LITHERLAND PREVIEW
The last of the run of home games before we hit the road for the next three comes with the visit of bottom side Litherland REMYCA, who head to the HWRS off the back of a morale boosting victory.
MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Litherland REMYCA
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 3rd March 2026
KICK-OFF: 7.45pm
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:
The wounds were licked and Padiham were defeated on Saturday for the first time at the HWRS since 2009! In front of a terrific crowd, Maine Walder’s strike on the half hour brought much cheer and renewed optimism, especially with the leaders Wythenshawe slipping up at Chadderton.
So the gap is nine points with the Rams having a couple of games still in hand. Can it be overturned? Only time will tell but standing in the way on Tuesday night are Litherland REMYCA, the bottom side who have given themselves a slither of hope of beating the drop with a 4-1 victory on Saturday over Pilkington.
It has been a tough season for the Merseysiders under former Ram, Jamie Rainford but with a win and two draws in their last four games, they are fighting hard for their survival and the hosts will need to be on their game to ensure they are not sucked into another cog of the REMY revival plan.
For the Rams, it is simple. 12 games left and each one crucial for the end game. Tough games each and every one of them, regardless of league position, ranking or form. A double helping of West Didsbury is still to come this month sandwiching Chadderton at home. In form FC St Helens before that and Burscough up next.
But the most important game across the remaining fixtures is this one against Litherland. They are not the pushover team rooted to the bottom of the table, they are 18th in the form ladder and will come to the HWRS with some confidence having collected their first win in 11.
This is going to be a lot of fun!!!
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
We offer a very warm welcome to everyone who has come over from Litherland for this game.
Our history against REMY only dates back to January 2024 and we are yet to face them this season, we go west on Easter Saturday in early April for the return fixture.
The previous four meetings have seen the Rams win three and the first clash at the Litherland Sports Park finishing 1-1 courtesy of Elliot Taylor’s 98th equaliser for the hosts. However, since then, it has been the Rams all the way with a 5-1 victory at the HWRS a month later with Luke Sephton and Matthew Birchall (above) both hitting braces.
And last season, it was a Rams double, winning 4-0 at LSP – Luke Sephton going one better with a hat-trick – and then a 3-1 victory at the HWRS in March last year, overturning an early Litherland penalty through Hoyle, Hayhurst and Whyte.
STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“Was really pleased with the result on Saturday. We knew it was going to be a tough game but to finally break the Padiham home hoodoo was very pleasing and we came through the contest very well to keep the pressure on Wythenshawe at the top.
“But that result will mean very little if we don’t do the business against Litherland, who have strengthened of late and come into the game off a win over Pilkington. They won’t be easy to beat so we know we have to play well to ensure that we do.”
