37 Ramsbottom United v Witton Albion

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prammynewsv WITTON ALBION16-09-14

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glenn

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Welcome to the Harry Williams

Riverside Stadium for this evening’s

clash with Witton Albion. We would like

to take this opportunity to welcome all

involved with Witton, and their

spectators that have travelled over

tonight - we hope you enjoy your

evening with us and have a safe journey

home.

Well after two impressive wins on the

bounce, which included our win over

then table toppers Stamford, we got

brought back down to earth with two

defeats in our next two outings. First,

the game last wednesday over at

Whitby, were we looked a little short on

the night and probably didn’t do

enough to come home with anything.

Itss a very long way to go on a midweek

night and by no way are we using that

as an excuse, but its something we will

all have to get accustomed to. ese are

the journeys that two promotions see

us faced with and these are the

challenges we strive to overcome. You

have to bear in mind that most lads will

have started work early to allow

themselves to get away. A three hour

journey followed by 90 tough minutes

and then the same journey home saw

them getting in at 2am, only to be up

the next morning at 6 to make up the

lost hours from the day before!

is brings me onto the F.A. Cup game

over at Buxton. We started very leggy

and didn’t look ourselves if I’m honest,

and we went in at the break 3-0 down,

leaving ourselves a mountain to climb

during second half. Maybe this was a

result of the long trip to Whitby, but we

can take great heart from our second

half performance giving a decent

Buxton side a big scare. ey were

definately relieved to hear the referee’s

whistle. eire made a comment to me

as we left the field, saying that we are by

far the best side they have faced this

season, and although it’s results that

count, we seem to be attracting the

right kind of attention for our

performances. Hopefully we can turn

those into points from here on in.

We've still got a few walking wounded

and will have to wait a little longer than

we hoped for the injured lads to return,

but we have strengthened over the last

few days with the signings of Liam Irwin

from Bolton Wanderers, Alex Piacentile

from C.E.Principado De Andorra in

Spain, Nelson Mota from FC United,

and Jake Parker from Colwyn Bay. I’m

sure you will all get behind the new lads

as you always do, and give them a big

Rammy welcome.

Both Witton and ourselves will be

looking to get back on track tonight

after going out of the F.A. Cup on

Saturday, so I hope you enjoy the game.

Coyr!

- Glenn

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Welcome to the Harry Williams

Riverside Stadium.

And a special welcome to tonight’s

officials, and of course our visitors – the

only true Northwich-based team, despite

three others carrying the name….Witton

Albion (who don’t!).

We need to bounce back after a couple

of defeats.

Work, as usual, prevented me from

making the long midweek trip to Whitby,

although it sounds as though I was the

lucky one. I did, however, manage to

sneak out in time to travel over to

Buxton.

Mm! At half-time I had written us off,

but credit to the lads for battling back in

the second half and making a real game

of it. If I’d been there as a neutral

supporter, I have to say, I would have

thoroughly enjoyed it. Plenty of action as

the game swung from end to end for

much of the time. We may well be

disappointed to exit the greatest cup

competition in the world at the first

hurdle, but I am more convinced than

ever that we will settle into life at this

level without too many problems.

Certainly when it comes to

entertainment, it looks like the story of

the last five years is bound

to continue.

HEAD-SCRATCHER

Football has a habit of throwing up

results that make one look on in disbelief.

e latest example featured Conference

North (yes I know!!!) Oxford City. A

couple of weeks ago they entertained

big-spending AFC Fylde at home and

were on the end of an horrendous 8-1

hammering (Shades of the 10-1 defeat I

saw Fylde dish out at Droylsden’s ground

last season). What a lousy result, and

Oxford’s next game just happened to be

away at former League side Boston

United. ey must have travelled there in

trepidation! Final score at Boston? 7-2!

Erm….actually, it was 7-2 FOR Oxford.

Crazy, isn’t it?

Takes me back to my childhood. Back

in the late 1950’s, football league teams

played on Christmas Day and Boxing Day

(they’re soft these days!) Bury beat Bristol

Rovers 7-2 at Gigg on Christmas Day(yes,

in the days before computers, the fixture

planners still couldn’t work out derby

matches). Next day they travelled down

to the south-west full of confidence

and….lost 6-1!

FANCY BEING A SCRIBE?

As you probably know, I’ve been

privileged for the last few seasons to be

the Ramsbottom United match reporter

and Press Release man. And I’ve

thoroughly enjoyed it!

tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of

non-league football

p

However, you probably also know that part-

way through last season I took on the job of

club Secretary.

As if that wasn’t enough extra work, I am

now in the process of expanding my business

(Leckenby’s Award-Winning Licensed Tea

Rooms – enough of the plug) with a second

outlet, so you can imagine the additional

workload.

Which basically means that I have to look

to cut back somewhere. I thoroughly enjoy

the secretarial duties, but my main concern is

that I’m not put in a position where my work

suffers, especially here at Ramsbottom, where

a mere slip can result in fines or worse-still

points deductions.

So I have reluctantly come to the

conclusion that I should look to off-load the

Press side of my involvement, which I shall do

with no little disappointment.

If anyone feels that they would like to take

on the PR role, either individually or with

someone else, then can I ask them to get in

touch with me on 07973 416580, to allow me

to explain just what is required.

Ideally you would need to be a supporter

who can get to most if not all of the games,

but I can assure whoever takes over that I will

ensure a smooth transition. And you will

enjoy it!

Anyone interested, please make yourself

known.

Enjoy your non-league football!

