prammynewsv ASHTON UNITED 26-12-14

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We’ve had to delete this column due to theongoing investigation into racist incidentsamongst the King’s Lynn contingent at thegame just before Christmas.

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Welcome to the Harry Williams RiversideStadium. A special welcome to today’smatch officials, and of course, everyoneconnected with Ashton United.

Before I go any further may I, on behalfof the management, players and officials ofRamsbottom United, wish you all a very(slightly belated) MERRY CHRISTMAS, andthe hope that you all had an excellent dayyesterday.

Now is the time to get out of doors andinto the fresh air to enjoy some festivesporting entertainment, and I’m sure ourtwo sides this afternoon will provideplenty of that.

Looking back at our last game here atthe HWRS, may I say a massive “ankyou” to all our supporters for backing theclub as you did, as we attracted the secondlargest crowd ever to the ground. Weappreciate the inconvenience suffered bysome of you, but as our hands weresomewhat tied, we had to makearrangements to ensure that the afternoonwent off smoothly, and I’m delighted toreport that it could hardly have gonebetter.

It seems a lifetime ago when we wereattracting gates of around 100. Matchdays

then were relatively easyto cope with, but as the

team has progressedon the pitch, we’ve

had to put in place measures to ensureeveryone’s safety and the ability to stagematches with much bigger crowds. Just asthe players and management are adjustingto life higher up the pyramid, so, too, mustthe club, both on matchdays and behindthe scenes during the rest of the week.

An awful lot of work goes on unseen toensure the smooth running of the club,and the Stockport game gave us all theopportunity to see just how far we hadcome. Quite a long way, it would appear.A special thanks to those who turned upfrom 8 o’clock on the morning of thematch, with the pitch sparkling white as aresult of the overnight frost. A numberfrom the management team and playersalso turned up and the hard work inensuring the game went ahead deservestheir praise. Even the referee congratulatedus on our preparations, although that wasall we got off him all afternoon!

It does, however, give us the confidenceto tackle any future game where a largerthan normal attendance is anticipated. epolice advised us and were delighted withthe outcome, so we can all look forward,hopefully, to welcoming ever-increasingnumbers to the ground in future, knowingthat we have the right methods in place.

As for the game itself, the referee camein for a fair bit of criticism, and certainlythat early penalty gave County the

tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of

non-league football

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initiative which they never relinquished. esecond goal almost killed the game off, butcredit to the lads for never giving up. ereporter from the Non-League Paper was verycomplimentary about us, and it was ratherstrange sitting in the box next to the localStockport radio station and listening to theirlive commentary of the whole game. is is notthe first time our matches have been broadcastover the last couple of years. Again, it justshows how far we have come as a club in ashort space of time.

We certainly do not wish to return to theNWCFL, and with that I mean no disrespect,but as a club our aim has to be to establish

ourselves at this level, and who knows just howfar up we can go.

e last few years have, as has beencommented upon many times, been one heckof a ride. Radio commentaries, televisedhighlights and full page write-ups in nationalpapers are now common-place, yet how manyof us could have foreseen this not too long ago.

As we enter the final week of 2014, this yearis yet another to go down in the annals ofRamsbottom United’s history with much prideand enjoyment.

Just what will 2015 bring???

Enjoy your non-league football!

Steve Howson questionsthe consistency of refereeTom Nield’s decisionsafter Wiz goes tumblingin the box

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0 - 3Harry Williams Riverside Stadium13th December 2014Att: 907Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

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Cedric tries to force a waythrough the stubborn anddisciplined Stockport defence

0 - 3Harry Williams Riverside Stadium13th December 2014Att: 907Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

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Stockport fully deserved this win and theirpassage into the last 32 of the FA Trophy.However if there is any element of fairness intheir assessment of the game they might wellreflect that what could have been a winter ofdiscontent has been made into a potentiallyglorious spring at Wembley by a son of York - inthis case the hapless referee from Holmfirth

Whatever trepidations the visitors that mighthave had of facing a difficult afternoon at theRiverside were eased if not removed after onlythree minutes. e referee somehow saw animperceptible movement of hand to ball to adrive from outside the penalty area and awardeda penalty which Scott Spencer put away with aminimum of fuss.

ere was an unusual sense of resignedacceptance if not expectation at going behindfrom the Rams. Nonetheless they respondedwell and for the next 20 minutes or so theypressed forward and had their chances toequalise. Phil Dean might have done better fromaround the penalty spot but his somewhatdiffident shot was diverted over the bar for acorner and twice Danny Hurst in the Stockportgoal had to plunge low to his right to palm awayshots bound for the bottom corner. On eachoccasion the Rams were unable to get to therebound first.

Stockport though were dangerous on thebreak and looked threatening from numerousfree kicks lavished on them by the referee . Fromone such on 25 minutes the ball fell obliginglyto the feet of Danny Gregson who lashed theball past a helpless Grant Shenton.

For the remainder of the half the Rams becameincreasingly frustrated by decisions that had thebewildering quality of Fermat's last solution notleast the denial of an obvious penalty forhandball and then the penalisation of GrantSpencer for falling on the ball with his handwhen tripped from behind .

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Grant Spencer broughtdown in the area in justone of a number ofdecent penalty shouts

0 - 3Harry Williams Riverside Stadium13th December 2014Att: 907Rammy Goals: Stockport Goals: Spencer (3), Gregson (24), Lazenbury (81)

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It was no wonder that the referee'sreappearance after the break was received withloud catcalls from the home support.

