With a total of 279 appearances in his Rammy career, Grant Shenton looks back at his Rammy highs and lows across his six season spell with the club.

Name: Grant Shenton
Appearances: 279  (1 as sub)
Clean sheets: 67
Yellow cards: 14
Red cards: 1
Seasons: 6 – 2010/11 to 2015/16

How did you come to join Ramsbottom United?
Rammy came about after Bernard had watched me play at, believe it or not, the old Salford City ground. I played for Langley Celtic on a Sunday back then with some of the lads from FC United. I was in the FC youth team at the time and on the bench for the first team. I was going to sign for New Mills that season but after meeting the gaffers and coming and watching that game at Formby, where I first met you, I decided to sign at Rammy. At the time, New Mills were offering me double what I would be getting at Rammy. The reason I picked Rammy was 100% the gaffers and the amount of trust they were putting in me at such a young age. They had Martin Campbell at the time in net and he was an established NWCFL keeper so for them to want to go with me was a huge vote of confidence. Plus, as you know, we got on like a house on fire!

Rammy highlight?
Hard to pick just one if I’m honest. Because, to tell the truth, my highlight point was a game I couldn’t play in because of my broken leg. But beating Bamber Bridge in the play-offs was just that. I had a fantastic season personally. I made “Team of the Year” for the league and I might have picked up an award from the club too but I can’t remember for definite. So to not be able to play in the clubs’ biggest games was hard to take. But the feeling of winning the play-offs was amazing.

Favourite game?
To give you a game that I played in would either be Salford City at home in the FA Cup when we were in the Counties, beating them last minute or Blyth away in the FA Trophy.

Rammy lowlight?
My lowest point came in my final season with Rammy. I was hoping to leave the club at the end of the season. I wasn’t going to leave for Salford with the rest of the squad but more to the point that I felt I had given all I could to Ramsbottom. I wanted to take that step higher that I had previously turned down to remain with the club. So when we stayed up that year, it would have been, for me, the best time to part ways. The club and manager at the time (Robbo) wanted me to stay and actioned the option in my contract. I took it very personal as I had asked to leave, So, as a result of that, looking back, I regret the way I conducted myself that next season. I was club captain but didn’t behave like one should as I had done the year prior. I wish I wouldn’t have taken it so personally but I was young and wet behind the ears. So relegation that season capped off my lowest season.

Best player you played with?
Easiest answer – Danny Warrender. You’ll find it hard to find a lad who played with him to tell you different.

Player to avoid on the pitch?
Either Mickey Morrison or Robbo – both very tough physical players.

Funniest moments?
That is hard to choose. Every season I was at the club was eventful and pretty much every coach trip we had. It didn’t matter if it was pre–season, during the season, FA Cup or league game – win or lose, we booze!!! Naked naked bus, naked bus, naked bus!!!!!!