Every effort will be put in to reach play-off's, says Ward

Monday 05th July 2010

RAMSGATE boss Jim Ward says the club has arranged a much tougher pre-season campaign to prepare his players for a play-off chasing season ahead, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Rams reported back for pre-season training at the weekend, with 22 players being put through their paces, and they will train for three weeks ahead of their team-bonding trip to Great Yarmouth, where they will play the top-flight Ridgeons League outfit.

“They came down to us last year and we’ve been invited back,” Ward told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’ll go down and there’s going to be 20 people staying the night. A team bonding weekend is exactly what it is. It’s the first pre-season friendly, we’ll get to know a bit about the boys. We’ve got five or six new lads and they will get to know a bit about us as well.”

When asked about what he wants out of pre-season, Ward said: “The biggest goal this year is we get them so they’re bang on ready. We’ve got our first friendly on 24th July and we hop to be halfway ready by then so come four weeks after that, when we start the league campaign, we’re chomping at the bit.

“We’ve got some excellent friendlies this year, Kevin Barham (our fixture secretary) and (coach) Richard Langley have sorted the friendlies and we’ve got four Ryman Premier League sides and Ebbsfleet United, from the Conference (South).

“It will be a good test for the boys. We’ve never gone down this road before, we always had the one tough friendly and played a lot of Kent League clubs.”

After their trip to Norfolk, Ramsgate face five home friendlies with Billericay Town (30 July), Ebbsfleet United (31 July), Hastings United (7 August), Folkestone Invicta (10 August) and Tilbury (14 August, 12 noon) coming to Southwood Stadium.

Ward wants to make Southwood Stadium a fortress again.

“I’ve been told by four or five older players that I’ve got in my squad that my average age is 22, so that will be way we’re going to go - youth, vitality, energy, strength. Let’s hop they can play as well,” said Ward.

“I want to get my head down and get back to the old days where nobody wants to play us, nobody likes us, we’re Ramsgate, that’s the ethos this year, that’s what we’re after.”

One player, who will not be around is Rhys Lawson, who cannot commit due to his young family and work commitments.

“Rhys has gone, which is a shame, but to be fair we’ve got this policy where we’re trying to use as many local kids as we can,” explained Ward.

“Rhys lives up in Medway so it was difficult for him to get to training and all that so it suited both parties. He was an integral part of last year so I’m sad to see him go, but best of luck to him.”

Lawson has already found a new club, and Herne Bay boss Simon Halsey told www.hernebayfc.net: "Rhys will give me more options in midfield and up front and his time at Ramsgate can only have helped his development."

Ward once again insisted that Ramsgate are vying for a play-off place at the end of the season, especially as they finished in a disappointing 14th place in Ryman League Division One South last term.

“Without a doubt, that’s the feel from the players as well, that is what the target is, the play-off’s, and every effort will be put into that,” said Ward.

“I wouldn’t like to single any teams out, there will be the same old faces. I think the Kent tams will do well this year, but I’m only concerned about Ramsgate Football Club.”

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