Loyalty bonus to lure fans

Promotion-chasing Ramsbottom United are pledging to let fans see their upcoming derby clash against Salford City for free if a thousand or more supporters turn up at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium on Easter Saturday to see them take on Farsley FC.

Having secured a place in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division North last season, the second placed Rams are already attracting the division's highest gates. To keep them going in the final weeks of the campaign and reward their loyal fans, club officials announced on Monday that they'd teamed up with the Ramsbottom United Supporters Club to launch the Rammy1000 initiative for their Ammies derby on Tuesday 9 April.

The Rams are also using the fixture to back the Evo-Stik NPL's official charity Kit Aid, with the club hoping fans will bring along any unwanted kit or football equipment for the charity's annual Easter Weekend Collection for less fortunate young footballers around the world.

Club spokesman Tony Cunningham: "We've surprised everyone with the way we've adapted to the much higher standard of football in this league but it's not as much of a surprise as teams are getting when our travelling support is outnumbering the home fans all over the North of England!

"We came up with the Rammy1000 idea to try and help make people aware of the fantastic things that are going on down at the Riverside Stadium. With two young managers and a great squad of players we're seeing some of the best football on display anywhere.

"We really want the town of Rammy to get behind these lads as we head towards the playoffs for a potential second promotion in as many seasons. If Rammy are to achieve what that lads have shown that they're capable of, then we need as many people as possible cheering them on, and what better way than to let everyone in for free!"

The Rams say the Rammy1000 idea came as a shock to Chairman Harry Williams before he saw the merit in the scheme and decided to back it.

Williams said: "Our attendances are top of the league, both home and away and I think it'd be lovely to reward our fans with something that's really worth having. They follow the team all over the place, and if we can get more people down to watch Rammy then it can only be good for the players, and for the club."

RUSC are now on a publicity mission to make Rammy1000 a success. Apart from organising a series of promotions this week, they've also launched a special promotional website.

Spokesman Robb Moss said: "We need everyone to tell all their family, friends and colleagues about the game on Easter Saturday and the website rammy1000.net. We need that 1000 fans through the turnstiles, and we need it to be the biggest thing that has ever happened at the club.

"We're distributing 5000 flyers, 300 posters and have all manner of promotional events going on, but most of all the need the support of the people of Ramsbottom and its surroundings. We know that the town is really behind the team, and we ask that each and every person with even a remote interest in football come down to the match on the 30th to help us show everyone that Rammy is a club that really means business!

"We'd also like to extend a welcome to fans of other clubs who don't have a game on Easter Saturday, such as Bury, and to our friends up the valley in Rawtenstall and Haslingden. They've been used to some quality football through the years at Rossendale United, and we'd be delighted to welcome them to Rammy matches."