Ramsgate sign striker Joe Taylor from Lewes as Rowan Liburd heads to Sevenoaks; Rams boss Ben Smith looks ahead to new Isthmian League season

Ramsgate have added last season’s Isthmian League Premier Division golden boot winner to their squad ahead of the new campaign.

Joe Taylor has dropped down a league to play for Isthmian South East Ramsgate – his hometown side – in what manager Ben Smith has hailed an unbelievable signing for the club - but he insists the move isn’t all about the money.

Location was a key factor for the striker who has netted 70 goals in the past two seasons for Lewes - topping the scoring charts last term with 37 in 46 appearances.

Smith said: “It’s an unbelievable signing for the club, a top striker in the league above and it came out of the blue.

“We got contacted on Thursday that there might be an opportunity, I know Lewes didn’t want to sell him to a club in the league they were in, that ruled out an awful lot of his options.”

A deal was thrashed out on Saturday as, quite handily, the two sides played each other in a pre-season friendly. Rams won 3-1 and got themselves a top player too.

“Straight away people are talking about what Ramsgate have paid,” said Smith.

“He isn’t getting paid £20, of course, but he could have gone to 10-15 other clubs for more money if he wanted to push it, a lot higher, for a lot more money. If it wasn’t for the travel he would probably still be at Lewes.

“I know Joe had a great relationship at Lewes and with their manager Tony Russell. It has come to an end with their guys but they are top, top people.

“Training there eventually took its toll. He has a young family and I know he wanted to finish his career at Ramsgate, which he said to the chairman a lot of times, but for whatever reason he never signed. I think a lot of things aligned this year. He knows a lot of people at the club who he has played with