Shenton holds fond memories of Rams spell
GRANT Shenton insists Ramsbottom United will always hold a special place in his heart.
Buxton FC goalkeeper Shenton spent six years at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium after signing from FC United, clocking up a highly impressive 278 appearances for the Rams and keeping 67 clean sheets in the process.
The shot-stopper was only 18 when he first played for the club under Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, gaining promotion in his first season, memories which the now 30-year-old remembers fondly to this day.
Speaking to the NonLgeKeeper Podcast he said: “I was the first player in the club’s history to get a contract at the time which showed the faith that the gaffers had in me at such a young age.
“We won the North West Counties that year, we went on an unbelievable run and we were by far the best team that year.
“It was us and Runcorn Town going for the title and we were just better in every way.”
The success did not stop there though as it only took Rammy another two seasons before they won promotion once again.
“We got promoted then into the NPL North West and the first year we missed out on the playoffs with one of the last kicks of the game against that year’s champions Skelmersdale”, said Shenton. “Then the following year we did it via the playoffs, beat Darlington and Bamber Bridge away.
“Did it the hard way to go up, it was unbelievable because we definitely deserved it that year and it just worked, we were such a fantastic team that season.
“A lot of players in the team were just workhorses but as a team we turned up and played but I probably wasn’t as committed to the cause as I should have been.
“It was a difficult season that year I must admit and then when the relegation happened it was inevitable.”
Moves to Stalybridge Celtic and Trafford followed, before he teamed up with Johnson and Morley again at Chester.
He spent a season with them before joining Buxton in the summer of 2019.
Despite the sour end to his time with the Rams, Shenton still clearly holds great affection with the club and in particular the owner Harry Williams.
“I love the club and I wish the last season hadn’t gone the way it did.
“I’ve got no bad feelings towards Ramsbottom at all, I love Harry and still speak to him from time-to-time.
“It’s big in my heart Ramsbottom and always will be!” were unbelievable, we all just wanted to win for each other, and it was a siege mentality against everybody else.”
Sadly, for the former Rammy number one, his final season ended in relegation and admits his own performances were not up to the standards they could have been.
On his final season Shenton admitted: “That season I definitely didn’t cover myself in glory, I still