012 at Wakefield

grant shenton

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:49 Page 24

Here we are again, the ninth defeat in a season that's just eleven games old. Tuesday’s was the most crushing for me as there was a bit of hope we were going to get something out of it.

I noticed you stayed on the pitch at the end - you must be feeling it pretty badly.

This is hands-down the hardest period of my footballing career. I don't take getting beaten well - I'm a winner and I take losing personally. With each game we don't win it’s getting more and more frustrating. I don't think I'm the the only one in the changing room. Its going to take a lot of hard work to get a win and I’ll give 100% and more every game.

It's 5am after the game as I write this, and it's a good long while since the footy has stopped me sleeping. Do you have a routine to help forget what's gone before and get you up for the next game?

I don't have any particular routine, I just take each game as it comes. I'm experienced enough to know you don't think about the previous game and just focus on the game in hand.

Gassy looked particularly crushed after Tuesday's late goal. Do you find that certain players are more resilient?

Every player is different. They will deal with the result in their own way. I don't think it would be a big shock to see some of the lads taking a defeat to heart.

What went wrong with that last goal, and why do you think we're getting into a habit of conceding late-on?

We kept letting their keeper get the ball in his hands which was very naive on our part. Their only threat was a long punt from the keeper, so all of our problems stemmed from that. For the goal we didn't deal with the first header, and it took a very lucky bounce, which meant that our clearance went straight to their player who held off our attempts at a challenge. Next thing you know the ball is past me and in the bottom corner. We need to stop being nice in our battles with the forwards, we need to be a bit more nasty. I don't mean dirty, but don't get bullied off the ball which is what's happening at the moment.

There were moments in that game, particularly first-half, where we looked more than a match for Stourbridge, just as on Saturday at Stamford.

Does that make it more difficult to take when we concede late?

Not for me because conceding a goal always feels horrible, no matter how we're playing or what time in the game it happens.

We're still missing strength at the back, which we don't seem to be managing to sort. With Andy Dawson struggling with fitness this is a huge problem, isn't it.

Yes. We are playing full backs at centre half as we don't have depth at centre back, and it is an issue. But at the moment that's the hand we've been dealt and we need to just deal with it and move on.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 25

What was the postmatch team talk like? Was it understanding, or a Right Royal Rollicking?

I missed a big chunk of it because I was out on the pitch.

Robbo was obviously going to be very irate, and the lads definitely had their heads down when I joined them.

Some of the team shape has been a bit strange at times, with players occasionally going walkabout, and fitness and focus have been lacking late-on.

What stuff is being worked on at training at the moment and are these issues being addressed?

Goody does alot of work on shape with all the lads and drills them on their jobs. Some have had injuries which affects fitness but that will get better with each game we play.

A big crowd for today's game, with high-flying Darlington in town. Will the big crowd help, or will it just add to the pressure?

It’s the reason I love playing football. Loads of fans , whether singing for you our against you, gets me right up for a match!

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 26

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 1

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED v DARLINGTON SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 3pm

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 2

PROGRAMME TEAM Programme Editor: Rob Moss League News: Gareth Bird Darkside Column: Darren Comer Exile Column: Richard Isaacs Tony’s Teasers: Tony Cunningham Editorial Page: Tony Cunningham Feature Articles: Dave Burnham Photographs: Rob Moss,

Ste Heard, Darren Comer,

Angie Leach, Frank Crook Other Contributors: Dave Burnham, Phil Edghill, Jon Robinson, Grant

Shenton, the Evostik League and Mark Molyneaux. Extra-special

thanks to Newsthump.com for their kind permission to use occasional articles. Also match officials and

opposition officials, supporters and photographers too numerous to mention.

Printed by: 4 colour digital,

Newport under license from Terry Brumpton and JJ Sports

Promotions; fairprint Edinburgh and Alston Press Bury.

The views expressed in this

programme are purely those of the individual contributors and are not representative of the views of

Ramsbottom United Football Club.

To get in touch with us, please email:

programme@rammyunited.co.uk

PHIL EDGHILL

Good Afternoon and a warm welcome to Darlington FC for today’s game.

Tuesday night was another disappointing result for us. We definitely deserved at least a point from the game and everyone was gutted at the end. Unfortunately it’s been the same story recently - we are competitive in games, but are not managing to get the points we deserve, whether it’s to take a draw or get a win like we should have done at Stamford last Saturday. Football can be cruel, but we don’t want sympathy - you have to make your own luck and we have to show courage to do that. There is no getting away from the fact that results haven’t been good enough, but we have to believe we can come through it, and there have been signs recently that we are on the right path. For long periods of the Stourbridge game we were the better team and caused them problems, and with a little bit of composure in the final third, and maybe a bit of luck, we could have taken all three points. We conceded soft goals and the one at the end was avoidable: we didn’t deal well enough with the long ball initially then allowed them into our box too easily for him to slide it past Shents. The statistics don’t lie - we concede far too many and we have to sense danger and deal with situations a lot better, especially at the end of games, because it’s costing us points every week. It’s clear where we need to improve and we’ve been busy all week trying to get players in, but it’s not always easy finding the right player who wants to come to a team at the bottom of the table. We are confident we will have a least a couple in for next week to give us more competition for places.

The positives from the Stourbridge game were the chances we created in the second half, and the return of Max Harrop from injury, who looked sharp when he came on. I cannot criticise the players for effort or attitude and if we show that again today it gives us a chance of getting something from the game.

Today’s opponents are up around the top and are a big club. They will provide a stern test as they did a few weeks ago when we frustrated them for an hour. They have had a couple of defeats recently to Hyde but we know how tough today is and they will want to bounce back. These are the sort of games everyone should be up for, against one of the favourites for the league. We are at home and need to be positive and hopefully, with the help of the fans who were brilliant last game, we can get a win for everyone connected with the club. Enjoy the game!

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 3

LEAGUE NEWS Halesowen Town

Halesowen goalkeeper Daniel Platt is well on the road to recovery after losing four teeth in a nasty clash of heads against Tivdale back in August. Supporters teamed up with the club to launch a campaign ‘Put a smile on Platty’ to raise funds for his dental treatment. Fifty people have now donated nearly £800 towards a £3000 target to match the same amount the Professional Football Association contributed towards his treatment bill. Fans have been urged to keep donating as the cost of the dental treatment is not covered by sports insurance. Daniel needs £6000 to pay for the reconstruction of his four front teeth.

Ramsbottom United

Ramsbottom manager Jon Robinson has moved quickly to secure the signing of former Manchester City junior Sam Grimshaw from Glossop North End. The highly regarded 21 year-old went on tour with Manchester United to America while on trial at the Premier League club over the summer. The player who can operate both at full-back and in an attacking position was brought in to cover the loss of Grant Spencer who has moved to Northwich Victoria. Defender Lee Pugh has also left the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, joining North West Counties Football League side Colne.

Nantwich Town

Hot-shot Elliot Osborne is urging his team mates to put their FA Cup heart break behind them. Before their 1-0 defeat at First Division South Spalding United, the Dabbers has netted twenty-three league goals. Youngster Osborne, who counts Port Vale amongst his former clubs, signed from First Division South Newcastle Town over the summer and the 18 year-old is the club’s leading scorer so far this season. Nantwich passed up a number of

chances to equalise in their FA Cup defeat, but the creative midfielder wants the team to forget this quickly and concentrate on challenging in the Premier Division.

Matlock Town

Midfielder Niall McManus has told the club’s fans to blame the team and not manager Mark Hume for their FA Cup exit at the hands of lower league opposition. The Gladiators threw away a two goal lead as they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Northern League Whitley Bay with the match finishing 3-3 after extra-time.

Not only did Matlock miss out on £3000 in prize money, but also a home tie in the next round against North West Counties League Congleton town. McManus said, ‘It was a lack of game management by the players, especially when we were 3-2 up, but we stopped playing and Whitley went gung-ho, which led to their equaliser. McMaus knows that the team can bounce back, as there is plenty of quality in the squad.

