Rams rewarded for turnaround

Ramsbottom United’s joint managers Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson will be hoping their side won’t need to transform the club’s fortunes to win their next Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Club of the Month Award.

Rammy’s joint bosses are pictured collecting October’s Evo-Stik NPL First Division North Club of the Month Award on Saturday from League Secretary Angie Firth at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium before their 1-1 draw with New Mills.

Morley and Johnson guided their side to six wins and a draw from their seven matches last month, with the run including a 6-0 win over a previously unbeaten Lancaster City and a 7-2 FA Trophy victory over the Premier Division's Worksop Town.

The results have lifted the Rams to eight points off a play-off spot and a delighted Johnson, centre, said the entire club was proud of the turnaround after their shaky start to the campaign.

He said: "The whole of the playing and management staff are very proud to have won the award. Even more so because of our start to the season [four successive defeats]. For the lads to turn things around so quickly and so impressively makes it even more enjoyable."

In the process, Rammy scored 26 goals and like October's other winners were presented with an inscribed certificate marking their achievement and a 4.5 litre bottle of Bells Whisky.

Garry Flitcroft’s title-chasing Chorley took the top fight’s award and were the first of October's Evo-Stik NPL Club of the Month winners to be honoured on Bonfire night by League Vice-Chairman and Matlock Chief Executive Keith Brown before kicking off against the Gladiators and going on to win 3-1.

The First Division South accolade went to Coalville Town. Like Ramsbottom, they collected their reward on Saturday before drawing 1-1 at home to Sheffield FC, League Representatives Mark and Alan Ogley making the presentation.