AWAY DAYS

(A Day Out In Rammy)

The Away Days to Ramsbottom story actually started the day before the draw when I was looking through who we might get. My first choice was Glasshoughton Welfare, what a great name, second choice was Esh Winning as I have to confess I had never really heard of them and then Ramsbottom United were third choice.

I was off work on the day of the draw so I thought I would listen in to the draw on the FA phone line at 11am ….mmm… several pounds later and nearly an hour later I managed to hear our bit of the draw and it was Ramsbottom United versus Southport. It was straight on the e-mail to my boss at work who has Rammy as his “second team” behind Newcastle United and lives in the town.  A quick check of the fixtures showed Newcastle where playing at Birmingham on the Sunday so he was free to go.

Luckily as well as my boss, we have been good friends for a few years so arrangements were put in place to meet up and make a day of it.

I don’t know why but I got quite nervous before this game. I don’t think I would have ever lived it down if we had lost. I also desperately did not want a draw. I was scheduled to be in London on the Tuesday with work and would probably have had to miss any replay, after 35 minutes of the match I was getting even more nervous!

The weather in the lead up to the game was a bit dodgy and for those who remembered our last visit in 1998 will recall the drenching we all got. I actually went to see if my brolly wrecked in the storm of 1998 was still knocking around! Thankfully it was a glorious afternoon.

I met up with the boss and another two work colleagues who had come to keep the peace in the main stand for a few minutes before the game (these Premiership types just have to sit down) and he remarked how big and physical we looked during the warm up, he has obviously not seen the Land of the Giants aka Ashton United.

What a great ground it is, the covering behind one of the goals had been added since our earlier visit and made a big difference to the appearance. The tea being served in real mugs was absolutely marvellous and I understand the pie and peas as well as being great value was also superb. Harry, who seems to run everything at Rammy, had obviously been warned to expect some hungry Sandgrounders as there was plenty to go around despite several second helpings being ordered.

It was about half way through the second half when I saw someone with a real cup, the Southport fans were in full voice, the scenery was magnificent, the weather glorious, the Thomas The Tank Engine went tootling by and we were winning comfortably that I had one of those where on earth could be better at this moment in time moments. You can keep Old Trafford or St James’s Park (sorry Alex) this is the football for me.

As for the game, we have to be honest it was a fairly comfortable 2-0 win in a game that Rammy never really threatened. It was marred a little by Robbo’s sending off which I don’t think anyone could argue with. Having said that the applauding of the ref and Robbo as he walked off by the Rammy number 5 who had been pulling, pushing and squaring up to players (even Muller who was a good few inches smaller than him) all afternoon was all unnecessary. Yet again the perpetrator of foul play got away with it and the retaliator got punished with a three game ban.

No matter, we had won and we had provided Rammy with their second highest gate ever, 612, second only behind the last time we were there when 829 were present.

Once again the crowd was probably split 50/50 and the yellow contingent all left happy.

It was off to look for a good Olde English chippy in a good old English town. Where was it? Nowhere to be seen, it was Chinese and back to the boss’s to talk through the game. We’d had a great day out.

Next season let’s get them at Haig Ave and I can return the hospitality. We can’t quite match the scenery mind you although those old gasholders do have a certain something about them!