33 ramsbottom united v kings lynn
DESCRIPTION
33 Ramsbottom United v Kings Lynn Matchday ProgrammeTRANSCRIPT
prammynewsv KING’S LYNN16-08-14
p
jonnobernard
First of all I’d like to welcome everybody
associated with Kings Lynn Town who have
made the ridiculously long journey to the
Harry Williams Riverside Stadium. I hope
you've had a pleasant trip and enjoy your
stay with us (apart from the 90 minutes that
matter).
It's absolutely frightening to think our last
competitive game was the play-off final
against Bamber Bridge. I'm pretty sure I'm
still hungover after the partying that ensued,
but the whole week prior to the game, in
getting into the playoffs and then beating
Darlington and Bamber Bridge in their own
backyards will live long in the memory.
As normally happens we have lost a
couple of players during the close season.
Danny Warrender has moved to Salford City
- he actually told us six weeks before the
season ended that if we got promoted he
wouldn't be staying as family and work
commitments wouldn’t allow him the extra
traveling time. e same applies with Owen
Roberts who for the time being has stopped
playing due to a promotion at the school he
works at. Martin Fearon who came in on
loan whilst Shents was out with his broken
ankle has also been allowed to move on as
we told him that once Grant was fit he
would resume being our number 1. Martin
has moved to Skelmersdale. We wish all
three players the very best of luck for the
future.
e rest of the squad have all re-signed for
the new season apart from Andy Dawson
who is still recovering from the operation he
had on his knee last year. A lot of the players
had very good offers to move to other clubs
but have all stayed loyal to the cause and we
are very confident of having another good
season. We still have ten players who were
with us when we won the NWC and the
amount of the games this squad has played
together is staggering. at should stand us
in good stead providing us with stability and
consistency a lot of clubs strive for.
We have also bolstered the squad with five
new signings who all fit the Ramsbottom
United remit perfectly. All five are 23 and
under and have shown a hunger in pre-
season that has helped push the current
squad to be as strong as we have ever had.
I'm sure you don't need telling that these
lads will give everything to the Rammy
cause. Please get behind them just like you
have to every player that has ever pulled on
the blue shirt.
is season has the potential to be as good
as the last five, so let's all enjoy the ride
together.
- Jonno
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A special welcome to today’s visitors
and match officials.
We kick off the new season in a new
division for the second time in three
years, and this is testimony to the
excellent job being done by Bernard,
Jonno, the coaching staff and the
amazingly loyal band of players.
is journey began, as has been well
documented, with a 5-0 thrashing at
Newcastle Town, five years ago this
month. Who would have predicted the
amazing journey that was to follow? It
has been achieved on the back of some
of the best football ever seen in
Ramsbottom and an increase in support
from the town of around 250%. e
whole club has moved on in leaps and
bounds over recent times, and we must
now acclimatise ourselves at Evo-Stik
Premier level.
e outlook of everyone here is so
much different from our lengthy spell in
the NWCFL, but the challenges are there
to be overcome. Hard work by many
people has seen us reach this level, and it
is vitally important that, as a club, we
establish ourselves comfortably in the
third tier of non-league football.
e arrival of teams such
as Kings Lynn Town really
does confirm the
reality, and this
campaign will see the Rams double the
amount of travelling that we are used to.
Saying that, it is still nowhere near the
amount Lynn have to do (or the
Workington’s, Blyth’s and Whitby’s of this
world!), so we hope that our visitors have
had a good journey here, enjoy the
hospitality (certainly off the pitch!), and
have a safe journey home. We will look
forward to renewing acquaintances in
Norfolk later in the season.
All this is the reward for that terrific
final week of last season. No-one had us
down as favourites, especially in the
cauldron that was Darlington away. e
lads performed magnificently to silence
the baying crowd. (My lasting memory is
of Harry taunting the moaning home
fans with the comment “Not bad for a
village team”!) e game at Bamber
Bridge will long live in the memory, and
easy to recall thanks to the excellently
produced DVD. It really did go down to
the wire, but again, we thoroughly
deserved the victory and with it the
promotion that followed.
e new challenge is exciting and we
will welcome many a team to the HWRS
for the first time ever over the next nine
months. I, for one, can’t wait!
Enjoy your non-league football!
tony cunninghamand the wonderful world of
non-league football
p
Long away tripssuch as last season’svisit to Worcesterare now Rammy’sstaple, reallytesting the mettleof the players andsupporters.
ERIC WHALLEY
We all know that during the summer
we lost a good friend of this club in Eric
Whalley.
Eric was very well known in this part
of the world for his connections with
many local clubs, such as Clitheroe,
Great Harwood Town, and, of course,
Accrington Stanley, where is lasting
legacy will be to have taken this fallen
club back into the Football League.
In his latter years, he was a regular
down here at Rammy thanks to his long-
standing friendship with our Chairman.
His advice was immeasurable, and it
may be no coincidence that we achieved
two promotions during his off-field
support.
His football knowledge was second to
none, but his declining health was sad to
see.
We, and football, have lost a good
friend.
“We, and football, have lost a good friend.”
p
Ramsbottom United gained their second
promotion in three seasons in a thriller at the
newly christened Sir Tom Finney Stadium, in front
of over 1200 fans.
