Edition number two of this series looking back at the events on the pitch on the respective Saturday’s in our non-league history.

SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 2015
STAMFORD 3 RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 3

When you haven’t won a game all season and have just one point from eight league starts in the NPL Premier Division, the habit of winning is something that deserts even the best of sides.

On this particular Saturday in 2015, the Rams were away at Stamford and new signing Sam Grimshaw, acquired from FA Vase runners-up Glossop North End, scored twice in the space of eight first-half minutes to lift the beleaguered Rams to a 2-0 lead and Lee Gaskell’s strike just on half-time sent the visiting supporters into raptures as their side went into the interval 3-0 to the good. The Rams had scored just three goals in their previous eight league games … to score three in 45 minutes was beyond all expectations!

Gaskell nearly added a fourth on the restart only to be denied by the Stamford post and the Rams were looking good as they maintained their three goal advantage …. until 15 minutes from the end.

Jamie Rother and Andy Dawson, rocks in defence, had been replaced by Andrew Fitzgerald and Charlie Russell and moments later, Ryan Robbins scored twice in the space of four minutes – on 75 and 79 minutes. With the bit between their teeth, Stamford throw everything at the Rams and midfielder Cameron Powell snatched a point in the 90th minute to cruelly deny us all three.

RAMSBOTTOM TEAM v STAMFORD 2015: Grant Shenton, Andy Dawson (Andrew Fitzgerald 61), Luke Heron, Phil Edghill, Jamie Rother (Charlie Russell 69), Prince Hayward, Alex Meaney, Kyle Harrop, Sam Grimshaw, David Kuba-Kuba (Clevon Beadle 77), Lee Gaskell. Subs not used: Jake Cliffe, Melford Knight.

SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 2009
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 1 NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE 0

With six wins from our previous seven games in the 2009/10 campaign, the Rams had been stung by a hugely disappointing 2-0 midweek home loss to Formby in the North West Counties League. A home FA Vase second qualifying game against Nostell Miners Welfare probably came at the right time and a much changed Rammy side only needed Barry Massey’s 38th minute strike to set up a mouthwatering local derby with Bacup Borough in round one.

The 40-year-old veteran scored after a snap shot from Joel Pilkington was well saved by the visiting keeper but Massey was there to score from an acute angle, which was enough to seal a 1-0 win.

But it was a tough game against a strong Yorkshire-based outfit, who gave as good as they got and came close when a free kick smashed against the bar and they continued to press hard for an equaliser but it didn’t come and the Rams booked their place in the next round.

This match also saw a debut for a man who would go on to play a total of 222 games for the club and be the manager of the 2015 game above – Jon Robinson.

RAMSBOTTOM TEAM v NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE 2009: John Ogden, Andy Dawson, George Bowyer, Barry Shuttleworth, John Blackley, Mark Sharples (Jonathan Lea 90), Barry Massey (Andrew Sensale 80), Joel Pilkington, Bernard Morley, Eddie O’Neill (Matthew Ellis 77), Jon Robinson.. Subs not used: Damien Rooney, Joshua Hill.

SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 1998
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 3 SHILDON 0

It was our first ever season in the FA Cup and having gotten past Maine Road, courtesy of a replay, our next challenge was a tough one against Northern League Division One side, Shildon, who made the long trip down from County Durham.

Shildon, who in 2003 went on to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup before losing 7-2 to Notts County, faced a Rammy side that had Danny Goodall missing with a hamstring strain and Mark O’Brien, who was serving his last match of a suspension.

But the Bishop Auckland based side were no match for Ken Bridge’s men as Steve Orrell, Billy McCartney and Luke Hardman all scored on our way to a 3-0 win.

Our first ever shot at the FA Cup and we were into the second qualifying round where we would be paired with another Northern Premier League side, Billingham Town on the 3rd October.

The Road to Wembley was still open …….