We have to treat our Guernsey trip as professionally as we can, says Ramsgate boss Tim Dixon

RAMSGATE boss Tim Dixon says his players will not treat their trip to Guernsey as a jolly-up on Saturday.


The Rams have had a mixed opening week to the new season as they were defeated 1-0 at home to Leatherhead last Saturday, before goals from David Pilcher and Andrew Miller secured a 2-0 win at Merstham last night.

Dixon’s side are slap bang in the middle of the Ryman League Division One South table in 12^th place and travel to Gatwick Airport to fly to Guernsey for about an hour for their next game.

Guernsey have only been playing football for two seasons and secured back-to-back promotions in the Combined Counties League (finishing runners-up last season following a grueling fixture back-log) to take their place in the Ryman League.

The Green Lions came away from Herne Bay with a 1-0 victory on the opening day, but were defeated by Horsham by the same scoreline last night and sit one place below Ramsgate at this early stage.

“It’s a different method of transport to go to and it’s not ideal,” said Dixon.

“It’s not usual for this sort of standard players to jump on aeroplanes.  Dover Athletic jump on one when they went up to Huddersfield (in the FA Cup Third Round) and down to Truro and stuff like that.  It’s not something I like. We’ve got to handle it the best way possible.

“It’s not a jolly. Guernsey is a holiday destination for most people, for us it’s a place we have to go and get three points and hopefully we can get a positive result.”

Dixon has told his squad to be on their best behavior and treat Saturday’s game as professionally as they can.

“The lads’ know how I feel about it.  I’ve spoken to them already about it,” he said.

“We’ll go there together, they’ll be no messing about. It’s a serious venture for us.  We’ll treat them how we treat anyone else in the league.

“Just because they’re a small island away on an aeroplane trip doesn’t mean we’re going to set up any different.

“We had them watched at Herne Bay last week to see how they lined up and we’ll prepare for it as the best we can and professionally as we can.

“A lot of professional teams travel by plane and that’s how we have to be. We have to treat it as professionally as we can.  We go there and we have to do a job and we come back.

“If for any reason we don’t do that that’s down to me because I’ve let something go wrong.”

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

Guernsey  v  Ramsgate
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 17^th August 2013
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Footes Lane Stadium, St Peter Port, Guernsey