Latest Transfers

Warren Bellew Prescot to Skelmersdale Michael Brewston Southport to Colwyn Bay Liam Davies Tranmere to Hyde Jordan Deacey Boston to Matlock Ross Durrant Nottingham Forest to Ilkeston Rob Elvins Worcester to Halesowen Russel Griffiths Everton to Colwyn Bay Jeff King Kendal to Ashton Zak Lilly AFC Telford to Sutton ColdfieldGlenn Matthews Bolton Wanderers to Colwyn Bay Massiah McDonald Bradford PA to Mickleover Dominic McGarr Romulus to Stamford Michael Muscat Bamber Bridge to Hyde Jason Palling Alfreton to Matlock Luke Rodgers Forest Green to Sutton Coldfield Danny Vincent New Mills to Ashton Charles Weston Stoke City to Ilkeston Laurie Wilson Belper to Matlock Nicholas Wright Kettering to Rushall

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 4

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND ROUNDUP Premier Division

North East clubs still hold the top two spots in the Evo-Stik Premier Division despite both Blyth Spartans and Darlington 1883 suffering defeats on Saturday.

The Spartans suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Stourbridge at Amblecote, watched by a crowd of 609. Matty Dodd shot the Glassboys in front from the penalty spot on twenty minutes and the lead was doubled in the 66th minute by Justin Richards. Karl Hawley wrapped the game up for the home side with fifteen minutes to go, ensuring Blyth left for their long journey home empty handed.

A crowd of just over a thousand at Heritage Park watched Darlington lose 3-2 to Hyde United, the same team who had knocked them out of the FA Cup a week earlier. Hyde took a first-half lead through two quick fire strikes from Scott Spencer. Quakers hotshot Nathan Cartman pulled one back on the hour mark and David Dowson soon equalised four minutes later.

The Tigers were not to be denied all three points as Scott Spencer completed his hat-trick in injury time to leave the home side deflated.

Nantwich Town moved within two points of second placed Darlington in a 6-2 demolition of Grantham Town. The second from bottom away side took a shock lead through Danny Meadows, but this was cancelled out by Steve Jones as the Dabbers moved back on level terms. Grantham went into the break in front again, with a Rhys Lewis strike on the half hour. Five unanswered second-half goals from the home side through Matty Kosylo, Liam Shotton, a second for Jones and a brace by Josh Hancock meant the Gingerbreads’ dismal league form continued.

Buxton’s 2-0 loss at Mickleover Sports, meant yet another top five side failed to pick up any points on Saturday. All the goals came late in the first period, as Messiah McDonald gave the home side the lead in the 43rd minute. The win was confirmed in stoppage time as former Burton Albion defender John McGrath struck.

Sutton Coldfield Town continued their impressive form of late, as they moved into fifth place with a win against Whitby Town. Serigne Diop scored the game’s only goal after sixty-nine minutes. This win lifted the Royals above Barwell who earned a draw away in Cumbria at Workington. Jamie Towers 54th minute opener broke the deadlock, but the Reds soon hit back with a Conor Tinnion strike ensuring both sides finished with a point.

Halesowen Town ran out 2-1 winners away at Frickley Athletic, to end the home side’s unbeaten start at the SW Jackson Utilities Stadium. Jacob Hazel gave Frickley a lead after the first period and they looked good to take all three points until a late brace from Keyen Reffell in the final six minutes sent Halesowen away with the win.

Although they doubled their points tally with a 3-3 away at Stamford, it leaves Ramsbottom United still searching for a first win of the season.

All looked good when the Rams raced into a 3-0 half-time lead courtesy of two goals from debutant Sam Grimshaw and one from the experienced Lee Gaskell. However this was a real game of two halves as the Daniels clawed their way back in dramatic fashion. A brace from Ryan Robins pulled Stamford back to within one goal of Ramsbottom and the comeback was completed when Cameron Powell equalised in time added on.

Salford City suffered a disappointing 3-1 reverse at home to Rushall Olympic. Strikes by Luke Benbow and Alex Reid gave the Pic’s a half-time lead at Moor Lane. The Ammies reduced the deficit six minutes after the break via a Ritchie Allen penalty, but Rushall sealed the win when Benbow struck for his second of the match in stoppage time.

Ashton United went goal crazy at Hurst Cross as they hit Skelmersdale United for five. The encounter was only 1-0 at half-time after Martin Pilkington’s 16th minute opener. Ashton stepped up a gear in the second period as goals from Adam Morning, Jason Gorton, Jody Banim and Dale Johnson made it look all too easy for the home side.

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 5

t

Ilkeston FC have now gone six games without a win as they were beaten 3-1 at Marine AFC. The Mariners had a great start through Andy Owers 5th minute spot-kick, with the lead doubled just after the half hour by Chad Whyte. Owens notched his second of the game with six minutes to go, although Skelmersdale managed a consolation strike through a Mike Williams penalty in the last minute.

Saturday’s other game saw Matlock Town and Colwyn Bay share the spoils with a 1-1 at Causeway Lane. The Welsh side took the lead through Chris Sharp, son of Everton legend Graeme, but this was soon cancelled out by Ted Cribley as the match ended in a stalemate.

Division One North

y

Northwich Victoria came away from Farsley Celtic with a 2-1 victory making it eight wins in eight games. Stuart Cook shot the Vic’s in front only for Lewis Nightingale to equalise for Celtic. Cedric Krou’s strike fifteen minutes from time meant Northwich travelled back over the Pennines the happier team.

Both Spennymoor Town and Glossop North End also remain unbeaten in the league.

Goals by Liam Henderson and Lewis Dodds gave the Moors a 2-0 win at Trafford, but Glossop were held to a 1-1 at Lancaster City.

Warrington Town’s 1-0 win and Scarborough Athletic and Kendal Town’s 3-2 home victory over Witton Albion ensure both teams stay in the top five of the division.

Prescot Cables managed their second win as they defeated Mossley AFC thanks to Lloyd Dean’s late goal.

Life looks extremely bleak for the league’s bottom side New Mills who were yet again hammered, this time it was Bamber Bridge who were in the goals. Joe Booth hit four, as further strikes by Brett Ormerod, Regan Linney and Sam Joel saw the Bridge run out 7-0 winners.

Radcliffe Borough must have thought that

they had done enough to claim all three points against Brighouse Town. The score was 2-1 to the Boro until Tom Robinson popped up with four left on the clock to equalise for the Yorkshiremen.

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE MIDWEEK ROUNDUP

Darlington 1883 moved to the summit of the league table as they drew 1-1 at lkeston FC. Gavin Strachan’s men took the lead through a JJ Blake penalty as they looked to end a six game winless run. Terry Galbraith equalised for the Quakers, but they had to hold on for the draw after Chris Hunter’s dismissal for a reckless tackle.

Monday night’s other game saw Hyde United run out 7-1 winners over Stamford AFC at Ewen Fields. Strikes by Reece Gray and Scott Spencer gave a Hyde a first-half 2-0 lead. Gray completed his brace nine minutes after the restart before Scott Spencer netted a second hat-trick in two games with a quick-fire double. Lee Neville hit the sixth after a well worked set piece with Ryan Robbins adding a consolation goal for Stamford three minutes later. Ayrton Bevins completed the rout with Hyde’s seventh five minutes from time to record their biggest win since December 2012.

Tuesday night saw new leaders in the Northern Premier Division as Nantwich Town comprehensively beat Barwell 4-0. All the goals came in the second half, as Josh Gordon and a hat-trick from Liam Shotton moved the Dabbers one point above Darlington.

Buxton moved into fourth place with a 2-1 win at home to Ashton United. Ash Burbeary scored for the home side in the 39th minute, before a Chris Baguley penalty pulled Ashton level. A stoppage time penalty by Liam Hardy gave the home side all three points.

Sutton Coldfield Town stayed fifth as they recorded a 2-1 win against Skelmersdale United at Stormy Corner. Serigne Diop netted again for the Royals to open the scoring before Danny Mitchley pulled the home side level. However the visitors were not to be

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 6

denied as Kyle Bryant netted to win the game for Neil Tooth’s side.

Frickley Athletic earned a hard fought 1-0 win against Rushall Olympic. Jacob Hazel scored the only goal of the game after nine minutes, but the Blues had to hold on as the Pic’s pressed to earn another impressive victory.

It was a late show at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium as Stourbridge pulled off a 2-1 win.

