- Founded: 1940 (as Salford Central)
- Nickname: The Ammies
- Honours: National League North (2017/18), National League Play-Offs (2018/19), Papa John’s Trophy (2020*) *Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Final was played 13, March 2021.
The origins of Salford City are obscure though a club having been founded as Salford Central in 1940 developed to become the modern team we see today. In 1980, Anson Villa (not a typo) merged with Salford before changing their name in 1990 to Salford City. The club nickname The Ammies derives from another former name, Salford Amateurs.
The City of Salford is a metropolitan borough in the Greater Manchester sub-urbs, with the name adopted by the largest Town there. Salford is of course famous for its quays and Media City UK which houses the BBC amongst other major media corporations.
Salford became a large silk distribution centre during the industrial revolution and was a major inland port for the Manchester Shipping Canal.
In true community spirit, Salford City are now owned by ex-players from another local club, who have made rapid progress in their project. Salford have won four promotions in six seasons to now become a Football League club for the first time in their history and the standards are now so high at the club, not even seventh in the league (where they sit going into Saturday’s fixture) is enough for the Class of ’92.
Sutton clung on to a draw against League Two promotion rivals Northampton after being reduced to 10 men.
They played the last 16 minutes a man light after Craig Eastmond was dismissed for a dangerous challenge.
Both sides had their goalkeepers to thank for earning a point, with Dean Bouzanis and Liam Roberts making key saves in either half.
The hosts started the game brightly with Omar Bugiel firing over after seven minutes before Alistair Smith had a shot saved.
Bouzanis got the better of Chanka Zimba in a one-on-one to prevent Northampton going ahead.
Town’s Sam Hoskins had a shot comfortably saved after 34 minutes, before Isaac Olaofe failed to find the target with a mis-hit shot at the other end.
Visiting keeper Roberts made a great close-range save to keep out Will Randall early in the second period.
David Ajiboye fired over from distance after 55 minutes as Sutton enjoyed a good start to the half.
Eastmond received his marching orders for a high challenge on Mitch Pinnock but United successfully shut up shop in a scrappy end to the game.
Salford returned to winning ways as an Ash Hunter free-kick and Remeao Hutton’s own goal clinched a 2-0 League Two win at lowly Barrow.
Smarting from last Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by Colchester, this was the perfect response by Gary Bowyer’s side, who move into the top half of the table.
Hunter netted the winner when the sides met at Holker Street last December but had not found the net this term until firing in his 59th minute 20-yarder.
Tom King kept out skipper Ollie Banks’ long-range free-kick as Barrow rallied.
However, a Bluebirds side without a home win in 2022 laboured to make any other decent chances.
Substitute Stephen Kelly was denied by keeper Paul Farman in stoppage time, but Salford achieved a second goal their performance deserved when Hutton slid the ball beyond Farman in the closing stages.
Barrow remain fourth bottom but have now lost three successive league games at Holker Street and are struggling for form and confidence. Salford move up to ninth, four points off the play-offs.
Salford captain Ash Eastham grabbed a dramatic injury-time equaliser as his side twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with high-flying Northampton.
Cobblers substitute Mitch Pinnock looked to have headed the winner for Town before Eastham got on the end of an Ash Hunter cross to rescue the Ammies.
Salford could have led inside two minutes when Town goalkeeper Liam Roberts reacted well to keep out Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Instead the Cobblers struck first when Paul Lewis headed home after captain Fraser Horsfall flicked on a Sam Hoskins long throw.
Salford were level when midfielder Matty Lund arrowed a stunning half-volley into the top corner midway through the first half.
The home side dominated possession and were the better side after the break.
Northampton survived a desperate goalmouth scramble early in the second period to keep Salford out and then struck against the run of play. Aaron McGowan swung over a hanging cross and Salford stopper Tom King was unable to keep out Pinnock’s header from close range.
Northampton looked to have seen out the win to go second in the table until Eastham rose highest to equalise again and relieve some of the pressure on boss Gary Bowyer.
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
Ryan Watson
Tom Neild will take charge of the Cobblers match v Salford this Saturday.
The West Yorkshire-based official will travel to the Sixfields Stadium for his 22nd game of the season and his 8th in Sky Bet League Two.
This is his fourth season as an EFL referee, with the 2017-18 campaign his first.
The official has had a busy year in 2020 off the pitch as he’s a senior nurse/matron with the Acute & Emergency Service at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and has been working hard on the front line along with spending his evenings and weekends on a football pitch. He will be moving into a Head of Nursing role in due course.
This is Tom’s second time taking charge of a Northampton game this season, previously in October 2021 when the Cobbles beat Tranmere 2-0.
So far this season he’s shown 94 yellow cards and 2 red cards.
Stuart Butler and Grant Taylor
Fourth Official : Daniel Cook
| Date | Match | Yellow | Red |
| 23rd Oct 2021 | Tranmere 0 The Cobblers 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 16th Sep 2020 | Bristol City 4 The Cobblers 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13th March 2021 | Doncaster 0 The Cobblers 0 | 5 | 0 |
John Brady
“They have a lot of quality in their squad but we will take the challenge head on,” he said.
“We did very well up there earlier in the season, we were disappointed to concede late on but we are at home and we will be going for the three points.blob:https://cobblerspast.com/ee3fe9b9-bf90-4545-9ef0-895e0ea857d7
“We’ve had some tough games in January and we’ve shown that we are a hell of a side at this level.
“We need to score more and we are working on ways we can create more opportunities.
“We go out to win games and we play on the front foot. I’m so proud of this group and the energy and commitment they have to go week in week out.
“We might not be the best at putting the ball in the back of the net but we are working tirelessly hard and I’m sure it will come.”
| 1 | Northampton are unbeaten in all three previous Football League meetings with Salford (W2 D1), winning their only home game against them so far 2-0 in October 2019. |
| 2 | Salford have conceded exactly two goals in each of their three Football League games against Northampton (D1 L2). |
| 3 | Northampton are currently winless in four league games (D2 L2), which comes after a four-game winning run. |
| 4 | Salford have picked up all three points in four of their last six away matches in League Two (L2), with all four victories coming with a clean sheet. |
