PILKINGTON PREVIEW

It is another night under the lights at the HWRS on Tuesday evening as the season edges towards its exciting conclusion with the first of our meetings this season with the Glassmen of Pilkington.

MATCH: Ramsbottom United vs Pilkington
VENUE: Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS
COMPETITION: North West Counties League Premier Division
DATE: Tuesday 17th February 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:
After a seven day break since our last game, the Rams prepare themselves for five weeks solid of two fixtures in a week starting with the first of four of the next five at the HWRS and a clash with St Helens-based Pilkington.

The Rams head into this game unbeaten in their last eight league games which has ensured that they have stayed firmly in the play-off chasing pack, sitting in second place with a five point cushion over Irlam, Padiham and Burscough beneath.  There is still a long way to go – 15 games in fact – but title ambitions are still live with some huge games still to play.

Heading into town are Pilkington, who with 11 games left to play, are some 14 points clear of the relegation trapdoor so should certainly be in the NWCFL Premier Division for another season despite enduring a horrible run of form which has seen them collect just a single point in 2026 from nine games and score just five and concede 29.

However, they have won more games on the road than they have at home this season and, whilst down with City of Liverpool and, surprisingly, Padiham at the foot of the form table, they will head to the HWRS wanting to put a dent into our promotion hopes.

Of course, as we often mention, the Rams continue to hold the only unbeaten home record in the division and that will come under serious fire in the next few weeks with games against Euxton Villa and perennial point raiders from the HWRS, Padiham.

There is still a lot to play for this season and, once again, the Rams are in the shake-up.  Is this the year that we celebrate success again?  Time will tell but each of the next 15 games are hugely important and the players need your support.

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 across from Pilkington for this game.

It has been a little while since we last played against Pilkington – 16 November 2024 in fact – when 250 supporters came to see the Rams win 2-0 thanks to Corey Stacey’s double.  Few of the 80 fans that saw the reverse fixture that year will forget the all-action last few minutes when Liam Bott gave the Glassmen the lead with four minutes left but it wasn’t enough as Rob Wilson’s 92nd minute strike gave us a share of the spoils.

Our first ever meetings with Pilkington saw us win both league games 5-1 in the 2023/24 season.  Kuda Chingwaro’s (pictured above) four gave us the big win at home and it was Oumar Camara’s away day quad that brought the all the points back home.

STEVE WILKES SAYS:
“We have enjoyed the weeks break between games but have trained well.  But we know that this is an important phase of the season now with back-to-back games coming thick and fast.

“You will have seen some more new faces coming in, including young Finley Olsen, the son of the former Manchester United’s Jesper, who has moved over from Australia and has joined us.

“This is a huge run-in now with some big games coming up but it starts with us tonight against Pilkington, who will be hard to beat and we cannot take anything for granted.”