Karl Hawley put the away side in front in the 48th minute only for the Ram’s Andy Dawson to net with eighteen minutes to go with the equaliser. A stoppage winner by Chris Lait deflated a battling Ramsbottom to give Stourbridge all three points.

Colwyn Bay were condemned to a 2-0 defeat

by Workington at Llanelian Road. Matty Tymon and Conor Tinnion did the damage as the Bay are still finding it tough adjusting after their relegation from the Conference North.

Tuesday evenings other game saw Halesowen Town just edge out Marine AFC 1-0 at the Grove, with Reece Hales scoring the only goal of the game.

Wednesday evening saw a five goal thriller as Salford City ran out 3-2 winners away at Whitby Town. A brace by Danny Webber put the Ammies two up before Lee Mason netted in firsthalf injury time to reduce the arrears. Matthew Waters thought he had grabbed a point for the home side on seventy-five minutes, but a Jordan Hulme winner with five minutes to go gave Salford all three points.

Division One North

Northwich Victoria’s unbeaten run was ended on Tuesday evening as Clitheroe won 2-0 at Shawbridge. Goals from Scott Bakkor and Callum Hendry secured the win which moved Clitheroe up to sixth in the table.

Droylsden problems continue as they were soundly beaten 3-1 at Burscough. Ed Toner, Michael Monaghan and John Connolly put Burscough three up, with a Brandon Zibaka penalty giving the Bloods a consolation goal.

Spennymoor Town ran out 3-0 winners at Lancaster City to move them into second place in

the league. Second half strikes from Anthony Peacock and a Liam Henderson double gave the Moors an easy win at Giant Axe. Trafford earned a 2-2 draw at home to Kendal Town, with the result even more satisfying as they came back from 2-0 down with goals from Jack Dorney and Josh Dolling to give them a point.

Radcliffe Borough and Bamber Bridge also fought out a draw at Stainton Park. The Brig went in front through Sam Joel, but Boro equalised just after the hour mark, Sam McMahon scored as the game ended 1-1.

Tuesday night’s other games saw Farsley Celtic record a 3-0 win over Ossett Town and Witton Albion hit four as they beat Brighouse Town 4-1. The final game was a goalless draw between Glossop North End and Scarborough Athletic.

Ex-Rammy defender George Grayson joined his old team-mates at Salford City as they chalked up their sixth consecutive away win on a trip over to Whitby on Wednesday. A Webber goal at each end of the first half would have seen the Ammies take the break further in the lead had not Whitby’s Lee Mason reduced the deficit with a cross-cum-shot that found its way through the crowded box and into the visitor’s net unaided.

Whitby substitute Matty Waters equalised with a curling long-range effort that is a strong candidate for Goal of the Season, only for ex-Rammy striker Jordan Hulme to put the Seasiders to the sword 3-2 with five minutes remaining on the clock.

RETALIATION ONLY ACCEPTABLE ON FEMALE MEDICAL STAFF, CLAIMS MOURINHO

Retaliation in football is only acceptable when it’s against female members of your medical team who insist on doing their job, claims Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea manager, addressing the media after the FA rescinding a ban issued to Arsenal’s Gabriel, felt retribution in sport should only be

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 7

allowed when punishing a female doctor who exhibits genuine concern for the welfare of injured players.

Speaking at the club’s Cobham training ground, he said, “The FA is setting a dangerous precedent here in dismissing the ban on a player who reacted violently to provocation.”

‘Are they suggesting we should ‘let off’ any female medical professional that goes around treating whoever they feel like when they do so in complete accordance with their professional standards?”

He continued, “Let me be clear, any woman has to be aware of the strict limitations applied to her contribution to the football industry in Britain.”

“And that is nothing more than being the focus of prurient chants from the terraces.”

“Try to do anything more and she should expect the full retaliation of the management.”

A spokesperson for Women in Football, Hilary Mount, claimed Mourinho’s short-sightedness on the matter warranted the urgent attention of a medical team of his own.

“Expecting Eva Carneiro to ignore the on-field head injury of a player is beyond the pale.”

“Perhaps sending her on the pitch to administer a blow to the head of an opposition defender might have seen her awarded his Man-of-theMatch instead?”

BRENDAN RODGERS TO JOIN ISIS IN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE ANFIELD FEAR FACTOR

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers plans to join terrorist outfit ISIS in a bid to restore the Anfield fear factor, according to reports this morning.

Following his charges home draw with League 2 side Carlisle, sources close to the club confirmed that Rodgers made contact with the group through an intermediary, Mullah Akhtar Aidy-Ward.

The former Reading chief hopes his experience of Northern Ireland in the 1980’s will make him an ideal candidate to join one of the most

fearsome groups since the formation of the Wimbledon Crazy Gang in the 1980’s.

Rodgers told reporters, “It’s clear that teams up and down the land are treating a visit to Anfield as a match so easy it should be called ‘Katie Price’.”

“So I’m delighted by the opportunity to align myself with a world-class organization like ISIS, one that has spread fear into the hearts and minds of millions.”

“Opposing teams looking at our team sheet will quickly stop laughing at the sight of Dejan Lovren or Simon Mignolet on the teamsheet as soon as they walk through the tunnel and see the ‘This is the Caliphate of Anfield’ sign.”

“It’s an outstanding move for all parties.”

Rodgers confirmed that future pre-match press conferences would be replaced with grainy video messages shot from the sand pits of local Merseyside schools.

“Authenticity is key to everything I do,” he continued.

“So expect to see me try and cut off Raheem Sterling’s head when Man City visit us in March.”

DULL MIDDLE CLASS MEN TO SPEND SIX WEEKS GOING-ON ABOUT SPORT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND

Britain is bracing itself for six weeks of unremittingly tedious middle-class, middle-aged, awful people endlessly boring on about rugby; a sport they have only the vaguest comprehension of.

“Rugby World Cup?” said Middle manager and appalling bore Simon Williams. ”That’s where they can pick the ball up? Oh, yes, I’ve decided that will replace my Audi as my major topic of conversation for the next month or so.”

The public have been warned to watch out for overweight faintly posh men with England rugby shirts in pubs.

“They’ll be drinking pints of Ruddles, a laughably weak ‘ale’ they consider to be ‘proper beer,’” warned a representative for the licensing trade.

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 8

RAMSBOTTOM Shirts: Blue. Shorts: Blue.

1 (Goal) Grant SHENTO 2 (Right Back) Kyle HARROP

5 (Centre Back) Andy DAWSON

7 (Right Wing) David KUBA-KUBA

4 (Midfield) Prince HAYWOOD 9 (Forward) Jamie ROTHER

Referee: Mr David Storrie

10 (Forward) Thomas PORTAS 11 (Left Wing) Ian WATSON

8 (Midfield) Nathan CARTMAN

3 (Left Back) Chris HUNTER

6 (Centre Back) Stephen THOMPSON

1 (Goal) Peter JAM

Shirts: Red & yellow. Shorts: Ye

DARLINGT

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 9

TOM UNITED

Substitutes: 12 Charlie Russell 14 Jake Cliffe 15 Clevon Beadle 16 Melford Knight 17 Andy Fitzgerald

: Blue. Stockings: Blue.

1 (Goal) HENTON capt 6 (CentreBack) Phil EDGHILL

3 (Left Back) Luke HERON

8 (Midfield) Alex MEANEY

11 (Left Wing) Sam GRIMSHAW

10 (Forward) Lee GASKELL

Linesmen: Mr John Macrae, Mr Ethan Davids

9 (Forward) Graham ARMSTRONG

1 (Goal) JAMESON

4 (Midfield) Terry GALBRAITH

7 (Right Wing) David DOWSON

5 (CentreBack) Leon SCOTT

2 (Right Back) Alan WHITE

orts: Yellow. Stockings: Yellow.

INGTON

Substitutes: 12 Robert Youhill 14. Adam Nowakowski 15. Kevin Burgess 16. Philip Turnbull 17. James Provett

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 10

EVOSTIK RESULTS

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 11

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 12

EVOSTIK RESULTS

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 13

rammy in exile

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 14

Good afternoon everyone. Well, this is a pleasant surprise, being able to play against Darlington 1883 in the light of day (ok, I know we have floodlights, playing in the dark would just be silly!).

