55 Ramsbottom United v Barwell

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Sat 16th Aug H KING’S LYNN TOWN 2-3 322 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer Howson Priestley Hulm Tues 19th Aug A Workington 0-1 415 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley HulmSat 23rd Aug A Rushall Olympic 4-2 161 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Priestley Hulm Mon 25th Aug H NANTWICH TOWN 1-4 365 Shenton Smalley Abadaki * Spencer + Howson Priestley Hulm Sat 30th Aug A FC United of Manchester 1-3 1917 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender Aba Tues 2nd Sept H MARINE 3-2 250 Shenton Smalley + Pilkington Spencer Howson 1 Krou AbaSat 6th Sept H STAMFORD 3-1 357 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer + Howson 1 Warrender AbaWed 10th Sept A Whitby Town 0-2 265 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer Howson Warrender AbaSat 13th Sept A Buxton FAC 1Q 2-3 261 Shenton Smalley Pilkington # Spencer Howson Warrender + AbaTues 16th Sept H WITTON ALBION 3-2 231 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Spencer * Howson Krou 1 AbaSat 20th Sept A Ilkeston 4-2 422 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer * Howson Krou 1 Aba Tues 23rd Sept H CURZON ASHTON 1-1 309 Shenton Grayson * Pugh Spencer 1 Howson Krou Aba Sat 27th Sept A Frickley Athletic 2-4 215 Shenton Pilkington Grayson + Stopforth Howson Krou Mot Sat 4th Oct A Trafford 1-0 294 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 11th Oct H BELPER TOWN 4-2 371 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 18th Oct H BUXTON 2-0 470 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 21st Oct H WHITBY TOWN 4-0 237 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 25th Oct A Marine 3-1 366 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson 2 Robinson Aba Sat 1st Nov A Whitby Town FAT 1Q 2-1 233 Shenton Smalley * Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 4th Nov H WORKINGTON 1-1 250 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sat 8th Nov A Halesowen Town 0-2 358 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Rob Tues 11th Nov H WEST DIDS Lancs Cup 3-0 132 Shenton Smalley Pugh Spencer 1 Robinson + Krou Aba Sat 15th Nov A Nantwich FAT 2Q 3-1 238 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Sat 22nd Nov H GRANTHAM TOWN 3-1 351 Shenton Smalley 1 Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Tues 25th Nov H BURSCOUGH Lg Cup 5-1 140 Shenton Williams Piacentile 1 Slaven Howson 1 Krou AbaSat 29th Nov A Banbury United 3-0 235 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth + Howson Krou 1 Will Tues 2nd Dec A Salford City Lg Cup 3-1 189 Shenton Smalley Dean Stopforth Howson Krou AbaSat 6th Dec A Matlock Town 1-1 257 Shenton Smalley Pugh Stopforth Howson Krou Will Mon 8th Dec A Atherton Collieries Lancs 1-2 120 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson Pugh Will Sat 13th Dec H STOCKPORT COUNTY 3-0 907 Shenton Smalley Grayson + Stopforth Howson Krou Will Sat 20th Dec A King’s Lynn Town 1-2 510 Shenton Smalley Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Sun 28th Dec H SKELMERSDALE 0-3 372 Shenton Smalley * Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou AbaThu 1st Jan A Nantwich Town 2-3 285 Shenton Hulme Grayson Stopforth Howson Krou Aba Tues 27th Jan H NORTHWICH VIC LgCup 3-1 158 Shenton Grayson Pugh Harrop Krou Jones AbaTues 10th Feb H HARROGATE RA LgCup 3-1 131 Shenton Slaven Grayson Kuba-Kuba Jones Pugh 1 Laz Sat 14th Feb A Stamford 1-1 319 Shenton Bowyer Grayson Harrop Frost Pugh Broo Tues 17th Feb H RUSHALL OLYMPIC 2-3 223 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Burke Heron Jones Aba Sat 21st Feb A Witton Albion 1-2 349 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Harrop Frost + Jones # AbaTues 24th Feb A Blyth Spartans 0-2 364 Shenton Bowyer Pugh Slaven Robinson Harrop AbaSat 28th Feb H ILKESTON 1-2 290 Shenton Harrop Pugh Burke + Robinson Jones AbaSat 7th Mar A Skelmersdale United 0-3 229 Shenton Harrop Pugh Edghill + Frost Neville WillTues 10th Mar A Stourbridge 2-1 230 Shenton Harrop Neville Edghill Frost Ayres Aba Sat 14th Mar H STOURBRIDGE 0-1 261 Shenton Harrop Neville Edghill + Frost Ayres Aba Tues 17th Mar A Buxton 1-1 197 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke Ayres Bowyer Will Thurs 19th Mar H BLYTH SPARTANS 3-3 234 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke Ayres 1 Bowyer Will Sat 21st Mar A Belper 2-1 221 Shenton Harrop Neville Burke # Ayres Bowyer Broo Tues 24th Mar H BARWELLSat 28th Mar A Grantham TownMon 30th Mar A Curzon AshtonWeds 1st Apr H TRAFFORDSat 4th April H FC UNITED OF MCRMon 6th April A Ashton UnitedWeds 8th April H FARSLEY LgCup SemiFinalSat 11th April H HALESOWEN TOWNTues 14th April H ASHTON UNITEDSat 18th April A BarwellTues 21st April H FRICKLEY ATHLETICSat 25th April H MATLOCK TOWN fixture


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ures & results 2014/15


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Firstly I’d like to extend a warm welcome tothis evening’s match officials as well as everyoneassociated with Barwell Football Club. is firstmeeting of our clubs is long overdue, and welook forward very much to tonight’s game.