With a strong, well drilled back four Stockportclearly considered that they had the game inthe bag and for the remainder of the matchwere content to sit back and soak up thepressure . For long periods the Rams werecamped in their half without ever really lookinglike opening up the visitors except for adiagonal ball into Jordan Hume whichpresented him with a yard of space and a goodshooting opportunity . However his shot justlacked the power to evade a scramblinggoalkeeper.

At the other end only a series of brave blocksby Steve Howson denied Stockport as the Ramspressed forward. ere was a persistent feelingthat if the Rams could grab a goal the finalstages might prove interesting but any hopesof a comeback were extinguished with 10minutes left when Grant Shenton neither stucknor twisted in dealing with a cross and leftJordan Lazenby with the easiest of headers.

It is to be hoped that with a challenging set offixtures ahead and two cup losses in a weekthat this is not the start of the Ram's ownwinter of discontent.

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Apparently this is onlyhandball if you have your backto play and are Gary Stopforth

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Osebi Abadaki, themuscular menace!

ashton unitedyet another team from tameside

Ashton United Football Club was formed in1878 under its previous name of Hurst FC.e Hurst area boasted several teams of agood standard and the club’s first recordedgame came in early 1879 against anotherlocal club, Hurst Red Star. Records indicatethat the current Hurst Cross ground was firstused by the club in 1880, making it one offootball’s oldest surviving venues.

e club proved a very progressive outfit intheir early days, entering the FA Cup as earlyas 1883 (just the 13th season of thecompetition) and reaching the second roundat the first time of asking, a club best equalledbut never bettered since. In 1885 the clublanded its first silverware after theManchester FA started a new competition formember clubs called the Manchester SeniorCup - Hurst won the first ever final againstNewton Heath, the forerunners of thepresent-day Manchester United, taking thetrophy after a 3-0 victory. 1885 also saw aground attendance record set at Hurst Cross,with over 9,000 people paying to watch FACup holders Blackburn Rovers play aLancashire Cup tie.e 1960s started with Ashton as holders of

the Manchester Intermediate Cup and laterthat year (under the managership of hisfather) the club saw the debut of its youngestever player - and scorer - a 15-year oldschoolboy called Alan Ball, later a World Cupwinner in 1966.

In 1984 the club sank to its lowest point asthey were relegated to the 2nd Division of the

NWCL – four years they won promotion backto the top tier in impressive style aschampions, but the club – like many othersfollowing the Bradford City fire disaster - werestill struggling to improve their facilities offthe pitch. Local businessman Terry Liversidgecame to Hurst Cross in 1990 and helpedtransform the club and ground; in 1992,under manager Dave Denby, Ashton becamethe first team to win the NWCL title and theLeague Cup double, going on to win theLeague Challenge Cup and the ManchesterPremier Cup for good measure. e Robinsposted their best ever FA Trophy run in 1997,before John Coleman’s side lost to Dagenham& Redbridge in the Quarter Finals.

Ashton finally won promotion to thePremier Division via the inaugural NPL play-offs under Gerry Quinn’s stewardship in 2002and also retained the Manchester PremierCup they had won the previous season - theywere to win it again in 2003 and were beatenfinalists in 2004, the same year the clubbecame founder members of the newConference North. eir stay in the newleague was ended after just one season - onlythe club's third relegation in over onehundred years of football.

Danny Johnson was appointed as managertowards the end of the 2006-07 season as theclub just avoided relegation. His six-yeartenure at the club saw Ashton establishthemselves as a comfortable mid-table teamin the NPL - despite the off-field events of2009/10, when the club were sued by former

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Altrincham player, Marcus Hallows,following an on-the-pitch injury hesustained playing against Ashton in 2005.e courts subsequently found against theclub, who were deemed liable to paydamages to Mr Hallows. e highlight ofJohnson’s reign was a first ever NPL LeagueChallenge Cup victory when Ashton beatNorthwich Victoria 1-0 in 2011. Johnsonmoved to league rivals Nantwich Town atthe end of the 2012-13 campaign and hisassistant-manager, Craig Robinson, waselevated to the role of manager butresigned for personal reasons before theseason commenced; as a result, coach PaulPhillips was promoted as manager, bringing

in former Droylsden team-mate (and thenMossley gaffer) Steve Halford as co-manager. Few could have foretold that,after such an unusual pre-season, the clubwould go so close to promotion; afterseeing off FC United of Manchester in themost dramatic manner in the play-offsemi-final (Ashton equalised in injury timeat the end of the 90 minutes and, in injurytime of added time, Jack Higgins struck adeserved winner) before losing the play-offfinal in even more dramatic circumstances,when only the width of a crossbarpromoted AFC Fylde after a penalty shoot-out.

Ashton in action last weekagainst Marine - Photoscourtesy of Juel Miah

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Dale JOHNSON (Forward) Born 1985Previous clubs; Woodley Sports, Hyde United,Droylsden, Altrincham, Hyde, Droylsden,Halifax, Barrow, Salford CityA forward with significant experience ofConference level football, Dale originally joinedAshton in November 2013 and played a majorpart in the club reaching the 2014 play-off final;he rejoined in November 2014 after a shortspell with Salford City.

Chris BAGULEY (Midfield) Born 1987 Previous clubs; Oldham Athletic, FC United ofManchester, Mandurah City (Australia), LeighGenesis, Salford City, Rossendale Utd, New MillsMidfield playmaker or support striker, ‘Baggers’joined Ashton in 2012 and became a regular bythe end of his first season. Knee surgery meanthe missed much of the 2013-14 seasonhowever, after a short loan spell at New Mills,he was soon back amongst the goals, lookingfit and back to his best.

Jason GORTON (Defender) Born 1985Previous clubs; Glossop North End, MossleyAn FA Vase finalist with Glossop in 2009, Jayjoined Ashton in the summer of 2013 and hisperformances at centre half saw him selectedas both the Supporters’ and Players’ choice asPlayer of the Year last season; promoted toteam captain in the summer of 2014.

Mark HASLAM (Defender) Born 1987 Previous clubs; Woodley Sports, CurzonAshton, MossleyA product of Woodley’s youth system, ‘Hazzy’spent seven years with Sports before movingon, joining Ashton in January 2014; an excitingfull-back who likes to get forward, as evidencedby his ‘wonder goal’ at Salford in the FA Cup.fo

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In action against Belper Town -Photo Courtesy of Ken Allsebrookga

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Now in his fourth season for Rammy, 28-year-old Burnley lad Gary Stopforth isreally relishing his football after a careerthat felt like it had hit the rocks eightyears ago.

“I’d been playing at the Burnley Schoolof Excellence when Blackburn Roversscouted me at about age 13,” Gary toldus. “Rovers took me on and I played allthe way through their youth setup until Iwas about 20 when I realised that I justwasn’t going to break through into thefirst team. It was hard for us all as it was atime when Blackburn had decent moneyto spend on players. No-one from myteam or the two years above brokethrough into the squad as they weresigning multi-million pound players fromother clubs. It was a very good youthsetup because Jack Walker had put it allin place, and in the earlier years DavidDunne and Damian Duff broke through,but when Mark Hughes came, heswapped things around because the newyouth academy facilities were better thanthose for the first team. Blackburn keepthe youth setup going in the hope thatthey get a couple of players comethrough now and again, but it doesn’thappen very often.

“I was supposed to go out on loan toOldham when I was 20, but I picked upan injury and just ended up playingreserve football, which isn’t competitivelike the main game. It wasn’t like atRammy where it really matters, the gameswere just like practise matches orfriendlies and I started losing heart. Afterdevoting nine years of my life to it all Iended up just packing in, spending a yearaway from the game completely.

“My mate Joe Byron was at Clitheroe,

and he suggested I get involved again, soI had a chat with the club and theyinvited me down. I really got into playingagain and into all the banter in thedressing room. It wasn’t as pressurised asthe football I’d played before and Ienjoyed it loads. I played for them forabout a year and a half alongside Johnnoand Bernard - it was a good side and greatfun.

“Clitheroe ended on a bit of a sour notereally as there was a lot of behind thescenes stuff going on which meant thethe team all got broken up, which waswhen Bernard and Johnno went intomanagement at Rammy and I headed offto play in America at New Orleans for thesummer before joining my local amateurteam Burnley United in the autumn.

“Someone came in and invited me togo up to Kendal, who were in theNorthern Premier League and felt like agood opportunity. I spent about twoyears there and it was decent money andso on, but the travelling became a bit ofa pain after a while, particularly fortraining. e first season was a belter, andwe made the playoffs, getting beaten inthe end by Bradford Park Avenue.

“e second season was almost thecomplete opposite. We weren’t doingthat well in the league and the managerhad a bust up with a few of the lads so Igot a bit tired with it all - particularly theTuesday night training til 10pm up inKendal, that meant I wasn’t getting hometil half past eleven. I told the manager Iwas done with it, and ended up speakingto Johnno who said “Yeah, come downand play!”. at was the season when wewere chasing New Mills and ended upfinishing second in the Counties.

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“It was quite a drop in level, which somepeople have asked me about, but you’ve got totake it as a whole - it’s not just about playing atthis level or for that money, but whether youenjoy it. It’s different if football is yourlivelihood, but I look on it as a great hobby thatI get paid for, and so whether I’m enjoying it isfar more important. I’m not saying that thereisn’t an amount of money that would persuadeyou to think seriously, but enjoying your gameis crucial.

“It was nice for me to join Rammy as evenwhen I was at Kendal I kept in touch withJohnno, and working in Stacksteads I alwayschecked how things were going in the FreePress. I think I came for a couple of club nightsout, even though I didn’t play for Rammy, andI ended up coming down to play and enjoyingit.

“AFC Fylde ended up looking at me, and thenoffering a big salary to head up and play forthem, enough that I couldn’t really say no, andso I headed up there and ended up doing reallywell until about Christmas when I ended upbreaking my jaw, which needed wiring. I wasout for about two months in all and themanager sent me out to get some games onloan to get properly match fit. So, I ended up atRammy on loan, waiting for Fylde to show a bitof enthusiasm about having me back, but it wasabout 6-7 matches before I heard from them,and by that time I’d decided that I was happierat Ramsbottom, and was going to stay. It wasabout the same time that Danny Warrendercame back, and it felt like we had a good chanceof getting promoted, so why not stay?

“e great thing about Rammy is that it’s sucha close knit club, with management, players,club and supporters all being involved in things.Everyone knows each other and gets on witheach other, and like I said before about needing

to enjoy your football, this all goes a long waytowards that. I’ve never known a club like this,and that’s why all of these lads have been asloyal as they have, even Robbo who’s nowretired six times!

“I think the lads are doing really well thisseason, though we’re into the rough patch nowwith pitches starting to cut up which becomesa real leveller. You end up facing teams whoaren’t necessarily good footballing sides, butcan grind out the results with big strong lads.Some of these teams are even worse than theleague below, but can do a job. Some peoplemight say that Stockport were a bit like this. Big,strong and organised. It didn’t help that weconceded so early on, that threw the game planup in the air. If we’d have scored that first goalthen it would have been a very different game,with them having to come out and try to playus instead of dropping back and then hitting uson the break. As for it being a handball, therewas no way on earth. e ball’s bobbled aroundon the edge of the box, the guy’s hit it into theground three feet away and it’s bounced up andhit me above the elbow just inside the box - Idon’t know how the ref can give a penalty forthat. e Trophy is out of the way now though,let’s get on with winning the massive leaguegames over the next few weeks.

“I’m really happy with the way midfield isworking out at the moment. It’s a real pleasureto play alongside Scott as we work so welltogether. He’ll drop back a bit and distribute theball wide, which will let me get further up,nearer to Spencer and Jordan, but then we canall pull in to break things up. Realistically weplay with a front four, and so we need adefensively minded midfield who can drop inand cover. It’s working really well at themoment, and fingers crossed there’s no reasonwe can’t be pushing top spot come May.”

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gary stopforth

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1. Who have Stockport County drawn in the next round of the FA Trophy?

2. Which Welsh club used to play at Farrar Road?

3. What is their new ground called?

4. Which non-league club did Rochdale knock out of the FA Cup?

5. Jamie Day left his managerial position at Welling United to move to which

other team?

6. Whitehawk are based in which city?

7. Who do Blyth Spartans face in the next round of the FA Cup?

8. Which club plays at Borough Park?

9. Who is the manger of Alfreton?

10. What colours do Chelmsford City play in?

1. Wrexham 2. Bangor City 3. Nantporth 4. Aldershot 5. Ebbsfleet United 6. Brighton 7. Birmingham City 8. Workington 9. Nicky Law 10. Claret and White

tony’s teasers

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Jon Robinson and Phil Deanduring the Doodson Cupdemolition of Burscough

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If your face is featured then congratulations, you’ve just won yourself a cup oftea and a Mars Bar courtesy of Rammy United Supporters Club. Visit the teabar now to claim your magnificent prize!

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A B C D E

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Simply email your chosen grid reference to qy@dr.comand the winner will be chosen at random from thosesubmitting the correct answer. You can then have yourvery own personalised rammy mug.

spot the balland win a customised rammy mug

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e time of goodwill to all men apparentlyhasn’t reached east Anglia, for the Ramsfurthest visit ever turned out to be a battle ofattrition, with events off the pitch transposingthemselves on to it.

At a time when even warring factions of acentury ago decided to abandon acrimoniousactions, sadly a handful of imbeciles fromNorfolk decided it would be an appropriatetime to relive the draconian days of the 1980’s.Animal noises and racist remarks aimed at anumber of Ramsbottom players and staff setthe tone for a game that ultimately saw thereferee lose control, with tackles flying in thickand fast, Rammy’s Scott Burton sent off in thedying minutes, and managers from both sidesdispatched to the stands after a dug-outaltercation.

Peace to all men never came close, as theunpleasant atmosphere created by a numberof home fans left both clubs with a nasty tastein their mouths. is is not what footballshould be about, and as a result, no doubt theF.A. will be looking into the allegations. It washardly surprising, then, that the game will beremembered more for behaviour off the pitchthan on it.

After Scott Burton sent an early header overthe bar, Grant Spencer opened the scoring forthe visitors with a free-kick from just outsidethe box that clipped the inside of the keeper’sright hand post before settling in just beyondthe left-hand one.

With few chances for either side, the Ramsjust about deserved their interval lead, but

within seven minutes of the re-start, thehome side were level. A free-kick was onlypartially cleared, and as the ball bobbledabout the penalty area, Michael Frew took fulladvantage and blasted home from ten yardsout.

An unseemly scuffle broke out by the dug-outs moments later which saw Ramsjoint-manager Anthony Johnson sent to thestands along with his Kings Lynn counterpart,and yet again tension arose on the field. Atone point the game was continuing withthree players lying prone at various positionswithin the pitch.

Tackles were fierce as any thoughts of “thebeautiful game” vanished as should a numberof the home fans, but lackadaisical stewardingallowed the atmosphere to deteriorate, andthe Rams unpleasant experience was madeworse in the final few minutes.

On 86 minutes, having swept forwardlooking to clinch all three points, the visitorsleft themselves open at the back to abreakaway. e ball fell for Frew in acres ofspace, and he fired the winner past GrantShenton’s left to clinch all three points for theNorfolk side. Worse was to follow whenBurton reacted angrily to a tackle to earn ayellow card. However, as he had been bookedearlier, the subsequent red card appeared andthe Rams finished with ten men.

A long journey home, and on the evidenceof the welcome received from the moronicfew, a future visit to Kings Lynn is hardly oneto embrace.

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2 - 1e Walks20th December 2014Att: Rammy Goals: Spencer (17)King’s Lynn Goals: Frew (58, 86)

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rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs

Good afternoon everyone and a veryhappy Boxing Day to you all. I hope youhave all enjoyed your Christmas funyesterday but please be aware, if you are satin the stand, that it is just about now thatthe sprouts might be taking full effect.Parp!

I am simply not going to mention theevents of last Saturday at King's Lynn. I amnot going to give it the space and printcoverage that it doesn't deserve, save forsaying that I was absolutely horrified to hearwhat was happening and the fact that thosein Norfolk continue to dig their heads in thesand when it is quite clear they have aproblem. I wasn't there, sadly, but justreading all the comments on the forum andon twitter confirmed just what an awfulexperience it must have been.

One thing I really did enjoy aboutSaturday was being able to listen to thematch on the radio. BBC Radio Norfolk hadthe full commentary on, which wasabsolutely brilliant as I walked around Bury

Market getting a few specialnorthern delicacies for our

southern Christmas meal yesterday.Tucking my phone under my coat onmy shoulder enabled me to listen towhat was going on and, althoughthe commentary was typicallybiased and continued to mentionthe silliness on the sidelines at fartoo regular an interval, it was very

good to be able to listen and keep tabs onwhat is happening.

is has happened a few times in the past- Radio Northumberland did a game atBlyth, I think it was. But my all timefavourite was the commentary fromLancaster City on Bailrigg FM, seemingly astudent run station but they were there foran evening Lancashire FA Trophy game backin 2009. I didn't go to the game as I washeading to South Africa for work the nextmorning so was trying to get myself readyso I thought I would plug in and listen tothe game courtesy of the local station.

7.45pm came and went and nothing washappening. Time continued to pass and stillnothing. ey finally came on air about 20minutes into the game, in a rather hecticstate of panic and fluster. ey had missedtheir bus and couldn't get to the ground intime. Absolutely brilliant!

Our club has come a long way over thelast few seasons, particularly off the fieldwith some terrific innovations starting tocome to fruition. Rammy TV is one such. Iknow it is something on a very long list ofRob's 'things I would like to see happen' butradio commentary of our games would bean amazing addition to our portfolio. It isalways going to be difficult in this area ofmany football clubs - the majority withinthe football league. Norfolk, obviously, onlyhas Norwich City and our opponents fromlast Saturday as 'main clubs'. e list in this

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area runs well into double figures so gettingany sort of mainstream radio coverage and livecommentary would be quite an achievement.

But what an achievement it would be forthose of us in far flung places and not able toget to every game like so many of our loyalfollowing do. I wanted to head east onSaturday but I am currently working on the BigBash T20 tournament from Australia, whichwe are showing every morning so couldn'treally make the time to be there, but beingable to listen live was a good second best.

I am not going to be around for the next fewgames either, as I was on cooking dutyyesterday and probably today as well. But it isgreat to welcome Ashton United to the HarryWilliams Riverside Stadium. eir ground atHurst Cross is one I drive past quite often as itis en-route to Cath's house so I always know

where it is. I am looking forward to coming upfor the Easter period when I can go there forthe first time on the Monday and then walkto the Amaani Curry house just up the roadfor a post match meal. I have it all plannedalready! Yes, I am sad!

Anyway, that will probably do me for now.Have a fantastic Boxing Day - let's hope theresult goes our way - and may I wish you all avery Happy New Year as well for those of youwho are not going to be here on Sunday.

2014 - yet another year to remember in thehistory of Ramsbottom United Football Club.Who will ever forget that day in early May?And the fact that we are in this league at all.Good luck 2015 ... you have a lot to live up to!

YOUUUUUU RAAAAMS!

Richard lookingconcerned, as though heknows there is a top scarerlurking behind him!

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Appointed joint manager at the start of the2009/2010 season and took the club to theNWCFL title in 2011/12 season, despitemissing much of the season through injury.He has helped guide the club throughanother promotion via the play-offs into theEvo-Stik Premier League in May 2014.

Re-joined the club in January 2009 andbecame joint manager at the start of2009/2010. A Rammy man to his core, acombative and hard-working midfelder whohas occasionally taken over with someprowess in goal. Successful in guiding theRams to two promotions in three seasons.

Anthony JOHNSON Bernard MORLEY

John is the goalkeeping coach atRamsbottom, and was formerly manager atNWCFL side Maine Road, where heconstantly had them pushing for promotion.

John MORREY

Former manager of Atherton LR, leadingthem to 10th place in the NWCL in 2010/11.Resigned from his post with the Crilly Parkclub and joins Ramsbottom United as ahighly rated coach.

Glenn MOSES

rammy unitedmeet the lads

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Born in January 1991, this 6ft 2” goalkeeperjoined Rammy from FC United at the end ofAugust 2010. He was number two at FCUnited, but a superb season in 2010/11 sawhim win Player of the Year for the Rams. HeSigned full-time with the club at the start of2011/12.

Signed from local rivals Radcliffe Boroughafter a spell playing in Australia, the big manis equally at home in the heart of thedefence, or up front poaching goals.

Grant SHENTON

Steve HOWSON

Cedric joined the club in January 2014having impressed the management teamduring his time with rivals Trafford FC.Essentially a defender, Cedric has the abilityto fit in other positions for the team.

Cedric KROU

Signed for the club after impressing themanagers when he played against the Ramsfor Atherton LR. Adds a whole newdimension to the Riversiders’ squad, andequally at home on the right side as either adefender or attacking winger.. Brother ofPlymouth Argyle’s Deane Smalley.

Dominic SMALLEY

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Battling midfield who signed for the club in2011 following the demise of RossendaleUnited, for whom he scored a hat-trick in theridiculous 7-5 Rammy win the previousseason. Won the NWCFL title with the cluband was offered terms with ConferencePremier side Hyde but returned to the clubon loan, eventually signing full terms.

It has taken some two years for themanagement to finally get Scott to join theRams. Bernard and Jonno have followedScott’s career with Runcorn Town and hefinally joined the club in late January 2014.A hard-working midfielder, similar in style toGary Stopforth, and an integral part of thepromotion winning team.

