League rallies behind Rams

Even before Christmas Monday's top flight clash with Workington at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium was postponed at lunchtime on Sunday with their ground still under two feet of water, the spirits of club's devastated fans and officials were being lifted with offers of help from fellow clubs and would-be volunteers.

Members of the NLP Facebook Group are helping to coordinate those offering to lend a hand this week while a number of clubs led by Premier Division rivals Halesowen Town have already announced they'll be holding bucket collections during their Christmas Monday fixtures and again next weekend.

After the incessant rains that flooded many parts of Cumbria before Christmas, Storm Eva has left communities across Wales, the North West and Yorkshire counting the cost of widespread flooding with thousands of people still without power and hundreds evacuated from their homes and businesses. Scores of flood warnings are still in place, more than 20 of them severe, meaning danger to life, after the downpours.

The Rams saw their ground and nearby cricket club submerged under three and half foot of flood water at one point on Boxing Day, pictured, after the adjacent River Irwell burst its banks. As well as their playing surface and car park, the club's dressing rooms, tea bar, generator room, secretary's office and other public areas have all been hit.

Rammy officials are now waiting on the flood waters to recede further in order to access the full extent of the damage and are hoping to start a major clean-up operation from 11am on Monday morning with volunteers urged to bring along mops, buckets, cleaning cloths, cleaning fluids and jet washers.

After the offers of help the club has already received, a grateful Ramsbottom United secretary Tony Cunningham said: "It’s a massive task and we need as much help as possible. Knowing the Non-League fraternity, there will be many willing to help us through this difficult period."

For more information visit: www.rammyunited.co.uk

Images courtesy of Ramsbottom United/Chris Woolfall

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