Nelson preview

by | Oct 13, 2026

There is nothing like a local derby to get the juices flowing and this one has been a long time coming in the league as we welcome Nelson to the HWRS for the first time in over 16 years.

MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Nelson
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Saturday 17th 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 long, long time since the Rams and Nelson clashed in league competition.  There has been a couple of cup games in 2023 and 2025 but, in terms of the NWCFL, you have to go all the way back to April 2010 for the last meeting.

A lot has changed since then.  We have had 8 Prime Ministers, 6 Premier League champions, 2 promotions and two relegations and 14 Rammy managers.  The only consistents have been Harry as Rammy chairman and Chris Thompson in goal for Nelson – yes, he did play in that game in 2010, via Clitheroe, Droylsden, Kendal Town, Colne, Mossley and Rammy of course!

Nelson come to the HWRS in second place in the table, having been promoted out of NWCFL Division 1 last season, with eight wins and three defeats from their 11 starts so far this campaign.  They are just a point behind leaders Droylsden and feature a number of familiar faces, both on and off the pitch, who will surely be afforded a friendly welcome.

The side from Little Wembley had won five on the bounce before slipping at home to Irlam last Saturday 2-1 which cost them top spot in the table so will be wanting to returning to winning ways.

That is definitely the modus for the Rams too with just four points claimed in the last 12 available and a disappointing draw at home to FC St Helens a fortnight ago and then the poor 1-2 loss in the FA Vase at Sheffield last week.

Admittedly, the Rams have been severely hampered by injuries and various unavailability this season and manager Rob Henry is finding out how tough the managerial hot seat is but he, and his staff, are committed to turning things around as the start to the season, that sees the Rams down in 11th place, was far from what was hoped or envisaged.

A good performance against one of the in-form sides would certainly aid that deliverance as a climb up the table would give supporters plenty to be encouraged by.

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 17th meeting in all competitions between the sides since the first in the opening season of our time in the NWCFL way back in 1995.

The head-to-head record is heavily in favour of the Rams, with nine wins to Nelson’s three (four draws) and we have not lost a league game against our visitors since our first meeting on 28 August 1995, being hammered 4-0 at Victoria Park with player-manager Nigel Coates scoring twice in the opening five minutes and completed his hat-trick in the second half and Liam Roberts completed the rout.

Since then, it has been one-way traffic as the Rams stand unbeaten in the last 11 meetings including completing the double in the last season we met in 2009/10, 2-0 at Victoria Park thanks to Carl Lomax and Anthony Johnson and a 3-1 success at the Riverside in April 2010 as Jon Robinson, a Steve Maden own goal and Lomax again doing the damage after Adam Whiteside had given the visitors the lead.

Our most recent games have come in the League Cup in October 2023 and in the FA Vase in December 2025.  A Henri Ogunby hat-trick was enough to take the spoils in the former but it was very much all Nelson in the latter as Ryan Bolton, a Fin Devenney penalty and James Kemp scored in the second half to ensure their path to Round 4.