Last week proved very good in terms ofpoints, and it’s encouraging that we could havebagged a couple more against the top classopposition we faced in the shape of Blyth. It’seasy to forget the difficult few weeks preceding,but if you look at the way we have turnedthings around in just one week - from clawinga draw at Buxton, through deserving a winagainst Blyth and then finally getting that winat Belper - then we can start to at least take alittle heart.

e Blyth game in particular was verydisappointing as we dominated for almost 85minutes only to concede two goals at thedeath. For all of us it felt like a defeat after allthe hard work put in by tired legs, but BlythSpartans are a top team with some incrediblytalented players - don’t forget what theyachieved in the FA Cup just a few weeks ago -and they were never going to go down withouta fight.

Sometimes in football it’s not about thequality of the performance but rather aboutresults on the pitch, and the critical threepoints is what we brought back from Belper onSaturday. A dry, hard and bobbly pitch madefor a tricky game against a team battling fortheir survival in this league, and in the end itneeded us to really dig deep to pull off the win.

e tightly packed fixture list is starting to tella little bit now, and we were forced to take LeeGaskell and Tom Brooks off at Belper, whichmade things difficult for the lads on the pitchdue to the immense amount of work that thosetwo had been putting in, but they were bothplaying on through injuries (Lee to his foot, and

Brooksy with a dead leg that he picked up onursday) so it was critical that we gave thema chance to recouperate before we take to thefield yet again tonight.

It’s been a very tough week for everyone, andto lift themselves and bag the late winner wastestimony of the hard work that the lads areputting in for the Rammy cause, despite thetiredness. Donal’s late finish was excellent, andbrought us to five points from three games,which, given the current circumstances, we’dhave taken at the start of the week.

I’d like to thank everyone for the positivesupport that we’ve been getting, particularlyfrom the wonderful fans who travel all over theNorth (and not so North) of England watchingus. We do have a group of ‘fans’ who have reallystarted giving some stick to some of ourplayers, and it’s been very disappointing to allof us. Yes, the football is not pretty at times, andyes we have players struggling to reach the levelrequired of them - through ability, matchfitness, or carrying illness or injury, but they’regiving it their all whenever they pull on aRammy shirt and I’d like to ask the morenegative people in the crowd to try and be a bitmore supportive. We’ve seen lots of good timesat Rammy, and those good times will return,but it’s those who can be supportive throughthe leaner times that can call themselves realfans. I’m doing my best to keep the negativecomments of the few from affecting theconfidence of our players, but why is it that Ihave to defend our own players from our ownfans? at is unacceptable.I’m expecting a tough test tonight from a team

that is chasing those play-off spots, so fingerscrossed that (with your support) we can postsome more points on the board, and with fivegames in hand on most teams, get ourselvesprogressing back up that table.


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robbo


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Welcome to the Harry Williams RiversideStadium. A special welcome to our matchofficials and everyone connected withBarwell Football Club.

is is the first time our two clubs havemet (we still have to travel down toLeicestershire) and whilst the play-offs mayjust be a stretch too far, they are stillhandily placed to make a late, hopefulcharge for the top five spots. It’s a longjourney for them in midweek, and I haveno doubt they will be looking to make thetrip home afterwards with three points inthe bag, so it’s another hard contest forRobbo and the lads.

COMING TOGETHERWe always knew it would take time, but

having had to reassemble a new squad inmid-season, things finally appear to besettling down.

It’s been a traumatic time for the club,and Robbo, in his new role as player-manager has worked tirelessly to steady

the ship (I know the amount of work hehas put in by the amount he has pushed

my way!). ere have been concernsraised as the new-look side struggled to

find any consistency, butthat was surely expected

to be the case.However, the signs

are there that all the

effort is finally beginning to pay dividends,as our haul of five points from the last nine(or eight points from fifteen) wouldappear to confirm.

ere is still much football to be playedas we attempt to haul ourselves away fromthe lower reaches of the League, and thechallenge between now and the end ofApril is to ensure that we kick off nextAugust in the same League.

Our last three games have shown thesquad beginning to gel. Although we hadto battle hard to keep them at bay weearned a well-deserved point at Buxton ifonly for the sheer determination to grabsomething from a game which had us onthe back foot for large periods.

e Blyth game was quite surreal. At3-1 up with 87 minutes on the clock, threepoints looked firmly within our grasp.When Blyth notched a second, I watchedtheir players race back to their half with adetermination on their faces that theycould still grab a point. Sixty seconds laterthat optimism proved well founded. DavidKuba-Kuba could then have restored ouradvantage, but there was still time forSpartans to look for an unlikely fourth, andwith it all three points. Fortunately thefinal whistle denied them such a richpicking, and we trooped off with a feelingof desperate disappointment.

tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of

non-league football


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We need to remember though that wehad just competed against a club renownedfor their FA Cup giant-killing and formermembers of the Conference. Doesn’t thatfeeling of disappointment tell you just howfar Ramsbottom United have progressed inrecent years?

Let’s be honest, if we’d have been offereda point at Buxton and a point against themighty Blyth Spartans, at the beginning oflast week, we would probably have grabbedboth results with open arms.

We returned from Belper with Robbo’ssecond League win under his belt and aninvaluable three points to lift us a couple ofplaces up the table.

We have an almighty run-in still tonegotiate, and Robbo has, quite rightly,called upon us all to back his new-lookteam, and encourage them to finish theseason in fine fashion.

With everything that has gone on heresince the turn of the year, it really is time foreveryone within the “Rammy family” to pulltogether and support the lads and lift theirspirits as we look forward to a well-deservedbreather come May.

Enjoy your non-league football!

