FC St Helens preview

The Rams return home for the first time in three weeks as the league programme recommences with a tricky encounter with FC St Helens, who have good memories of their two games at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.

MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs FC St Helens
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 3rd October 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 has been a couple of weeks since the Rams returned from Chadderton with all three points in the league and backed it up with a commanding 4-0 success in the Macron League Cup at Cheadle Heath Nomads to break their indifferent run of three defeats in a row across all competitions.

Things are really starting to come together for manager Rob Henry and his staff, having had to deal with a plethora of injuries across the board.  It seems that players sign and then get injured – its been a tough start to full managerial life for Rob and a lot of additional signing on work for secretary Chris Newton with the amount of new signings!

However, things are settling as was proven with the outstanding showing at Chadderton and Cheadle in the last couple of weeks and the Rams will head into this game with a certain amount of confidence gained from those games.

But standing in the way are FC St Helens, unbeaten in their last three games and scoring 17 goals in the process, having thrashed Frickley Athletic 9-0 in the FA Vase and then dismissing Litherland 4-2 in the league and South Liverpool 4-1 in the Macron Cup in the process.  With 23 goals in their last six games, they are top of the goalscoring charts in the form table and, of course, have fond memories of their two visits to the HWRS in the NWCL previously.

The West Lancashire side are currently 14th in the table, having played just 8 games and collected 10 points, so just four points behind the Rams having played a couple of games less so this is another crucial game in the Rams’ season – yes, already – if they are to keep tabs on the leaders and the play-off position holders.

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, 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.

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:
This will be the fifth meeting between the sides – two each in the last couple of years on the NWCFL – and the Rams have won two, FC St Helens one and one draw.

But, as mentioned above, their record at the HWRS is outstanding.  Their win, a 91st minute winner from Connor Spiers, took the spoils in the NWCFL GroundHop Friday night game, after Harvey Whyte and Tom Hoyle had given the Rams the lead only for Joseph Barker and Spiers’ double to take all three points.  And they returned in August last year and cancelled out Matt Dudley’s first half opener when Thomas McNamara equalised for 1-1 in the second.

Meanwhile, the Rams have headed to SMS Pro Soccer Park and returned with all six points, a 3-0 win in August 2024 and a 2-1 victory in March this year.