WELCOME TO RAMSGATE
Ramsgate Football Club, formerly Ramsgate Athletic, have been playing at The WW Martin Community Stadium, Southwood since 1886.
The Rams enjoyed success in 1970s and competed in the Southern League Premier, the highest level of non-league football
Following relegation to The Kent League, Ramsgate won numerous league titles, league cups and county cups during the 90s before more success in the 2000s.
The League & Cup double in 2004-05 saw The Reds promoted to Isthmian Division One, which the Thanet side won at their first attempt to gain promotion to Isthmian Premier. More success followed with Ramsgate winning the Isthmian League Cup
The Rams fought for promotion to National South in 2008 before eventually losing out in the play-offs before relegation back to Step 4 in 2009.
Following a boardroom overhaul in 2019, the club reassessed its philosophy, alongside a merger of Thanet Colts and Thanet United.
The club centralised its position in the community with an emphasis on breaking down social barriers and improving social inclusion in Thanet. The Rams now have over 70 youth teams and more than ten sides in the women’s section. The “More Than Just a Football Club” mantra has the main focus of Ramsgate FC, with the club also running holiday programmes for local children, running a number of charity fundraising initiatives and promoting physical and mental wellbeing across Thanet.
The League’s Respect statement: “The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the Football Association’s statement that there should be a zero-tolerance approach against all forms of discrimination. Any inappropriate conduct toward others, including but not limited to that based on an individual’s sex, race, colour, weight, size, religion and belief, national origin, age, marital or domestic-partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, will not be tolerated and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
The Isthmian League and our Member Clubs are committed to promoting equity and equality by treating all people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of our communities.”
CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER
Good afternoon and welcome to the WW Martin community to stadium to today’s visitors AFC Croydon.
The last game of a calendar year is often a time for reflection. Many outside the club will point to that soaking wet evening of 30th April where Chichester defeated us in the play off semi final and label this year a failure.
History will not judge it that way. We have acquired a points total that will comfortably be amongst the highest our club has ever garnered in a calendar year, and our community projects have hit new highs. Our youth section has never been in a better place and our average attendances never higher.
People outside the club, probably envious of our current position, will label us “bottlers” or warn of a steep decline on the horizon. In truth, I can understand why they shout these things so loudly as the bad tidings come from their own recent experience’s.
What is forgotten is that we have our own experience of such decline, and draw upon it to make the club stronger and more sustainable today.
In the summer of 2008, Jim Ward’s Rams had just won through to the Isthmian Prem play offs with a golden generation of local players. For a variety of reasons, they left throughout that summer - leading to a period of recruitment that saw us assemble one of our most expensive ever sqauds that subsequently finished bottom of the league that season. This led to a relegation that harvested a decade of lower half finishes in step four. Hindsight probably suggests this talented group of local lads success on the field promoted the club when it wasn’t ready off the field.
Who knows what 2025 will hold, but we do know that we have the foundations of a strong club backed by a large, loyal following and we aim to ensure that any success is built on a long term sustainable model.
Whatever is in store for us over the next 12 months, let’s enjoy it together starting with today’s game.
Come on you Rams!
James Lawson
FROM THE GAFFER
Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to the WW Martin Community Stadium today as we take on AFC Croydon Athletic. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas with your loved ones, and I’d also like to welcome Keith Millen and the players, fans and officials of AFC Croydon here today.
It feels like only yesterday that we began our league campaign away at today’s visitors. I think I speak for us all when I say TJ’s late winner gave us all such a lift that day, and it gave us the platform to kick on and put together a very good start to the season. Of course, it’s so important that we turn a good start into a good finish, and that begins again today.
There have been changes at AFC Croydon since we last saw them, and in Keith they have a superb manager. He has a lot of pedigree in the game, having worked in the Championship for many years - and his team will prove a stern test for us today. We will have to be at it from the first whistle once again.
