Stalwart stopper reaches milestone

22 Nov 2015 By David Watters

Ramsbottom United have congratulated keeper Grant Shenton on making his 250th appearance for the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club.

'Shents', who is also the club's captain, was hailed by officials after reaching the landmark on Saturday at Halesowen, giving Rammy fans something to cheer on their way back home to Lancashire after their 2-1 reverse.

Since arriving at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium in 2010 from FC United of Manchester, the stopper has won two promotions, first as the North West Counties League as champions in 2012 to win promotion into the EVO-STIK NPL and then as First Division North play-off winners in 2013.

Now in his sixth season with the Rams, the 24-year-old became the fourth player in the club's semi-professional era to reach the 200 games mark last term alongside John Blackley, Joel Pilkington and Phil Dean. Unsurprisingly, he claimed both the players and supporters' player of the year accolades in May.

A club spokesman said: "In over five years at Ramsbottom United, he has missed only a handful of games as he is quite rightly judged to be one of the best keepers at this level of Non-League football. Everyone at the club sends their congratulations."

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Where next?

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