Having disposed of former Football League side
Darlington in a night of high controversy on
Wednesday, the Rams played out another exciting
encounter at Bamber Bridge, bringing the total of
spectators watching the side in four days to well
over 3000.
Saturday’s game was do-or-die for both sides, but
it was the visitors who were victorious, although it
took an extra thirty minutes to ensure a route to
Evo-Stik Premier after a heart-breaking late penalty
appeared to have derailed the opportunity.
e Rams started brightly, and took the lead
after just six minutes. Lee Gaskell sprayed the ball
out to Grant Spencer on the right wing, and he put
in the perfect cross which Gaskell met with his
head to plant the ball firmly into the back of the
net.
Despite the early disadvantage, though, the
home side came back into game and slowly began
to hold the upper hand. Ally Waddecar was
unlucky to see his shot take a deflection past the
far post, before the hosts regained equality on 22
minutes.
e referee played the advantage, allowing the
ball to be played out to Waddecar on the right. His
low cross missed his team-mates in the centre, but
if the Rams thought they had escaped, they were
not so fortunate. e ball was played back into the
area and Greg Johnstone found the space to direct
his header just inside Martin Fearon’s left-hand
post.
Paul Alexander saw his free-kick just clear the
bar as Brig tried to turn their territorial advantage
into a lead.
Having managed to hold out, it looked as though
the Rams had grabbed the next goal, with Billy
Priestley nodding home a right wing corner, but
the referee deemed that Steve Howson had
pushed a defender in the area, and promptly blew
for a free-kick to the home side.
Jordan Hulme fired over from 15 yards for the
Rams before Fearon was called on to produce a
magnificent tip over the bar from a close-range
Matt Lawlor header.
Whilst the first half was edged by Bridge, the
second half belonged to the Rams. For lengthy
periods play took place in the home half, as the
Brig struggled to put any real attacks together.
A long ball in from Owen Roberts found Gaskell,
but his header was tipped over from just
underneath the bar by home keeper Lee Dovey.
Howson then headed a Spencer cross over when
he could have done better, before Gaskell found
acres of space on the left. He sent over a dangerous
cross for Spencer, but some quick defending
snuffed out the danger.
Gaskell’s next attempt was a backward header
from another Spencer corner that went inches
over the top, as the Rams were well in control.
e Rams should have regained the lead with
ten minutes to go. Hulme squared the ball back for
the on-rushing Phil Dean, but he somehow lost his
balance and fired wildly over the top.
In an isolated attack from Brig, Howson threw
his body in the way of a pile-driver from Curtis
ompson which could have given the hosts an
unexpected late lead, but that late lead appeared
at the other end, and it was no more than the
Rams deserved.
An Owen Roberts corner fell invitingly for
Howson on the edge of the box, and he drove it
through a ruck of players and in by the post.
With three minutes of normal time left, it looked
as though the Rams had booked their place in the
Premier Division.
A flare thrown on to the pitch by the home
supporters stopped the game for two minutes, and
that proved fatal for the Rams. With three
additional minutes shown, the game was into the
fifth minute of added time when the ball, played
around the away penalty area was adjudged by the
referee to have been handled by Billy Priestley.
p
2 - 3Sir Tom Finney Stadium
3rd May 2014
Att: 1206
Rammy Goals: Gaskell (6), Howson (87), Smalley (104)
Bamber Bridge Goals: Johnston (22), Alexander (90)
Lee Gaskell opens the scoring on 6 minutes
p
Despite the vehement protests,
the referee was adamant, and
when the arguments had died
down, Alexander struck the ball
home from the spot to level the
scores at 2-2, with the referee
blowing the final whistle
immediately.
e Rams needed to mentally
refocus after what could have
been a devastating blow, and
fortunately they did so.
After Alex Taylor had screwed a
free-kick wide of the post for Brig,
Scott Burton fired wide from 25
yards, and substitute Jon Robinson
was denied in front of goal by a
defender heading over a
dangerous cross from Gary
Stopforth. From the resultant
corner Hulme headed over.
A minute before the break saw
the game’s conclusive moment.
Chris Marlow looked on
helplessly as his perfect header
from a corner appeared to be
goal-bound only to see it headed
off the Rammy line. Within fifteen
seconds, the Rams re-took the
lead. e ball was played up field,
and Robinson thread it through
on the right where the on-rushing
Dominc Smalley chased it and just
beat Dovey, who had rushed out
of his nets. Smalley dinked it past
the keeper and into the gaping net
to give the Rams the advantage for
the third time.
Seconds later Brig lost Lawlor to
a second yellow card, and with 15
minutes to play, the Rams were
determined to hold on to their
slender lead.
Smalley could have made the
game safe, but Dovey prevented
him adding a fourth, whilst Brig
threw everything at the Rams
defence in the dying minutes.
Fearon held a close-range header
from Alexander before making the
save of the match with just three
minutes to go. Alex Taylor glanced
a header from a left wing corner
towards the far top corner, but
Fearon, at full stretch, finger-
tipped it over to deny the Brig
with their last clear sight on goal.
e Rams played down the last
couple of minutes to gleefully
celebrate as the final whistle
sounded, and the despair felt half-
an-hour earlier was consigned to
history.
Promotion had been assured
with a performance that deserved
the plaudits. Bamber Bridge
justified their position in the play-
off final, but overall the visitors did
enough to justify the victory and
with it promotion to non-league’s
third tier, the highest position in
the club’s history.
