Pitchero Non League

....Cammell Laird in a First Division North fixture at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium tomorrow.

Having won the North West Counties League title in April, joint-managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson have kept the majority of the championship squad together as they head off to waters new.

Grant Spencer, the NWCFL Player-of-the-Month for April, has signed for Blue Square Bet Premier newcomers Hyde FC, whilst Mickey Morrison and Rob Grimes have departed to become the joint-managers of NWCL side Nelson, and their tenure there has begun with three successive victories.

Coming into the Rams squad is Phil Edghill, an experienced midfielder who was in the successful Hyde championship side in the Conference North last season. Wide man, Martin Cosgrave has joined from neighbouring Bacup Borough, whilst the Rams welcome back experienced left-back Barry Shuttleworth, who left the club to play for Padiham last season, but has now rejoined the fold.

Sixteen-year-old youngster Adam Nuttall has signed first-team forms having progressed from the club's highly-rated juniors section, and completing the new signings are local lads Fraser Derby and Nathan Gray.

There is a certain excitement amongst the supporters, having enjoyed three very successful years under the leadership of Morley and Johnson, as Northern Premier football arrives at the Riverside. It has been the stated ambition of both the managers and the chairman Harry Williams over the last three years that the club gain NPL status, and they have done so by finishing fourth, second then top over the three years, playing a brand of attractive, attacking football.

The pressure is off everyone, now the aim has been achieved, but the message from the Riverside is that they are not there to make up the numbers.

Tags: News | Ramsbottom United

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