East Grinstead Town v Ramsgate - April 9

Telephone : 01342 325885

Website : www.egtfc.co.uk CLUB MANAGEMENT

Chair, Treasurer, Assistant Welfare Officer, 200 Club Officer Richard Tramontin

Vice Chair, Secretary, Club Welfare Officer Brian McCorquodale

Committee Member, Safety Officer

Barry Bryant

Head of Youth Development Jay De Vito

Committee Member, Youth Coordinator Andy Dodson

Disability Welfare Officer, Bar Manager, Webmaster Club Photographer

Media Manager & Programme Editor

Stuart Gibson

Bruce Talbot

Facilities Manager Andy Willis

Committee Members

Head of Recruitment

Grant Hearn

Stuart Hedgecock

Wheeler

A warm welcome to East Court and to our visitors from the Kent coast. It was odd to look at a league table last week that didn’t have Ramsgate top but they still look odds-on for promotion and could go back to the top with three points tonight and a massive game against Cray Valley PM at home still to come.

Good luck to them for the rest of the season and beyond. No one is expecting us to get a result tonight, it's a free hit really. Hopefully the players can respond, relax and show their best.

We are still not quite safe from the drop, but one win from our last five games - four of which are at home -should be enough with matches running out for the teams below us, one of whom - Beckenhamare here on Saturday.

It would be nice to end the season with a bit of a flourish and, by all accounts, the score at Lancing flattered the hosts who completed a 3-0 win with two late goals while we again were without some key players in what has become an injury-blighted season.

Onwards and hopefully upwards - COME ON THE WASPS!

6Lancing35185126461359

7Herne Bay351610968541458

8Sheppey United321371260481246

9Broadbridge Heath35129145454045

10Ashford United34143175170-1945

11Sevenoaks35127165760-343

12Hythe Town32127135054-443

13Burgess Hill Town341010145664-840

14Horndean31116144754-739

15Merstham35107185367-1437

16Phoenix Sports3487194484-4031

17Littlehampton Town3385203870-3229

18East Grinstead Town3385204376-3329

19Beckenham Town3457224988-3922

20Erith & Belvedere3457222379-5622

Up to and including April 6

MANAGER’S NOTES

Welcome everyone to tonight’s rearranged game against second placed Ramsgate.

This is both a must win game for them and ourselves. We have managed to drag ourselves into a five-way battle for survival and, if I’m honest, it’s a really disappointing position to be in given the work we put in pre-season.

We have been hampered by key injuries all season but survival is very much in our own hands now which is the main thing.

We have five games remaining and four of these are at home, so now more than ever we need everyone to get behind all of the lads and make sure we secure the required points to stay in this league, which means so much not only to myself but more importantly the people that run this club.

Tonight’s squad will have to be made up of lots of the youngsters who have done amazingly well this season along with a few who have been missing for the last few weeks. We will also have to think about resting a few for Saturday’s now critical fixture at home to Beckenham.

As ever we all thank you for your support but ask again to help us get as many people down to the club for this crucial run in.

Well over 600 have been in attendance for Merstham’s last couple of home games and this has definitely helped them secure their survival, so there is no

Drew Cooney

reason with a town several times bigger we can’t match those kinds of numbers.

Drew

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good evening everyone and welcome to East Court for tonight’s Isthmian League South East Division match against Ramsgate and let’s hope the weather doesn’t result in yet another postponement.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Rams’ players, management, officials and supporters as well as this evening’s referee Jonathon Wilks and his assistants Ffion Eade and Oliver Westgate. I trust everyone enjoys their brief stay and our hospitality.

Ben Smith’s Ramsgate have been joint favourites for automatic promotion with Cray Valley PM since the start of the season and the Rams are currently three points behind league leaders Cray Valley, both with 4 matches to play including tonight. Both teams won at the weekend, Ramsgate beating Phoenix Sports 2-0 away and Cray thumping Burgess Hill 5-0. The only points Ramsgate have dropped in their last nine matches was a surprise defeat at Horndean and a 2-2 draw at home against Sittingbourne on Easter Monday in front of a massive crowd of 1,433 when they came back after trailing 2-0.

Ramsgate of course had a fantastic run in the FA Cup this season, reaching the Second Round where they lost to AFC Wimbledon in front of a crowd of 6,893.

Drew Cooney’s Wasps slipped to 18th place on goal difference on Saturday after losing to Lancing by 3-0 and now have 29 points from 33 matches. Saturday could have been a different story if Kiye Martin’s free kick from outside of the box had been a little higher, but keeper Louis Rogers got both hands to it at full stretch and if Matt Daniel had been able to make good contact from a cross into the 6 yard box just before the end of the first half. Ifs don’t earn you points. Matte Pierson pulled off some great saves in the first half, but we conceded from a back heel flick just before the hour mark and then again twice just before the end.

