AFC Liverpool preview
After collecting just one point from the available nine on the road (and in the air), the Rams return home hoping to get their season back on track as they welcome winless AFC Liverpool to the HWRS for our first Saturday league game of the campaign.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs AFC Liverpool
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 29th August 2026
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
ADMISSION: Adults – £9, Concessions (over 67) – £5, U12 – £1 (with paying adult).
NOTE: We are a CASH ONLY stadium – there are NO CARD FACILITIES at the ground.
OVERVIEW:
It is still very, very early days in this season and there is most definitely no signs of panic or concern despite the Rams’ disappointing single point return from their last three games away from home. Leads slipped away on the Isle of Man and deep into injury time at Atherton LR and Gareth Hill’s injury time strike ensured a point in Barnoldswick.
Five points from five games with one win thus far probably wasn’t the return that the Rams would have been hoping for but there is plenty of time for the manager Rob Henry to get his charges playing to their firm abilities.
That chance could come with a home game against AFC Liverpool this weekend. It has been a horrible start to the season for the Berry Street Garage Stadium outfit with league defeats to Droylsden, Euxton Villa, South Liverpool and Charnock Richard plus swift exits from both the FA Cup and FA Vase.
Seven games played and just two goals scored is definitely not the return that Jack Edwards’ side would have wanted, finding themselves without a point from their opening four league contests. As is always the case, it is far too early to be concerned and they will want to come to the HWRS to turn their season around.
AFC Liverpool have been regular mid-table dwellers for the last five seasons in the Premier Division of the NWCFL, finishing a comfortable 11th last time out with 71 points from their 46 games so they have it in their arsenal to perform at this level.
As have the Rams, despite the recent results but home comforts return after three games on their travels and hope is high to start the climb back up the table 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 adjacent building works and functions at the cricket club, parking for spectators must 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.
Please be aware that the access road to Ramsbottom Cricket Club and Ramsbottom United FC has now had a no parking policy imposed with immediate effect carrying a fine of £100. Please do not park on this road.
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 welcome everyone who has made the trip over from AFC Liverpool today to join us here at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium and we wish you all a safe journey over.
It is safe to say that the Rams certainly have the head-to-head advantage of the Bootle-based side, having won 7 of the previous 9 games since the first in the NWCFL Premier Division on our famous promotion season of 2011/12 – who can forget that visit to Prescot Cables on 29 February 2012, the start of the incredible run in to the title having lost 2-1 that chilly, foggy night!
The Rams completed a back-to-back season double over the visitors with a 4-1 win at the HWRS in September 2025 – Harvey Hayhurst’s double joining Maine Walder and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson strikes in setting up the victory despite Elliot Taylor’s 91st minute consolation – and we backed it up with a 2-0 success on the road with Matt Dudley and Holland-Wilkinson again doing the damage.
This followed up similar results the season before. A Hayhurst double sandwiched Thomas Beckett’s strike at the HWRS, seeing the Rams to a 2-1 victory while it was 3-0 at Marine with Oumar Camara hitting twice either side of Richie Baker’s goal just before half time.
AFC Liverpool’s last win over the Rams came on 9 March 2024 at the HWRS, pulling themselves up from conceding in the opening minute to Harvey Whyte to win 2-1 with goals from Luke Porter and Liam Paton either side of the break.