After a season which began with
four league defeats, followed by a
three-point deduction for fielding
an ineligible player, to overcome
such odds and gain promotion at
the end of another memorable
season at the Harry Williams
Riverside Stadium has been
nothing short of miraculous, and
all credit must go to the squad
and management team for rising
to the challenge and turning the
season round in such spectacular
fashion.
p
Steve Howson buries goal number 2 with a wicked volley
Dom Smalley fires Rammy to their second promotion in three seasons
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ere’s been a heck of a lot going on
behind the scenes over the summer, not
least the new programme design that’s
been giving me sleepless nights for a
good while now. We hope you like the
new layout and new features. We’re
getting much nearer to what a footie
programme ought to be, and hope that
people will get into the habit of buying a
copy.
e supporters club was set up about
three and a half years ago, if my awful
memory is not letting me down again,
and for the last few years it’s been a bit of
an ordeal getting things moving. We’ve
always had a small band of die-hard
supporters who’ve travelled around some
of those miserable haunts of the
northwest counties, and it’s great that
those long-suffering folks now get a taste
of better days. But with the club’s rising
fortunes, this last couple of
seasons has also seen a huge
influx of new people onto
the terraces, and these
folks have brought with
then a new sense of
excitement and
enthusiasm, with large
numbers taking to the road
and wanting to make Rammy
into a way of life. With the addition of
these people to the already established
Rammy Family we now have the
potential to make the supporters club
into something really special.
After the very well attended fans’
forum back in June, we called a meeting
of supporters, in which a lot of things
were discussed - most notably how we,
the fans, can help to get Rammy United
firmly established at this level, and help
to take the club higher. As a supporters
club we’re always going to be slightly
restricted in how we can help, but some
brilliant ideas came out of that meeting,
and a great board of committee
members was elected who are already
starting to make great strides.
Very shortly you’ll see in the
newspapers the announcement of a
sponsorship deal with SCA, the company
that runs the paper mill in Stubbins
(what used to be Georgia Pacific). Forgive
me for jumping the gun by announcing
it here, but I really want to make sure that
Andy Massey gets a walloping great pat
on the back for working with SCA to
create this partnership.
e deal sees our squad supplied with
full training kit, as well as SCA sponsoring
an ad in the programme, and a pitchside
supporters clubon the terraces of rammy
p
1206 watched theplayoff final atBamber Bridge, andthe lion’s sharetravelled fromRammy
advertising board. It’s fantastic to have
such an iconic Ramsbottom mill involved
with the club, and we hope that this is the
start of bigger things to come.
One of the supporters club’s main
aims is to help raise funds to continue
Rammy’s rise through the leagues, and
hopefully the SCA deal is just the start.
You no doubt found yourself harrassed
to death as you entered the ground
today, as you will a week on Monday
against Nantwich. We need as many
people as possible to sign up to the
supporters club, as this is the season that
big things will be happening off the pitch;
things that will also have a real impact
ON the pitch! For your membership you
get an away travel guide as well as access
to some exclusive content on rammy.tv,
for which we have huge plans. Please sign
up, and help us get things moving.
Right then, enough wittering from me.
e long wait is over, so let battle
commence on a brand new season in a
brand new division, as we take on the
might of King’s Lynn.
Oh no, it’s the drum- albeit played veryproficiently by theRammy Ultras.
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Well, good afternoon everyone. Can
you believe that the closed season has
come and gone and here we are - the day
that no Rammy fan in their rightest of
minds really ever thought they would
ever see - Rammy in the Evo-Stik Premier
Division. I am sure that most of us here
remember those by-gone days of Tuesday
nights in Squires Gate and Atherton LR,
Wednesday nights in Silsden and
multiple rained off days in Bacup. Today
marks a new era of Ramsbottom United
Football Club and, boy oh boy, are we
looking forward to it!
It only feels like a few days ago that we
celebrated the amazing play-off victory at
Bamber Bridge. For me to even be there
was incredible in itself, to actually be
there to watch what happened will live
long in the memory. I was supposed to
be working on the 'rig day' of the first Sky
Sports cricket match of the season at
Chester-le-Street so thought I wouldn't
make it but I was given the nod
from the producer to leave the
ground at just before 1.30pm. It was
manna from heaven and a steady
70mph (!!) down the A1(M), across
the A66 and then down the M6 to
Bamber and I was at the ground just
35 minutes after kick-off (Dear Mr
Policeman, please don't do the
maths!).
What an occasion! A parking space in
the ground, courtesy of Andy Massey
informing the Brig chairman that Sky
Sports were coming to the game (which
wasn't wholly untrue .....) and into the
ground at 1-1 to stand, cheer, sing and
shout along with the other members of
the Rammy Ultras and, as every nerve-
jangling minute passed, you wondered
what was going to happen. And then,
with just three minutes left, Steve
Howson scored. What a feeling. And
then Bamber scored with the last minute
penalty. What despair! It was then that
you thought that it just wasn't going to
be our day - to be so close but still have
to face the sudden-death of another 30
minutes. But we should know better
with this mob of lads and it was Dominic
Smalley - a player we all love - who was
there to fire home the crucial winner
(which I actually thought hit the side
netting from my far-off angle).
e rest, as they say, is history. Sadly,
for me, I had to go back to Durham when
all I wanted to do was come back to
Rammy and join in the long and
wonderfully deserved celebrations of two
promotions in three years. But I raised a
glass in the hotel with the biggest smile
on my face and went to bed very happy
indeed. And I go back to my original
point. Five years ago, when I drove back
rammy in exilesky sports statto richard isaacs
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Winning goalscorerDom Smalley, andYours Truly ready toburst into tears atany moment!south from Newcastle Town in the first
game under the new managers with a 0-
5 loss returned, we all thought, without
exception, that Harry was completely
clueless for appointing these two, who
were just like all the others before them.
4th - 2nd - 1st and promoted - 6th - 5th,
play-offs and promoted. He sure isn't
clueless at all!
And so, to today. I will be at the
ground for this opening fixture. I
wouldn't miss this. We head into the
unknown, a league which will see our
clubs name every single day on Sky
Sports News, featured much more in the
Non-League Paper and in the national
papers too. e third tier of non-league
football and just three leagues away
from the Football League. Get away with
you! Rammy at this level ... we will all
wake up in a minute and it's all a dream.
You know what - it's not, it's real and
today, Ramsbottom United play Kings
Lynn Town for the first time in their
history.
e other thing to take into
consideration is that, despite all that is
going on at Salford City, we have lost just
one player - Danny Warrender, who
didn't fancy all the travelling. Owen
Roberts has decided to give up football
but he certainly made his mark (ahem
Darlington!) while Martin Fearon, he of
the wonder save, is now at Skelmersdale.
Andy Dawson, sadly, remains on the
sidelines with his injury-ravaged body.
But, other than them, it is the same
faces, those same loyal men who have
done the job for the Rams and they will
be here once again. It makes you very
proud to be a part of this magnificent
club when the players show that sort of
loyalty.
Being a statistician, I have done a few
figures. Of the 16 players we have signed
on prior to the Clitheroe friendly - their
appearances for the club total 1,628
matches with 228 "Rub-A-Dub-Dubs"
(Subs) and 423 goals between them.
Two players have played in more than
200 appearances, six have played in over
150 and a full XI have more than 90. You
simply don't get those sorts of stats at
this level of football.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings.
Enjoy the game, enjoy the season - the
Rammy roller-coaster rides again!!!
p
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Tom Williams is a 23 year old
wide midfielder/forward who
started his career at Wigan
Athletic, he also played for
Chorley and Bamber Bridge.
new signings
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Malachi Slaven is a 20 year old
box to box midfielder. He played
last season with Droylsden so has
experience of this league despite
his age.
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Sam Cook is a 21 year old forward
who started at Macclesfield Town
and has played Evo-Stik south
football for Shepshed Dynamo.
new signings
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Porya 'Rio' Ahmadi is a 21 year old
forward who lists Sheffield
United, Chorley and Salford City
as previous clubs.
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Osebi ‘Ossi’ Abadaki is a 23 year
old attacking midfielder who last
season played for Nantwich
Town and has also played for
Halifax.
new signings
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0 - 0Shawbridge
9th August 2014
Att:
Rammy Goals:
Clitheroe Goals:
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WWF preseason
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0 - 0Shawbridge
9th August 2014
Att:
Rammy Goals:
Clitheroe Goals:
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We have a really exciting season in
prospect, now that we are in the "big time"
of the Evo-Stik Premier. Keeping up with the
fantastic achievements of Bernard, Jonno
and the team, our Supporters Club
committee is re-formed and full of
enthusiasm for the new season.
We plan to raise money to support the
team, encourage supporters to come
watching e Rams, and generally help
everyone have a great time watching Our
Team. We have lots of ideas for events and
activities during the season and we hope
that you will join us and become part of the
Rammy footballing family.
is year the Supporters Club has kept the
membership charge at only £5 for the season
- a real bargain! In exchange for this modest
sum, you will receive :
• a handy fold-out pocket guide
showing the Rammy fixtures and details of
the other teams in the league, with
information about how to find their grounds
• a car sticker
• access to exclusive content on
Rammy TV, giving you the chance to watch
extended video footage of Rammy games
• the chance to vote for the
Supporters Club Player of the Month
You can sign up at the game today, or at
any of the next few games (home and away).
Take this exciting chance to sign up. and be
involved in the fantastic things happening at
Rammy FC.
Here's to a great season!
- SIGN UP - JOIN IN -
- TELL YOUR FRIENDS -
AND CHEER ON THE RAMS!
e final Saturday before the football season started saw
the good folks of Ramsbottom waking up to sunshine,
and what better way to spend the day than watching the
mighty Rams finalise preparations for the big kick-off
with a trip to our close neighbours at Clitheroe. is was
a big day for the town of Clitheroe as not only did they
have East Lancashires top non-league side visiting, they
were also hosting a food festival in the town. With this in
mind we decided to set off early to sample the delicacies
on offer, before making our way to the game. So, at 12.30
myself and Mrs Darkside were getting in the Hulme-
mobile with Jordan’s parents, Martin and Joanne, to make
the short journey through the hills of Pendle. Much of
the journey involved me quizzing Martin on the history
of Workington F.C. (which I had been researching the
previous day) and the ladies (probably) talking about
shoes and handbags.
We arrived in Clitheroe and parked up near the ground
before having a walk into the town centre where we were
greeted by thousands of people and not much room to
move. We had hoped the town was this busy due to
people flocking to see what new signings Jonno and
Bernard had made over the summer, but Sam was not
the Cook they had come to see. e only downside to
the food festival was that it was a victim of its own
success and the stalls were too busy and the queues were
too long to have a proper browse round. We quickly
grabbed some food and made our way to the ground,
arriving just in time for a quick pint before the game
started.
It’s not a bad little set up at Clitheroe and I was pleased
to see they had a real ale on in the bar. Armed with a pint
of Jennings Cumberland Ale it was time for a chat with
some of the travelling Ultras, and although some were
still on holiday or watching the cricket back in Rammy it
was quite a good turnout. A special shout goes out to
Mick Johnson who had been holidaying in Switzerland
and had driven up from Dover that very morning.
I had a browse through the programme, which was a
publication that covered all Clitheroe’s pre-season games
Tales from the Darkside
p
the good folks of Ramsbottom waking up to sunshine,
and what better way to spend the day than watching the
mighty Rams finalise preparations for the big kick-off
with a trip to our close neighbours at Clitheroe. is was
a big day for the town of Clitheroe as not only did they
have East Lancashires top non-league side visiting, they
were also hosting a food festival in the town. With this in
mind we decided to set off early to sample the delicacies
on offer, before making our way to the game. So, at 12.30
myself and Mrs Darkside were getting in the Hulme-
mobile with Jordan’s parents, Martin and Joanne, to make
the short journey through the hills of Pendle. Much of
the journey involved me quizzing Martin on the history
of Workington F.C. (which I had been researching the
previous day) and the ladies (probably) talking about
We arrived in Clitheroe and parked up near the ground
before having a walk into the town centre where we were
greeted by thousands of people and not much room to
move. We had hoped the town was this busy due to
people flocking to see what new signings Jonno and
Bernard had made over the summer, but Sam was not
the Cook they had come to see. e only downside to
the food festival was that it was a victim of its own
success and the stalls were too busy and the queues were
too long to have a proper browse round. We quickly
grabbed some food and made our way to the ground,
arriving just in time for a quick pint before the game
It’s not a bad little set up at Clitheroe and I was pleased
to see they had a real ale on in the bar. Armed with a pint
of Jennings Cumberland Ale it was time for a chat with
some of the travelling Ultras, and although some were
still on holiday or watching the cricket back in Rammy it
was quite a good turnout. A special shout goes out to
Mick Johnson who had been holidaying in Switzerland
I had a browse through the programme, which was a
publication that covered all Clitheroe’s pre-season games
and not specifically their
game with us. I fully
understand this as the
margins between making money and losing money on
programmes is a delicate balancing act, so I did not mind
only two pages on Rammy.
Despite the game ending goalless, I quite enjoyed the
90 minutes football (and fisticuffs). I was hoping we
might have got some indication of our starting eleven for
the Kings Lynn game, but was left with more questions
than answers on that front. We enjoyed some banter with
the Clitheroe fans behind the
goal in the 2nd half who had
been shouting at Shents,
although some of our fans
who I spoke to later were less
than complimentary on the
attitude of our hosts.
After a quick pint and a chat
with the players in the
clubhouse we headed back to
Ramsbottom where our
destination was the
Buchanan Club for a spot of
crown green bowling and a
couple more drinks. It would
seem that bowling is
becoming the second sport
of the Rammy Ultras these
days after the success of our
bowling day/Andy and
Hilary’s combined stag and
hen party last month. We
were joined by the
aforementioned Andy and
Hilary, as well as Paul and
Cheryl (Mr and Mrs Wiz) and
I further cemented my place
as the worse crown green
bowler this town has to offer.
After finishing the evening
at e Eastern Eye we came
out and bumped into those You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough
superstars of the New Orleans Jesters, Jordan
and Wiz with some of their mates, including
young Dave Morley. After a quick chat and a
chorus of “ Oh Rammy United”, the young lads
said they were off up to Jordans house to help
themselves to the cans of St Ettiene lager in
Martin’s fridge. is was the cue for Martin to
beat a hasty retreat home to protect them and
the rest of us to go home and watch the
highlights from the opening day of the football
league season on TV.
Tales from the Darkside
p
king’s lynn town
It isn’t known exactly when a King’s Lynn
football club first represented the town, just
that Lynn Town was reformed in 1879 having
gone out of existence a few years earlier. At the
time there were various football clubs in King’s
Lynn including Lynn United, Lynn CEYMS and
Lynn Alexander.
A newly formed club that went by the name
of King’s Lynn Town were formed in May 2010
with the owners completely changing the look
of the previously folded club. Large sums of
money were spent as the club was refurbished
from top to bottom. e starting place was
the changing and function rooms which were
completely gutted, producing very high
standards facilities for both spectators and
guests of the club. New turnstiles were
installed and the old fences being replaced.
e club retained the traditional blue and
gold home colours when reformed in 2010 to
the delight of many King’s Lynn fans.
e newly formed King’s Lynn Town
achieved their highest ever finish during the
2012-2013 season as they became champions
of the Northern Premier League Division One
South.
ey endured a run-of-the-mill season last
time out as they finished the season in 11th
place with 68 points, losing eighteen games
along the way.
p
Captain David Bell is a very talented and
experienced player who is comfortable
anywhere across the midfield. A Republic of
Ireland “B” international, he joined Nott’s
County in the summer of 2013 after playing
five seasons at Coventry City. With
experience in the Championship David will
prove a stern test for Ramsbottom and will
look to supply the forwards with his sublime
forward play.
Jake Jones is an exciting, hardworking and
young attacking/right sided midfielder.
Signing for King’s Lynn in January 2014 after
a loan spell, during the autumn and early
winter, Jake went out on loan to Lincoln City
in the summer of 2013 before moving to
Tamworth.
Sam Mulready is a prolific young striker. A
local lad who left school at the age of sixteen,
he went straight to Grimsby Town on a two
year Scholarship, signing Professional forms
for the last six months of his contract.
Released in the summer of 2012, he joined
Gainsborough Trinity. Sam was an ever
present during the 2013-14 season scoring
goal after goal throughout.
David Bridges is a very experienced
midfielder, and definitely one to watch. He
joined King’s Lynn in July having had
experience at all levels of the game. He was
part of the sucessful FA Trophy team at
Stevenage, the same team that won
promotion to the Football League. David
began his career at Cambridge United, a club
he returned to for a two-year spell after
playing for FK Riga in Latvia. He’s capped for
England’s C-team, and since departing
Cambridge has played at Kettering,
Chelmsford City, Bury Town and most
recently Conference North side Brackley
Town. fou
r to
wat
ch
p
With our promotion last season, e Rams will
now be saying goodbye to visits to our close friends
and neighbours in Radcliffe, Padiham and Clitheroe,
instead hitting the road to an array of exotic
destinations from Kings Lynn in the South to Whitby
in the North. As many of the grounds we visit will
be virgin territory to us, we will be previewing the
away days in the programme this season.
Our first trip has us up in Cumbria with a visit to
Borough Park to take on Workington. Borough Park
is a traditional football ground having been built in
1937 and has cover on three sides of the ground.
Borough Park even hosted the Busby Babes in a F.A.
Cup game just weeks before the Munich Air
Disaster, so the ground certainly has a rich
footballing tradition.
Now, those of us of a certain vintage will remember
Workington being a football league club having
been elected to the 3rd Division North in 1951. ey
remained in the league until 1977 when they were
replaced by Wimbledon, a fact that is still a sore
point with the older supporters of Workington.
ese were the days before automatic promotion
and relegation, and the bottom four teams in the
4th Division were required to apply to the Football
league for re-election. Many feel that the Football
League had an agenda against Northern clubs and
teams did not want to be travelling to outposts such
as Workington, when they could be travelling to the
leafy suburbia of places such as Wimbledon. Now,
some may say this is sour grapes but, the fact that
Barrow (1971) and Southport (1977) also lost their
league status suggests that maybe the Football
League did have an agenda against the northern
clubs.
e current Workington were formed in 1921,
although there was a football club in the town for
many years before then, and their best ever finish in
the league was in 1965-66 when they managed 5th
in the old 3rd Division. Borough Park has been a rich
breeding ground for those starting their managerial
careers having had Joe Harvey (the last manager to
bring a major trophy to Newcastle United by
winning the UEFA Fairs Cup with them in 1969) and
Keith Burkinshaw (Won the F.A. Cup in 1981 and
1982 with Tottenham Hotspurs, along with the
UEFA Cup in 1984). Perhaps the greatest claim to
fame Workington have is that the legendary Bill
Shankley was in charge of the team from January
1954 to December 1955, before going onto turning
Liverpool from a mid-table 2nd Division team to
being the greatest team in England, and ultimately
Europe. Recent years have also seen some
Workington players go onto to play at a higher level
including Grant Holt, Glenn Murray and England
international, Scott Carson.
It’s a shame that this fixture did not fall on a
Saturday as Workington would have made a good
day out or even a weekend away in the Lakes.
However, with most of us having work
commitments we will be faced with a round journey
of 5 hours travelling. e journey is simple enough,
especially if you are used to travelling up to the
Lakes. If you head over Grane Road and pick up the
M65 at Blackburn and carry on to Junction 2 (M61
exit) taking you towards Lancaster/Blackpool. From
here you take the exit onto the M6 and carry onto
Junction 40 (approximately 64 miles) where you pick
up the A66. From the A66, Workington is clearly
signposted and the road will take you straight into
the town. As for me, I will take the easy option and
get on the coach to see our opening away game.
If you are taking a break on the journey, I strongly
advise taking a stop at Tebay Services in
Westmorland. is can be found between Junctions
38 and 39 on the M6. Unlike most service stations
this one is a family run business, without a Burger
King or Costa Coffee in sight. What you do get is a
farm shop that sells a range of high quality, local
produce, alongside a restaurant which has amazing
views of the Cumbrian landscape. e restaurant
also offers high quality food and is quite
competitively priced in comparison to other
motorway services. I highly recommend this for a
stop off point. If you are getting up there early and
looking for a place to eat and drink you could try
e Royal Yew (CA14
4TJ), which
serves
locally
brewed
beers
and
locally
sourced
food.
p
p
Would you like to treat your
customers and/or friends to a day
or evening watching top quality
non-league football at the Harry
Williams Riverside Stadium during
the exciting 2014/15 season which
sees Ramsbottom United playing
in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier
League PREMIER DIVISION? Well
you can with our outstanding
Match Day Hospitality packages in
our excellent Sponsors Lounge.
