Ramsgate boss Ben Smith says why higher-division football could help provide more senior chances for club’s youngsters in Isthmian Premier

Ben Smith has explained why he thinks higher-division football could help Ramsgate provide more senior chances for their youngsters in the 2025/26 season.

Preparations are already well under way as the Isthmian Premier Rams aim to make a strong start to life in a higher league.

Naturally, the higher a club plays in the football pyramid, the harder it generally becomes to give youth-team players first-team opportunities.

While the Rams manager is hopeful they will be competitive, few expect them to instantly compete at the very top-end of a difficult division, which could pave the way for more game-time for the club’s future stars.

Smith has already seen plenty of experience in captain Joe Taylor, midfielder Lee Martin and centre-back Joe Ellul leave this summer.

But the boss, who introduced teenage forward Finley Waddell off the substitutes’ bench in their season-ending 3-3 draw at Sittingbourne, said: “We have got other players in the squad that, suddenly, have been through the two seasons we’ve had and gained that experience.

“Everyone in our dressing room at the moment knows how to win a league. Suddenly, you can tick that box.

“I think the most important thing is keeping some stability and not rushing. We didn’t rush last summer - not through our choice (as Smith resigned, only to re-join weeks later) - but it worked out to be the right thing.

“We’re not going to jump into knee-jerk signings. We have got to sign the right players for the right reasons. We did that last summer and it paid dividends.

“That’s what will continue to happen and we have got some good young players at our club, as well.

“Now obviously, every single point is important but maybe not as important, but we still have ambitions of being