Wasps are now level on points with Littlehampton Town but have a one goal inferior goal difference. Both teams are two points behind Phoenix Sports

who have played one more match. We are seven points clear of Beckenham Town and Erith & Belvedere who have both played one more match and we host Beckenham on Saturday.

Tonight will be a stern test with both sides needing the points at different ends of the table.

We have four matches left after tonight, three of which are at home so your continued superb support and encouragement will be most appreciated by the lads.

As I mentioned, we at home on Saturday to Beckenham Town, then away to Merstham the following Saturday and in the final week of the season, we welcome Horndean on Tuesday 23rd and finish the season with a visit from Sheppey United.

Thank you all for coming along this evening and whatever the outcome of the match, I trust everyone enjoys their visit to East Court and I wish you all a safe journey home.

Enjoy the match

Richard Tramontin (Chairman)

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

09-Sep-Sheppey UnitedHFAT1q1520-1PiersonCadmanFilipeM.WilsonReardonG.WilsonTigheMartinAubreyBailey-KingWalshGreenKenyonFolkes 12-Sep-2023South ParkHVC1760-3PiersonSummerfieldFilipeGreenAbieAkabuoguTigheKenyonFolkesBailey-KingAlhassanM.WilsonReardonCasselman 16-Sep-2023Three BridgesHPISEdiv2151-2PiersonReardonCadmanM.WilsonWearie 1G.WilsonWalshMartinAubreyTigheFilipeKenyonFolkesBailey-King 30-Sep-Ashford UnitedHPISEdiv1576-0PiersonKajaCadmanM.WilsonGreenG.WilsonWalsh 4FolkesAlhassanTighe 1Filipe 1MartinBailey-KingReardon

OCTOBER

7 Oct 23HorndeanAPISEdiv1403-1PiersonKajaCadmanM.WilsonGreenG. WilsonWalshBailey-KingFolkesTighe 2FilipeWearieMartin 1Reardon 10-Oct-2023Broadbridge HeathAPISEdiv1201-0PiersonReardonCadmanM.WilsonGreen 1G.WilsonWalshBailey-KingMartinTigheFilipeWearieAubreyAlhassan 14-Oct-2023Chichester CityHPISEdiv1481-1PiersonReardonCadmanM.WilsonGreenG.WilsonWalsh 1MartinFolkesTigheFilipeBailey-KingKajaAubrey 17-Oct-2023HassocksHSSC 2833-1PiersonKajaFilipeM.WilsonGreenWearieWalsh 2Hall-AndersonAubreyTigheAlhassanKenyonGregoryTetlowDouglasStraker 21-Oct-2023Cray Valley PMHPISEdiv1 1 50-4PiersonFilipeCadmanM.WilsonGreenG.WilsonWalshMartinFolkesTigheAubreyDos SantosKenyonKaja

NOVEMBER

7 Nov 23Eastbourne UnitedHSSC 36 11-3PiersonReardonFilipeM.WilsonWearieG.WilsonWalshDouglasDos SantosHall-AndersonAubreySpinksTetlowLamontGreenFolkes 1 11 Nov 23Littlehampton TownAPISEdiv2412-1PiersonCadmanM. WilsonGreenG.Wilson 2WalshMartinDos SantosTigheFilipeFolkesWearieAubreyDouglas

25 Nov 23Beckenham TownAPISEdiv2310-3PiersonCadmanM. WilsonGreenG.WilsonWalshMartinFolkesDos SantosTigheWearieReardonKajaBailey-King

DECEMBER

02-Dec-2023MersthamHPISEdiv1334-1PiersonReardonCadmanM.WilsonGreen 1G. Wilson 1LamontMartinFolkesDos Santos 1Walsh 1DanielHall-AndersonBailey-King

09-Dec-Sheppey UnitedAPISEdiv2750-3PiersonReardonCadmanM.WilsonGreenG.WilsonBailey-KingMartinWalshDos SantosLamontParkerHall-AndersonDaniel

16 Dec 23Three BridgesAPISEdiv1542-4PiersonReardonCadman 1ParkerGreenWearieLamontMartinDos Santos 1WalshMurrilo-DacruzHall-AndersonDaniel

26 Dec 23Sevenoaks TownHPISEdiv1610-3PiersonKauzeniCadmanM.

WilsonGreenWearieDanielMartinDos SantosTigheLawsonG. WilsonWalshOnabanjo

10 Jan 24RamsgateAPISEdiv4770-5PiersonKauzeniCadmanParkerGreenTetlowOnabanjoG.WilsonWalshLawsonFolkesDanielDos SantosM.Wilson

13 Jan 24Phoenix SportsHPISEdiv1441-1PiersonParkerCadmanM.WilsonGreenG.Wilson 1DanielWalshDos SantosTigheLawsonOnabanjoFilipeHall-Anderson

