The move to Ramsgate is just to better myself, says Tom Parkinson

TOM PARKINSON says he wants to prove to himself that he can play Ryman League football after putting pen to paper for Ramsgate tonight.



The 21-year-old versatile defender has signed non-contract terms for the Ryman League Division One South side after deciding to leave Kent League side Canterbury City.

The Rams are presently in thirteenth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, with five wins and three draws from 12 games and Parkinson is available for Saturday’s trip to Corinthian-Casuals.

“The move is just to better myself,” said Parkinson.

“I’ve been playing Kent League so I want to test myself more so I’ve got the chance to go back into a Ryman League side, which was a big interest of mine.

“When I spoke to Tim (Dixon) he had the right plans. That’s why I’m going to Ramsgate. He had the plans that matched mine.”

Parkinson answered an SOS call from Hythe Town boss Scott Porter and he performed excellently at the back alongside Pat Kingwell during Hythe’s 2-0 victory at Dulwich Hamlet on 30 October.

“I think that game made me realise that I need to get back playing Ryman football,” said Parkinson.

“I was helping Hythe out for the night and I really enjoyed it again and that brought my appetite again and that’s what spurred me on to try to get back into the Rymans.”

Reflecting on his time at Canterbury City this season, the former Hythe Town defender was full of praise for manager Simon Austin, despite the club being in the bottom five in the Kent League after 12 games.

He said: “I haven’t got a bad word to say about Austo or Jimmy Strouts.  Austo’s a new manager. He’s got really good ideas. His training sessions are really good. His team talks, everything’s spot on. 

“Canterbury are a club going places once they get their own ground, but he’s been unlucky with injuries, suspensions and players’ he had on loan have gone back.

“I can only say positive things about my time at Canterbury, but when it came to it I wanted to play in the Rymans.

“I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m sure Austo will do well with Canterbury or wherever he goes because I think he’s got a big future.”

Parkinson hopes Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon hands him his debut at Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday.

The Surrey side lie in the bottom four, with three wins and six draws from fourteen league games.

“I’ve played there a few times with Hythe and Burgess Hill and the facilities there are lovely,” said Parkinson.

“Speaking to Tim but I don’t think he wants anything less than three points. That’s something I always go out to win the game. Hopefully we can go down there, put in a good performance and get the three points.”

Parkinson added: “I know a few of the lads at Ramsgate. It’s a fresh start for me.  I want to go there and prove to myself again that I can play Ryman Level and hopefully get myself back in the frame and get back into the shop window.”

Ramsgate are only eight points adrift of Maidstone United, the side tipped for the title.

“Apart from Maidstone, who are top at the minute and got a couple of games in hand, win a couple of games you’re in the play-offs, lose a few games, you’re down the bottom,” said Parkinson, who interested Herne Bay earlier in the season.

“If you string a few wins together there’s no reason why Ramsgate can’t hit the play-offs this year.”

Tom has followed in the footsteps of older brother Jack, playing semi-professional football and coaching as well.

Jack, who has previously coached the youngsters at VCD Athletic and Cray Wanderers, is now coaching the kids at Maidstone United and plays for Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier side Woking, after spending three seasons at Welling United, whilst Tom coaches and plays for Kent University.

“This season has gone really well so far,” reflected a proud Tom.  “We’ve got promoted, we’ve gone in the University League Division One A, which is one below the Premiership, which is where the big sports universities play.  We’ve currently played four games, won three and drawn one.

“We’ve got a very strong side. We’ve got Chris Kinnear, who plays for Corinthian, myself, Alex Nelson, who is a really good player at Canterbury.  There’s loads more in that team who could easily make the step up into the Kent League or Ryman football.

“I play on Wednesday’s and do the coaching on Monday night. I’ve got my UEFA B and I really enjoy it.  It’s a good chance for me to get a bit of practice and the experience I’ve got I can pass it on to the boys.

“The University (football team) are run by the students so we can’t afford to get a coach in. Since I’ve taken over we haven’t lose a University fixture since February 2010!

“Jack’s a bit better than me at the moment. He’s got his UEFA A Licence. He’s probably the best young coach around. I’ve learnt a lot off him.

“To be fair the boys are really good at the university and they show me a lot of respect.  All it is, is to get your ideas across.  I got my UEFA B licence a couple of years ago so I’m quite updated with the new sessions so it’s being confident within yourself.

“Coaching is getting your points across.  I make the coaching sessions as enjoyable as I can.”

When asked whether Dixon has asked him to take part in the coaching sessions at Southwood Stadium, Parkinson replied, “No! I’m just concentrating on playing football. It’s something I might look into when I’m coming towards the end of my playing career, but at the moment at this level I just want to play as well we I can.

“It helps you to become a much better player. If you speak to my brother Jack, being a coach has made him ten times better a player than he was.”

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

Corinthian-Casuals  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 17^th November 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
At King Georges Field, Queen Mary Close, Hook Rise South, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7NA