Ramsgate F.C.

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Ramsgate FC
Full nameRamsgate Football Club
Nickname(s)The Rams
Founded1945
Ground Southwood Stadium, Ramsgate
Capacity3,500
OwnerJames Lawson
ManagerBen Smith
League Isthmian League Premier Division
2024–25 Isthmian League South East Division, 1st of 22 (promoted)
Website https://www.ramsgatefc.co.uk

Ramsgate Football Club are a football team based in Ramsgate, Kent, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was founded in 1945 and was known as Ramsgate Athletic until 1972. After playing in the original Kent League in the 1950s, Ramsgate joined the Southern League in 1959. In 1976 they resigned from this league and returned to county-level competition in a new Kent League. In 2005 Ramsgate gained promotion to the Isthmian League Division One and secured a second consecutive promotion to the Premier Division a year later. Ramsgate were relegated in 2009 and have since played at the seventh level of the English football league system.

Contents

Ramsgate play at Southwood Stadium, which has undergone significant improvement since 2020, including the laying of a new 3G pitch. The main local rivals of the club are Margate who are situated just four 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] With the season having ended in disappointment with defeat in the play-offs, they were promoted as champions the following season. [4]

Stadium

Ramsgate FC, The WW Martin Community Stadium WW Martin Community Stadium.jpg
Ramsgate FC, The WW Martin Community Stadium

The Rams play their home games at Southwood Stadium, currently known under a sponsorship deal as the WW Martin Community Stadium. The ground has historically been best known for two large terraces at the Town End and the Manston Airport End behind each goal. Southwood Stadium has been the home of football in Ramsgate since the late 1800s and became the home of Ramsgate Athletic in 1945. Around this time the pitch was rotated 90 degrees, a covered Main Stand, later renamed the Colin Hill Stand, was erected with wooden benches installed running the length of the pitch and land parallel to the opposite touchline was used as a training pitch. Both ends of the ground were covered soon after which remained in place until the Great Storm of 1987 caused irreparable damage which resulted in only one side of the ground being covered until 2007, when both ends were once again covered. In the late 2000s the wooden benches were replaced with red seating.

Little improvement had been made at Southwood prior to James Lawson taking over as chairman in December 2019. In June 2020 Ramsgate refurbished the old Sponsor's Lounge and built the Corner Flag Bar, a glass fronted lounge overlooking the pitch as well as installing two Panna Cages.

2021 saw the laying of a 3G pitch. The opening of the pitch was against Tottenham Hotspur on 17 July 2021. The pitch is an artificial 3G playing surface which is graded at FIFA Quality Pro level, the highest ranking available. A car park for 200 cars replaced the previous training pitch.

Further advancements were made to increase the match day experience in 2022 with a elevated deck built between the Corner Flag Bar and Colin Hill Stand and new bar areas added. This area was further developed in 2023 with the installation of three containers providing bars for both sponsors and supporters. Future plans for Southwood include a new stand and education hub on the car park side of the ground.

Supporters

The old logo of the club Ramsgate F.C.png
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]

In the 202324 season the Rams average attendance grew to 1,075. During the season there was in excess of 1,000 fans at 14 games. 3,000 attended the FA Cup victory against Woking with over 2,500 watching the home draw with title rivals Cray Valley. 300 season tickets have been sold for the 202425 season.

Current squad

As of 7 August 2025 [6]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Aiden Prall
2 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Donvieve Jones
3 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Aaron Barnes
4 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Anthony Grant
5 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Raphe Brown
6 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Tom Clifford
7 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Benny Bioletti
8 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Lewis Gard
9 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Mitchell May
10 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Ryan Kingsford
11 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Alfie Paxman
No.Pos.NationPlayer
13 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Tom Hadler
14 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Harry Webster (on loan from Gillingham)
15 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Jerome Binnom-Williams
17 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Kai Garrett
18 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Billy Munday
20 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG TJ Jadama(captain)
21 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Dane Bough
22 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Leo Todd
23 MF Flag of England.svg  ENG Oliver Jackson
24 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Fin Waddell
25 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Mason Buckingham

Club officials

Ramsgate FC

President: Lord Pendry
Director: 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: Ian Heath
Matchday Secretary: Rob Hughes
Media Officer: Dan Whitehead
Safety & Welfare Officer: James Lawson
Equality & Diversity Officer: Elliot Austin
Programme Editor: Dan Whitehead

Football management

Director of Football: Seb Tidey
Manager: Ben Smith
Assistant Manager : Vacant
Coach : Sean Hill
Coach : Darren Beale
GK Coach : Henry Newcombe
Sports Therapist: Georgina Dean
Kit Manager: Philip Butler

Managerial history

NameDatesAchievements
Flag of England.svg Bob Harrop 1978 – 1981
Flag of England.svg P.Gilbert1981 – 1983
Flag of England.svg S.Jest1983 – 1985
Flag of England.svg L.Smith1985 – 1989Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1988 & 1989
Flag of England.svg Vic Medus1989 – 1990
Flag of England.svg Bob Wickens1990 – 1992
Flag of England.svg Paul Rimmer/ Flag of England.svg Lennie Lee1992 – 1993Kent League Cup Winners 1993
Flag of England.svg Lennie Lee1993 – 1996Kent League Cup Winners 1994 & 1995
Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1994 & 1995
Flag of Scotland.svg Jim WardJuly 1996 – June 2001Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1997
Kent League Champions 1999
Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1999
Kent League Cup Winners 2001
Flag of England.svg Peter HookJuly 2001 – March 2004
Flag of Scotland.svg Jim WardMarch 2004 – April 2012 Kent 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
Flag of England.svg Tim DixonApril 2012 – February 2014
Flag of England.svg Dean Hill & Mark Weatherly (Caretaker managers)March 2014
Flag of England.svg Justin LuchfordMarch 2014 – May 2014
Flag of England.svg Dean HillMay 2014 – January 2015
Flag of England.svg Simon HalseyJanuary 2015 – May 2015
Flag of Scotland.svg Jim Ward/Danny WardMay 2015 – January 2017
Flag of England.svg Lloyd Blackman January 2017 – December 2018
Flag of England.svg Nick DavisDecember 2018 – September 2019
Flag of England.svg Jason Lillis October 2019 – December 2019
Flag of England.svg Matt LonghurstDecember 2019 – April 2022
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Steve Lovell April 2022 – January 2023
Flag of England.svg Jamie CoyleFebruary 2023 – April 2023
Flag of England.svg Ben SmithMay 2023 – PresentIsthmian League South East Division champions 2024–25
FA Cup 2nd Round 2023-24
FA Trophy 1st Round 2023–24

Honours

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. "Rams clinch the title in style!". www.isthmian.co.uk. 18 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  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 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2020) Non-League Club Directory 2021, p573 ISBN   978-1869833848