Rams offer teenage pair contracts - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS

Ramsgate can take full advantage of there being just three Ryman Premier League games tomorrow, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams can climb up to sixth place in the table if they win at surprise package Harrow Borough.

The Earlsmead club have improved immensely from last season, and are currently sitting in third place, just four points behind the leaders.

But Rams boss Jim Ward doesn’t want to be in sixth place - he wants his side to cement their place in the play-off berths.

“It’s only fifth that gets you into the play-off’s,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk on the eve of the game. “We might as well be 19th as being sixth.

“To be fair, it’s just another difficult place to go to, (playing) a team that’s flying.

“Everyone I speak to tells me how good they are. We’re at full-strength but we’ll go there and give it another go - enjoy the experience.

“It’s another one of them. Where you go there not expecting to get anything. On paper their third, we are 12th. The bookies have put them down as favourites, but if we go there and win we go one point behind them.”

Graduate Edd Vahid, Rams’ highly-rated right-back, is now working at Bath University, but Andy Hadden has filled his boots, having graduated from the reserves.

“We’ve got him on a retainer,” revealed Ward. “When his available he can play.

“We’ve only played two games without him. We drew against Dover (losing the Westview Cup tie on penalties), when we should have won, and against Slough when we did win. On paper it doesn’t look bad but yes, it’s a miss.”

But Hadden is not the only player to come through on the conveyer belt at Southwood Stadium.

Ward revealed two players in their under eighteen’s side will be offered contracts over the weekend, but an announcement will be made in next week.

“The under eighteen’s have got half a dozen who will play senior football. I don’t know what level,” said Ward.

Having played ten league games so far, winning five and drawing one, Ward feels his players are not out of their depth.

“We’re delighted to be where we are in the league,” he said. “We sit midtable, having played a lot of difficult games on paper.

“We’ve had a couple of heavy defeats, Chelmsford and Horsham but only look bad on paper but they weren’t bad.

“The players are doing well, it’s been great pitting your wits against full-time and ex-league managers.

“I’m pleased with the players, no-one’s been embarrassed but a lot of these lads only played Sunday League football two season’s ago.”

With a fully fit squad to pick from, Ashley Burton, Shane Suter, Kieron Morris and Liam McCourt have been passed on to the reserve team for their game against Sevenoaks Town at Southwood Stadium tomorrow.

But Ramsgate’s youth side are just one win away from reaching the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup, following their 6-1 win over Whyteleafe in midweek.

Manager Aaron Perry was delighted with the win, that sets up another home tie, against Epsom & Ewell in the final qualifying round.

“It was a big win for us,” the 23-year-old said. “Delighted to get through the game, only one round from the first round proper is a big achievement.

“We’ve only been together for eleven weeks and we’re only one game from the first round proper.

“We’d like to get to the first round proper and go further than that with the side we’ve got.”

Perry insists many of his squad will be progressing through the ranks into the first team level, following players such as the Schulz brothers, Ollie and Warren.

“Two players are being offered contracts but no names can be given,” he said.

“It’s a big step for the two players, they are good players and developed in these eleven weeks and their aim is to play for the first team and hopefully they’ve got their wish.”

Perry, who coached at Margate for three years, works with Charlton Athletic’s community scheme under Charlton Legend Bob Bolder.

He added: “There will be plenty more coming through with the side we’ve got.

“Ramsgate is a good club. Money is restricted so they have to use the right channels to get players for the first team. The first team do support the under eighteen’s well.”

Perry is grateful for the assistance from George Johnson, adding: “George has now joined us having worked with Gillingham’s first team last season. He is physio and he’s also working on diets.”

Visit Ramsgate's website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk

Harrow Borough v Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 14^th October 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, South Harrow, Middlesex HA2 8SS