Grant SPENCER

Scott BURTON

e talented left full-back rejoined the clubfrom Chester during the 2013/14 seasonhaving had a short spell here a couple ofyears earlier. His long throw-in is always adangerous piece of his armory.

Lee PUGH

A skilful battling midfielder who signed fulltime with the Rams during the summer of2012 after coming on loan from AFC Fyldethe previous season and dominating themidfield. In his third season with the club hewas a vital member of the promotion set-uplast term.

Gary STOPFORTH

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A constant threat in attack, a solidperformer in defence. Awarded Clubman ofthe Year award in 2011. Continues to causeplentiful problems to defences around theleagues.

Joined the club in December 2011 fromClitheroe via Padiham. Son of a former1990s Rammy favourite Martin, midfielderJordan is highly rated and scored 8 goals forthe Storks before going to Clitheroe. Aversatile player – he can play anywhere fromdefence to striker.

e speedy wingman joined the Rams at thebeginning of the 2014/15 season, havingspent the previous campaign at fellow Evo-Stik Premier club Nantwich Town.

Osebi ABADAKI

Phil DEAN

Jordan HULME

Wing man Tom came on as a sub in the play-off game for our opponents Bamber Bridge.e Rams management team acted swiftlyin the summer to bring him down toRamsbottom

Tom WILLIAMS

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Experienced striker Jon was signed from NewMills and despite plentiful interest fromother clubs has remained loyal to the Ramsfor a number of seasons now, and alwaysfinishes near the top of the goal-scoringcharts. Regarded as a “Rammy legend” ineast Lancashire..

Jon ROBINSON

A 20 year old player who joined fromConference side Tamworth early in the2014/15 season. George is a highly rated full-back capable of playing on either flank,giving the Rams additional defensiveflexibility.

George GRAYSON

A left-back who signed for the Rams in themiddle of September. Previously withC.E.Principado De Andorra, a seconddivision Andorran team with whom heexperienced Champions League football.

Alex PIACENTILE

Club Physio

Haroon ABATTI

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New Mills – 15th March 2014

A traditional little ground in the heart of the

Derbyshire

and one that reminded me of our own River

side Stadium,

mainly due to the views of the hills and

surrounding

countryside (they don’t have steam train thoug

h, so not quite

as quaint as us)

This was one of the first games when I reall

y started to

notice that we were getting some amazing t

urnouts from

Ramsbottom at our away games. The large num

bers who had

made this trip were treated to a tense,

exciting and

somewhat bizarre five goal thriller. An early inj

ury to Shents

meant we had the sight of Bernard coming o

ff the bench

to take over in goal and leaving the field at full

time to chants

of Englands Number One, and earning the new

nickname of

Bernard ‘The Cat’ Morley.

2014 was a vintage year to be a Rammy Ultra, but what have been the best

away days of the year and what sticks in the memory the most?

In a two-part, top-ten rundown, like a 1975 edition of Christmas Top of the

Pops (without the dodgy presenters), Darren ‘Darkside’ Comer is going to take

us through his highlights of being a Rammy Ultra in 2014. You may not agree

with all his ‘Top of the Trips’, or the order they are in, but it will make for a

good topic of conversation over that pint of Wainwrights in the Cricket Club.

FC United of Manchester - 30th August 2014Despite losing 3-1 on the day, this game has just about sneakedinto my top 10. It wasn’t the greatest of games for The Rams anddespite Jordan Hulme giving us an early lead we eventually wentdown by 3-1. The main reason I chose this game is the size of thecrowd on the day, just under 2,000, and the amount who werewearing blue and white. I remember walking through the turnstile onthe day worrying if I would be able to find my fellow members ofthe Mutton Army, but I need not have worried about that as therewas plenty of blue mixed in with red of FCUM. Me and Mrs Darksidetravelled to the game with some friends, PD, Howard and his sonJake, all passionate supporters of the Red Rebels. It’s not often youget to travel with opposition supporters and for that reason alonethis game made my little list.

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Farsley – 1st April 2014Tim Duckworth had hired a pretty

nice executive coach for this

jaunt into west Yorkshire to see if the Rammy roller coaster,

promotion push was still going to be on track. The game took place on

April Fools Day and it was the Rams who were left looking the fools

after throwing away two late goals to lose 3-2 and having us worrying

that we had thrown away our Play-Off chances. After reaching

Farsley in the early afternoon we had a couple of pints before going

our separate ways, the proletariat going to a common pub, and us

more high classed, cultured types going for lunch at a high class wine

bar (well, it was high class before we went in).

The highlight of the game was a young Farsley supporter, obviously

bored with events on the pitch, who wandered onto the playing area

unaware that there was a Evo-Stik 1st Division Play Off battle going

on around him. We then had the sight of his, rather embarrassed,

Father having to come on to escort him off. Only at non-league would

you see this and imagine if he did this in front of the Sky cameras

at Stamford Bridge or The Emirates ? The Daily Mail would be calling

for imprisonment and discussing the decay in today’s modern game.

The young lad in question, who I swear was Billy Casper from the

film, Kes, had earlier stood in front of the terrace wall where we

stood and started to take a leak, again unaware of his surroundings.

This in turn led to one of those classic moments as the Ultras started

off a new chant of He’ll pee where he wants, he’ll pee where he

wants, he is from Yorkshire, he’ll pee where he wants!

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Salford City – 21st April 2014Easter Monday, the sun is shining and your team is away in

a derby day clash they need to win to carry on their push forPlay-Off glory. Oh Happy Days. Another five goal thriller inwhich The Rams came out on top, this time with a late goal

from Gassy to send around 200 travelling Ultras into raptures.