For just £25 per head - with a
minimum of 5 persons and a
maximum of 50, you will have a
prime seat in the luxury of the
Frank Rothwell Suite Sponsors
Lounge, watching all of the action
in comfort. You will be provided
with a choice of half-time buffet -
the choices being a regular finger
buffet of sandwiches etc or the
traditional Pie and Peas supper or
Fish, Chips and Peas - the choice is
yours. You will also be provided
with one bottle of champagne plus
a selection of wine, lager, bitter,
cider or shots - again, you chose
the combination.
Your company name will also be
announced over the match public address system before, during half-time and at full time. You will also
be provided with programmes and a full player line-up and, of course, entry to the ground.
And you can get this for just £25 per head for an exciting afternoon or evening watching highly
entertaining football by a side on the rise through the leagues - having secured promotion twice in the last
three seasons.
If you wish to take advantage of this great offer, please contact Ramsbottom United's sponsorship secretary
on 07576 390762 or via email at [email protected].
Ramsbottom United have a number of other sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
- ADVERTISING HOARDING AROUND THE OUTSKIRT OF THE PITCH: £250 for the first year then every
year after that for £150.
- PROGRAMME ADVERTISING: £100 for a full page and £50 for a half-page
- MATCH BALL SPONSORSHIP: £40 per match (which includes company name printed in the programme
and announced over public address).
p
ANSWERS: 1. Bradford PA 2. Salford City 3. e Walks 4. e Sulpherites 5. None - they’ve folded! 6. Evenwood Town
7. An artificial pitch has been laid. 8. Rhyl’s Belle Vue stadium 9. Ramsbottom United! 10 Phil Dean and Jordan Hulme
tony’s teasers1. From which non-league club did Bury sign Paddy Kenny?
2. Former Shaker Gareth Seddon has moved from Chester to which other non-
league club this summer?
3. What is the name of Kings Lynn Town’s wonderful home stadium?
4. What is the nick-name of Harrogate Town?
5. In which league are former Evo-Stik North side Wakefield playing this year?
6. Spennymoor Town have gained promotion to Evo-Stik North this season. e
old Spennymoor club (United) folded a few years back. Which other local club moved
into the town to resurrect the club?
7. What major change has taken place at Welsh Premier side Newtown’s ground
this summer?
8. Another Welsh premier side TNS was knocked out of the European
competition last week. Where did they stage their “home” fixture?
9. Which club won the Evo-Stik North “Club of the Month” award for April/May?
10. Which two members of the Rammy squad have spent the closed season
playing in America?
p
Sat 17th Aug H CURZON ASHTON 1-3 254 Shenton Warrender Pilkington Stopforth + Dawson HulmeTues 20th Aug A Ossett Town 0-2 100 Shenton Warrender Pilkington * Drew Dawson HulmeSat 24th Aug A Warrington Town 0-1 192 Shenton Warrender Pilkington * Drew + Dawson HulmeMon 26th Aug H PADIHAM 1-2 309 Shenton Warrender Pilkington Drew + Dawson Spencer *Sat 31st Aug H AFC Liverpool - FA Cup 5-0 238 Shenton Warrender Roberts * Stopforth + Dawson RobinsonSat 7th Sept H NORTHWICH VICTORIA 2-2 212 Shenton Warrender Roberts * 1 Pilkington Dawson RobinsonTues 10th Sept A Ossett Albion 2-1 73 Shenton Warrender Pilkington Morley + Dawson RobinsonSat 14th Sept A Stocksbridge - FA Cup 2-2 129 Shenton Warrender Pilkington Stopforth Dawson Robinson *Tues 17th Sept H Stocksbridge - FA Cup 3-0 127 Shenton Warrender 1 Pilkington Stopforth Dawson + RobinsonSat 21st Sept A Mossley 4-3 173 Shenton Warrender Pilkington Stopforth Robinson Flannery #Tues 24th Sept H DARLINGTON 1883 3-0 396 Shenton Warrender # Roberts Stopforth Priestley Flannery +Sat 28th Sept A Barrow - FA Cup 0-3 677 Shenton Hulme + Roberts Stopforth # Dawson WarrenderTues 1st Oct A Radcliffe Borough 1-1 241 Shenton Warrender Roberts Stopforth Dawson PriestleySat 5th Oct A Warrington Town FA Trophy 2-1 103 Shenton Warrender Roberts Stopforth Dawson * PriestleyTues 8 th Oct H LANCASTER CITY 6-0 241 Shenton Hulme 1 Roberts Stopforth # Warrender PriestleySat 12th Oct A Wakefield 3-2 64 Shenton Hulme Roberts Gaskell 1 Warrender PriestleyWeds 16th Oct H ATHERTON LR Lancs Trophy 3-1 69 Shenton Hulme Roberts Stopforth # Dawson * WarburtonSat 19th Oct H WORKSOP FA Trophy 1Q 7-2 355 Shenton Warrender Roberts Stopforth # Dawson PriestleySat 26th Oct A Harrogate Railway Athletic 4-0 124 Shenton Lomax Pilkington Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 2nd Nov A Blyth Spartans FA Trophy 1-0 298 Shenton Lomax Pilkington Stopforth Warrender 1 PriestleyWed 6th Nov A Darlington 1883 1-0 899 Shenton Lomax Hulme Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 9th Nov H NEW MILLS 1-1 292 Shenton Lomax Hulme Stopforth Warrender 1 PriestleyTues 12th Nov H FC UNITED Doodson cup 1-2 464 Shenton Lomax + Roberts Pilkington Warrender Priestley 1Sun 17th Nov A Worcester City FA Trophy 0-3 341 Shenton Lomax Roberts Stopforth Warrender PriestleyTues 19th Nov H Padiham Lancs Trophy 4-1 106 Chadwick Toth Roberts Stopforth # Warburton * PriestleySat 23rd Nov H BURSCOUGH 7-1 229 Shenton Lomax Roberts Stopforth Warrender 2 PriestleyTues 26th Nov H CLITHEROE 4-1 192 Shenton Dean Roberts Stopforth # Warrender PriestleySat 30th Nov A Kendal Town 3-2 167 Shenton Dean Roberts Stopforth Lomax PriestleySat 7th Dec A Curzon Ashton 2-2 233 Shenton Lomax Roberts Stopforth Warrender # PriestleyTues 10th Dec A Chorley Lancs Trophy 0-2 301 Shenton Toth Roberts Stopforth Edghill + PriestleySat 14th Dec H WAKEFIELD 3-1 181 Shenton Lomax Pilkington Stopforth Toth PriestleySat 21st Dec A Bamber Bridge 1-2 248 Shenton Lomax Roberts Stopforth Warrender 1 PriestleyThurs 26th Dec H SALFORD CITY 5-2 341 Shenton Lomax Roberts # Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 4th Jan A Northwich Victoria 4-3 176 Shenton Fitzgerald * Roberts Stopforth Lacy PriestleySat 11th Jan H MOSSLEY 3-1 371 Shenton Hulme 1 Roberts Stopforth Lacy PriestleySat 18th Jan H RADCLIFFE BOROUGH 8-0 344 Shenton Hulme 1 Roberts Stopforth + Warrender * Priestley 1Sat 25th Jan A Clitheroe 4-2 373 Shenton Hulme Roberts Stopforth Warrender Priestley 1Sat 1st Feb A Cammell Laird 1-2 73 Shenton Hulme Roberts Stopforth 1 Pilkington PriestleyTues 4th Feb H OSSETT ALBION 2-0 165 Shenton Hulme 1 Roberts Stopforth Pilkington PriestleySat 8th Feb A Lancaster City 3-1 228 Shenton Hulme Roberts Stopforth Pilkington PriestleySat 22nd Feb A Padiham 4-1 271 Shenton Warrender Roberts Spencer Pilkington PriestleyTues 25th Feb H OSSETT TOWN 2-2 172 Shenton Warrender 1 Roberts Spencer Pilkington PriestleySat 1st Mar A Prescot Cables 3-0 192 Shenton Smalley + Pilkington Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 8th Mar H CAMMELL LAIRD 0-2 305 Shenton Smalley Pilkington Stopforth Warrender PriestleyTues 11th Mar H HARROGATE RAILWAY 5-0 136 Shenton Smalley Pilkington # Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 15th Mar A New Mills 3-2 175 Shenton * Smalley Roberts Stopforth Warrender PriestleyTues 25th Mar H PRESCOT CABLES 5-2 101 Fearon Smalley Roberts Stopforth + Warrender PriestleySat 29th Mar A Burscough 1-1 215 Fearon Pilkington Roberts Stopforth Warrender PriestleyTues 1st Mar H FARSLEY 1-1 184 Fearon Pilkington Roberts Stopforth Warrender # PriestleySat 5th Apr H KENDAL TOWN 3-0 228 Fearon Pilkington Roberts Stopforth Warrender * PriestleySat 12th Apr A Farsley 2-3 199 Fearon Smalley Roberts Stopforth Howson PriestleySat 19th Apr H WARRINGTON TOWN 3-2 366 Fearon Smalley Roberts * 1 Stopforth Warrender PriestleyMon 21st Apr A Salford City 2-1 317 Fearon Smalley * Roberts # Stopforth Warrender PriestleySat 26th Apr H Bamber Bridge 0-0 491 Fearon Warrender Roberts * Stopforth Howson PriestleyWeds 30th Apr A Darlington 2-0 1926 Fearon Warrender Roberts Stopforth Howson Priestley 1Sat 3rd Apr A Bamber Bridge 3-2 1206 Fearon Warrender Roberts Stopforth Howson 1 Priestley
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Grant SHENTON
Dominic SMALLEY
Lee PUGH
Grant SPENCER
Steve HOWSON
Billy PRIESTLEY
Tom WILLIAMS
Scott BURTON
Jon ROBINSON
Lee GASKELL
Phil DEAN
Jordan HULME
Sam COOK
Porya AHMADI
Osebi ABADAKI
Gary STOPFORTH
Matthew HAILS
Jackson RAMM
Jordan YONG
David BELL
Ryan FRYATT
Ross WATSON
Shaun STOCKER
Dan QUIGLEY
Michael FREW
David BRIDGES
Jake JONES
Jason LEE
Sam MULREADY
George THOMSON
Chris WARD
Alex STREET
Managers: Anthony Johnson,
Bernard Morley
Manager: Gary SETCHELL
Referee: Matthew Corlett
Referee’s Assistants: Carl Trott and Mick Southern
Next home game: Monday 25th August, 3pm Rammy v Nantwich Town