May I offer a warm welcome to all those who have travelled down from the north-east to our humble little segment of East Lancashire, and I hope you enjoy your time in our town - of course, barring the next 90 minutes or so!

It would be very easy to look back at the 'good ol' days' of just a couple of seasons ago when The Tiny Town Team took on the might of the former Football League club and didn't just win once, nor just win twice but added a third to the mix as well on that memorable (and slightly scary) night in Bishop Auckland where the small band of loyal Rammy faithful trekked up, with not many giving them a price of victory, but came away with smiles broader than the wings on the Angel of the North.

The rest, as they say, is history. That magnificent afternoon at Bamber Bridge, the euphoria that followed and then the unexpectedly brilliant start to last season. And then .... well .... we all know what happened!

As Darlington arrive at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium for the first time in daylight, we are locked to the bottom of the table while our visitors sit astride the rest. And while early goals killed us at the start of the season, it is now conceding late on that is our nemesis.

I have only seen one game this season (and hopefully I will add to that today as I am planning on being up) but from the reports and comments I have seen, we are actually playing some good stuff. Our new signings are impressing, the players, whilst no doubt feeling the pressure of the situation, are

performing, and our luck surely has to turn. 3-0 up at Stamford, doing well at Buxton and against Stourbridge on Tuesday, and favourable comments from our trip north to Darlington earlier this month are all encouraging.

But the points are still not coming and, for every single Rammy supporter, it is a worry.

Of course, attention when things are going badly instantly turn to the manager and the management of the team.

There is no escape from that and no matter how much you pull out the 'we are in transition' card, every single football club in the country wants their team to win, to push at the top of the table, to aim for promotion and success in every single competition.

OK, Robbo and his band of men will always look back at what happened in January. The mass exodus of management and players cannot be taken lightly at all and they were left with the very messy end of a very long and arduous stick. However, with my statistician hat on, the bare facts of the matter read very badly.

I am going to look at league matches only. Since Jon took over the team in January 2015, we have played 32 league encounters. We have won 4.

We have drawn 7. We have lost 21.

Our goals scored is 27. Our goals conceded 58. Put another way, out of a possible 96 points on offer, we have collected only 19. Not pretty reading but, once again, we have had the total upheaval of trying to create a new team in the blink of an eye.

However, in our most recent 19 league games since the start of April this year, just the memorable, safety ensuring 4-3 triumph at Barwell on 18th April is the only win. And maybe, that is the most telling factor of all. Many

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:02 Page 15

would say that is plenty of time to start to create your own team and start producing results.

But is it? Can a team be created virtually from scratch, at this level, in such a short space of time? Is it Robbo's fault that we find ourselves in this predicament? I understand the fears of every single Rammy supporter, I am having those very same fears and was more than narked at us conceding late at Stamford and late against Stourbridge.

So, here is the question I will leave you with. Is it time for the hangman? And if so, who comes in and would they get anything more out of the team than Robbo, Edgy and Molly are? Robbo is a Rammy legend and I dearly, so very dearly, want him to succeed to almost show those who

departed that we are just the same Rammy without them. 1 win in 19? 4 wins in 32?

Now, more than ever before, is the time to really back the team. To really get behind them. As I said, I am hopeful of being there today and I will be cheering and shouting as vociferously as normal regardless. And every Rammy supporter must do too.

COME ON YOU RAMS!

team set-up last term when the club won promotion as the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight play-off winners.

Crother could face a baptism of fire on his debut with second placed Darlington 1883 the visitors to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium in league action on Saturday.

One player who won't be in contention to make manager Jon Robinson's side is popular youngster Tom "Boris" Hartley who went out on loan on Thursday to North West Counties League side Colne to gain more game time.

RAMMY SIGN CURZON YOUNGSTER TO HELP CLIMB UP THE TABLE

Ramsbottom United's bid to climb off the bottom of the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's Premier Division table have been boosted by the arrival of central midfielder Matthew Crothers from Curzon Ashton.

A product of the Conference North outfit's youth team, the 19-year-old had been at the Tameside Stadium since the age of seven before breaking into the first

TODAY’S FIXTURES A BLYTH

v

MICKLEOVER

B COLWYN BAY

v

NANTWICH

C GRANTHAM

v

MATLOCK

D RAMSBOTTOM

v

DARLINGTON

E WHITBY

v

ILKESTON

TODAY’S MASCOT

Today’s mascot is nine-year-old James Voss who plays for Ramsbottom Sonics U10s. James has a younger brother Matthew who is three, and an older sister Eleanor who is sixteen.

He goes to school at Hollymount and his favourite food is pizza and garlic bread.

We hope you enjoy today’s visit to Ramsbottom United James, and that you join us again soon.

Darlington Retro Insert_Standard Programme 26/09/2015 22:03 Page 16

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 27

tony’s teasers

1-WHICH CLUB plays at Maesdu Park?

2-WHO IS THE MANAGER of Cheltenham Town?

3-WHICH COLOURS do Leamington play in?

4-IN WHAT YEAR did Macclesfield Town last became champions of the NPL? 5-IN WHICH LEAGUE do Holywell Town play?

6-WHAT IS THE NICKNAME of AFC Fylde?

7-WHERE DOES ex-Bury player John Rooney now play?

8-WHAT IS THE LINK BETWEEN Kingstonian and AFC Wimbledon?

9-RAMMY LINK: Cedric Krou scored the winner last Saturday for which club?

10-MISC: Which Stockport County player has recently received a ten game ban for biting?

HOW DID YOU DO? answers at bottom of page 10-Non-League guru!

8-9 Non-league enthusiast 6-7 Pretty good, but much to learn 4-5 Average, so time to read up on the non-league game 2-3 You must be missing out on the delights of non-league 0-1 Obviously an armchair Premier League viewer!

match officials DAVID STORRIE

ETHAN DAVIDS

JOHN MACRAE

24-year-old Scots/Londoner John Macrae (who now lives in Leeds) is in his eighth season as a referee having packed up playing when turned down for trials at Leeds. He has two young children, works as a consultant for Direct Line and got married last Friday!

44-year-old train driver and father of two Dave Storrie is in his fourteenth season on the national list as a Football League assistant referee. He’s been officiating as a referee at Evostik level for eighteen years having first got started due to the lack of officials for his Sunday team.

ANSWERS: 1-Llandudno 2-Gary Johnson 3-Yellow and Black 4-1986-87 5-Huws Gray Cymru Alliance 6-e Coasters 7-Chester 8-Both play at Kingsmeadow 9-Northwich Victoria 10-Glenn Rule

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 28

women’ ...part two, t w ...there were, if anything, more women drawn into the workforce in the Second World War than between 1914 and 1918 and sport, including football, was used by the authorities as a much needed diversion from the grind of war work. But in 1945 interest dropped away, with the FA estimating that only 17 women’s teams existed in the early 1950s, playing exhibition and charity matches. The official line is that it was the 1966 men’s World Cup which got more people interested in football, and this led eventually to the creation of a women’s association in 1969 and the rescinding of the 1921 FA resolution which had banned women from grounds and condemned women’s football to marginal status. But I wonder if it is more likely that the FA hung on and on to the ban on women’s football until they could do nothing else but rescind it. The FA take on the history of the women’s game is more or less that it did not really exist until half an hour before the FA ‘allowed’ it again.

You see women’s football in the 1950s and 1960s had a higher profile than commonly thought.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 29

n’sthe football resurgence... words by Dave Burnham Manchester Corinthians for instance, established in 1949, won a women’s competition in the Festival of Britain in 1951. In 1957 they went on to enter a European Ladies competition with teams from Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany Corinthians won it. Strange this success in Europe when the dead hand of the men’s Football League prevented Chelsea, League winners for 1955, entering the fledgling European Cup at around the same time.

Corinthians played many other games abroad, games often arranged by the Red Cross. At the same time small informal leagues seem to have been established and an International Tournament took place in Kent in the mid 1960s. European influence was considerable, with teams forming in Germany, Holland and France. By the late 1960s two Italian Leagues had formed, consisting between them of a score of clubs.

