Familiar faces in return to Rams
RAMS BOTTOM United joint managers Paul Fildes and Mark Fell are continuing with their recruitment ahead of the new season after welcoming three former players back to the club.
Joel Pilkington, Alex Meaney and Jake Cliffe have all signed deals that sees them return to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.
Pilkington is back in the ranks at Ramsbottom 18 months after deciding to take a break from football.
His new deal comes despite suffering a nasty Achilles injury during the pre-season match at Nel- son earlier this month.
That injury is set to keep the midfielder out of action for around three months, but Fildes and Fell were still keen to offer him a contract.
Meaney is also back after he was voted the Supporters’ Player of the Year last season. While it may have taken a while, he is now glad to have put pen to paper.
“I’m looking forward to a fresh start. We’ve all got our heads down and are working hard in training,” said Meaney.
“We are looking forward to a promotion push, especially with the new set of lads that the managers have brought in.”
Another player who impressed at Ramsbottom last year was 20-year-old Cliffe, who is equally as happy to be back at the club.
“The new managers have introduced new training sessions which the lads are really enjoying,” he said.
“The team spirit amongst the newcomers is great and we are hoping things go well on the pitch this season.”
Along with the three new signings, joint-manager Fell has also signed playing forms with the club, making him available for selection if needed.
One negative for Ramsbottom this week saw Jamie Rother suffer an injury during the match against New Mills.
Rother had been hoping to regain his fitness after missing much of last season with a knee injury, but just like Pilkington, he looked to suffer an Achilles problem that is set to keep him out for a while.
Ramsbottom travel to Prestwich Heys on Saturday, and were also set to take on a Bury XI as the Free Press went to print on Wednesday.
‘I’m looking for a fresh start. We’ve all got our heads down and are working hard in training’