David Kuba-Kuba, who camevery close to bagging themidweek win against Blyth


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e Rams somehow managed to grab a draw from thejaws of victory on ursday by conceding two goals inthe last two minutes of a see-saw game. Going into thetwo match midweek programme against strong wellplaced teams they would have settled for a couple ofpoints but the abiding feeling at the final whistle wasone of defeat and a marvellous opportunity to leap upthe table lost.

Even so on reflection they will see a lot to be built onfrom a vibrant performance in the first 88 minutes.ere are still some structural issues to be addressed.Perhaps concerned by an absence of real pace the backfour play deep which makes the Rams both vulnerableto the counter attack and prevents them buildingsustained territorial pressure; and the midfield pair toooften find themselves outnumbered. But if they canreproduce the quality of play going forward againstBlyth on a consistent basis some team could well get apasting soon.

In front on 17 minutes from a Jon Robinson goal lashedin with aplomb the Rams grew in confidence gettingwide consistently and apart from the odd alarm at theback looked more than a match for the visitors. e leadthough lasted only minutes, after the break DannyMacguire powering in an ustoppable header after theRams had all too easily conceded possession in midfield.

3 - 3e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium20th March 2015Att: 234Rammy Goals: Robinson (16), McDermott (58), Ayres (65)Blyth Goals: Maguire (49,89), Hutchinson (88)


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Undeterred and driven on by a duracel David Kuba-Kuba the Rams seized control. Robinson at full stretchcould not control a volley from a Donal McDermottfree kick and for a moment that seemed to be adefining moment. But three minutes later McDermottscored by far the best goal seen at the HWRS thisseason and perhaps for many a season for thecleanliness of its conception and execution. Found inspace wide by a 30 yard pass of unerring accuracy fromMatt Burke the winger took two strides into the cornerof the box and sent a vicious shot that acceleratedacross the face of the goal and in off the far post. WhenMark Ayres sweved in a shot from the most impossibleof narrow angles the Rams looked well on the way to anotable success.

e ability to close down games though has neverbeen in the Rams DNA. Blyth threw on tall substitutesand then it was only a question of time before asuccession of corners and free kicks yielded a goal forthe visitors Ryan Hutchinson squeezing in a knockdown at the near postwith just a couple of minutes left.e Blyth team sensed redemption and piled forward.e next attack saw Grant Sshenton unable to holdonto a low shot and Macguire was on hand tocapitalise.


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3 - 3e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium20th March 2015Att: 234Rammy Goals: Robinson (16), McDermott (58), Ayres (65)Blyth Goals: Maguire (49,89), Hutchinson (88)


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welcome barwell canaries head north once again

Barwell Football Club was formed in1992, when Barwell Athletic and HinckleyFC merged and started life in the MidlandCombination. At the start of the 1994/95season Barwell became founder membersof the newly formed Midland FootballAlliance League. Home games are playedat the Kirkby Road ground and thecomplex includes facilities for a number ofother sports that include bowling, cricketand a sporting club. e ground actuallyplayed host to Leicestershire for twoCounty Cricket Championship matchesshortly after the Second World War and isstill used by the Leicestershire SecondEleven and Youth teams. e ground sawmany developments and upgrades overthe first eight years of Barwells existence,which culminated in a new stand beingofficially opened by England Internationalgoalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who wasoriginally from Barwell.

e first piece of silverware for the newclub came during the 2005/06 seasonunder the leadership of manager BobSteel, when the Canaries beat Leamingtonto win the Polymac Services League Cup,at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium. Barwell’snickname the Canaries, comes from theirgreen and yellow home kit. e next fewseasons saw mixed results for Barwell anda number of managerial changes. WithBob Steel stepping down and hisreplacement Ian Blyth also leaving the

club, Marcus Law took over the reinsand steered Barwell to a mid-tablefinish in 2008, after a difficultcampaign.

Law’s first full season in charge in2008/09, saw the club achieve its bestleague finish in its short history. eCanaries ended the campaign as runners-up and also lifted the Westerby Cup,defeating Quorn at Leicester City’sWalkers Stadium. e following year sawBarwell go one better and after sixteenconsecutive seasons in the MidlandFootball Alliance, they finally achievedpromotion to the Evo-Stik NorthernPremier League. e LeagueChampionship was won in style as theCanaries won 36 of their 42 games, scoring125 goals in the process. ere was alsosuccess in the FA Vase as Barwell reachedthe semi-finals, losing to eventual winnersWhitley Bay over two legs.

e 2010/11 season saw Barwellcontinue their excellent form, this despitemanager Marcus Law stepping down andhis then assistant Paul O’Brien leaving theclub after a brief spell in charge. Afterlosing two managers in quick succession,the Canaries season could easily havefolded, but with Jimmy Ginnelly installedas manager Barwell won the Evo-StikDivision One at the first attempt tocontinue their rise up the Non-Leagueladder.


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Before the start of the 2011/12 seasonBarwell were moved into the SouthernPremier Division as the club prepared toplay at their highest ever level of the Non-League pyramid. During the campaignthere were a number of personnel changeswithin Jimmy Ginnelly’s coaching staff, butthe club still managed a creditable 9thplace finish. e following year saw theCanaries stay in the top five for themajority of the season until a dip in formeventually meant they again finished in arespectable position, this time in 8th place.

Another restructure saw Barwell movedback to the Northern Premier League for

the start of the 2013/14 season. is provedto be a difficult campaign, as the clubadjusted to life back up north. ey startedreasonably well, but a bad run of resultsmeant Barwell spent a period of time in therelegation zone. Come the end of theseason, an upturn in form ensured JimmyGinnelly’s men finished in 14th place in theleague.

An improvement in performances thisseason sees Barwell currently sitting in 8thposition in the Northern Premier Division,although a place in the play-offs may wellelude them this year.