20-Jan-2024Ashford UnitedAPISEdiv3681-0PiersonKauzeniFilipeParkerCadmanG.WilsonTigheMartinLawsonDaniel 1M.WalshM.WilsonFolkesGreen

27 Jan 24Broadbridge HeathHPISEdiv1511-1PiersonKauzeniFilipeParkerWearieG.WilsonTigheMartinDanielLawsonFolkesGreenM.WilsonDacruz

FEBRUARY

3 Feb 24Chichester CityAPISEdiv1651-7PiersonParkerFilipeM.WilsonGreenWearieDanielTigheDos SantosLawsonFolkes 1TetlowOnabanjoSpinks

06-Feb-LancingHPISEdiv1120-2PiersonLamontHarrisonM.WilsonTetlowWearieDanielMartinLawsonWalshOnabanjoTigheDos SantosSpinks

17 Feb 24Cray Valley PMAPISEdiv1771-4PiersonKauzeniFilipeM.WilsonWearieParkerDanielMartinLawsonTigheOnabanjoDos Santos 1SpinksFolkes

MARCH

2 Mar 24SittingbourneAPISEdiv2450-2PiersonLamontFilipeSpinksWearieTetlowSinaiParkerLawsonDunnFolkesM.WilsonMartinHall-Anderson

9 Mar 24Littlehampton TownHPISEdiv1125-1PiersonLamontFilipe 1Parker 1TetlowWearieDanielMartinLawson 1Sinai 2Hall-Anderson

16 Mar 24Phoenix SportsAPISEdiv1120-0PiersonLamontFilipeG.WilsonTetlowWearieSinaiMartinFolkesParkerHall-AndersonOnabanjoDanielLawson

19 Mar 24Hythe TownHPISEdiv782-3PiersonLamontFilipeParkerTetlowWearieDaniel 1Martin 1LawsonTigheSinaiLonsdaleSpinksFolkes

23 Mar 24Burgess Hill TownHPISEdiv2341-5PiersonLamontFilipeParkerTetlowWearieDanielMartinLawsonTigheSinaiFolkesOnabanjo 1Wilson

30 Mar 24Herne BayAPISEdiv4402-3PiersonParkerFilipeM.WilsonTetlowWearieTigheMartin 1FolkesLonsdaleSinaiKauzeniCadman 1Lawson

APRIL

1 Apr 24Erith & BelvedereHPISEdiv1-1126PiersonKauzeniCadmanM.WilsonWearieG.Wilson 1DanielMartinLawsonDunnSinaiFolkesLonsdale

6 Apr 24LancingAPISEdiv0-3280PiersonGreenParkerM.WilsonWearieG.WilsonDanielMartinFolkesDunnTigheLonsdaleFilipe

9 April 24RamsgateHPISEdiv3pm

13 Apr 24Beckenham TownHPISEdiv3pm

20 Apr 24MersthamAPISEdiv3pm

23 Apr 24HorndeanHPISEdiv7.30

27 Apr 24Sheppey UnitedHPISEdiv3pm

PROGRAMMES FROM THE PAST

We'll have a look at a couple of games played in the past on today’s date. First up is East Grinstead v Peacehaven on Tuesday 9 April 2013 in division one of the Sussex County League. The has a rather unusual front cover with a football resting high in a goal netting and not a player in sight.

Both chairman Richard Tramontin and team manager Simon Funnell remind us that we had played the away match down in Peacehaven on the first day of the season in early August. We had lost 4-1. Peacehaven had maintained that sort of form and were on top of the league with Redhill close to them but everybody else was a bit too far away. If they finished in the top two places Peacehaven were expecting to be promoted to the Isthmian league with their ground and facilities meeting the level required.

Our own recent form had seen three consecutive away games with wins at Hassocks and Crowborough but then a disappointing defeat at Lancing though we thought the referee had made a mistake at a crucial time in the match. All three of these games were covered in very full reports. I've told you a little bit about how the league table was looking. The league had 22 clubs in it and we were in ninth place – still with seven games to play. We had only won once against the eight clubs above us in the league. And that was still the position at the end of the Peacehaven game – they had taken the points home with a 3-1 win. Steven Major scored our goal in a match where we looked as if we might get a draw until Peacehaven scored twice in the last ten minutes.

3 years later we have East Grinstead v Whitstable on Saturday 9 April 2016 in the Isthmian League – and there's a sort of link with our Peacehaven opponents from three years earlier.

We were battling hard to avoid relegation, not helped in the short term by conceding the only goal in our most recent match away to Corinthian-Casuals in the very last minute. Though in the longer term we had not helped

ourselves by only having taken one point from our first 13 games of 2016. However, our visitors from Whitstable were already going to be relegated and were bottom of the league.