Probably one of my favourite grounds from this year and alongwith Workington they have the most traditional grounds I havevisited. They also win my vote for best music played over thetannoy with plenty of Joy Division and The Fall and The Poguesversion of Dirty Old Town, a song originally written by EwanMcCall about life on the streets of Salford. If they pleased no-

one else with the eclectic music on offer at least myself andUkePunk managed to tap a toe or two.

On a side note, one of my low points of the year has beenthe takeover of Salford City, by the Class of 92 ©, and theirsubsequent attempts to lure some of the Rammy promotionheroes away with the promise of untold riches. It’s not that I’magainst people putting much needed money into non-leaguefootball, but this is a little too corporate and business like formy tastes. That made our recent victory and outplaying ofSalford in the Lancashire Trophy all the more sweeter.

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Banbury United – 29th November 2014Less than a month ago, Ramsbottom United tooktheir furthest ever trip south to take on BanburyUnited in the final qualifying round of the FA Trophy,and as usual, they were accompanied by the usual largenumbers from the Ram Army. A lunchtime arrival meantwe had plenty of time of visit the lovely town ofBanbury, well its pubs to be more accurate. Notice toanyone planning a trip there - avoid the Wetherspoonswith its minimum of staff and undrinkable selection ofbeers (and wines for The Masseys)Another nice traditional ground with an old terracebehind one goal. This was where the travelling ultrasparked themselves, their horns and their drum and flag,in anticipation of the game. And what a game it was,well at least for Rammy as they took a fifth minutelead through Robbo. After the early goal there was onlygoing to be one winner and a celebratory 90 minuteswas in store on the Banbury terraces. The second halfsaw goals from Wizz and Cedric ‘We’re Having a Party’Krou, as well as field full of cows coming over to seewhat all the noise was. Again, only in non-league football.Another celebratory, boozy sing-along of a trip backto Lancashire included, Radio 5live’s Non-League Showcalling up Jonno for a live interview and Super GaryStopforth taking the on-board microphone and treatingus all to his rendition of The Gambler. All in all, justanother day on the Rammy Rocket.

So, there are my first five selections for the bestaway days of 2014 and the top five will appear in theSkelmersdale programme on Sunday.

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Sat 16th Aug H KING’S LYNN TOWN 2-3 322 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer Howson PriestleyTues 19th Aug A Workington 0-1 415 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson PriestleySat 23rd Aug A Rushall Olympic 4-2 161 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson PriestleyMon 25th Aug H NANTWICH TOWN 1-4 365 Shenton Smalley Abadaki * Spencer + Howson PriestleySat 30th Aug A FC United of Manchester 1-3 1917 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson WarrenderTues 2nd Sept H MARINE 3-2 250 Shenton Smalley + Pilkington Spencer Howson 1 KrouSat 6th Sept H STAMFORD 3-1 357 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer + Howson 1 WarrenderWed 10th Sept A Whitby Town 0-2 265 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson WarrenderSat 13th Sept A Buxton FAC 1Q 2-3 261 Shenton Smalley Pilkington # Spencer Howson Warrender +Tues 16th Sept H WITTON ALBION 3-2 231 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer * Howson Krou 1Sat 20th Sept A Ilkeston 4-2 422 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Krou 1Tues 23rd Sept H CURZON ASHTON 1-1 309 Shenton Grayson * Pugh Spencer 1 Howson KrouSat 27th Sept A Frickley Athletic 2-4 215 Shenton Pilkington Grayson + Stopforth Howson KrouSat 4th Oct A Trafford 1-0 294 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouSat 11th Oct H BELPER TOWN 4-2 371 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson KrouSat 18th Oct H BUXTON 2-0 470 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson KrouTues 21st Oct H WHITBY TOWN 4-0 237 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson KrouSat 25th Oct A Marine 3-1 366 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson 2 RobinsonSat 1st Nov A Whitby Town FAT 1Q 2-1 233 Shenton Smalley * Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouTues 4th Nov H WORKINGTON 1-1 250 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouSat 8th Nov A Halesowen Town 0-2 358 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouTues 11th Nov H WEST DIDS Lancs Cup 3-0 132 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer 1 Robinson + KrouSat 15th Nov A Nantwich FAT 2Q 3-1 238 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouSat 22nd Nov H GRANTHAM TOWN 3-1 351 Shenton Smalley 1 Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouTues 25th Nov H BURSCOUGH Lg Cup 5-1 140 Shenton Williams Piacentile 1 Slaven Howson 1 KrouSat 29th Nov A Banbury United 3-0 235 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth + Howson Krou 1Tues 2nd Dec A Salford City Lg Cup 3-1 189 Shenton Smalley Dean Stopforth Howson KrouSat 6th Dec A Matlock Town 1-1 257 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson KrouMon 8th Dec A Atherton Collieries Lancs 1-2 120 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson PughSat 13th Dec H STOCKPORT COUNTY 3-0 907 Shenton Smalley Grayson + Stopforth Howson KrouSat 20th Dec A King’s Lynn Town 1-2 510 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson KrouFri 26th Dec H ASHTON UNITEDSun 28th Dec H SKELMERSDALEThu 1st Jan A Nantwich TownSat 3rd Jan A Curzon AshtonSat 10th Jan H TRAFFORDSat 17th Jan A Belper TownTues 20th Jan H NORTHWICH VIC LgCupSat 24th Jan H FRICKLEY ATHLETICSat 31st Jan A BuxtonSat 7th Feb H BLYTH SPARTANSSat 14th Feb A StamfordSat 21st Feb A Witton AlbionSat 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

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MATCHBAL

res & results 2014/15

Our Club Needs Our Help

If you can spare as little as half an hour to help Harry Williams keep Rammy’s pitch and ground

in the impeccable condition that we’ve allbecome so proud of then please just come down and

help, any day of the week from 11am onwards.

