CHARNOCK RICHARD PREVIEW

After Storm Amy ruined Saturday, we try once again on Tuesday night with Charnock Richard heading to the HWRS for a game under the lights.

MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Charnock Richard
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 7th October 2025
KICK-OFF: 7:45pm
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:
It was disappointing but completely understandable that Saturday’s home game with Prestwich Heys was called off given the heavy rains and wild winds that swept across the country over the weekend.  But it has given the team an extra weekend off and freshened up ahead of this important clash against mid-table Charnock Richard.

There is a certain amount of falseness about Charnock’s league position.  It is still very much early days and 15 points from their 11 games sees them down in 15th place but with games in hand and a good recent record of one loss in their last six games – that over on the Isle of Man 3-2 – and that including a draw at home to league leaders Padiham, there is no need to look at the table and think anything other than this will be a difficult encounter.

Both sides had Saturday off, the Rams against Prestwich Heys and Charnock at home to FC St Helens each falling to the weather, so head into this game off a lengthy break, the visitors even more so as they have had no game since their Heys 3-3 draw a fortnight ago.

The Rams come into this game still smarting from the Irlam loss but, with some positive training sessions in midweek means they will come into this game with in-form Charnock Richard with plenty to consider although the Rams are still in second place, two points behind the leaders.

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 from Charnock Richard for this game.

We have only met four time previously, all in the NWCFL Premier Division since we slipped back to this level a couple of seasons ago.

It was a difficult introduction in 2023 when we met for the first time as two goals in quick succession – Harvey Whyte giving the Rams the lead before Nathan Nickeas equalised just three minutes later – saw that game at the HWRS close 1-1 before a second half mauling at Mossie Park sent the Rams to a 5-1 loss, Matthew Johnson’s 69th minute strike all the Rams took home.

However, it was a different story last season as the Rams did the double.  A mid-January night under the HWRS lights saw the hosts home 3-2 with Luke Barlow and a brace from Harvey Whyte (pictured above), the second from the spot, was enough to claim the points whilst in March, the early kick off due to a party in the local social club saw the Rams take hom the early points thanks to Luke Sephton’s double strikes in the 62nd and 69th minutes.

That was then and this is now so let’s get behind the lads!

STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“It has been an interesting week without a game since our loss on Saturday.  You often have little time to dwell on results with another match usually coming up in just a few days time.

“But we’ve trained really well and the lads have shown a real determination to get back on track and put that loss down to just one of those days.  Yes, we have a few regulars missing and we took a while to get into the game but their desire to go on and win the game with all that added time shows the mentality you need to be successful in this league.

“And now we have had an extra few days to refresh and are looking forward to this game against a good Charnock side, who haven’t played for a fortnight so they will be champing to get back into it.”