Ramsgate Manager Ben Smith Reflects on Return to Former Club Herne Bay
Ramsgate manager Ben Smith is preparing to face his former club Herne Bay in an upcoming match, and he admits it will be a strange experience. Smith previously led Herne Bay to promotion before parting ways with the team last November. Now, with Bay recently suffering relegation and managed by ex-Rams boss Steve Lovell, the two teams are set to clash in a highly anticipated game.
Reflecting on his time at Herne Bay, Smith expressed fond memories of the club and its passionate supporters: I’ve got some great memories there. The hardcore supporters were unbelievable, and I’d still buy them a drink to this day. The level of support they gave me and the players, they were fantastic. It’s clear that Smith holds a lot of respect for his former club and the fans who rallied behind him.
However, Smith is well aware that facing Herne Bay won’t be an easy task. He acknowledged that Herne Bay has some former Ramsgate players who will bring extra motivation to the game. We’ll have to deal with the extra 10% they bring for that game. To be honest, we’ll have to get used to that because everyone we face is going to bring an extra 10%. We can’t keep talking about it, we’ve got to get on with it.
Smith also touched upon some of the off-the-pitch issues that Herne Bay has faced, expressing hope that the club can resolve them: It’s well documented the off-the-pitch issues Herne Bay have had, and hopefully they can get those sorted because they’ve got good players there and good people running the team in Steve and Mark (Lovell, Steve’s son and assistant manager). Despite their upcoming clash, Smith’s focus is on the overall well-being and survival of his former club.
Heading into the game, Herne Bay secured a 2-1 victory against East Grinstead, with former Ramsgate players Gil Carvalho and Kane Rowland finding the back of the net. This success adds more intrigue and anticipation to the upcoming match against Ramsgate.
As the match draws near, both teams will be aiming to secure a positive result. While Smith has moved on from Herne Bay, he retains a sense of respect and goodwill towards the club and hopes for their success off the pitch. The game is expected to be fiercely contested, with both sides motivated to prove their worth and secure valuable points in the league.
