Willcock moves for Dale keeper
RAMS BOTTOM United manager Chris Willcock has moved quickly to cover the short-term absence of goalkeeper Tom Stewart, who is out through injury.
Coming in to take his position between the sticks is 19 year old Bradley Wade, on a month’s loan from local League One side Rochdale.
The youngster is highly regarded at the Crown Oil Arena, having signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2018. He recently signed an extension keeping him at the dale until 2022.
He spent the latter half of last season on loan at National League side Barrow.
Brad has been with Rochdale since the age of 15 and has played in three FA Youth Cup campaigns, and was a key member of the youth team as they lifted the EFL Youth Alliance league North-West title last season.
He made his debut for the Rams in their 3-2 victory over Pickering Town at the weekend.
The club have also extended the loan period of Josh Hmami, who joined the club from Welsh League champions TNS, initially until 2nd
January.
Struggling for game time in the early part of the season, Josh has forced his way into the starting eleven of late with some impressive performances, so much so that he was voted the Supporters “Player-of-the-Month” for December as the team rose to third in the table.
He helped the Rams goal-scoring record by adding four himself in a month when the team notched up sixteen goals from their four games, lifting them up to third position in the table.
Josh’s initial loan ended on 2nd January, but the club are delighted that the local youngster, who was previously on the books of Accrington Stanley, has extended that loan until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, supporters have voted for their Goalof-the-Month for December, and had a fair few to choose from.
Moving up the BetVictor NPL North West Division table from the midreaches to third spot, the team notched sixteen goals during the month, but the one that caught the eye was the excellent finish following a sublime through ball from captain
Tom Kennedy against Mossley that Nic Evangelinos threaded home to give the Rams a 3-1 lead on the stroke of half-time, before they went on to win by an emphatic 7-1.
Both Nic and Josh received their awards – a case of beer kindly donated by Irwell Works Brewery – before the home game against Pickering Town, presented by Supporters Club member Iain Round.