I said above that there was “a sort of link” in this Whitstable game with Peacehaven. The link was that Peacehaven were also going to be relegated - they were second from bottom of the league.

We went a long way to avoid relegation by beating Whitstable 3-1. We took the lead after some 20 minutes with a thumping header from George Benner only for Whitstable to equalise a few minutes later. But just before half-time we had a penalty which Trevor McCreadie squeezed home. And just before the end of the 90 minutes a poor back pass by a Whitstable defender found the same Trevor McCreadie who took full advantage of the mistake to make it 3-1.

Lester Medcalf

On this day in 2016 we beat Whitstable 3-1.

CLUB NOTICE

Supporter Behaviour

In the last few years the club’s supporter base has grown and Drew Cooney and the players truly appreciate the vocal backing they get home and away at every match.

Unfortunately, we received isolated reports of bad behaviour and foul language at home games last season. Those complaints have grown significantly this season and at the fixture against Three Bridges earlier this season foul and abusive language was directed at match officials and opposition players and objects thrown onto the field of play.

Not only is this totally unacceptable, it is against the ground and league regulations and is forcing fair-minded supporters to stop coming to matches because their enjoyment is being spoiled by a small number.

Verbal warnings by committee members are not having any effect and if we allow this anti-social behaviour to continue there is every likelihood of a sanction from the league and or the FA.

We appreciate the vocal support for the team, but we also have to protect our reputation as a familyfriendly, community club proud to represent East Grinstead.

As a result, any under-16 attending home games will have to be accompanied by an adult, who will be responsible for their behaviour.

Also, abuse of individuals and excessive foul language will not be tolerated. Offenders will be removed from the stadium and will receive a ban and, if applicable, season tickets will be rescinded with no refund offered. The club will not hesitate to call upon assistance from Sussex Police if required.

Glenn Wilson celebrates after his equaliser against Erith.

RAMSGATE

A POTTED HISTORY OF THE RAMS

Ramsgate is one of the largest non-League clubs in Kent, and for the 2022/23 season are fielding 78 senior and youth teams, which includes three for women and ten for girls. The club continues to grow and, following the installation of the first fixed Panna Cages at an English football stadium in 2020, they replaced the pitch at Southwood with a new all-weather surface that was opened with a visit from Spurs’ Under-23s in July 2021.

The current club restarted in 1945, after the ban on football in east Kent during World War Two was lifted, and the club was originally called Ramsgate Athletic. We have played at the Southwood Stadium ever since.

Ramsgate has had senior football teams within the town since the late 1800s, and despite the paucity of newspaper coverage of in the late 19th century there are reports of Ramsgate Athletic playing at Southwood along with the principal side, Ramsgate Town, who started in about 1886 (team photos exist from 1898).

In 1919 Southwood was provided for Ramsgate Town, by then known as Ramsgate, by Henry Weigall JP and Lady Rose Weigall. In their first season they finished third in the Kent FA League and reached the Kent Senior Cup final but lost to Northfleet at Maidstone 1-0 before a crowd of 10,000.

In 1924 Ramsgate folded and Ramsgate Grenville moved to Southwood and, apart from the rise and fall of the more successful Dumpton-based Ramsgate Press Wanderers in the 1930s, Grenville became the senior Ramsgate side until another World War cancelled football.

Post-World War Two honours have been many especially in the late 1940s and through the 1950s, and again in the late 1960s and 1980s (and not forgetting the mid-2000s). Some say the ‘golden period’ was from 1954-57 when former Scottish international Jimmy Blair was player-manager, and the Rams were back-toback Kent League champions.

Club history was made when they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 1955, narrowly losing 5-3 at Watford (a record

that stood for 50 years before they reached that stage again). With the demise of the Kent FA League in 1959, the Rams joined the Southern League. The club have had spells in the Southern, Kent and Isthmian Leagues since then.

Bringing their story up to date, former Wasps’ Matt Longhurst was appointed manager in January 2020. After two years in charge, four losses in a row saw Longhurst replaced by former Gillingham coach Steve Lovell in April 2022.

In May 2023 Ramsgate showed their intentions by appointing former Herne Bay boss Ben Smith as their first full-time manager on a twoyear contract.

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April

April

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Ever thought of volunteering to help your local football club?

There are many different volunteer roles in non-league football and Isthmian League football clubs need your help with them.

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The Trident Leagues and Pitching In’s online Volunteer Hub is the place where you can find opportunities and contact your local football club.

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Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to find out more

Photography by

Action from Easter Monday's 1-1 draw against Erith. Above, Bobby Dunn is blocked off on his return after injury and, below, Henry Sinai goes past his marker. Photos by Stuart Gibson.

SQUAD STATS

EAST GRINSTEAD FC RAMSGATE

The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.”

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The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.

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MATCH OFFICIALS

ROLL OF HONOURS