This m

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With a number of key players already

missing we lost Phil Dean and Dan

Warrender during the Buxton game, do

we have any news on them, or updates

on the other lads?

“Dan aggravated an existing injury which

he picked up at Whitby and could miss

Tuesday’s game but Wizard’s is more of

a dead leg so we’re hoping he will be back

fit for the midweek game. Lee Gaskell is

expected back in next few weeks - it will

be a huge boost for the lads knowing we

will have more fire power to partner

Jordy. Gaz is still awaiting results of his

scan and understandably doesn't want to

rush back as a big part of his game is

covering a lot of grass and he can't do

that if he's not 100%.”

You seem to be working overtime in that

goal at the moment, this must be a bit of

a shock after the last couple of seasons of

being mainly a playmaker.

“We always knew it was gonna

be a big step up this season.

And I knew I would be busy. I’m

not completely happy with my

performances yet as the

strikers are different in this

league in that they don't waste the ball

much. e gaffers brought john in to

improve my game, and I will improve

under him - it's good to get an

experienced keeper to tell me what I

need to improve. But I'm going to have

to change my game a little as last season

I was only making two saves a game while

mainly passing out from the back and

sweeping up, so it's a something I've got

to adapt to.

Can you talk us through the goals at

Whitby.

“e first goal was a sickening feeling as I

had made a few saves to keep us even. It

was a big deflection from a block that

looped over my head. And on the second

one i slipped while trying to take off to

catch it and I didn't get enough on it.”

What was the mood like on the bus

back?

“e mood was ok, lads obviously

disappointed but we don't tend to over-

think results - we take each game as they

come. Mainly the guys wanted a sleep on

the coach as most of us were up early for

work.”

grant shentonshouting from between the sticks

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Te old cliche says that

"Now we're out of the cup,

we can properly

concentrate on the league."

It's easy to say, but now that

the Buxton game is done and

dusted, is that how you all feel

about it?

Now we're out I can say yes, but

I'm not going to say we didn't

want to play some more games in

the FA cup because every player wants a

good cup run. But yes consistency in the

league is what we look to improve now.

With Grant Spencer's miss on Saturday

and your screamer at Nelson, you

must be climbing up the penalty

taker's list rapidly. Can we stick

Howson in nets for two minutes

while you take them?

I've been trying to get on pens

from day one. I put a very

strong argument forward

that I'll score but the gaffers

are not having it. We have

spoken about it but my

hand will always be raised

to step up that's for sure.

p

Ramsbottom United appear to be

finding their feet at the higher level, as

they tasted victory for the second time

in a week.

Visitors Stamford had begun the

campaign well, but could have no

complaints about the score as the Rams

thoroughly deserved this victory in the

first ever meeting between the two

clubs.

e home side took the lead as early

as the tenth minute. Steve Howson rose

above the defenders to power home a

header from Grant Spencer’s corner.

Spencer, himself, went close to adding

to the score six minutes later, but his

free-kick lashed against the side netting.

Scott Burton played the perfect

through ball for Jordan Hulme, but his

shot was blocked for a corner, as the

Rams attempted to double their

advantage.

But on 30 minutes, the visitors were

back on level terms. Phil Dean was

harshly adjudged to have committed a

foul just outside the box, and although

his yellow card looked tough, the

resultant free-kick proved even worse.

Nathan Fox took it and was way off

target before Michael Built stuck out a

leg and sent the ball past a wrong-

footed Grant Shenton in the home goal.

Hulme had a good shout for a penalty

before seeing his fierce drive parried by

Richard Knight in the Stamford goal,

and the half-time break arrived with the

scores level, despite the Rams enjoying

the majority of the play.

Stamford came out for the second

half in more determined mood, and

took the game to the home side in the

early minutes. Jordan Smith inexplicably

failed to put them in front when a

perfect cross from Built saw him with

the goal at his mercy, but he somehow

managed to screw the ball wide, much

to the relief of the absent home

defenders.

On 59 minutes the Rams regained the

lead. Osebi Anadaki, who is quickly

becoming a firm crowd favourite,

skipped down the right before planting

the ball inch-perfect for Hulme to head

home.

It was no more than the home side

deserved, although Stamford continued

to make inroads. Nabil Sharriff saw his

effort from 20 yards clear the bar, and

Lewis Carr raced forward but could not

find the target from just outside the

box.

On 74 minutes, it was a case of game

over. Some excellent trickery by Hulme

saw him lay the ball across for Dean who

had all the time in the world to pick his

spot from 15 yards out to extend the

lead to 3-1.

e home side survived a tricky

moment when a ball into their box

almost resulted in an embarrassing own

goal, and substitute Ryan Robbins went

close for the visitors. e nearest they

came to reducing the deficit was just

before the end when Carr drove home

a venomous drive which Shenton did

well to fist away.

Despite a late flurry, the result never

looked in doubt, and the Rams enjoyed

their second victory of the week to push

them up the table as they become

acclimatised to life at Evo-Stik Premier

level.

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3 - 1e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium

6th September 2014

Att: 357

Rammy Goals: Howson (10), Hulme (59), Dean (74)

Stamford Goals: Built (30)

Danny Warrender celebrating Steve Howson’s goal

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3 - 1e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium

6th September 2014

Att: 357

Rammy Goals: Howson (10), Hulme (59), Dean (74)

Stamford Goals: Built (30)

Team Potty-Mouth Phil Dean tells Ossie whathe thinks of scoring, before doing histrademark belly-flop near the corner flag

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3 - 2e Silverlands

13th September 2014

Att: 261

Rammy Goals: Hardy (2), Taylor (33), Tuton (36)

Buxton Goals: Spencer (55), Abadaki (73)

Nelson Mota brought down for Rammy’ssecond penalty of the afternoon

Phil Dean gets treatment for the knockwhich saw him limp off after 28 minutes

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A disastrous first half saw Ramsbottom United

crash out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

e home side’s direct route un-nerved the

visitors defence, and the whistle for the interval

sounded with the visitors in disarray and three

goals behind.

