Ramsgate FC badge
Full nameRamsgate Football Club
Nickname(s)The Rams
Founded1945
GroundSouthwood Stadium, Ramsgate
Capacity3,500
OwnerJames Lawson
ManagerBen Smith
LeagueIsthmian League South East Division
2022–23Isthmian League South East Division, 2nd of 20
WebsiteClub website

Ramsgate Football Club are a football team based in Ramsgate, Kent, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Southwood Stadium. The main local rivals of the club are Margate who are situated just 4 miles away. When the two teams meet, it is known as the Thanet derby.

History

The earliest incarnation of Ramsgate FC had played since at least 1886 but folded in 1924, with local rivals Ramsgate Glenville taking over their Southwood Stadium. Glenville did not reform after World War II and a new club dubbed Ramsgate Athletic took over Southwood. The club retained the Athletic name until 1972.

Athletic played in the original incarnation of the Kent League from their formation until the collapse of the league in 1959. This was the club's best period for nearly 50 years, with two consecutive league titles, several county cups, and a run to the first round of the FA Cup. With the collapse of the Kent League the Rams migrated to the Southern League, where they initially did well but were forced to resign and drop down to the re-formed Kent League in 1976.

For nearly thirty years the club performed well without seriously challenging for promotion, but their fortunes changed in 2004 with the return of former manager Jim Ward. He led the club to two consecutive championships (Kent League Premier Division and Isthmian League First Division), taking the club into the Isthmian League Premier Division for 2006–07, which therefore offered the first derby matches for many years against Isle of Thanet rivals Margate. In the club's first season in the Premier Division the Rams finished in 9th place, and followed this with an even better season in 2007–08, finishing in 5th place to reach the play-offs, although they were beaten 2–1 in the semi-final by Staines Town. The Rams also won the Isthmian League Cup, beating AFC Sudbury on penalties at Dartford's Princes Park ground. The following season, however, Ramsgate finished bottom of the table and were relegated.

The 2023–24 season saw Ramsgate reach the second round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history, defeating National League club Woking 21 in the first round to earn a trip to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, who won the match 50.[1][2][3]

Stadium

Ramsgate (red shirts) take on AFC Wimbledon in December 2007

Ramsgate play their home games at the Southwood Stadium, Price's Avenue, Ramsgate, CT11 0AN.

Southwood Stadium was the home of earlier Ramsgate clubs Ramsgate Town and Ramsgate Grenville, and became the home of Ramsgate Athletic upon their foundation after the Second World War. The largest crowd registered at the ground was 5,038 for the visit of local rivals Margate in 1955.[4]

Supporters

The old logo of the club

In the 2007–08 season, Ramsgate's average attendance was 369, the twelfth highest figure in the Isthmian League Premier Division. For the visit of rivals Margate the crowd was 1,210, nearly double the attendance at any other match. The 2011–12 season had an average attendance of 159, 2012–13 was 157, 2013–14 was 269, 2014–15 was 248, 2015–16 was 207 and 2016–17 was 237.[5]

Current squad

As of 12 January 2024[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Tom Hadler
2 DF England ENG Alfie Young
3 DF England ENG Jack Parter
5 DF England ENG Craig Stone
6 MF England ENG Bode Anidugbe
7 MF England ENG Benny Bioletti
8 DF England ENG Jack A Paxman
9 FW England ENG Joe Taylor
10 FW England ENG Jordan Green
11 FW England ENG Alfie Paxman
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK England ENG Archie Simmons
14 MF England ENG Medy Elito
15 MF England ENG Lee Martin
16 MF England ENG Jack S Paxman
17 MF England ENG Michael West (captain)
18 DF England ENG Dan Johnson
20 MF England ENG TJ Jadama
-- MF England ENG Tristan Holden
-- DF England ENG Louie Procopi (on dual registration with Canterbury City)
-- FW England ENG Wes Hennessy (on dual registration with Deal Town)