- Words provided by Gareth Bird


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four

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atch

Liam Castle (Goalkeeper)Previous Clubs; Basingstoke & HinckleyAn experienced goalkeeper, who originallysigned for the club in 2006 and is now in hisninth season. Castle has previously had trialswith Northampton Town, which shows thequality he brings to the team. Liam is anexcellent shot stopper and off the pitch hastaken up long distance race driving .

Jamie Hood (Centre Back)Previous Clubs; Hinckley, Nuneaton Griff,Nuneaton Borough, Gresley & Leamington.Quality centre back, who signed in 2013 fromLeamington where he was club captain. Hoodhas a wealth of experience. He has spent thelast couple seasons at the heart of Barwell’sdefence and adds pace and professionalism.

Kieron Brehon (Midfield)Previous Clubs; Hinckley, Bedworth &Nuneaton Griff.Now in his second season at Kirkby Road, thisyoung midfielder is definitely a talent whomust be watched carefully. Brehon hasimpressed the home faithful with his ballwinning in the centre of the park and hispowerful runs. e youngster has provided anumber of assists this season and is more thancapable of getting his name on the score sheet.

Nigel Julien (Winger)Previous Clubs; Coventry City, NuneatonBorough, Swaffon Town & Quorn.is talented footballer can play either as aright winger or an attacking midfielder. Hepreviously has been on the books of CoventryCity, which is evidence of his pedigree. Julien isknown for scoring important goals - during histime with Quorn, he scored a last minutewinner to knock FC United out of the FA Cup.Nigel does have a family connection withBarwell as his brother Jouel Potter is a formerstriker for the club.


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c y

w t a a w

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meet the away fansjames tomlin fills us in

What's the mood like in the camp atthe moment?

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

Are things going to plan would you say?I think only Jimmy could answer this

one! On the whole I would say yes. Itlooks like we may get a top ten finishwhich a lot of sides would take if offeredat the start of the season. We have thenucleus of a very good side which needsto remain together - ideally we can add2/3 players for next season to get intothat top five.

Can you talk us through the last coupleof results please.

We beat second placed SkelmersdaleUnited 2-0 at home in the mostcomplete team performance of theseason. We then drew 2-2 with Frickleyat home, in a see-saw contest which alsosaw them have a penalty saved.

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

Ant Carney has had a terrific season so

far since joining in late August fromCoalville Town. Danny Jenno has beenthe most consistent player with somebrilliant displays at the heart of ourdefence (also a few goals too). MalcolmMelvin & Alex Tomkinson also warrantmentions for their outstanding workrate& commitment during a game.

How long have you been a supporter?I've been actively involved with the club

for 15 years or so, but I can remembersneaking in to watch Barwell in the earlyyears since forming in 1992.

What are your most memorable timeswith the club, and what sticks out foryou this season?

e 09/10 season when we won theMidland Alliance without losing a game- we won 36 of 42 league games andmissed out on a possible trip toWembley in the FA Vase - losing toeventual winners Whitley Bay in theSemi Final to an injury time goal - weplayed 65 minutes with ten men in the2nd leg.

is season would be the FA Trophyreplay with FC United of Manchester - ithad everything. We were 2-0 up with 13to play. e win at an in form CurzonAshton in the FA Trophy was probablythe best and most satisfyingperformance so far.


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How would youchange the club ifyou won thelottery?

Change isprobably the wrongword - the peoplethat run the clubare fantastic & arean integral part ofwhere we are now.Financial backingwould enable theclub to be promoted

How would youdescribe your supporters?

e same as most clubs Iwould imagine? Vocal,opinionated, loyal. It wouldbe nice to increase thecore homesupport.


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What are your hopes for the rest of theseason?

As I write this we sit in 8th place whichisn't a bad place to be going into thelatter stages of the season. We can pushfor a play-off place if we can put a coupleof good runs together in the remainingmatches. We also had a good cup run inboth the FA competitions.

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

Barwell is what I would consider myhome town (or village as it actually is).It's a small enough place to knoweveryone, but big enough to keepyourself to yourself. e pubs are a realfocal point just as they are in most othertowns/villages. As for the catering -Burger. e Barwell Burger is gettingquite a name for itself within non league.FC United of Manchester fans willdefinitely miss it next season when theyfinally achieve promotion from the NPL.

What's the best pub for a pre-match/ post-match pint, and why's it a goodone?I'll have to say 'e Barn' which is locatedwithin the Kirkby Road Sports Complex.It's the base for the club and often has afew decent guest ales to choose from!Down in the village centre - 'Top Town' -Topps, e Blackies & e Queens offertheir own unique atmosphere.

What's your connection with the club?I currently run the official Barwell FC

Twitter account (@barwellfc1992) andassist with the PA duties on homematchdays. I have been involved withthe club for around 15 years now.

Tell us a little bit about yourself - whatyou do for a living? Married? Kids?I'm a sales manager for AggregateIndustries - a major constructionmaterials supplier. I live with my fianceeJennie and have recently become a dadwith the arrival of baby Georgia.

“We've had a terrific seasonand look likely to achieveour highest ever finish”


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goal

spon

sors

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We’d like to thank the following people who havealready pledged to sponsor the team for every goalscored for the remainder of the season.

Trigger £2 Stephen & David £2Ste, Angie & Ethan £4Maria £1Mr & Mrs Darkside £2TobyTrotter £1Little Katie £1smiffylad £1Rammy Blue £1Chris S £2Johnno & Bernard £2Tony Cunningham £1Lui Delverto £1Rob Moss £2John Ayers £2Richard Isaacs £2Emma James £2Ian McCool £2Frank Crook £2Paul Gaskell £5

If you’d like to join in (you get your name in theprogramme and receive your very own signed teamphoto as a thankyou) then please make your pledgeon the club forum, email [email protected] orcall Rob on 07944 038512

e Fans Fund total currently stands at £540

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Financial PlanningDesigned For YOUR LIFESTYLE

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Ian BennettIan Bennett


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Ian BennettIan Bennett


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1. Glossop North End entertain St. Austell on Saturday in the FA Vase semi-final

second leg. What was the score from the first leg in Cornwall?