A much-improved second half saw them claw

their way back into the game, but an earlier

missed penalty proved to be the difference when

the final whistle blew with the home side

hanging on to a slender lead.

An early goal boosted the home side as it took

just two minutes for Liam Hardy to find space

behind the Rams defence, round keeper Grant

Shenton and slide the ball into an empty net.

It was hardly the start the Lancastrians wanted,

but they should have been on level terms just

four minutes later when Osebi Abadaki raced

down the right wing before sending over the

perfect centre for Jordan Hulme, but the target

man completely misplaced his header and it

sailed wide.

At the other end, Hardy looked on as Shenton

pushed his free-kick round the post, before the

Rams countered with Cedric Krou firing in a

fierce drive which Aaron Jameson in the home

goal was happy to punch clear.

Scott Burton saw his header from a Spencer

corner sail inches wide as the Rams looked to

level the scores, but two disastrous minutes

proved to be the undoing of the visitors.

On 33 minutes, the Rams won a corner which

Spencer swung in perfectly. Two colleagues

narrowly missed planting home a header, yet as

the ball broke to the far side, the Buxton

countered magnificently, with a long cross from

the right sailing over the heads of the stretched

rearguard leaving Alastair Taylor with the

simplest of tasks of knocking the ball home at the

far post from close range.

Hulme instantly went close to reducing the

arrears with a fine flick from 20 yards that

narrowly missed the post with the keeper well

beaten, yet again within seconds, the home side

had snatched another.

A race down the left ended with the ball being

floated into the area and the unchallenged Shaun

Tuton gleefully headed in his side’s third to totally

deflate the visitors.

Ramsbottom had the chance to narrow the

deficit in time added on, but after the referee had

penalised a Buxton defender for hand ball,

Spencer saw his poor penalty kick easily saved by

Jameson.

e Rams trooped off for the break with

everyone on the ground accepting that the tie

was over.

How wrong they were!

e second half saw a much more

accomplished performance as the Rams went all

out to overturn the deficit. Greg Young was

unlucky to see his header go past the post for the

hosts before the Rams got into their stride.

Spencer’s low drive took a deflection, but

Jameson was equal to it diving to his left, but a

reward for their efforts came on 55 minutes.

Abadaki set off on a run from the right across

the edge of the penalty area, defying three

tackles, and he laid the ball off to Spencer on the

far side of the area. He looked up and sent in the

perfect chip which beat the keeper and sailed in

by the far post.

Buxton, fearing a revival, attempted to restore

the three goal cushion, with Tuton, Hardy and

Neil Stevens all having a go.

A second goal for the Rams was almost

notched by Hulme following more good work

from Abadaki. e winger weaved his way into

the area, and as he reached the by-line, he flicked

the ball goalwards, but Hulme couldn’t quite

convert as the ball squirmed from Jameson’s

grasp.

On 73 minutes, the gap was narrowed however.

Substitute Nelson Mota was hauled down in the

area, and Abadaki placed the ball on the spot

before calmly striking home his side’s second.

Both sides went for what would have been a

defining goal as the game threatened on a couple

of occasions to boil over, but the home side held

on, and despite a spirited fightback in the second

half, the first period did all the damage, and the

Rams interest in the FA Cup came to a

shuddering halt in an entertaining game in the

heart of the Peak District.

Photos courtesy of Dawn Darkside - thanks Dawn!

p

Witton Albion celebrated their 125 year

existence in perfect style by regaining their

place in the NPL Premier Division in 2013,

regaining some of the ground on their

more successful days in the 1990s.

During that three year period in the

Conference their achievements included

an appearance in the 1992/93 FA Trophy

final, losing 3-1 to Colchester. ey reached

the semi-final stage of the FA Trophy for

the three successive seasons in the early

nineties and this remains the club's most

successful period of football to date.

An extremely rocky road followed,

particularly with regard to financial

difficulties, and the club relegated twice,

with a huge turnover of players and

managers. Brian Pritchard was appointed

Manager in 2010 and the next season he

helped Witton win the Play Offs and return

to the NPL Premier Division for season

2012/13.

With virtually the same squad the

following season saw the team achieve 4th

position before being beaten away by FC

United of Manchester in the Play-Off semi-

final. Last season however saw a very

different scenario as the team skirted

around the relegation positions for a good

while up until early March when a good set

of results saw them eventually finish in

16th place.

p

SCOTT BAKKOR – Forward, born 7/6/94,

who came from NPL First Division North

team Clitheroe in December 2013. Scott

made 25 appearances in total last term

netting 6 goals from his 20 starts and his

potential was seen quite early on when he

was placed on a two season contract.

IAIN HOWARD – Attacking left sided wing

back born 27/11/87. Commenced his career

at Manchester United’s Academy before he

joined Preston North End YTS set-up.

Following spells at Droylsden and Flixton Iain

signed for Ashton United in August 2007

scoring 34 goals in 130 matches in his three

year spell. He then spent three highly

successful years at Chester and then last

season at Stockport County starting 39

games and scoring 10 goals.

NEIL HARVEY – Striker who signed in July

2014. Neil has represented Barbados at full

international level 6 times, scoring twice. Neil

joined Macclesfield in 2008 where he scored

76 goals in 134 appearances, helping the

team to the NPL Division One South title. He

had his first spell at Marine in 2010. Two

seasons, 80 matches and 30 goals later he

signed for Hednesford, scoring in the Play-Off

Final to win promotion. 84 appearances and

31 goals were achieved with the Pitmen

before re-signing for Marine in March 2014.

CLIFF MOYO – Defensive wing back born

6/4/93. He appeared for Barrow as well as

Northwich Victoria and Droylsden. More

local to his home he’s also appeared for

Stone Dominoes, Newcastle Town and the

end of the 2012/13 season was with Market

Drayton Town. Going into this campaign

Cliff had made 28 starts in his 32

appearances.

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1. Who is the manager of Woking?

2. What colours do Brighouse Town play in?

3. Which Evo-Stik League club plays at e Hawthorns?

4. Former West Ham star Alan Devonshire manages which club?

5. Which club did AFC Liverpool defeat 9-0 away from home last weekend?

6. From which club did we recently sign Nelson Mota?

7. Alex Darlington is player/coach of which Welsh side?

8. In which league do Garstang play?

9. Littlehampton Town suffered a 10-0 defeat in the FA Cuplast week. Which

club beat them?

10. Damian Reeves is leading scorer for which Manchester-based non-league club?

ANSWERS: 1. Garry Hill 2. Orange and Black 3. Brigg Town 4. Braintree Town 5. Sty. Helens Town

6 FC United of Manchester 7. TNS 8. West Lancs. 9. Maidstone United 10. Altrincham

tony’s teasers

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Sat 16th Aug H KING’S LYNN TOWN 2-3 322 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer Howson Priestley Hulme 1Tues 19th Aug A Workington 0-1 415 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley HulmeSat 23rd Aug A Rushall Olympic 4-2 161 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley Hulme 1+Mon 25th Aug H NANTWICH TOWN 1-4 365 Shenton Smalley Abadaki * Spencer + Howson Priestley Hulme Sat 30th Aug A FC United of Manchester 1-3 1917 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender Abadaki +Tues 2nd Sept H MARINE 3-2 250 Shenton Smalley + Pilkington Spencer Howson 1 Krou AbadakiSat 6th Sept H STAMFORD 3-1 357 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer + Howson 1 Warrender AbadakiWed 10th Sept A Whitby Town 0-2 265 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender AbadakiSat 13th Sept A Buxton FAC 1Q 2-3 261 Shenton Smalley Pilkington # Spencer Howson Warrender + AbadakiTues 16th Sept H WITTON ALBIONSat 20th Sept A IlkestonTues 23rd Sept H CURZON ASHTONSat 4th Oct A TraffordSat 11th Oct H BELPER TOWNTues 14th Oct A Frickley AthleticSat 18th Oct H BUXTONTues 21st Oct H WHITBY TOWNSat 25th Oct A Blyth SpartansTues 28th Oct A MarineSat 1st Nov A Whitby Town FAT 1QTues 4th Nov H WORKINGTONSat 8th Nov A Halesowen TownTues 11th Nov H BURSCOUGH LGCUPTues 18th Nov A Witton AlbionSat 22nd Nov H GRANTHAM TOWNSat 29th Nov H BARWELLSat 6th Dec A Matlock TownSat 13th Dec H RUSHALL OLYMPICSat 20th Dec A King’s Lynn TownFri 26th Dec H ASHTON UNITEDThu 1st Jan A Nantwich TownSat 3rd Jan A Curzon AshtonSat 10th Jan H TRAFFORDSat 17th Jan A Belper TownSat 24th Jan H FRICKLEY ATHLETICSat 31st Jan A BuxtonSat 7th Feb H BLYTH SPARTANSSat 14th Feb A StamfordSat 21st Feb A StourbridgeSat 28th Feb H ILKESTONSat 7th March A Skelmersdale UnitedSat 14th March H STOURBRIDGESat 28th March A Grantham TownSat 4th April H FC UNITED OF MCRMon 6th April A Ashton UnitedSat 11th April H HALESOWEN TOWNSat 18th April A BarwellSat 25th April H MATLOCK TOWN

fixtures & results 2014/15

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Hulme 1 Burton Gaskell Robinson 1* Dean + Pilkington Slaven Abadaki + Ahmadi * CookHulme Burton Gaskell Robinson + Dean # Pilkington * Slaven + Abadaki Ahmadi # CookHulme 1+ Burton Robinson 1# Pilkington Dean 2 Abadaki * Slaven + Ahmadi # Cook WilliamsHulme Burton Robinson 1 Pilkington Dean Williams Slaven Cook * Krou + MorleyAbadaki + Slaven Robinson * Hulme 1# Dean Williams + Krou * Cook # Morley JohnsonAbadaki Burton * Slaven 1 Hulme 1 Dean # Williams # Robinson * Cook + Morley JohnsonAbadaki Burton Slaven * Hulme 1# Dean 1 Williams + Robinson # Cook Morley Krou *Abadaki Burton Slaven + Krou Dean Mota + Cook Williams Johnson MorleyAbadaki Burton Krou Hulme Dean * Mota * Williams + Pugh # Johnson Morley

fixtures & results 2014/15

Ramsbottom United Football ClubChairman: Harry WilliamsVice Chairman: Chris WoolfallSecretary: Tony Cunningham Matchday Secretary: Andy Edmunson Treasurers: H Williams, C WoolfallCommittee: Harry Williams, Chris Woolfall, Andy Edmund-son, Kevin HitchenThe Harry Williams Riverside, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,Tel: 01706 822799

