If we're not challenging then I'm not doing my job properly, says Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon says he is expecting a tough opening game against Leatherhead on Saturday.



The Tanners finished one place above the Rams in sixth-place in the Ryman League Division One South last season and the two club’s lock horns at Southwood Stadium for an opening day six-pointer.

Both sides are expected to do well in the league this season, but Dixon revealed he has injury problems going into the clash against Richard Brady’s side.

“To be honest with you, it’s been a really tough pre-season with a few games being called off plus I’ve had a number of injuries which you can’t cater for really,” said Dixon.

“You just have to take them as you get them and hopefully players’ will come through them.”

Dixon added: “It’s been really difficult so yes we’re looking forward to the first game of the season.

Ramsgate completed the double over Leatherhead last season but Saturday’s game will be a tough one.

“Last year we had two really good fixtures against them,” said Dixon.

“We beat them 2-1 away, slightly fortunate and we beat them 4-1 at home, but both days we were top of our game and we have to be at that level again to get a result.”

Dixon added his side face a tough opening week to the new season.

“Not just the opening game,” added Dixon. “We’ve got Merstham on the Wednesday and Guernsey away on the Saturday.  Hayden Bird has strengthened at Merstham – he’ll be looking to do well this year now he’s had a couple of years in the chair now.

“Guernsey is an unknown entity and travelling away from home a different way, it’s not familiar for the lads going to an away game by plane so we have to make sure that’s not turned into a jolly and we go there for the three points and put a serious head on.

“The Leatherhead game, the last couple of years since they’ve come down, they’ve been featuring around the play-off areas so they’re very strong as well.

“Richard Brady will have a really, really strong side and they will give us a very tough game for us at Southwood.”

Tom Parkinson will make a swift return to Ramsgate having recently signed for Leatherhead.

“We keep in touch. He’s a good lad and he goes with our best wishes,” said Dixon.

“He’s been nothing but honest. He done very well for us when he came in for us when we had a problem at centre half.

“He said it’s a bit more travelling coming to Ramsgate than Leatherhead, which is understandable.  It’s something that we spoke about last year. It’s difficult to attract players to an extra few miles to Ramsgate and the Kent coast where we are. He goes with my best wishes and I look forward to seeing him on Saturday as I’ve already told him.”

Dixon wants his side to take advantage of home comforts and get their new league campaign off to a good start.

“It’s vital. The league is not going to be won or lost in the first few games of the season. We had a dreadful start last season but we ended up around the mix at the end of it.

“You’d like to get off to a great start, a positive start and we’re looking to do the same.

“It’s a very tough game to start with. I think there’s going to be a lot of tough sides this year. It doesn’t matter who you play at the start of the season, you want to get off to a good start, home or away.”

Ryman League clubs will play 46 league games this season due to each of the three divisions consisting of 24 clubs each.

“It is about a squad game,” said Dixon. “You’re not going to win the league on 12, 13 or 14 players.  You need 16, 17, possibly 18 players and it’s keeping them happy.  We will utilise that.  We’ve got a couple of good youngsters that we’re looking to blood in to the league. They’ll only get experience through playing and we have to blood them in at the right opportunity.”

Dixon has made it perfectly clear what his aspirations are for the new season, after missing out on a play-off spot last season by just one point.

“We’ve got some good lads within the club, the biggest thing is keeping everyone fit and on their toes basically,” said Dixon.

“They know how serious we are this year. I’ve had a year in management and I always said let me get my feet under the table and then judge me and our management team in our second season.

“We’re looking to push on. We won’t be a pushover too much home or away. I hope we’ll be challenging. If we’re not then I’m not doing my job properly and that’s something for Ramsgate to sort out.

“We were a point outside the play-offs and we finished on 70 points, the same as Leatherhead last year. We were seventh and they were sixth on goal difference and Folkestone finished a point ahead on 71 so they went into the play-offs.”

The Ramsgate manager will be working under a new chairman this season in Paul Jefcoate after Richard Lawson stepped down after 25 years’ at the helm at the end of June.

“Paul’s been very supportive. Paul’s been with us a long time. He’s been in that vice-chairman role as well so he knows how the club is run. Richard Lawson was fantastic. A very good chairman to work for, very supportive.

“The board have reconvened and they’ve got together and so far they’re very supportive and behind us and we’re looking forward to a good season on the field and off the field because there’s so much work done around from the football team, just running the ground, the supporters, the volunteers, just running the club on a day to day basis is very difficult. There’s not a lot of money around and sponsorship is hard to find.

“The gates have been dwindling over the last few years and we have to produce the goods on the field and people have to be happy how we do that as well.

“We’re under no false illusion. We have to work hard for it, everyone across the board at the football club.”

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

Ramsgate  v  Leatherhead
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 10^th August 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Southwood Stadium, Prices Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 0AN