Ramsgate F.C.

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.

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 2–1 in the first round to earn a trip to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, who won the match 5–0.

Stadium
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.

Supporters
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.

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.

Current squad
As of 02 June 2024

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: Tony Russell Assistant Manager : Joe Vines Head First Team Coach : Nathan White  Coach : Sean Hill Physiotherapist: Georgina Dean

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

 * Best league performance: 5th in Isthmian League Premier Division (level 7), 2007–08
 * Best FA Cup performance: 2nd round proper, 2023–24
 * Best FA Trophy performance: 1st round proper, 2023–24
 * Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1999–2000
 * Record attendance: 5,038 vs Margate, 1956–57
 * Biggest victory: 11–0 and 12–1 vs Canterbury City, Kent League, 2000–01
 * Most Apps: Warren Schulz (458)
 * Most goals: Joe Taylor (121)