Recent Senior Honours: Bolton Comination Div 1 Champions: 1972/73Bolton Comb. Premier Champions 1976/77: Bolton Comb. Div2 cup runners up: 1979/80,1982/83Bolton Comb. Div2 runners up: 1982/83Bolton Comb. Cup winners: 1976/77, 1979/80, 1983/84Bolton Comb. Div1 runners up: 1984/85Bolton Comb. Cup runners up: 1985/86, 1987/88Manchester League Cup Winners: 1990/91Manchester League Champions: 1990/91Yorkshire Cup runners up: 1993/94Northwest Counties Div2 Champions: 1996/97Northwest Counties Div2 Trophy: 1995/96Bolton Hospital Cup winners: 1974/75, 05/06. 06/07, 07/08Northwest Counties Premier runners Up 2010/11Northwest Counties Premier Champions: 2011/12Northern Premier League Div1 playoff winners: 2013/1

Tonight’s Fixtures:

Barwell v Stourbridge

Blyth v Ilkeston

Coalville v Belper

Frickley v FC United

Grantham v Rushall

Halesowen v Nantwich

King’s Lynn v Buxton

Marine v Ashton

Trafford v Workington

Whitby v Shildon

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Financial PlanningDesigned For

YOUR LIFESTYLE

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52 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire,BL0 9HX

on 01706 822622

[email protected]

For a confidential initial

one to one at our expense

please contact us...

Professional Financial Planning here in Ramsbottom.

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p

p

Good evening one and all.

Hope the column finds you

well.

Everyone enjoying the

season? From my far off

viewpoint, I think it is pretty

much as everyone expected.

is is without doubt the

biggest step up the club have

ever seen so it was always

going to be very similar to the

way we have started. One

thing that is encouraging is

the very complimentary

words being used by our

opponents about us being the

best side they have played. It is

always good to hear but now we need to

turn those good performances into the

hard cash of points on the table.

e one and a half games I saw the

other week showed just how far we have

come and are playing, the win over

Stamford was quite something!! Our all

out skill level was superb, such a joy to

watch and long may it continue.

Well, for me, my Sky cricket

season has finished with my last

day of the 2014 season last Friday

seeing the County Championship

heading north once again but,

from those followers of the Red

Rose on this side of the hills, it's

not here!!! Yorkshire lifted their

31st title by thrashing

Nottinghamshire while Lancashire look

to be staring relegation in the face this

week.

It's been a very enjoyable season, starting

way back on May 3rd up at Durham - of

course, I wasn't in Durham for long as I

swiftly charged down the M6 to Bamber

Bridge for much more important

matters. So I think I deserve my holiday

coming up on Friday when I head over to

the States for a couple of weeks ... and, of

course, my Rammy scarf is coming with

me so prepare for a few shots of me

publicising our club over there!!

Anyway, come on you Rams, lets start

climbing up that table.

YOUUUUUUUUUUU RAMS!!!

rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs

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e Rams made the long journey to the north Yorkshire

coast but returned empty-handed after losing out to a big

physical Whitby Town team by two goals to nil.

In all fairness, had it not been for a man-of-the-match

performance from keeper Grant Shenton, the damage

could have been a lot worse.

Shenton, time after time thwarted the home side who

constantly attacked the visiting defence, and on another

night David McTiernan would have been taking the ball

home.

As it was, he notched just one goal and that came as

early as the sixth minute. Town had bombarded the

visitors from the off, with Shenton making two

outstanding saves, but he could do nothing when a half-

clearance found McTierney on the edge of the box, and

he retuned the ball with sufficient dip to land in the back

of the net from just under the crossbar.

e visitors gained three corners in quick succession,

but the closest they came to scoring was a header from

Cedric Krou which sailed wide.

Osebi Abasaki was proving the biggest threat for the

visitors with his strong running, but there was no end

result as the Ramsbottom forwards looked off the pace

all night.

e defenders, however, had to be at their best to repel

a number of attacks by a home side determined to follow

up their recent away victory, which had lifted them away

from the foot of the table. Shenton continued to be the

final obstacle that the home side failed to penetrate, and

the half-time whistle sounded with the Rams going in still

only one goal down.

e second half was just three minutes old when Town

doubled their advantage. A high cross seemed to be

Shenton’s but the ball bounced off him, and in via the

body of Richard Pell who seemed to know little about it.

at goal, however, gave the home side a cushion that

the visitors rarely looked like breaching. e Rams played

some entertaining football but the end result was never

good enough to worry the home defence, and Whitby saw

the game out comfortably to deservedly pick up the three

points and leave the Rams with a long and miserable

return to east Lancashire.

p

3 - 2e Silverlands

13th September 2014

Att: 261

Rammy Goals: Hardy (2), Taylor (33), Tuton (36)

Buxton Goals: Spencer (55), Abadaki (73)

Busy shifts for Grant Shenton at the moment

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Article taken from the Bury Times,

August 2001:

ere will be something that was a bit

special missing when Ramsbottom

United launch their bid for the big time

on August 18th.

Harry’s little blue hut won’t be in its

usual spot by the turnstile at the

Riverside when the Rams go full belt for

a place in the UniBond League next

season.

President Harry Williams and his men

are currently having a brand-new

refreshment facility constructed ready for

the new season - and that could mean a

change of “home” for Harry too.