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

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

Saturday?

4. Who is the new manager of Stalybridge Celtic?

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

6. What colours do Harrogate Town play in?

7. Whose home ground is called Stormy Corner?

8. Who is the manager of Bamber Bridge?

9. Which Welsh club plays at Pennydarren Park?

10. In which League do Garstang play?

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

tony’s teasers


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


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1 - 1e Silverlands18th March 2015Att: 197Rammy Goals: Gaskell (66)Buxton Goals: Taylor (64)

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


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If there were any doubts that the management and team seethemselves in other than a vicious fight to retain NPL status , nevermind the games in hand, the approach to this game should consignthem to the rubbish bin. Apart from the very occasional sporadicattempt to build an attack the Rams spent virtually the whole 90minutes in 10 and often 11 man desperate and sometimes despairingdefence. What the performance lacked in quality, the brief being towin tackles and lump the ball aimlessly forward, was made up bysheer guts, passion and effort.

Such was Buxton’s dominance both in possession and territoriallythe only real surprise was that it took them 65 minutes to scorehaving carved out any number of openings and wasting someglorious chances, not least when Joe Mcgee shot against the insideof the post the ball rebounding to a Rams foot, and then on 60minutes Greg Young lofted over from six yards out with the netgaping. At that moment the Rams thought they might just be in fora night of total good fortune but five minutes later the defence wassucked to the near post and Alistair Taylor drove home from anangle. e feeling was that once behind that would be it, but to theircredit in a rare couple of minutes of controlled football the Ramsmanaged to push forward and find a bit of pressure. Vinny Mukundiheaded back into the path of Lee Gaskell on the edge of the area,who hit the sweetest of shots both in terms of execution andoutcome past Aaron Jameson. Buxtons lead had lasted less than twominutes .

After that though normal service was resumed. How Buxton didnot score again will forever remain a mystery but there weremoments when e Rams almost grabbed a victory as unlikely asCuster walking away from the Little Big Horn. A bit more composuremight have seen Luke Heron taking another couple of paces into thebox before shooting having been sent clear by the magnificint LeeNeviile - but no more magnificent than the others in the back four-and then with only minutes left sub Tom Hartley's cut back from thebye line threw the Buxton defence into confusion and only a set oflast ditch blocks from Gaskell and Jon Robinson prevented the Ramsfrom going in front. It was symptomatic of the game though thatBuxton turned that alarm into rapid attack and in what seemed anage of added on time into a last frantic unavailing seige of thebeleagured Rams defence. At the final whistle the Rams galloped outof the Black Hills of Buxton before the local constabulary across thestreet could bring charges for grand larceny of a point.


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Stourbridge figured outthe only way to containDonal McDermott


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e Rams will be bitterly disappointed to have lost thisgame having beaten the visitors in the Black Countryonly 4 days earlier. As they ponder on the defeat andprepare for a hectic spell of 3 games in the next 7 daysthere are two lessons that need to be taken on baordand dealt with. Firstly, now having had a man sent off in5 of the last 6 games, it does help to keep 11 men on thepitch and secondly a way has to be found of fielding twostrikers.

Another trait that has to be reversed is giving theopposition an early goal start but at least on Saturdaythe lead conceded was down more to good play fromthe visitors tha defensive lapses - although the defencewas perhaps a liitle too eaily diced and sliced by a slickmove down the right after 9 minutes that presentedKayeldon Brown with an untroubled pass into the net.e visitors went on to dominate the half moving theball quickly out of defence while the Rams were insomething of a soporific stouper. When Alex Frost wassent off for a second yellow with one of those mis-timed" honest ref I got there as quick as I could" tackles onlymonents after a first for an innocuous push it lookedvery much like one of those days again.

Perhaps shocked at the idea that they had a victoryeasy to hand Stourbridge failed to press home theiradvantage. e Rams began to nip and nag at theirdefence without quite managing to get into the box ortest the keeper.

0 - 1e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium14th March 2015Att: 261Rammy Goals: Stourbridge Goals: Brown (9)


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Vinny Mukendi stumbled around in what lookssuspiciously like a constant state of languid weariness butwith no-one able to get close enough to feed off hisknock ons it was all a bit Toshack without Keegan. atchanged though with the introduction of Lee Gaskell.e Rams sensing that the visitors were running out ofsteam and throwing caution to the wind stormedforward. Dean Colemean did well to tip over two longrange shots from Lee Neville and then Gaskell and thenpulled off just about the best save seen at the HWS thisseason to tip away a cross shot from Gaskell that was allbut in the corner of the net. e keeper was thenfortunate to scoop away a Mukendi header that morethan one observer thought had crossed the line. By thistime all 9 outfield players were camped in theStourbridge half and only a succession of brave last ditchtackles kept the visitors from breaking out with the backfour and Kyle Harrop in particular outstanding But theequaliser deserved though it was failed to come leavingthe Rams in need of at least 4 points from the 3 gamesahead- away at Buxton home against Blyth Spartans andthen away to Belper.

0 - 1e Harry Williams Riverside Stadium14th March 2015Att: 261Rammy Goals: Stourbridge Goals: Brown (9)


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Lee Neville tusseling for possession


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Accused by many of taking the moneyand running to Warrington Town, 29-year-old striker Lee Gaskell was one ofthe first names on Robbo’s must-havelist when he took over the job. Wegrabbed Gassy earlier in the week andposed some of the burning questions oneveryones minds. Here’s what he had tosay to us.

