PRESENTATION NIGHT

Lewis Hindley, Rob Henry, Steve Wilkes and Tony Dunn with the Premier Division Runners-Up trophy.

Having finished the campaign in the North West Counties League Premier Division in second place with a record haul of 98 points, the Rams frustratingly missed out on promotion having been beaten in the play-offs.

The disappointment however, did not darken the mood as the club held its end-of-season awards night at the Buchanan Sports and Social Club in the town, on Saturday night.

As the club had this season, for the first time, introduced a Ladies team, it was decided to hold a joint celebration, with the ladies receiving their awards from manager Ste Ryan.

The audience of well over 100 showed their appreciation to the ladies and were thrilled to learn that, so successful had the launch been, next season there would be a second Ladies team introduced.

With a successful First team, and a thriving Junior set-up accomodating over 700 local youngsters, the two Ladies teams merely confirmed how Ramsbottom United Football Club continues to grow and flourish in the town.

Women’s Awards
Clubwoman of the Year – KATIE WORSICK
Top Goalscorer – NICOLE DUFFY
Fans Player – VIC WESTERMAN
Managers Player – SOFIA ALBO-ELLIOTT
Players Player – ALYSSA WOODS

The First Team awards were presented by Tony Cunningham and outgoing manager Steve Wilkes.

Wilkes gleefully held up the NWCFL Runners-up trophy, to much acclaim, before presenting the players and coaching staff with their individual medals.

Andy Spensley and Katie Worsick from the Supporters Club, presented HARVEY HAYHURST with the “Player-of-the-Month” award for April, before calling up the winner of the “Supporters Club Player-of-the-Year”, MAINE WALDER.

The “Players Player-of-the-Year” trophy went to their popular colleague HARVEY HAYHURST.

Steve Wilkes described his choice for “Managers Player-of-the-Year” as a difficult one, as a number of players had been in contention, but having to plump for just one name, that name, once again, was MAINE WALDER.

Wilkes also spoke about the choice of “Clubman of the Year”, which again proved a difficult decision. However, having been out injured for the last two months of the season, the choice of OSCAR RADCLIFFE, presented with his award by coach Rob Henry, was enthusiastically received.

There was an extra accolade this year – the Done Dirty Award. Ultra Emma Stratford got a selection of photos of the players with funny expressions/grimaces and did a vote for the best/funniest/worst and LUKE BARLOW was voted the winner!

The final award, however, is always regarded as the big one, as it is that voted for by all the clubs supporters.

The large cup is now engraved with the name of HARVEY HAYHURST, for the second successive season, and whilst the large trophy remains at the club, Harvey took home his own personal trophy.

Men’s Awards
Supporters Club Player of the Season – MAINE WALDER
Players Player – HARVEY HAYHURST
Managers Player – MAINE WALDER
Clubman of the Year – OSCAR RADCLIFFE
Supporters Player of the Season – HARVEY HAYHURST

Compere Tony Cunningham thanked the various people involved in running the club, both First Team and Ladies, naming many individuals, before presenting three ladies with lovely bunches of flowers.

Special mention was made of all the sponsors and advertisers for their financial input, espcially main club sponsor Phil Rose of Rosebridge, and also acknowledged that Chairman Harry Williams had now completed sixty years in the role.

He also stressed how much is involved with the running of a non-league football club, offering those present the opportunity of coming forward to help the club not only on matchdays, but also during the week, with the many duties required.

Final word went to manager Steve Wilkes, who has decided to retire after 29 years and 1330 matches as a manager. A very popular person at the club, idolised by the suppoorters, they were sad that his time at the club had come to an end, but he stressed how much he had loved being there for the last three years, and heaped praise on his players and back-room staff, as well as documenting his close ties with the supporters and vowing to return at some point to join the “Ultras”.

The night continued with musical duo Tom and Dan, and a raffle, which included a 43” television (!), and an auction, as the club attempted to raise funds for a new set of LED lights for their floodlights.

This ended the 2025/26 season, with hopes of more success to follow.