All of this, all across Europe, was independent of the men’s formal structures: ignored by FIFA, UEFA and the national FAs. But how could the authorities ignore it when the Italians held a women’s world cup in 1970, with a second following in 1971! That same year, under the leadership of the Hungarian President Sandor Barcs, UEFA voted by

31 to 1 to embrace women’s football.

In England the route to acceptance was more tortuous. On 1 November 1969 in Caxton Hall, London, 38 women’s teams formed the Women’s Football Association. This completely blind-sided the FA, who then rescinded the 1921 memorandum, ‘welcoming’ women back into the fold.

Too late though as the WFA immediately set up their own cup competition, the ‘WFA Mitre Trophy’, won by Southampton. By 1972 the first formally sanctioned international had been played – against Scotland in Greenock. Pat Davies scored once and Sylvia Gore twice in a 3 - 2 victory.

Early on the WFA was joined by local leagues from southern England and the midlands. This is interesting as after the First World War women’s footballing strength was found in the north, particularly in Stoke and all across Lancashire and Yorkshire.

This northern strength was based on industry based teams. Names of the 1970s teams from the south indicate a more ‘recreational’ background.

Perhaps southern women, even before the Northern Poorhouse had been created by Mrs Thatcher in the 1980s, had more time for leisure pursuits than their northern neighbours.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 30

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 31

The FA played a canny game, recognising the WFA, offering help in coaching and refereeing, and working with the WFA on links with Europe. Women’s football grew steadily rather than quickly at grass roots level and by 1991 334 teams were registered, with 9000 players, a number too great for the tiny resources of the WFA to manage.

Sponsorship was hard to come by too and TV paid scant interest until as late as 1989 when Channel Four began regular, if very limited, coverage. So, perhaps inevitably, the FA, by agreement, took over the WFA in 1993.

But since then, until the last couple of years, the profile of women’s football has remained low. Things have changed now with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal supporting women’s teams, a high profile ‘Super League’ and enough money in the game for some women to turn fully professional.

But although more and more girls take up football, it has been a long ,quiet road since 1971. One of the reasons for the slow take off, I suspect, is that old male attitudes lurk close to the surface. In 1970 for instance, a determined younger generation of women were demanding all sorts of freedoms and all sorts of parity with men.

The German FA responded to this by ‘allowing’ women in, but to take account of their weak bodies and

Karen Carney scores two and is brought down for a penalty in England’s 4-0 crushing of Sweden in Hartlepool last year.

Photo courtesy of FA/gettyimages

likelihood of getting an attack of the vapours in the open air, proposed that women should play only in warm weather, without studs, in games lasting only 70 minutes. I’m sure that went down a storm. At the cruder end of the spectrum is laddish sexism of the Andy Gray variety – which must still deter a lot of women from playing. Another reason for the slow take off ,it seems to me, is that for spectators watching the game is different. It is slower. More mistakes are made.

I don’t think goalkeepers are authoritative. But the levels of skills are up there – no doubt about that – though fewer of the players have the startling levels of skill that grace some men’s games. And remember, the proportion of girls exposed to the game, or likely to be attracted to a professional career, is much lower than for boys. Women players are drawn from a smaller pool than the men’s game. But despite all that and despite a lack of a strong footballing heritage (we have forgotten Dick, Kerr and the Manchester Corinthians) players like Karen Carney are unbelievably exciting to watch, and Steph Houghton, England Captain, has grit enough for three or four men. It is here - role models and heroes - that brings hope for the future. All the FA has to do is take women’s football as seriously as the FAs in Germany, France, Japan and the USA do, so we can build upon the success of the England team in Canada.

Is it about time Rammy United thought seriously about creating a Women’s setup?

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 32

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED Dawson (72)

STOURBRIDGE Hawley (48), Lait (90)

1 2

22.09.15 Att: 210

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 33

RAMSBOTTOM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Shenton K Harrop Heron Haywood# Dawson 1+ Edghill Kuba-Kuba Meaney Rother* Gaskell Grimshaw

Subs: Russell, Cliffe, M Harrop*, Knight#.

Fitzgerald+

STOURBRIDGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Solley Green Scarr Tonks+ Knight Pierpoint Dodd Harris Hawley# Richards Canavan*

Subs: Lait* 1, Broadhurst+, Smikle#, McPike, Hill

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 34

RAMSBOTTOM

1 2

Dawson (72)

STOURBRIDGE

match review

Hawley (48), Lait (90)

There was a sad and cruel inevitability to yet another defeat for a Rams team which, while improving going forward, organisationally continues to demonstrate the resilience of an ice cube in the Sahara. Unless he is of the big strapping dominating type, the announcement of the signing this morning of yet another midfield player will leave most fans scratching their heads in confusion, when it is defence and, in particular, on the flanks that the problems exist.

There is a lack of pace, positional awareness, ability to close down space, interact with the midfield or get forward ( and then back) in support of wide players. These are the failings that afflicted the team in the desperate closing months of last season and little or nothing has been done to correct them this.

And so it was on Tuesday. The Rams were the better team for the main part of the first half and, having

22.09.15 Att: 210

equalised with 15 minutes left, looked the more likely team to go on and win.

David Kuba-Kuba was outstanding throughout. He could easily have opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes but, having forced his way into the box, delayed a second too long in getting his shot away and was denied by a fine last-ditch tackle.

Then, on 25 minutes, his weaving run and pass from the right released Sam Grimshaw whose vicious low cross would have reached Lee Gaskell at the far post except for the flying intervention of the keeper. The Rams were certainly worth a lead at half time but, once Stourbridge realised that there was a freedom free of danger to push up another 20 yards, the flow of the game changed. It took only three minutes of the second half for the visitors to gain the lead from a corner and then, for the next 30 minutes, they threatened to take the game completely away from the

Shortly before limping off injured, Andy Dawson side-foots home Rammy’s equaliser

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 35

Just two minutes in, and David Kuba-Kuba was denied by an excellent Stuart Pierpoint tackle

the same post.

But, as the referee announced five minutes added time, Stourbrdge broke forward and found Drew Canavan in as much space down the left as there was around the home drummer on the terraces.

Canavan's low shot found the bottom corner and piled more misery on team and fans alike.

“We have a young player Boris who can do the job but Rammy have tweeted today that they have sent him to Colne on loan? Why? We are crying out for a player to do this job.

Again to me this is bad management.“ - Thornton

have your say

Rams, and would have done if not for Grant Shenton tipping a free kick onto the bar and then somehow deflecting the follow up back over it.

And then, on 75 minutes, The Rams’ fortunes appeared to change.

Andy Dawson was fouled on the edge of the area and all Lewis Solley could do was palm out Max Harrop’s low free kick around the wall and into the path of Dawson who seemed to take an eternity to tap the ball in.

Driven forward by Kuba-Kuba, the Rams pressed forward. His run down the right and cut-back could only be cleared back to Max Harrop. Harrop’s cross was met at the far post by Andy Fitzgerald but his sliding effort squirted across the face of the goal from the inside of the post. Then Solley at full length tipped a 30-yard shot from Alex Meaney onto the outside of

“When you see the effort that is going in on the pitch by the majority of the players and the skill that is on display at times, it is really hard to explain why things are going wrong.

I just hope Robbo, Edgy, Wayne and Molly have some ideas, cos I certainly don't!” - Katie “It is the manager's job to make sure the players perform to the best of their ability, and if the players are doing so but are not good enough, then whose fault is that? The manager's.” - Joel

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 36

mr cantankerous

...and I’ ll tell you another thing...

Get the medication and the strait-jacket ready, cos this is one issue that really gets my goat, and before I even start scribbling I know that I’m going to seriously Go Off On One! I’d imagine it’s an issue that’s as close to the heart of our visitors today as it is to Tuesday’s visitors Stourbridge, and to mine... We have THREE leagues at this level of the football pyramid - count em, THREE. Guess what they are... Yep, you got it, the Northern League (that’s us), The Southern League (that’s them), and... what’s the other one I hear you cry? Is it the Midlands League? That’d make sense wouldn’t it?

That’d save us all having to travel miles and miles on Tuesday nights to play teams the length and the breadth of the country. Well, if you said “Midlands League” then you’d be barking up the wrong tree - you could even be considered barking mad... there’s a clue in there!

