Rammy and Kendal Town’s paths didn’t cross until the end of November 2013 but since then we have been quite regular opponents in the various guises of the Northern Premier League’s ‘second tier’.

The Mintcakes were founder members of the Northern Premier League when it formed in 1968 – although they were called Netherfield then – but dropped down into the North West Counties in 1983 and even after a number of seasons at the wrong end of the Division One table, they were drafted into Division One of the NPL along with a number of other NWCFL Division One clubs but finished bottom in their inaugural season, winning just four of their 36 games. Also in that division in 1987/88 season were league winners Fleetwood Town, fourth placed Accrington Stanley and, in tenth, Harrogate Town – all of them now Football League clubs.

But our league placings never coincided until our second season in the NPL, the 2012/13 campaign, as Kendal Town were in the Premier Division in our first year.

The first ever meeting came at Parkside Road when goals from Lee Gaskell, Jordan Hulme and an own goal through Martin Grundy gave nine-man Rammy a 3-2 win. Danny Mitchley’s 80th minute strike for the home side made things interesting as did the red cards for Owen Roberts and Hulme on 68 and 86 minutes respectively!

While our record in the far north-west identical in every aspect – two wins, one draw, two defeats, nine goals for and nine against – our record at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium is 100%.

In fact, a win in Tuesday night’s game will see us level our club record of most wins without draw or defeat in our semi-professional history, joining the five wins from five starts at home against Radcliffe/Radcliffe Borough.

We currently have four wins from four against Daisy Hill, Droylsden and Kendal Town. For all you stat fans out there, our best unbeaten home record is against Congleton Town, with seven wins and five draws from our 12 games with them back in the NWCFL and our worst home record – Kidsgrove Athletic with seven games, three draws and four defeats.

Two goals from Phil Dean sandwiched Gary Stopforth’s strike as the Rams scored three in the first half on their way to a 3-0 win in April 2014 while Damian Green’s goal gave us a 1-0 win in the pre-New Year fixture in 2016 – Ryan Salmon seeing red for two yellows that evening.

April 2018 was the next home meeting and goals for Tom Brooks, Jon Robinson and Phil Dean sent us to a 3-1 win – Gary Basterfield’s 23rd minute goal in the only one that Kendal Town have scored in their four games at the HWRS thus far.

That 100% record was only just maintained though as Ryan Ellison was on the end of Jerome Wright’s corner to slot home the 90th minute winner in the fourth of our home clashes in mid September 2018.

Kendal Town were one of the last sides we played prior to the early conclusion of the 2019/20 season on 7 March 2020 as Nic Evangelinos’ penalty and Luke Thompson’s last strike brought us a 2-1 win at the Lakelands Radio Stadium.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED v KENDAL TOWN RECORD
At Rammy – Played 4, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 0, Goals for 8, Goals Against 1
At Kendal – Played 5, Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 2, Goals for 9, Goals Against 9
TOTAL – Played 9, Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 2, Goals for 17, Goals Against 10