We know how important it is to maintain our good form from the early part of the season. It’s a very competitive league once again, and it’s always a challenge for us as the teams we play see us as their cup final. We have to ensure that we stay focussed on ourselves and therefore put in the best performances that we can.
The games certainly come at you thick and fast at this time of the year, and the support of the fans is absolutely vital to us during this period. The players and coaches appreciate the support more than we can put into words, and we’ll be doing all we can to ensure the second half of the season ends with what we all want - promotion.
Sing loud today!
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
Afternoon Rams fans,
It feels like yesterday that we were all travelling up to Croydon for the first game of the season! Today’s game sees us kick off the second half of this seasons fixtures, and it’s mad how quickly the time has gone by.
TJ scored a big goal for us that day to give us the three points, and to be honest that goal bonded us as a club at the time we needed it most. Hopefully today’s result keeps us moving in that direction, especially going into the New Year.
I think we have become a settled squad since the last time we played Croydon, and the squad we have built is very strong. We’re seeing a few of our youngsters now established in the dressing room, and all in all we’re in a very good spot.
This busy festive period is one of the favourite times of my season. There is a lot of football played during this time, as well as a lot of good times enjoyed with family and friends. As a club, let’s enjoy today and get the three points!
All the best,
OCTOBER 24
NOVEMBER 24
9th
12th
23rd
30th
DECEMBER 24
1st
8th
15th
22nd
MARCH 25
8th
APRIL 25
25
25
TODAY’S VISITORS
AFC Croydon Athletic was officially born on 6th February 2012 after a group of supporters gathered at Selhurst Evangelical Church in South Norwood to form a new club. The newly appointed committee had just 7 weeks to put everything in place to convince the Football Association and the League that they were worthy of a place at Step 6 in the pyramid. Despite the challenge it was a successful journey. The need to form a new club had come about because of the demise Croydon Athletic FC who had folded playing its last game in December 2011.
A successful first season in Division One of the Combined Counties League saw a creditable 8th position. The club also won its first piece of silverware by winning the Lemon Recordings Division One cup by beating Staines Lammas 5-0 at Windsor.
The Club returned to its Spiritual home of Mayfield Stadium on 15th November 2014 with a game against Banstead Athletic. The club maintained a promotion chasing position all season and finally clinched 2nd place with a 3-0 victory over Cobham FC. The club also won its 2nd piece of silverware when winning the London Senior Trophy beating Interwood 4-3 after extra time.
With the FA having placed the club in The Southern Counties East Football League following promotion for the 2015/16 season the club then maintained their position in the league by finishing 11th. In the close season manager Antony Williams resigned as Manager and the club replaced him with Kevin Rayner. His first season saw a highest finish so far of 7th.
A move back to the Combined Counties League followed the reorganisation by the FA and two interrupted seasons due to Covid. Rayner remained at the helm throughout but the results were more of a struggle as the team finished in the lower half of the divison.
In May 2023 Rayner recruited Lee Roots as his new joint Manager for the forthcoming season. Then in June 2023 it was announced that the Club had agreed to change ownership with a consortium of Danny Young, Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy taking control. The FA and the League gave their consent to that transfer just before the start of this season.
An opening day victory over Sutton Athletic in the FA Cup took place in front of a record 532 spectators. The next round at Horley Town was broadcast live on BBC Red Button and saw another victory. However, this proved to be the highlight and in September, after exiting the FA Cup and a loss to Jersey Bulls it was decided to part company with the management team.
In October Jermaine McGlashan was named Manager and he took charge of his first game away at Jersey Bulls which ended in a 1-0 victory. There followed a steady rise up the table from 17th place ultimately securing a play-off place with a 5-0 victory over Horley Town in the penultimate league game. The Playoffs involved two away fixtures first in Jersey and then at Knaphill winning both games 2-1 to secure promotion to the Isthmian League for the first time. McGlashan left the club by mutual consent in September 2024 and Michael Kamara is in temporary charge of the team. In November 2024 experienced coach Keith Millen was appointed first team Manager.
The Mayfield Stadium, Croydon
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