FC ISLE OF MAN PREVIEW
It is back to league action for the Rams on Saturday as visitors from overseas land in to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium – a team that came last year and took off with all three points in their hand luggage.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs FC Isle of Man
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 23rd August 2025
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult).
NOTE: We are a CASH ONLY stadium – there are NO CARD FACILTIES at the ground.
OVERVIEW:
After the disappointment of the FA Cup defeat on penalties on Tuesday night against Silsden, the Rams return to the mighty marathon that is the NWCFL league campaign with match number five as we welcome FC Isle of Man to the HWRS for a switched Saturday clash with the men from the Manx.
Few will forget the Tuesday night game last September when Harvey Hayhurst’s early strike could have set up a comfortable evening but it wasn’t to be as the visitors hit twice in the space of 14 second half minutes to claim all three points and put an early dent into the Rammy hopes.
Of course, that was then and this is now and FC Isle of Man, only formed in 2020 and having made significent strides up the league structure, have won just a single game so far this season, a 2-1 victory at Abbey Hey last weekend. With a draw at home to Litherland to open the season, they suffered defeats to FC St Helens, Glossop and Irlam before collecting their first three points.
As for the Rams, the winning run ended from the penalty spot on Tuesday nigth but we are still fourth in the early league table and one of three sides still with a zero in the losses column, alongside the top two of Padiham and Burscough.
But whilst not being prolific in the goal scoring tallies – slotting just six from our opening four league games – the wins have continued to come and whilst the result was disappointing on Tuesday, the performance was the best they had seen the Rams play this season.
This is a game that will not be taken lightly despite the disparity in the league standings. It means very little at this early juncture of the season or, in fact, any juncture of the season. It is a game that the Rams have been stung before – lightning can strike again!
FACILITIES
The game at Ramsbottom United will be by payment in CASH at the turnstile (the club does not have a card facility). Prices are as shown above and programmes are £2.
Due to cricket and adjacent building works, parking for spectators should be away from the ground, in either town centre car parks (drivers are advised to check any time limits) or in the various side streets, all of which are no more than 5-10 minutes walk away but please be mindful of local residents and businesses.
Various bus routes come into Ramsbottom town centre (https://bustimes.org/localities/ramsbottom for details) and the East Lancs Railway (https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/western-region-weekend/) station is adjacent to the ground.
Tea Bar serving hot and cold drinks, pie and peas, sweets, crisps etc will be open within the ground, as will the Can Bar serving beer, lager and cider.
HISTORY
We offer a very warm welcome to everyone coming over the Irish Sea from Isle of Man for today’s game. It is the fifth time the sides have met and the tally couldn’t be closer with two wins each and five goals each.
The first meeting was in August 2023 when the Rams claimed a late, late winner to win 2-1 but the same scoreline the other way came when the Rams headed across to The Bowl, Oscar Radcliffe giving the Rams a 63rd minute hope!
As mentioned previously, the last meeting here was the 2-1 reverse under the lights but 980 supporters witnessed Tom Hoyle’s 38th minute strike that was enough to give the Rams a 1-0 win in October last year.
Our visitors finished last season is 15th place with 61 points from their 46 games and will certainly be looking to improve on that record this campaign … just maybe not today!
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“We can quickly get back to league business after the disappointment of Tuesday night. I was pleased with our performance overall as we outplayed Silsden for much of the game but to let two goals in so late in the game was crushing for us and we must learn to see games out.
“Today we welcome FC Isle of Man who we remember from last year’s defeat and whilst they haven’t started the season that well, we know they will be a tough opponent and we will need to go all out for the win.