For the likeable Rams’ head man was

always to be found behind the

counter of the blue hut, taking

the speccies’ cash as they

clicked through the

turnstile from one serving

hatch or dishing pie and

peas out from the other - a

man of many parts is our

Harry.

United didn’t even apply to have their

ground graded last season by league

officials to see if it would pass the

Unibond criteria.

ey finished third in the North West

Counties Division One table for the

second successive season though and are,

undoubtedly strong promotion

candidates for the coming season.

“We had a lot of things to deal with last

season - on and off the pitch. We weren’t

right for it mentally, but we are now,”

warned Williams.

Newly-appointed manager Mike Kelly

is ready to meet the challenge head-on,

“e ground might need one or two

things doing to it, but we are ready for it.

After finishing third for the last two

seasons we want to go one better and

finish runners-up or even champions,”

said Kelly.

“ere will be an extra team in our

division next season, making it a total of

23 and 44 games in all to play.

“I don’t know how the structure for

promotion and relegation is going to

work yet either, but we know we have a a

back in the day49 years of football under harry williams

p

chance to aim to finish first or seond to

have a chance of going up into the

UniBond,” added Kelly.

e gaffer got his lads back into training

last Saturday and is busy scouring the

non-league scene for possible recruits,

but he looks set to lose centre-back Mike

Smith soon.

Neighbours Rossendale United have

nipped in and pinched Smith from

Rammy just as Kelly was about to offer

the 23-year-old defender improved

terms.

“I’m not happy about the way

Rossendale went about it, but the lad

wants to play in the UniBond League and

that’s the top and bottom of it.

“He came down training with us last

Saturday and I told him he could come

back if things didn’t work out and he said

he would do that, so good luck to him.”

Players catching Kelly’s eye so far are a

centre back at Curzon Ashton and two

midfielders at Abbey Hey and

Burscough.

Long term inury victims Dave Roach,

Warren Brierley and Dave Yorke-

Robinson are on their way back. Centre

back Brierley is expected to do some

light training this week following his knee

ligament problem and midfield man

Yorke-Robinson should be ready for the

big kick-off in August after recovering

from a knee op.

Defender Roach is also making

progress, but has a lot of work to do to

build up the muscle on his leg following

his injury.

Ramsbottom have arranged four pre-

season friendlies so far. ey are away at

Padiham from the North West Counties

Division Two on August 4, home to

Burnley on August 7, away to Nelson,

another NWC Div2 outfit, on August 11

and home to Bury on a date still to be

finalised.

p

Another midweek game, and another long trip

for the Rammy faithful. After the visit to darkest

Cumbria to take on Workington a couple of weeks

ago, last Wednesday saw us in Heartbeat country

for a game against Whitby Town. is required

another early finish at work for the travelling

Ultras, but by 3.45 we were sat on the coach and

all ready for the off. As the players settled down

at the back of the coach, us mere mortals found

ourselves with enough room for a double seat

each, so I unpacked my ham butties and beers,

and made myself comfortable for the long

journey. It wasn’t a bad turnout on the coach, as

most people were relying on a dash up the M62

after work in their own cars, and I was joined by

Carlsberg, Andy Massey, Andy Worsick, Little

Katie (with tripod and camera), George, Peter

‘Captain’ Taylor and, of course Mr Harry Williams.

e journey actually went quite fast and before

we knew it we were off the motorway and

travelling through North Yorkshire. is was my

first visit to Whitby and I have to say there was

some quite spectacular scenery on the way there,

helped by the fact it was a sunny evening. Soon

we saw

Whitby

Abbey on

the horizon,

looking very

foreboding,

and I

understood

why Bram

Stoker was

influenced

to write his novel, Dracula. At this point I made a

mental note to bring Mrs Darkside here for a

romantic weekend sometime (probably not when

Rammy are in town though). We pulled into the

Whitby Town car park at 6.30, arriving just behind

Chris Wooley, who had driven up with Mick Jonno

and Jess, as well as the team’s kit. As Chris

unloaded the kit, we all decided to take a stroll for

fish and chips, and couple of beers in a local

hostelry.

For a seaside town it was not easy to find a

chippy and after being told by a local that the

nearest was a good 10 minute walk away we

decided not to waste valuable drinking time and

headed to the nearest hotel. is turned out to be

e Metropole on the seafront, which was a large

Victorian building with many original features

inside. We had also been joined by former Rammy

favourite, Edgy (the Matt variety, not Phil) and as

we got the beers in, Edgy made up for the lack of

chippy with a couple of bags of crisps and 4

chocolate bars !!! We made ourselves comfortable

in a little room overlooking the sea and had a chat

about where would be best to stay when we visit

Whitby later in the season, in the cup. e

Metropole was an excellent choice for a place to

drink, but kick off time was approaching and we

headed to the ground for a drink in the club bar.

It is a quite big bar in Whitby and on entering

we saw plenty of familiar faces who had the

journey north from Ramsbottom. As always

in non-league club bars, we were made to feel

more than welcome and I was happy to see they

were serving one of Yorkshire’s finest ales, Black

Sheep.

from the darksidedarren comer reports on the latest

rammy ultras adventures

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from the darkside

We got into the ground just as the teams were

coming out and I stood with Carlsberg, Mick and

Andy Massey to get some singing going. We must

have done OK with the singing as a few minutes

into the game I got a text message from Rob Moss

to say that the Rammy faithful could be heard loud

and clear on Whitby’s radio station. I seemed to

spend much of the 1st half sending updates to

those left back in Rammy and to Martin Hulme in

his hotel room in Folkestone. By half time we were

1-0 down and not looking like we were going to

get back into the game so I headed back to the bar

with Mick and Carlsberg. Now, I seem to be

gathering a reputation for attracting the stranger

elements of the home support on our away days

and tonight was no exception. As I was chatting

with Mick and Carlsberg we were

joined by some stranger and we ended

up discussing the fortunes of his team,

Leeds United. It turned out he was

camping in Whitby for the week, by himself, and

had decided to take in a non-league game.