“Before I joined Warrington a coupleof months ago I’d been a Rammy playerfor over four and a half years. I’d beenplaying at Walshaw for a couple of yearswhen Bernard gave me a call and askedme to come down. I remember that mydebut was against Padiham in theNorthwest Counties, and I was bitten bythe Rammy bug more or less straightaway.

“I started out as a professional playerway back, playing at Bury and then atMorecambe, but I ended up with a badshoulder injury that put me out of thegame. I packed in and became anelectrician but ended up eventuallyplaying Sunday League with my mates,before getting back into the gameproperly with Walshaw and thenRammy.

“With regard to Warrington - I didn’treally want to go there, or leave Rammy.If you recall, I was coming back from aninjury early on in the season and was juststarting to get properly back to matchfitness. e first I learned aboutWarrington was when I was heading totraining and Bernard gave me a call totell me that Warrington were interestedin taking me on loan for one game. Itlooked like it’d work out perfect allround because I needed a couple ofmatches to get back to full fitness for

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

“So I got to training and had a wordwith Johnno and Bernard, and they toldme they weren’t going to let me go. I wasa bit miffed really as I wasn’t evenplaying at Rammy at the time, and it’dbe just one game. ey told me that if Iwanted to go then I’d have to gopermanently.

“When the loan deal was rejectedWarrington then put in a seven-daysrequest to talk to me about apermanent move, which I accepted,mainly because of what had happenedaround the loan offer and because Iwasn’t getting game time.

“I didn’t fall out with Johnno andBernard or anything. I’ve known themfor years and we’re all better than that. Idid see one article in the paper whereJohnno said that I’d seen my best playingyears and that they’d got the best out ofme, and I don’t think that’s true, butwe’ve not fallen out. I’d have expected alittle bit more respect from them as I’veput a lot of effort into helping get theclub where it is, and I’d like to hope thatpeople appreciate my contribution.

“On my return from injury it wasdefinitely proving difficult to get backinto the team and, although I felt that Iwas just about back firing on allcylinders, the lads were going with athree-man midfield with just Jordan upfront. Jordan’s a great player, and cameback from America on fire, so it wasfrustrating to be sitting on the benchthrough no real fault of my own, I won’tdeny it.

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


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the prodigal gassywho needs the money when

you’ve got the rammy thang?

Unforgettable goal, unforgettablegame, Gaskell scores the opener atBamber Bridge last season


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Doing it in style - whynot make your 100thgoal part of a hat-trick?

at’s why, when the opportunity came toplay in that massive game, I felt like I wasbeing held back a bit, unnecessarily.

“When I did join Warrington I wasastonished at how well the club is set up andrun - as a player you really get treated like aprofessional. For example, when I got a bit ofa knock on my hamstring they put mestraight into yoga classes to get it moving.ey have a couple of masseurs and a kit manand all that stuff, it’s very well set up. Ifanything though, things are a little bitdisjointed. ey have three coaches whowork everyone really hard on pass-pass-pass,but then when you take the pitch in a matchit’s all about long ball. It doesn’t make muchsense to be working on different things in

training from what you’re using in agame situation, but that’s the way

it works over there.“Shaun Reid is quite a

character. He is a headcase, buthe’s also quite a funny guy. It’s

not at all like Rammy though because younever really get to see much of him. I certainlyhad few dealings with him - he’d come in forfive minutes before kick-off, do his team talk,and then disappear for the rest of the game.Sometimes he’d come in for a talk at halftime,other times he wouldn’t. It’s a bit of a strangeone cos I’ve been constantly with Johnno andBernard for almost five years, and youdefinitely feel the difference!

“Gateshead in the FA Cup was a fantasticexperience though, and I’m really glad I tookthat opportunity. We trained on the Saturdaymorning, and then went up on a coach to thenortheast on Saturday afternoon. We did allthe media interviews in the afternoon andthen stayed over for the night. Sundaymorning and we were driven to the groundfor a load more interviews before gettingready for the game. We all got treated like topprofessionals for the weekend, it was great.

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


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to Rammy. It was about three or four daysafter Robbo took over that the seven daynotice came to Warrington. I was down attraining and one of the coaches came overto tell me that Ramsbottom had put sevendays in for me. It was a bit of a shock at firstbecause people had moved on and whathave you, but I said I would speak to themlike I have (out of courtesy) with any otherclub who’s asked to speak to me. Robbo rangme when the seven days were up, and wehad a chat about what he wants to do and

how he wants to progress, and to be honestit was a no-brainer to come back. Robboknows me well, and he knows how I play soit worked out as the perfect opportunity tocome back.

“Warrington weren’t best pleased, it has tobe said. I think they’d been surprised that Isigned for them in the first place, so to belosing me after just six weeks came as a bitof a shock to them. I told them that, at theend of the day, I love playing forRamsbottom, and that’s not going to change.

Our favourite Rammyphoto ever - Mossley put tothe sword in a 4-0 Rams win

“At the end of the day, I loveplaying for Ramsbottom, and that’s

not going to change!”


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Playing at Gatesheadduring Warrington’s2-0 FA Cup defeat

“I get on really well with Robbo both onand off the pitch. ere is a weirdconnection that we have when we playthough, everything just clicks. Sometimesthat’s just the way things happen, a bitlike a Yorke and Cole type partnership.

“Perhaps some people are concernedthat my fitness might start to suffer nowthat I’m pushing 30, but I’m not that kindof player - I’m not a fast Dom Smalleytype who will just chase around like aterrier all afternoon. To be honest, whenI first started playing I used to go lookingfor the ball a lot more, but you learn offplayers like Robbo - it’s not fluke that youhappen to be in the right place at theright time to just score a simple tap-in, It’smy ball control that buys me time and

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

I think I’ve got a good few years yetbefore my play starts suffering, infact ifanything I expect to get better over thenext couple of years.