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What a strange atmosphere we had at theStockport County game! It’s the kind ofatmosphere I’ve experienced a few timesbefore at these big games and it’s always alittle bit eerie. e reasons are prettyobvious...

First of all, because some folk apparentlystruggle with the idea of intermingling withopposition fans, we had to stay on therailway end where the accoustics are prettyrubbish. Segregation at our level is crap andit makes you feel as though everything ishappening miles up the other end. It’s beena good while since I’ve been made to stay putat half time (they also tried to make me sitdown, but there are limits!) and I’m not agreat fan of it. ankfully, because I wave acamera around and put on a hi-viz jacket, Iwas allowed up the other end, but even thatfelt weird without the massed Rammyhoards behind me.

I’m not sure why the decision was taken togive Stockport the top end of the ground - Iguess it’s probably larger and they may havebeen expecting some more travellingsupporters. All in all I think the home fans

outnumbered the away byquite a bit, though I did

notice that the donkeylasher from Bacup(who I know fromhis drunken andloud contributions

at the cricket) was inthe Stockport end -

best place for him!

Another reason for the strangely quietatmosphere was us being intermingled withobservers rather than supporters. I’m sureWarrington Town felt similar in their recentFA Cup foray as when you suddenly get alarge crowd you find the die-hards getdiluted to such an extent that theatmosphere falls flat. With Bury at Oxfordand various other games (rightly) called off,we must have been quite a draw for theimpartial fan, and they were definitely withus in numbers.

All in all I didn’t feel that the Stockportgame did Rammy justice though. Yes, theweather didn’t add to the occasion, and I’msure that Harry’s had a whole load ofsleepless nights getting the pitch ready forthis match, but the general performance andlack of that certain Rammy-ness on theterraces will probably not have won over toomany new fans, which is a terrible shame. It’salways the case with these big games though- the new attendees get to see your ladsstruggling to compete with a higher levelclub, on this occasion happy to shield their2-0 lead and maybe bag another on thebreak. How much better if these folks hadcome to today’s game against Ashton orSunday’s against Skem - I’m sure that bothwill be much more a display of football thanthe FA Trophy game was.

And so onto other bits and bobs...You probably noticed that the supporters

club people were fighting the weather in anattempt to display and sell some of thefantastic Rammy merchandise that we’ve

supporters clubon the terraces of rammy

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been working on of late. e torrential hailstorm that began at 2:45 made their jobparticularly difficult and they really do need apat on the back for gritting their teeth andcontinuing their thankless task. Maria our newrecruit was magnificent outside the turnstilesas was Darren (who didn’t piss off for a pint asrumoured, but helped marshall the carparkafter the 17 stewards somehow failed to showup). Inside the ground we had Angie, Karol anda couple of others valiantly giving it their all, aswas Katie who rushed back from A&E afterAndy had keeled over earlier in the day (due tolow blood sugar it seems).

e merchandise is very smart and includespersonalised mugs at £6, a fantastic 125 pagephotobook at £10, a Rammy calendar at a fiverand the usual hats, scarves, badges and so on. Ibelieve the supporters club will be on dutyagain today and Sunday, so please stock up onyour Rammy gear and help us show that thereis a demand for this stuff from our supporters.

e final word in this programme has to be

reserved for the magnificent unsung heroeswho worked on the ground and the pitchbefore and after the Stockport County game.When I looked out of the window first-thing Iwas trying to think of excuses to not goChristmas shopping at the Trafford Centre, as Iwas in no doubt that the game would be off.But then I turned up at the ground to find ahuge number of people with brushes andflame-throwers going at the frozen patches. It’sa great testimony to their hard work that agame which ordinarily would never have takenplace did so.

I fear that those same people will be calledupon tomorrow and Sunday morning in orderto try and get the pitch ready for Skem’s visit.Two games in three days is a nightmare for agroundsman, but two games of this calibre overChristmas is a dream for the fans!

If you are able to spare an hour or sotomorrow or Sunday then please come downand help with pitch preparations.

After winning a tenner thiskind chap has kindly agreedto buy everyone a drink aftertoday’s game!

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Grant SHENTONDominic SMALLEYGeorge GRAYSONGary STOPFORTH

Steve HOWSONCedric KROU

Osebi ABADAKIScott BURTONJordan HULME

Grant SPENCERPhil DEAN

Jon ROBINSONTom WILLIAMS

Malachi SLAVENDavid KUBA-KUBA

Lee PUGHTom BROOKS

Sam MODLINSKYSam WILSONMark HASLAMJay GORTONJack HIGGINSASh YOUNGMartin HILLGary GEEDale JOHNSONChris BAGULEYKayde COPPINSteve HALFORDJosh STEADMANDominic BARRETTGreg PEARSONLee RICK

Managers: Anthony Johnson,Bernard Morley

Managers: Paul PhillipsSteve Halford

Referee: Paul HodskinsonReferee’s Assistants: Robert Walsh, Keith Martin

Next home game: Sunday 28th December 3pm, Rammy v Skelmersdale United