Northern Premier in Pink, Southern Premier in Green, Well, they call it Isthmian Premier in Grey The Isthmian League, though you might know it as the Ryman League, and it basically means that while we’re traipsing up to Blyth Spartans or down to Stamford, all the little London teams get to play each other every week. And it’s not just us Northerners that have it bad, the Southern League is just as awful, with teams such as Kings Lynn and Kettering trekking over to Wemouth and Bideford so that Harrow or Hampton & Richmond can play East Thurrock or Grays every week.

Maybe I’m just being my usual whinging self here. Maybe we Northerners enjoy twelve hour plus away trips twice a week; I know that when I lived in Banbury there was nothing I liked more than a 400 mile round trip on a

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 37

is Saturday to watch my team play in Cornwall!

Even Watford Gapthe 85 miles from ’s Perhaps I do a disservice to our moneyIsthmian League nearest club! grabbing, selfish Southern cousins? Well, in the week I got my felt-tips out and coloured in that map of England/Wales, so let’s have a proper look and see what’s really going on...

Well, to start with, you’ve got that little darkgrey patch in the South-East, which for me is where the problem begins. There are no fewer than twenty teams located within a 45-mile radius of London! TWENTY! Is London somehow awash with top quality non-league football clubs? Judging by the wholesale lack of progression in the FA Cup/Trophy/Vase (which is the only place the clubs ever meet), the answer is very much “no”. There isn’t even anything like the depth of feeder leagues like we have in the rest of the country.

Let’s look at some of the horrendous distances that the rest of us have to travel in order that the Londoners can play with themselves every week.

First off, how about Blyth (though this could equally apply to ten Northern League clubs who are on the boundaries of the league). Blyth to Stourbridge is a 472 mile round trip!In the Southern League our old mates King’s Lynn (bless em) have to make a 600 mile round trip to play Bideford.

Anyone who’s ever tried to get to Weymouth knows that even Weymouth to King’s Lynn or somewhere like Merthyr Tydfil is a terrible journey on crumby roads.

What’s your game, London? Not only are we having to pay for West Ham’s stadium development, and having to travel down to your crowded Southern slums if we want to watch our national team play, but for your convenience it’s us lot who have to travel thousands of miles every year, just so that each of your clubs can have nineteen local derbies every season. This is absolutely unacceptable, and the farcical re-structuring that happened just a few years ago did nothing to redress the ridiculous balance in this country.

You’ve shut our pits, taken our jobs, stolen our money like the blood-sucking leeches you are, and even our national sport is skewed in your favour. Well, I’ve had enough of it! ...and I’ ll tell you another thing...

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 38

Watch the match in style with our Corporate Hospitality Packages starting at just ÂŁ25 per person. For further information call 07576 390762, or email bobsolo@googlemail.com

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 39

fixtures & results 2015-16

This season we want to hear firsthand what our supporters think about everything, from team and player performances right through to what everyone thought of the pies and the parking!

To that end, we’ve had printed a load of ‘Have Your Say’ cards, which you can pick up near the tea-bar. Onto these you can write your thoughts and then post them into the boxes near the exits as you leave. These will be available at every game from now on.

Alternatively, you can use your phone to text TV444 followed by your comment to 82055. These cost the same as any other text you would send.

The comments will be given to Robbo/Harry etc, and will be posted to @RammyReaction on Twitter. A selection will be published in the programme.

Ramsbottom United Football Club President: J Smith Chairman: H Williams Vice Chairman: C Woolfall Secretary: A Cunningham Matchday Secretary: A Edmunson Treasurers: H Williams, C Woolfall Committee: H Williams, C Woolfall, A Edmundson, K Hitchen, A Cunningham Catering Manager: S Fletcher

Recent Senior Honours: Bolton Combination Div 1 Champions: 1972/73 Bolton Comb. Premier Champions 1976/77: Bolton Comb. Div2 cup runners up: 1979/80,1982/83 Bolton Comb. Div2 runners up: 1982/83 Bolton Comb. Cup winners: 1976/77, 1979/80, 1983/84 Bolton Comb. Div1 runners up: 1984/85 Bolton Comb. Cup runners up: 1985/86, 1987/88 Manchester League Cup Winners: 1990/91 Manchester League Champions: 1990/91 Yorkshire Cup runners up: 1993/94 Northwest Counties Div2 Champions: 1996/97 Northwest Counties Div2 Trophy: 1995/96 Bolton Hospital Cup winners: 1974/75, 05/06.

06/07, 07/08 Northwest Counties Premier runners Up 2010/11 Northwest Counties Premier Champions: 2011/12 Northern Premier League Div1 playoff winners: 2013/14

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:50 Page 40

RAMMY

DARLINGTON

FORM

NUMBER OF WINS

2-1 2-1 3-3

2-1 1-3 2-3

1-2

GOALS SCORED

POSITION 24th

GOALS SCORED PER GAME

ATTENDANCES

BIGGEST WIN

CLEAN SHEETS

WORST DEFEAT

1-1 POSITION 2nd

ATTENDANCES

BIGGEST WIN HALESOWEN DARLINGTON

0 3

WORST DEFEAT

WORKINGTON RAMSBOTTOM

4 0

TOP SCORERS

Lee Gaskell Sam Grimshaw David Kuba-Kuba Max Harrop Andy Dawson

FORM

3 2 1 1 1

DARLINGTON HYDE GOALS CONCEDED

GOALS CONCEDED PER GAME

1 3

TOP SCORERS

Alan White Nathan Cartman Graeme Armstrong Kevin Burgess David Dowson

4 4 3 3 2

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 41

ATTENDANCES

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

TEAM Darlington Workington Blyth Spartans Salford City Ilkeston Stourbridge Halesowen Town Hyde United Marine Buxton Matlock Town Stamford Nantwich Town Colwyn Bay Whitby Town Frickley Athletic Ramsbottom United Skelmersdale United Mickleover Sports Rushall Olympic Barwell Grantham Town Sutton Coldfield Town Ashton United

Clevon Beadle Jake Cliffe Andy Dawson Phil Edghill Andy Fitzgerald Lee Gaskell Sam Grimshaw Kyle Harrop Tom Hartley Prince Haywood Luke Heron Callum Jones Melford Knight David Kuba-Kuba Dominic McHale Alex Meaney Kieran Nolan Jon Robinson Jamie Rother Charlie Russell Grant Shenton Ben Woods

Avg 1205 515 497 494 480 460 395 377 364 340 340 330 295 266 243 236 233 225 218 204 197 189 165 151

EVOSTIK PREMIER DIVISION

TEAM P W 1 Nantwich Town 10 6 2 Darlington 10 6 3 Blyth Spartans 9 6 4 Buxton 10 6 5 Sutton Coldfield Town 10 5 6 Frickley Athletic 10 5 7 Stourbridge 10 5 8 Workington 10 4 9 Halesowen Town 10 5 10 Hyde United 10 4 11 Rushall Olympic 10 3 12 Barwell 10 4 13 Mickleover Sports 9 4 14 Salford City 9 4 15 Matlock Town 9 4 16 Ashton United 10 3 17 Skelmersdale United 10 4 18 Marine 10 2 19 Ilkeston 10 3 20 Colwyn Bay 10 2 21 Stamford 9 2 22 Whitby Town 9 1 23 Grantham Town 8 0 24 Ramsbottom United 10 0

SEASON 2015-16 / CAREER STATISTICS

SIGNED July-15 Jan-15 Aug-08 Jan-15 July-15 Aug-10 Sep-15 Jan-15 Aug-12 July-15 Jan-15 Jan-15 July-15 Nov-14 July-15 July-15 July-15 Aug-09 Mar-15 Aug-15 Aug-10 July-15

SEASON APPS 5 1 5 4 7 11 2 9 0 9 9 2 2 7 4 10 2 1 3 2 11 6

SUB 1 3 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 2 1 0 1 3 2 0 3 3 1 1 0 0

GOALS 0 0 1 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CAREER APPS 5 1 177 48 7 185 2 29 0 9 17 8 2 18 4 10 2 170 19 2 238 6

SUB 1 3 5 15 2 37 0 2 0 2 7 0 1 9 2 0 3 43 4 1 1 0

D 2 1 1 0 3 2 2 4 0 2 5 2 2 2 2 4 1 6 3 2 1 3 4 2

L 2 3 2 4 2 3 3 2 5 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 5 2 4 6 6 5 4 8

GOALS 0 1 24 1 0 113 2 0 12 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 107 3 0 0 0

F 33 21 14 15 15 16 21 13 10 19 17 17 10 10 13 17 15 10 14 11 25 15 11 7

A 19 13 11 13 14 12 20 8 13 15 14 16 9 9 14 13 18 8 17 18 35 18 20 22

YELS 0 0 26 6 0 10 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 49 3 0 12 1

GD 14 8 3 2 1 4 1 5 -3 4 3 1 1 1 -1 4 -3 2 -3 -7 -10 -3 -9 -15

Pts 20 19 19 18 18 17 17 16 15 14 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 12 12 8 7 6 4 2

REDS 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 0

from the darkside

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 42

Maybe it’s a sign of growing old (un)gracefully but when you have seen a football club play at three different home grounds then, like me, you’re probably no spring chicken. In that category, for me at least, are Darlington, a traditional football club with a proud history despite having little success since the original club was formed back in 1883 (not that I can remember that far back before some joker suggests it).