On entering the ground for the second half I got

myself a potato pie and a steak pie, which weren’t

amongst the best I’ve had at a football, and made

my way to the side of the ground we were

attacking. We spent the second half stood with

Mary, Joanne, Uncle Dave, Young Dave and the

suspended Jordan Hulme, and despite our urging

the Rams to score, it was never going to be our

night in front of goal. Despite this we applauded

the team off the pitch, which they seemed to really

appreciate, and went back to the club bar to wait

for the coach to depart.

We set off at 10pm and, after a quick stop at a

petrol station for the players to pick up drinks and

snacks, we were soon heading through

the foggy North Yorkshire countryside

back to Lancashire. Despite sleeping

from Heywood to York on the journey

up, Andy Worswick was soon asleep

again, and I had a good chat with

Carlsberg and Little Katie about all

things Rammy United. I also had an

interesting talk with George about

televised football and how it doesn’t

compare to actually attending a live

game. Again, the journey seemed

to go quickly and we were back in

Rammy for 12.45 and all looking

forward to a visit to Buxton the

following Saturday.

Mick Johnson andMatt edgingtonletting Whitby knowwhat’s what.Photos courtesy ofSte ‘Carlsberg’Heard

The Rammy Rocket arrives at the seaside

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rammy unitedmeet the lads

Born in January 1991, this 6ft 2” goalkeeper

joined Rammy from FC United at the end of

August 2010. He was number two at FC

United, but a superb season in 2010/11 saw

him win Player of the Year for the Rams. He

Signed full-time with the club at the start of

2011/12.

e talented left full-back rejoined the club

from Chester during the 2013/14 season

having had a short spell here a couple of

years earlier. His long throw-in is always a

dangerous piece of his armory.

Signed for the club after impressing the

managers when he played against the Rams

for Atherton LR. Adds a whole new

dimension to the Riversiders’ squad, and

equally at home on the right side as either a

defender or attacking winger.. Brother of

Plymouth Argyle’s Deane Smalley.

Battling midfield who signed for the club in

2011 following the demise of Rossendale

United, for whom he scored a hat-trick in the

ridiculous 7-5 Rammy win the previous

season. Won the NWCFL title with the club

and was offered terms with Conference

Premier side Hyde but returned to the club

on loan, eventually signing full terms.

Dominic SMALLEYGrant SHENTON

Lee PUGH Grant SPENCER

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Signed from local rivals Radcliffe Borough

after a spell playing in Australia, the big man

is equally at home in the heart of the

defence, or up front poaching goals.

Wing man Tom came on as a sub in the play-

off game for our opponents Bamber Bridge.

e Rams management team acted swiftly

in the summer to bring him down to

Ramsbottom

Former Burnley professional player who is a

model of consistency, wherever he is picked.

A previous Player of the Year award-winner,

Joel is a firm favourite with the fans at the

Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, and has

played over 200 games for the club.

It has taken some two years for the

management to finally get Scott to join the

Rams. Bernard and Jonno have followed

Scott’s career with Runcorn Town and he

finally joined the club in late January 2014.

A hard-working midfielder, similar in style to

Gary Stopforth, and an integral part of the

promotion winning team.

Steve HOWSON Joel PILKINGTON

Scott BURTONTom WILLIAMS

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Experienced striker Jon was signed from New

Mills and despite plentiful interest from

other clubs has remained loyal to the Rams

for a number of seasons now, and always

finishes near the top of the goal-scoring

charts. Regarded as a “Rammy legend” in

east Lancashire..

A constant threat in attack, a solid

performer in defence. Awarded Clubman of

the Year award in 2011. Continues to cause

plentiful problems to defences around the

leagues.

Signed at the end of August 2011 from

Manchester League side Walshaw Sports and

has taken his opportunity with some relish.

Last season the 29 year old won the Golden

Boot accolade for being the highest scorer in

the Division One North.

Joined the club in December 2011 from

Clitheroe via Padiham. Son of a former

1990s Rammy favourite Martin, midfielder

Jordan is highly rated and scored 8 goals for

the Storks before going to Clitheroe. A

versatile player – he can play anywhere from

defence to striker.

Jon ROBINSON Lee GASKELL

Phil DEAN Jordan HULME

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Having spent time at University, the

youngster spent last season with Shepshed

Dynamo before moving back to the north-

west, where joint-managers Bernard Morley

and Anthony Johnson snapped him up for

the Rams.

e speedy wingman joined the Rams at the

beginning of the 2014/15 season, having

spent the previous campaign at fellow Evo-

Stik Premier club Nantwich Town.

Joined the Rams in the summer of 2014, this

midfield player spent last season as a

member of the struggling Droylsden side

which changed places with e Rams at the

end of the campaign.

Cedric joined the club in January 2014

having impressed the management team

during his time with rivals Trafford FC.

Essentially a defender, Cedric has the ability

to fit in other positions for the team.

Sam COOK Malachi SLAVEN

Osebi ABADAKI Cedric KROU

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Man Flu! Bleugh! e worst kind too - it’s

just as well we back on to the paper mill in

Stubbins or we’d have run out by now!

Hopefully I’ll be much more ship-shape by

tonight’s game or I’ll be slimming down like

Andy and Richard - and I’ve worked extremely

hard to maintain this fine figure!

I ended up listening to Whitby Town Radio

on Wednesday, and I have to say that they did

a fantastic job with the commentary. I’d like to

hope that we can take on this kind of thing in

coming months as, thanks to Darren and the

Hopwood Hall media students, we’re starting

to really get shifting with the rammy.tv

footage. As a quick aside, if you haven’t seen

Dom Smalley’s incredible goal celebration

then go and have a look at rammy.tv (click on

the link at the top right of Rammy’s website

just next to the blue twitter bird).

Rammy.tv has been a bit of an ordeal the

last week or so, and we have a lot of thanking

of people to do...

First of all to Katie Worsick, who stepped in

to film the Whitby Town game for us. It’s not

much fun as a football fan if you have to

watch the match through a tiny little screen,

particularly if you’ve

travelled for hours, and

I don’t think Katie

had a great time,

but her footage was

fantastic and

greatly appreciated

by those of us unable

to bunk off work early.

We also need to thank

John Ayers for kindly taking our media student

Olla over for the Buxton game. When the Man

Flu appeared I thought we’d had it for footage,

but John kindly leapt in at the last minute to

get Olla to the game. Olla’s footage was erm...

interesting, shall we say. He certainly seemed

to enjoy playing with the zoom more than he

was bothered with the football, and so that,

coupled with a dodgy camera and a shortage

of tapes meant that we got virtually nowt

worth having, but that all goes to make me

appreciate more the talent and ability of

Callum, who is our regular man. He’s a bit jerky

when he gets excited (what 17-year-old lad

isn’t), but his contribution to rammy.tv is

priceless. Hopefully we’ll have him back with

us tonight.

Darren and Dawn deserve a big pat on the

back too. Darren’s contribution to the new

style programme, as well as his enthusiastic

commitment to rammy.tv has been a real help

in getting the thing off the ground. Dawn

kindly puts up with Darren’s frantic scribblings

on a Sunday, and waved a camera around for

us at Buxton on saturday, getting us the

photos on page 12 of Nelson Mota getting

hacked down, and Wiz getting treatment for

his injury.

It’s really great that we now have such a

strong and enthusiastic supporters club. We

had a team of volunteers out on Sunday’s

Black Pudding rowing, giving people leaflets

about the forthcoming matches, and generally

evangelising the Rammy cause - which is no

mean feat with the way results are currently

going. e last couple of years it’s been me and

supporters clubon the terraces of rammy

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Katie handing the things out, so to have John

Ste, Karol and Andy helping out is fantastic.

We also need to thank Phil Taylor (180!!!!) and

Chris Woolly for allowing us to put a hefting

great Rammy advert on the scaffolding

tower. e Black Pudding event is a real

biggie for Rammy, and that kind of exposure

is priceless for the club.

While we’re doling out the thanks, I’d also

like to add a couple of other mentions. Dave

Aspinall at the Oaks in Rammy has kindly

helped us meet the costs of rammy.tv for the

season, and is up for us making ursday

night into ‘Rammy Night’ at the Oaks. I think

this is a great idea, and once rammy.tv gets a

settled team of operators, we aim to show

extended highlights on their big screen. Us

fans are becoming a real Rammy Family now,

and a regular night down the pub would be

great. We could even get a couple of the

players down for a chat etc. Watch this space.

Keith Powell (pictured above) of Irwell

Works Brewery, which I know is also a

popular haunt for the Rammy Ultras, has

kindly sponsored our Supporters’ Player of

the Month award for the season. Well done

to Jordan for deservedly winning the first

award.

SCA Stubbins are here as our guests

tonight, and we are especially grateful for

their support in buying the training kit which

they will be formally presenting to the team

before tonight’s match. Andy Massey has

been working for a while with SCA on a

number of local projects, and we are

extremely pleased that such a large and

prominent company has decided to get

involved with All ings Rammy. It’s such a

lovely town and, with the mill having a long

and influential history in the area, we really

are delighted that they’ve become so active

locally.

e last word of thanks goes to everyone

who’s already pitched in to have their name

on a square on page 8. Half of the money

raised will go straight to the club, and the

other half will go into helping further

fundraising projects to pay for players - of

which there area loads in the pipeline: more

on these later.

Keith Powellof IrwellWorksBrewerypresentsJordan Hulmewith hisSupporters’Player of theMonth award.

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Grant SHENTON

Dominic SMALLEY

Lee PUGH

Grant SPENCER

Steve HOWSON

Dan WARRENDER

Tom WILLIAMS

Scott BURTON

Jon ROBINSON

Lee GASKELL

Phil DEAN

Jordan HULME

Sam COOK

Osebi ABADAKI

Gary STOPFORTH

Malachi SLAVEN

Cedric KROU

Nelson MOTA

Chris SANNA

Anthony GARDENER

Mike LEA

Ben HARRISON

Cliff MOYO

Ross DAVIDSON

Jon DAWSON

Micheal POWELL

Scott BAKKOR

Neil HARVEY

Danny ANDREWS

Iain HOWARD

Alex TITCHINER

Anthony SHEEHAN

Zac CORBETT

Ryan SWIFT

Managers: Anthony Johnson,

Bernard Morley

Manager: Anthony SHEEHAN

Nigel DEELEY

Referee: Andrew Halliday

Referee’s Assistants: Ian Jones, Michael Hooper

Next home game: Tuesday 23rd September 3pm, Rammy v Curzon Ashton

Documents

37 Ramsbottom United v Witton Albion