“I am looking forward to working underRobbo as a manager, that’s for sure. Ithink we’re all seeing a new side toRobbo. You’ll never take the passion outof him because that’s the kind of fella heis, but now that he’s a manager you’lldefinitely see a more professional side ofhim. He’s already showing that in trainingwith the lads, he’s brilliant, absolutelyspot-on for the job. Phil Edghill andDanny Jones are excellent additions aswell. I’ve known Edgy for ages and Danny


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was the reserve team coach when I was ayoungster down at Trafford - he was theone that pushed me to break through intothe first team. ey’re both really goodwith people too, particularly Edgy - I’ve gota lot of time for both of them.

“ey’ve definitely had their work cutout over the last few weeks, what withbringing in new players and the like, andwhen I turned up to training I didn’t knowwhat to expect. But the players they’vebrought in are fantastic, with greatpromise. Robbo’s done very well to bringthat quality of player in with so little timeto do it. e two lads who really stand outfor me are Kyle and Jamie - they cause so

much trouble.“e key thing for us now is to get out

and get some points on the board. Withthe cup runs and the weather we’ve got abig backlog of games and, although a shortbreak was a nice chance to get the ladsused to playing together, we’re paying forthat now.

“It’s great to be back at Rammy, and it’s areal testimony of the quality of fans we’vegot that when I scored my first goal forWarrington, the first people I noticed inthe crowd behind the goal were Rammyfans Dave Holt and his son Henry. I hopethey’re as glad that I’ve come back as I amto be back.”

Back in the day - whenthe socks and shortsdidn’t fit and we still hadto play teams like Bacup!


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A very tired bunch of Rams playersended a very satisfying week on apositive note with a well deserved ifsomewhat nervy win against adetermined but all but doomedBelper team. It will be a great shame tosee this well organised, welcoming andwell appointed club return to the firstdivision after just one season.

e Rams might have been in frontafter only 15 minutes, many beingpositive that Vinny Mukendi's headerhad crossed the line before beingclawed back by the Belper keeper.eywent in front just after the half hourwhen Mukendi neatly turned LeeNeville's raking diagonal pass into thepath of Tom Brooks and could havebeen sitting comfortably in theirarmchairs had first Donal McDermottand then Tom Brooks converted whenone and one on the keeper either sideof half time. Driven on by David Kuba-Kuba who put in a secondoutstanding performance the Ramscreated several more clear openingsthat lacked only a bit of composureand accuracy and timing of the finalpass. But while the game stayed 1-0there was the risk and vulnerability toBelper equalising and ruining a lot of

hard work. So it seemed when withonly four minutes left Michael Toweyglancing in a knock on from a longthrow.

e Rams were nothing less thanpositive in their immediate response.Donal McDermott skipped away fromthe half way line, neatly evaded alunging tackle designed only to takehim out of the game and slipped theball neatly round the advancingkeeper.

e win takes the Rams up to 17thposition with a five point cushion andstill a number of games in hand overthe teams around them.e fact thatRams rather lost their way in the last30 minutes or so can be attributed tothe understandable fatigue of playingfour games in seven days but in lettingBelper back into the gamedemonstrates that the undoubtedpositive direction of team cohesionand understanding has to be balancedagainst a residual fragility inconfidence to put games to bed. Forall that the Rams are in a much betterplace both in terms of league positionand belief and conviction than theywere a few short weeks ago.

1 - 2Christchurch Meadow21st March 2015Att: 221Rammy Goals: Brooks (32), McDermott (88)Belper Goals: Towey (86)


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Vinny Mukendi grappleswith the Belper defenderfor possession


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A hell of a week with some excellentpatches and some woeful patches, but fivepoints at the end of it is no bad thing.How did you feel about the week overall?

Well five points from nine playingBuxton and Belper away and Blyth athome is a very good return I'd say in ourposition. Maybe we could have had allnine with how we have played but if wewould have been offered 5 points from apossible 9 everyone in the changing roomwould have taken it.

Did we set out to defend and get a hard-earned point at Buxton, or was it just acase of sitting too deep?

Going away to Buxton is never easywhether you’re top of the league or nearerthe bottom. So we arrived with our gameplan and we had some luck, but in footballyou make your own luck. We had chancesto win the game as well so a good pointaway to a team I rank as the best attackingfront line in the league.

After the confidence boost at Buxtonwe thoroughly outplayed Blyth for

long periods of the match. Didit dent the lads' confidenceto concede two late goals?

It definately felt like a losson ursday because of how

well we played, but wefaded in the last 10

minutes which I was understandablegiven the games we've played and theopposition we were up against. ey hadthe quality on the bench to make it reallydifficult for us. e lads were down but wehave games left to make it right so we arestill confident.

Were you beating yourself up about thelast goal, or are you level-headed enoughto realise the number of times you kept usin that game as well as so many others?

I was very disappointed with the last twogoals yes. If I make a mistake I think ofways to prevent it happening again ratherthan thinking that I made two savesearlier in the game which make up for it. Iknow the risks of being a keeper and it'sone of the reasons I love playing in net somuch. I've been at the club a long timeand I have matured so much that I knowhow to move on from silly little mistakes.e older I get the better my game willdevelop.

After Gassy and Brooks went off at Belperwe found ourselves seriously on the backfoot, and almost losing out on the threepoints. Was the change as simple as losingGassy’s mammoth work-rate on the field,perhaps tiredness, or was it somethingelse?