Feethams was the original ground of the club from their formation until 2003, and was located in one of the leafier areas of the town which always made for a nice little away day. It may have been a little ramshackle around the edges, and the uncovered away end always ensured a soaking when it rained (which

seemed to be quite often), but the ground had atmosphere and I’d say it is still the spiritual home of Darlo.

That is more than can be said about The Darlington Arena, a 25,000 seater white elephant that was built by the club’s former, infamous owner, George Reynolds (I won’t go into much detail here about Mr Reynolds but, if you do not know of him then do a little research, he is a colourful character to say the least). I had the pleasure, if you can call it that, of visiting The Darlington Arena to see a Play-Off Semi Final against Rochdale back in 2008. Despite a place at Wembley being at stake, I have to say it is one of the least atmospheric stadiums I have visited. For those of

us Rammy supporters who think we have a club in crisis at the moment take a look at what the Darlington Loyal had to go through in the first decade of this century. Now that was a club in crisis, and fair play to those supporters who helped with the 2012 reformation of the club as Darlington 1883.

Darlington 1883 are now based at Heritage Park, home of Bishop Auckland, and this is the ground where The Rams arguably had the most famous ninety minutes in

our history, a 2-0 Play-Off Semi Final victory back in April 2014. On that glorious evening we had 120 Rammy Ultras making the long, midweek trip up to The North-East to support the team and witness a game that will live long in our memories. For our recent visit, the first since that famous night, we had slightly fewer supporters, and that’s putting it mildly.

We left a sunny Ramsbottom at 3.30 and, after a quick stop to pick up the players at Prestwich, were soon making good progress up the M62.

On board the Rammy Rocket I was

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 43

joined by Little Katie, Carlsberg, Hackers, Woolly, Sophie and, of course, the legend that is Mr Harry Williams. To help the journey go a little quicker I had taken ‘Porno’ to read (That’s the Irvine Welsh novel, and sequel to his classic ‘Trainspotting’, not actual pornographic literature, as if!). I also spent a bit of time down Memory Lane with Woolly reminiscing about games at Oldham Athletic back in the 1970’s, especially the choice of music they ran out onto the

middle of a commercial retail park which meant the only place to get a pint was the local Brewers Fayre restaurant (I use the term ‘restaurant’ loosely here, folks). We were soon joined by RammyMag/Alex who had taken the

pitch to, ‘Mouldy Old Dough’ by Lieutenant Pigeon (YouTube it, teenagers. They don’t write em’ like that anymore).

We arrived at the ground around 6.00 which gave us plenty of time for a couple of pints at a local hostelry before the game. One of the many plus points of watching non-league football is that we often go to little towns with traditional English pubs selling traditional English ales, which unfortunately does not apply to a trip to West Auckland. Heritage Park is only five years old and, like many new football grounds, is bang in the

opportunity to visit family over in Hartlepool (sorry for the use of bad language there to the Darlo supporters, I really should have put H*********). We had a couple of pints (well, vodkas for Little Katie), as the place started to fill up with the black and white colours of our hosts, before making our way back to the ground in plenty of time for the kick off. I, along with Little Katie and RammyMag had complimentary tickets so we left the Rammy riff-raff and made our way to the main entrance to pick them up. contd...

from the darkside

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 44

For the first, and certainly not the last, time during the evening we were met by friendly, helpful staff and were soon up in the Heritage Park bar for another quick drink.

Now, if I was to mention each time we encountered the wonderful staff that Darlington have working for them it would take up at least half a dozen pages so I’ll just give them a special mention here and now, especially the catering women who supplied me and Hackers with a free pie after the game. Thank you very much, ladies.

The team had a setback in the warm up, with the integral Andy Dawson turning his ankle after Lady Luck had once more peed on us from a great height. This meant we had Assistant Manager, Phil Edghill starting in defence (Happy 42nd Birthday for last week, Edgy.

Well, that’s how old Robbo said you were!) who had one of his best ever games in Rammy Blue and helped keep a dangerous looking Darlington team at bay in the first 45 minutes, meaning The Rams went in all square at half time. We had actually managed to create one or two chances ourselves in a much improved performance, with the tireless Lee Gaskell (or Lee Caswell according to the team sheets) coming close to a much deserved goal.

The second half saw Darlington step it up a gear or two which, unfortunately, the Rammy players could not match. It does help when you can attract non-league legends

to your club as Darlington have done with the signing of Nathan ‘Eric’ Cartman and he duly opened the scoring just before the hour mark. This was followed less than 10 minutes later by a second goal which, more or less, put the game out of our reach, but credit to all the players who kept on battling away to find a way back into the game.

When we did manage a goal, late on in injury time, a little corner of Heritage Park finally had something to celebrate, but by then it was nothing more than a consolation goal, and almost immediately the referee blew for full time. We can be quick to criticise referees who make mistakes but not always as quick to praise them, so I take my hat off to the officials for this game, who let things flow and were hardly noticed.

Now, I don’t know what it is with those loyal Ultras who regularly follow Rammy to away games but they always try and remain upbeat despite a long, winless run. This optimism, however, was sorely put to the test on the long journey home from the North-East. With road widening work being carried out on the A1, the Rammy Rocket was forced to take a detour through a series of small towns and villages until we reached Scotch Corner, after more than an hour on the road, where we rejoined the motorway. A long day was made all the more longer but, by 2.15 we were reaching destination Ramsbottom and more than ready for our beds. Zzzzz

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 45

Grant Spencer - the last time we played Darlington, before Salford made off with all our players and we went s***.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 46

who’s who? meet the rammy squad for 2015/16

Jon Robinson

Phil Edghill

Grant Shenton

Date of birth: 28/12/81 Place of birth: Salford Position: Manager / Striker Height: 5ft 9ins Previous clubs: Salford, Flixton, New Mills, Bacup A passionate and neversay-die striker who will score goals by sheer enthusiasm alone. Took over the managerial reins in January 2015.

Date of birth: 13/09/79 Place of birth: Oldham Position: Manager / Midfield Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Rochdale, Curzon, Hyde, Salford Versatile midfielder who’s happy anywhere on the pitch. Intelligent, mature and articulate addition to Rammy’s management.

Date of birth: 28/01/91 Place of birth: Newton Heath Position: Goalkeeper Height: 6ft 2ins Previous clubs: Maine Road, FCUM Charismatic and influential goalkeeper whose vision helps score as many goals as his athleticism denies.

Kyle Harrop

Clevon Beadle

Ben Woods

Date of birth: 22/05/92 Place of birth: Chadderton Position: Defender Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Curzon, Bacup, Trafford, Ashton United, Nantwich Full back with a great ability to read the game.

Date of birth: 19/12/95 Place of birth: Manchester Position: Winger Height: 5ft 11ins Previous clubs: Trafford, Radcliffe Leggy young and passionate winger with bags of pace who likes to run at defenders.

