We have every chance of exceeding our previous best position, says Whitstable Town chairman

WHITSTABLE TOWN chairman Gary Johnson has issued a rallying cry for a large attendance against struggling Ramsgate on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Oystermen lie in ninth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table after collecting one win and three draws from their opening four games.

Jim and Danny Ward’s men travel to reprieved Redhill on Saturday, before hosting their Kent rivals Ramsgate to Belmont Road next Monday afternoon.

Writing in his programme notes for Tuesday night’s 1-1 home draw with Merstham, Mr Johnson said: “Yes gutted, gutted we didn’t get the three points at both Hastings and especially Saturday’s away trip to Guernsey.

“I’m full of optimism – how many folk here and elsewhere gave us a chance at either before a ball was kicked?

“We could have and should have won both games, but gave away the best chance at Guernsey allowing them back from a two goal deficit given a mistake in my opinion that gifted the Green Lions their second and them a valuable point.

“We dropped two points but again we would have taken a point prior to the game.”

The chairman is delighted with results under the Ward brothers as the club bid to achieve a personal best in the division.

“Oh how our sights and expectations are changing,” added Mr Johnson.

“We have a management team in Jim and Danny that can clearly attract some quality players and a team, yes this year a team that will, I believe, achieve more together.”

Redhill are in thirteenth-place in the table after picking up two draws against East Grinstead Town (1-1) and Burgess Hill Town (3-3), before going down to a 1-0 defeat at Ramsgate and bouncing back with a 3-1 win at Hastings United on Tuesday night.

Dean Hill’s Rams, meanwhile, are presently sitting in the bottom four with three points from four league games.

The Rams began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat on the newly-laid 3G pitch at Whyteleafe, before going down to a 3-2 defeat at home to Chipstead.

Redhill were then beaten, but they went down to a 3-1 defeat at Faversham Town on Tuesday night.

“Now (supporters’) role and that of the clubs is to attract more spectators, thus enabling us to sustain and build the team further throughout the season,” said Mr Johnson.

“I truly believe we have every chance of exceeding the clubs previous best position (14^th) within the Ryman League – our first objective – and see how further we can push on from there, but we need more friends, family, colleagues and yes sponsors through the gates.

“Bring your friends, share in the excitement and let’s move the club onwards and upwards.

“Delia (Smith) had the right saying when she shouted aloud ‘let’s be ‘aving you’; lets tell the folk of the town and east Kent and together we can achieve more, I’m sure!”

Both games kick-off at 3pm.

Visit Whitstable Town’s website: www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk