The name of this feature on the Rammy Stats website is called Have We Met? When it comes to Clitheroe, it is more about when we haven’t as we have been regular combatants since August 1997.
Tuesday night’s game will be the 32nd time we have met in semi-professional competitive action and the 15th time we have travelled to Shawbridge.
Our recent record against our near neighbours is good with just one defeat in the last six meetings although that loss did come the last time we clashed, going down 2-1 at Shawbridge with Jacob Gregory’s 28th minute goal was cancelled out just after the break by Nic Evangelinos. However, Charlie Mulgrew struck on the hour mark to seal the points for the hosts.
Before that though, the Rams triumphed 2-0 earlier in the season when Evangelinos and Anointed Chukwu scored while we took four points from the six available in the 2018/19 season thanks to Jamie Rainford’s double sandwiched former Ram Max Hazeldine’s equaliser.followed the exciting 3-3 draw at the HWRS in November 2018 when Jamie Rother, Jack Higgs and Tom Brooks hit the scoresheet in response to Hazeldine, Jay Jeffries and James Sloane, who had taken them 3-1 ahead.
In fact, of all of the away venues that we have visited ten or more times, a trip to Shawbridge has been one of the most entertaining, averaging 3.85 goals per game – which is fourth on all time Rammy away list behind visits to Flixton (4.06), St Helens Town (3.93) and Nantwich Town (3.92).
That statistic is probably no surprise when you factor in the results that saw the Rams lost 3-4 in 2017, 0-4 in 2016 and winning 4-2 in 2014.
We did have a hiatus in meetings between 2004 and 2012. This followed Clitheroe winning the NWCFL Division One in 2003/04, although we did inflict one of their defeats that season, a 3-2 win at Shawbridge as Greg Brickell, Danny Heys and Iain Dyson all scored. Clitheroe would win the league, we would trail in 17th though!
Rivalries would recommence in 2012 when we joined the NPL Division One ranks.
As ever, we look forward to our trip up the A56 and A59.
RAMSBOTTOM UNITED v CLITHEROE RECORD
At Rammy – Played 17, Won 4, Drawn 5, Lost 8, Goals for 26, Goals Against 29
At Clitheroe – Played 14, Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 7, Goals for 22, Goals Against 32
TOTAL – Played 31, Won 10, Drawn 6, Lost 15, Goals for 48, Goals Against 61