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

grant shentonshouting from between the sticks


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points but if you look at their resultsat home it wasn't an easy place to go.Gassy gives us so much protectionfrom the front and we probably didmiss his energy but we are playing alot of games and the managementhas to think of squad balance, so I backtheir decision making - they are doing anamazing job at short notice and gettingthe best out of the players we have.

Conceding goals does seem to be thefirework up the backside that we need attimes, and again we rose to the challenge afterBelper's equaliser. Do you think think there is aless damaging way of getting our tails up thanconceding a goal?

I wish I could put my finger on why it takes usto concede to get on the front foot. I'm not sure.I just hope it can stop - we're all grown men andshould know how to start a game.

Behind your goal I could see the frustration atconceding the equaliser at Belper, and I thinkwe all shared that. Was the mood in thechanging room more positive after baggingthe winner, or did people feel we'd madea meal of getting the win?

For me personally I have highstandards and I wasn't happy with oursecond half display. And when theyscored it got to me and it took meuntil the coach to calm down andremember we got 3 points.


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Regular readers of the programme will bea little bit surprised at what I’m about tosay as I’m generally nothing butcomplimentary about the wonderfulsupport that we get down here at Rammy,but Robbo expressed somedisappointment and upset to me on thephone this week, and I feel that it’ssomething that needs bringing up here.You may recall a couple of issues ago thatI recounted my experiences at a BoxingDay game I went to in Northampton a fewyears ago, where I felt that the whingersand nay-sayers in the crowd helpedNorthampton’s opposition overturn a half-time lead of 2-0 and come away victors.I’ve also been quite out-spoken in the pastabout supporters that are so busy eatingtheir prawn sandwiches at Wembley thatthey don’t bother re-taking their poshcorporate seats until ten minutes into thesecond half, and then they all leg it tenminutes before the end of the game.

Now I don’t care if you’ve paid yourtenner to get in, or your four quid or

whatever. I firmly believe thatyou are thoroughly

entitled to your opinionon the ability of theplayers and theperformances of theteam, but I also

believe that anyonewearing the Rammy

shirt should be treated

with respect and encouragement,particularly players that are absolutelyexhausted from the rapidly increasingpressure that the dense fixture list isputting on them - lads that, don’t forget,all have to get up and do a day’s workbefore turning out for Rammy as far afieldas Stourbridge and Blyth on Tuesdaynights. We also have players who arepulling on the club shirt despite carryinginjuries, illness, or are lacking in true matchfitness. Add to that something Kyle Harropsaid to me after the Stourbridge match... “Ifwe were capable of completing every passor controlling every ball then we’d bemulti-millionaires playing for United weekin, week out!”

So what’s the point I’m trying to makethrough all this waffling? e point is - ifyou have something negative to say thencan I suggest that you keep it to yourselffor the duration of the match because it’saffecting the confidence and performancesof OUR OWN PLAYERS!

You might feel that Donal McDermottisn’t contributing enough to the game, orthat Grant Shenton is at fault for the thirdgoal, and you are absolutely entitled tothat opinion, but during the 90 minutes(or 85 minutes for those of you that havesomewhere to so urgently rush off to afterthe match) we’d all appreciate it if youshove those opinions up your arse!

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

supporters clubon the terraces of rammy


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debacle of my own manager having todefend his players against his ownsupposed supporters, and I’d like to hopethat I never have to witness that kind ofpathetic display again, certainly not whilesupporting as close-knit a club asRamsbottom United.

Your wife may be a miserable sod, youmay have whinged and moaned your waythrough your sad ‘cup half-empty’ life, andyou may have suffered through 40 years ofa God-awful job, but it’s unacceptable thatthe team I support has to put up with yourloud, incessant and unacceptable rantings.is isn’t Old Trafford or e Etihad, whereyou paid £70 to get in and where theplayers are full-time professionals paid tensor even hundreds of thousands of poundsa week, this is Ramsbottom United wherethey get a can of Coke and a Mars Bar (amultipack one at that)!

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

to up their game, and do it three times aweek to try and keep our club’s head abovethe relegation zone - a club that very few ofthese players have yet developed anyloyalty to. Which of those players do youthink are likely to leave when they’re gettingabuse from the touch-line while trying torun off a knock? And if they leave, what dowe have left? How do we attract and keepthe good ones if they’re suffering a tirade ofabuse from us? We aren’t paying themenough for that, and if you put yourself intheir position, would you stand for it?

All of that said, I still maintain that wehave the best support of any club at ourlevel, and I’d like to ask everyone who hearsthis kind of stick being handing out to havea quiet word with the perpetrators. Paying£4 to get in doesn’t entitle anyone to beabusive to our players, and I hope thatthose of us properly supporting our teamdon’t have to endure any more of this kindof behaviour.

Legia Den Haag supporters inthe Netherlands showing whatsupporting a team is all about


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leag

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ram

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barwell


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Liam CASTLEScott LOWEREddie NISEVICDanny JENNOJamie HOODRichard LAVERYAlex TOMKINSONCallum WOODWARDJamie TOWERSMalcolm MELVINAnthony CARNEY Nigel JULIANDeclan TOWERSKieron BREHONDanny GAUNTJack COLLEY

Manager: Jon ROBINSON Manager: Jimmy GINNELLY

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

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

Grant SHENTONKyle HARROP

Lee NEVILLEJamie ROTHER

Alex FROSTMark AYRES

Osebi ABADAKIMatty BURKELee GASKELL

Vinny MUKENDIDonal McDERMOTT

Ian BENNETTGeorge BOWYER

Tom WILLIAMSLuke HERON

Malachi SLAVEN Callum JONESTom BROOKSPhil EDGHILL

Jon ROBINSON


Documents

55 Ramsbottom United v Barwell