Club officials

Ramsgate FC

President: Lord Pendry
Directors: James Lawson
Vice-Presidents: Martin Able, Kevin Barham, David Butler, Ian Heath, Paul Jefcoate, Richard Lawson, Malcolm Mitchell, Steve Redford, Foy Turner, Colin West
General Manager: Ian Heath
Club Secretary: Caroline Greenfield
Matchday Secretary: Kevin Barham
Media Officer: Dan Whitehead
Safety & Welfare Officer: James Lawson
Equality & Diversity Officer: Elliot Austin
Programme Editor: Martin Able

Football management

Manager: Ben Smith
Assistant manager: Reion McFarlane
First Team Coaches : Seb Tidey & Sean Hill
Goalkeeping coach: Lee Hook
Physiotherapist: Georgina Dean

Managerial history

Name Dates Achievements
England Bob Harrop1978 – 1981
England P.Gilbert1981 – 1983
England S.Jest1983 – 1985
England L.Smith1985 – 1989Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1988 & 1989
England Vic Medus1989 – 1990
England Bob Wickens1990 – 1992
England Paul Rimmer/England Lennie Lee1992 – 1993Kent League Cup Winners 1993
England Lennie Lee1993 – 1996Kent League Cup Winners 1994 & 1995/Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1994 & 1995
Scotland Jim WardJuly 1996 – June 2001Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1997/Kent League Champions 1999/Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1999/Kent League Cup Winners 2001
England Peter HookJuly 2001 – March 2004
Scotland Jim WardMarch 2004 – April 2012Kent League Champions 2005/Kent League Cup Winners 2005/Kent League Charity Shield Winners 2005/Isthmian League Division One Champions 2006/FA Cup 1st Round 2005-06/Isthmian League Cup Winners 2008/Isthmian League Premier Play Offs 2007-08
England Tim DixonApril 2012 – February 2014
England Dean Hill & Mark Weatherly (Caretaker managers)March 2014
England Justin LuchfordMarch 2014 – May 2014
England Dean HillMay 2014 – January 2015
England Simon HalseyJanuary 2015 – May 2015
Scotland Jim Ward/Danny WardMay 2015 – January 2017
England Lloyd BlackmanJanuary 2017 – December 2018
England Nick DavisDecember 2018 – September 2019
England Jason LillisOctober 2019 – December 2019
England Matt LonghurstDecember 2019 – April 2022
Wales Steve LovellApril 2022 – January 2023
England Jamie CoyleFebruary 2023 – April 2023
England Ben SmithMay 2023 – PresentNew Records - FA Cup 2nd Round 2023-24/FA Trophy 1st Round 2023-24

Honours

  • Isthmian League
    • First Division Champions 2005–06
    • League Cup Winners 2007–08
  • Kent League
    • Champions 1948–49, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1998–99, 2004–05
    • League Cup Winners 1948–49, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2000–01, 2004–05
  • Thames & Medway Combination Champions' Cup
    • Winners 1959–60
  • Thames & Medway Combination Eastern Division Champions
    • 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61
  • Kent Senior Cup
    • Winners 1963–64
  • Kent Senior Shield
    • Winners 1960–61, 1967–68, 1968–69
  • Kent Senior Trophy
    • Winners 1987–88, 1988–89, 1998–99
  • Kent League Charity Shield
    • Winners 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005

Records

Former players

References

  1. "Ramsgate 2–1 Woking: Eighth-tier Ramsgate make FA Cup second round". BBC Sport. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. "FA Cup second round: Eighth-tier Ramsgate out to shock AFC Wimbledon in 'day on telly'". BBC Sport. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  3. "Ali al-Hamadi caps AFC Wimbledon rout to end Ramsgate's FA Cup fairytale". Guardian. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  4. Ramsgate Pyramid Passion
  5. "Attendances: Southern Counties East League Premier Division". Tony's English Football Site. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  6. "Squad". Ramsgate F.C. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  7. Ramsgate at the Football Club History Database
  8. Ramsgate Athletic at the Football Club History Database
  9. 1 2 3 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2020) Non-League Club Directory 2021, p573 ISBN 978-1869833848
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