Date of birth: 1/07/97 Place of birth: Manchester Position: Wing-back Height: 5ft 10ins Previous clubs: Hough End Griffins Extremely talented young full back with bags of pace, which allows him to wreak havoc coming forward.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:51 Page 47

6

Andy Fitzgerald

Andy Dawson

Kieran Nolan

Date of birth: 22/12/93 Place of birth: Stockport Position: Defender Height: 6ft 1in Previous clubs: Manchester United, Blackburn, Stockport, Curzon, Hyde Hard working full back with a great pedigree.

Date of birth: 19/09/85 Place of birth: Rochdale Position: Centre-Half Height: 6ft 3ins Previous clubs: Blackburn A Rammy favourite and one of the club’s longest serving players.Struggled with injury for the past three seasons, but after a series of knee operations is back in the squad.

Date of birth: 12/01/91 Place of birth: Salford Position: Centre-Half Height: 6ft 1in Previous clubs: Manchester City, Bolton Skillful young centre back who’s come through the Bolton academy setup.

Very brave, creative and has huge potential.

Prince Haywood

Melford Knight

Alex Meaney

Date of birth: 2/04/92 Place of birth: Modena, Italy Position: Midfield Height: 6ft 1in Previous clubs: Modenese, Stalybridge, Colwyn Bay No-nonsense hard working midfielder with bags of experience despite his age.

Position: Midfield Previous clubs: New Mills, Glossop, Runcorn Linnets, Mossley, Trafford Strong,experienced and classy midfielder who likes to get stuck in. The Enforcer in the middle!

Position: Midfield Previous clubs: Stockport, Lancaster, Nantwich, Chorley, Skelmersdale, Curzon Ashton A left-footed attacking midfielder who works tirelessly and has a great eye for reading play.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:52 Page 48

Max Harrop

Jake Cliffe

Jamie Rother

Date of birth: 30/06/93 Place of birth: Oldham Position: Midfield Height: 5ft 9ins Previous clubs: Bury Creative and entertaining attacking midfielder with a sweet left foot. Brother of defender Kyle Harrop.

Date of birth: 14/09/95 Place of birth: Bury Position: Midfield Height: 5ft 11ins Previous clubs: Preston, Bury Young and very promising midfielder whose performances become more outstanding every time he takes the field.

Date of birth: 28/01/91 Place of birth: Middleton Position: Midfield Height: 5ft 8ins Previous clubs: Oldham, Salford, Bacup, New Mills A very hard-working midfielder whose neversay-die attitude makes him a real inspiration in the Rammy team.

David Kuba-Kuba

Charlie Russell

Tom Hartley

Date of birth: 1/03/95 Place of birth: London Position: Midfield/Wing Height: 5ft 8ins Previous clubs: Preston, FCUM A very hard-working midfielder who’s skilled, strong and confident on the ball. Extremely influential player on the field for Rammy.

Date of birth: 24/03/96 Place of birth: Halifax Position: Midfield Height: 5ft 8ins Previous clubs: Leeds, Stockport A young creative midfielder who has the ability to take on anyone and deliver a great ball. He is currently on loan from Stockport County to get some match experience.

Date of birth: 11/11/96 Place of birth: Rawtenstall Position: Midfield/Striker Height: 5ft 7ins Previous clubs: Blackburn, Moston Tough and skillful young striker / attacking midfielder who is a very exciting prospect for the future.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:52 Page 49

Luke Heron

Date of birth: 24/03/96 Place of birth: Bury Position: Winger Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Oldham, Trafford Young wide player whose performances are going from strength to strength.

Step-son of coach Wayne Goodison.

Lee Gaskell

Date of birth: 07/02/85 Place of birth: Bury Position: Striker Height: 6ft Previous clubs: Bury, Morecambe, Trafford, Warrington Tall and classy striker who has an eye for the spectacular but isn’t afraid to work hard for the cause.

Wayne Goodison

Position: Coach Previous clubs: Barnsley, Crewe, Rochdale, Hyde, Accrington, Buxton Vastly experienced coach with some great ideas for getting the best out of his players. Played over 200 matches in professional football as a right-back.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:52 Page 50

supporters club

LLLDLLWDLLLL For me at least, Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of Stourbridge was the lowest point I’ve experienced in my almost forty years of watching football - because, for a while, there was just a slight glimmer of hope shining through the despair! Even those reelection years watching Preston pale into insignficance next to the awful, crushing feeling that I (and lots of others) felt as Chris Lait tucked away the late winner for the visitors. Katie’s woeful expression that looked on the verge of tears was heart-breaking, and having seen our club rise so meteorically over the past few seasons, it’s horrible to see it gradually disappearing under the quicksand at the foot of the league table.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I’ve enjoyed the past six months of defeat upon crushing defeat - far from it. It’s just that, right now, I can’t see any way that the tide can be turned.

There’s no clinging on to the hope of staying up, which got us through the awful run of games in April and May,

or the hope that we’ve got some really key players missing that will be bouncing back to full fitness very soon. We’re bottom, with two points, and the string of results listed above (going back to the start of April) shows no sign of changing.

The calamities on the pitch are, for me, just the tip of the iceberg for the club though, and that’s what makes this so much worse. Yes, we’re a ‘tiny team’, and we have nowhere near as far to fall as clubs like Darlington did, but does that mean that our passion, or our years of support are any less?

They were run by a crooked Mackem whose narcississtic tendencies make Russell Brand look humble, whereas we are run single-handedly by an aging chairman, with rapidly aging equipment, whose ability to keep on top of the job at hand is quickly degenerating beyond his ability to cope alone. I’m not blaming Harry for the situation we are in, but the club’s abilities on the pitch are now more accurately reflecting the club’s abiliDom Smalley’s goal against Grantham ten months ago - the last time Rammy won a league game at home!

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:52 Page 51

Clockwise image property of StudioCANAL, used under ‘fair-dealing’ provision

LLLDLLLLLDLL

John Cleese plays Mr Stimpson in 1986 British film classic ‘Clockwise’.

“It’s not the despair, Laura. I can stand the despair. It’s the hope!”

ties off the pitch - and that, for me, is a big worry for the future.

To even start to think about turning this team around we need to start looking first at turning this club around. The ground is lovely, and in excellent condition, but how long can it remain so when it is such a oneman operation. Yes, there are volunteer helpers, and I’m not trying to demean their incredible contributions, but a club at this exalted level in non-league needs more than the Jack Wolfendens and Andy Browns, and the Harry Williamses with their broken lawnmower. It needs plans, ambitions, and accomplished professional people in positions where they can make a difference. Right now we have none of that behind the scenes, and we don’t have an over-achieving pair of young lads taking us to increasingly dizzying heights of non-

league to cover up for it.

People talk of it “not being a bad thing” to get relegated, and if I’m being perfectly frank then I would be inclined to agree if we’re talking about the awful travelling we have to do. My fear though is that we’ll lose the remaining quality players we currently have, and then we’ll be scrabbling around trying to find players able to keep our heads above water in the division below! What then? Relegation to the Northwest Counties? ... and what then? Away games at Padiham?

We’re long overdue for massive changes at Rammy United, and I believe that change needs to start behind the scenes. If it doesn’t then my fear is that we see Rammy sink beyond trace.

Darlington Main Programme_Standard Programme 23/09/2015 23:52 Page 52

Manager: Jon ROBINSON

Grant SHENTON Kyle HARROP Luke HERON Alex MEANEY Andy DAWSON Andy FITZGERALD David KUBA-KUBA Prince HAYWOOD Lee GASKELL Jamie ROTHER Sam GRIMSHAW Jake CLIFFE Callum JONES Phil EDGHILL Charlie RUSSELL Clevon BEADLE Kieran NOLAN Jon ROBINSON Ben WOODS Dominic McHALE

Manager: Martin GRAY

Peter JAMESON Alan WHITE Chris HUNTER Terry GALBRAITH Leon SCOTT Stephen THOMPSON David DOWSON Nathan CARTMAN Graham ARMSTRONG Thomas PORTAS Ian WATSON Robert YOUHILL Adam NOWAKOWSKI Kevin BURGESS Philip TURNBULL James PROVETT Lewis GIBBONS Anthony BELL

Referee: David Storrie Referee’s Assistants: John Macrae, Ethan Davids Next home game: Saturday 3rd October 3pm, Rammy v Barwell