Ramsgate Football Club

A Message from the Chairman to the fans. When I took the club over at Christmas 2019, we were in a dire relegation battle at the bottom of Step 4. My overriding aim then — and now — has always been to match the Boys of ’72 and return this club to Step 2. In those early days, we had to release a whole squad of players and, much like yesterday, local teenagers stepped in to represent the club. When I looked around the stadium back then however, it wasn’t the lack of players that struck me — it was the empty stands. If we were ever going to match the Boys of ’72, who reached the highest level this club has ever played at, we needed supporters first. So we opened the club up to the town. And I’m overwhelmed by how the town has responded. What has followed has been incredible. 1,600 at Wimbledon. 3,000 in a home FA Cup first round win 3,000+ sell-out derbies. 1,000 at Hythe celebrating our title win Home play-off games. 1,000 at Aveley for a cup final Home attendances consistently over 1,000. Nearly 1,000 kids in our youth section. Hundreds in our holiday programmes. Post-16 academy squads based full-time at the club. But, despite all of that, it was yesterday that reinvigorated me. Just like in 2019, we had a team of young players giving everything for us. The difference this time? They had 1,300 Ramsgate supporters behind them. Kids on bouncy castles. Families enjoying the spring sunshine. Bars and kitchens full. Ramsgate shirts and scarves everywhere — even on the dogs. Two Ramsgate sides represented us in cup finals before the game. An all-Ramsgate U16 derby took place on the pitch after. A packed clubhouse celebrated the players’ awards into the evening. That is what this club has become. Sitting here on a spring Sunday morning, I genuinely feel we now have the strongest base we’ve ever had to push towards Step 2. We’ve built this platform alongside a sustainable football model that ensures we can compete without risking the club’s future. This summer, subject to final planning, we move forward again. We are one of the few clubs at this level operating around an annual accounting break-even position, in a landscape where many clubs sustain significant losses. That discipline is central to protecting the club’s long-term future. Many great people have played their part in getting us here, with Ian Heath a constant at my side. But make no mistake — this platform has been built by you, the supporters. Now we move into a huge week as we appoint the management team to lead the next phase of this journey. The goal hasn’t changed. We are building towards Step 2 — together. Come on you Rams! James