| Nickname: | The Rams |
| Ground: | Southwood Stadium, Ramsgate |
| Capacity: | 3,500 |
| Pattern La1: | _whiteborder |
| Pattern Ra1: | _whiteborder |
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| Upright: | 0.9 |
| Fullname: | Ramsgate Football Club |
| Founded: | 1945 |
| Owner: | James Lawson |
| Manager: | Ben Smith |
| Pattern B1: | _collarwhite |
| Website: | https://www.ramsgatefc.co.uk |
Ramsgate Football Club are a football team based in Ramsgate, Kent, England. They are currently members of the 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.
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 2 - 1 in the first round to earn a trip to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, who won the match 5 - 0.[1] [2] [3]
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]
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 2023 - 24 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 2024 - 25 season.
As of 17 August 2024[6]
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
Director of Football: Seb Tidey
Manager: Ben Smith
Assistant Manager : Joe Ellul
Coach : Sean Hill
Coach : Darren Beale
GK Coach : Henry Newcombe
Physiotherapist: Georgina Dean
| Name | Dates | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 – 1981 | ||
| P.Gilbert | 1981 – 1983 | |
| S.Jest | 1983 – 1985 | |
| L.Smith | 1985 – 1989 | Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1988 & 1989 |
| Vic Medus | 1989 – 1990 | |
| Bob Wickens | 1990 – 1992 | |
| Paul Rimmer/ Lennie Lee | 1992 – 1993 | Kent League Cup Winners 1993 |
| Lennie Lee | 1993 – 1996 | Kent League Cup Winners 1994 & 1995/Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1994 & 1995 |
| Jim Ward | July 1996 – June 2001 | Kent League Charity Shield Winners 1997/Kent League Champions 1999/Kent Senior Trophy Winners 1999/Kent League Cup Winners 2001 |
| Peter Hook | July 2001 – March 2004 | |
| Jim Ward | March 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 |
| Tim Dixon | April 2012 – February 2014 | |
| Dean Hill & Mark Weatherly (Caretaker managers) | March 2014 | |
| Justin Luchford | March 2014 – May 2014 | |
| Dean Hill | May 2014 – January 2015 | |
| Simon Halsey | January 2015 – May 2015 | |
| Jim Ward/Danny Ward | May 2015 – January 2017 | |
| January 2017 – December 2018 | ||
| Nick Davis | December 2018 – September 2019 | |
| October 2019 – December 2019 | ||
| Matt Longhurst | December 2019 – April 2022 | |
| April 2022 – January 2023 | ||
| Jamie Coyle | February 2023 – April 2023 | |
| Ben Smith | May 2023 – Present | New Records - FA Cup 2nd Round 2023-24/FA Trophy 1st Round 2023–24 |