LONGRIDGE TOWN PREVIEW

by | Apr 5, 2026

And then there were four.  Just four games remain and the promotion challenge got a little tougher after the defeat at Litherland on Saturday but the next step forward is a home game against Longridge Town for a Bank Holiday Monday.

MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Longridge Town
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Monday 6th April 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 FACILTIES at the ground.

OVERVIEW:
Defeat to a resurgent Litherland REMYCA on Saturday, who, having won three games all season have turned their form around and won four of their last five to come within three points of safety, was a significant result in the Rams’ season, leaving us four points behind the leaders Wythenshawe with just four to play.

So every game is now even more crucial than it was before as we welcome 15th place Longridge Town for our traditional ‘local derby’ Bank Holiday Monday fixture – who play some 30 miles away!

Matches against Longridge are nothing if not entertaining at the very least and, despite our visitors having lost their last six games scoring only twice in the process, that means very little at this stage of the season – just ask many teams in our division, including ourselves, the leaders Wythenshawe and West Didsbury for example.

It is a return to home comforts once again for the penultimate time and, with just one defeat at the HWRS all season, the Rams are on course to record the fewest home defeats in a season since the 1999/00 NWCFL Division One season, when we went undefeated.

There are two home games left before two massive away matches against West Didsbury (yet again!) and a hugely in-form Atherton LR to close out the 46 matches.  And then … well, who knows just yet!

All that manager Steve Wilkes and the team need is your support as the final fortnight of this remarkable season roars into view.  What will these next four games see.  Come and find out and cheer the lads to the rafters!

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 down from Longridge for this game.

As mentioned above, matches between the two sides have always been highly entertaining, so much so that Longridge are currently unbeaten in their two previous clashes at the HWRS.

Two injury time goals for the Rams secured a 3-3 draw back in November 2023 and last season’s game ended 2-2 with the Rams losing a 2-0 half-time lead only for the visitors to score twice in the second half to take a share of the spoils.

The game at Inglewhite Road post Christmas also closed 2-2 when Jack Anderton grabbed an equaliser with two minutes remaining after Jacob Holland-Wilkinson and Luke Sephton had put the Rams ahead having gone a goal down early on.

The head to head is one win each and three draws and there has been an average of over four goals a game in the five previous clashes.  Hold on to your hats – its going to be fun once again!

STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“It was really disappointing not to come away from Merseyside with at least something on Saturday but we know that these next four games are going to be tough, starting with this game against Longridge Town who never roll over.

“It’s four cup finals now and we just need to keep winning our games and let fate take its course.”