Ramsgate's player development programme gets underway

Tuesday 20th June 2006

Ramsgate’s new Player Development Programme, derived from the practices that have resulted in a home-grown double-championship winning first team as well as the introduction of some of the latest innovative thinking from the FA and other football-related organisations, is all set to get underway.

As well as fielding teams in all age groups of the Kent Youth League in 2006/07, covering Under 13s through to Under 18s, the Ryman Premier League club has ensured that each team has its own coach qualified to at least FA Level 2, and will provide players and their parents with advice on health and nutrition.

To implement the programme the Southwood Stadium outfit has appointed Garry Finnis as Player Development Manager and Aaron Perry as Senior Youth Coach.

Finnis, who managed a Kent Youth League team for Ramsgate in 2001/2002, has an FA Level 3/UEFA B license and for the past few years has been in charge of the Under 18s and youth development at Dover.

Perry, who has an FA Level 2 badge, has coached youth teams for a number of years and is part of Charlton Athletic’s community coaching scheme.

The first step in the programme is the assessment of the existing players and trials for new additions to next season’s Under 18 squad. The assessments and trials will be held in conjunction with first team training sessions at the Clarendon House Sports Field off Marden Avenue, Ramsgate on Saturday 1^st July (12-2pm), Tuesday 4^th and Thursday 6^th (7-9pm), Saturday 8^th (12-2pm), and Tuesday 11^th and 13^th (7-9pm), and will be supervised by Garry and Aaron with Nigel Bowles, last season’s Under 16 manager. Any players interested should attend one of the sessions.

Visit Ramsgate’s website www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk