IRLAM PREVIEW
After the late, late, late show on Tuesday night at Chadderton, where the Rams grabbed a crucial point, it is once again back to the HWRS to face the previous side to take points off the league leaders at the back end of September, the ever dangerous Irlam.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Irlam
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 29th November 2025
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 FACILTIES at the ground.
OVERVIEW:
It was the end of September when the Rams went to Silver Street and came away empty handed courtesy of a 97th minute winner for the home side. It was a bitter blow for the Rams, who were on a run of six games unbeaten at the time.
This time around, the Rams are undefeated in the league in their last nine and only the epic 3-3 draw on a freezing cold night in Oldham have seen Steve Wilkes’ side relinquish any further ponts – although that was more like one gained rather than two lost.
And so, with the Rams unbeaten home record still intact, they welcome fifth placed Irlam to the HWRS for this crucial game at the top of the table. The Rams still lead by a single point from Padiham with West Didsbury & Chorlton and Wythenshawe hot on their heels while Irlam, who have sunk both those in second and third place in the recent past, menacingly waiting in the wings.
You can be certain that the side from M44 will sense another scalp as they head into this fixture four unbeaten in the league adding South Liverpool and Atherton LR to their impressive list of away victories, eight in total out of their 11 starts with just two defeats.
So the Rams know the importance of this fixture against a side that have never won at the HWRS in three previous attempts since 2020 but with their unbeaten record dating back to the start of October in the league, Wilkes’ men will be ready for the Irlam onslaught as they have their own targets in mind.
It’s a game not to be missed.
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.
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 offer a very warm welcome to everyone who has come up from Irlam for this game.
The history of this fixture does date a long way back, into the Manchester League days, when Irlam were called Mitchell Shackleton, the team created from the crankshaft manufacturing and repair company of the area at the time.
But the history of games against Irlam only starts in September 2020 with a FA Cup Preliminary Round game at the HWRS which the Rams won 4-1. It wasn’t until the Rams’ reappearance in the NWCFL in 2023 that they would finally re-engage in league competition and a 1-1 draw at the HWRS in September 2023 was followed just prior to Christmas with a 3-0 victory at Silver Street, Matt Dudley scoring twice.
It was a similar story in the 2024/25 season, just the other way around! A victory at the Riverside with all the goals coming in the first 65 minutes as Oumar Camara’s strike put the Rams 3-2 ahead (pictured above) and it was 1-1 at Silver Street, Luke Sephton’s 72nd minute strike being cancelled out nine minutes later by Mitchell Henry.
And then there was September 2025 as mentioned above, a killer 3-2 win for Irlam deep into injury time. What will happen this time around? Who knows but you will be keyed in to find out.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“I was proud of the lads on Tuesday night for how they fought hard to get a point, we didn’t give up and that showed a lot about the team. We weren’t at our best in the first half but played a lot better in the second so that could turn out to be a crucial point at the end of the season.
“But we now focus on Irlam, a side going very well this season and have already picked up a number of big wins against those at the top of the table, including us with that last minute winner in September. They have also beaten Padiham and Didsbury so they know what they are about but we know how important this game is and if the lads can play the way they have done all season, especially at home, then hopefully we will come through.
“This is a tough game, they all are.”
