John Ramshaw

John Ramshaw is a former professional football player, who has become a football manager.

Career

In 1960, Ramshaw began playing for professional football clubs. Over 18 years he ended up played at several including Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Hartlepool United. His first opportunity to coach was with the youth team at Notts County,^[1] from 1978 until 1983 being awarded his English Football 'A' license in 1980. His love of playing football finally overcame him and he joined Shepshed Charterhouse as player-coach in the Southern Premier League.

The following year Ramshaw returned to the professional game with Nottingham Forest looking after their successful youth academy for two years.

He returned to non-League management with Oakham United in the Central Midlands Football League in 1986, leading the club to the CML League Cup semi-finals.

In 1989 saw he became Manager of Sutton Town then of the Northern Counties East League.^[2] and the club embarked on one of the most successful periods in their history, as they were runners up in the Northern Counties East league and League Cup semi-finalists in the three years Ramshaw was with the Snipes.

In 1994, He became the first team coach at the newly renamed Shepshed Dynamo, leading them through the 1994–95 season in the Midland Football Alliance.

In March 1995, he accepted the opportunity to become Manager of Hucknall Town replacing Ted Mullane. In the seven seasons Ramshaw was at the helm the club, they won the Northern Counties East League and were runners up in the Northern Premier League First Division the following season. They won the Northern Counties East League Cup winners two years in succession and also the Northern Counties East Football League Presidents Cup. They won the Notts Senior Cup three times. They were also runners up once losing to Arnold Town at Coronation Park. They reached the semi finals of the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup. In their last appearance in the FA Vase the last 16 was reached.^[3] He also made one appearance on the substitutes bench.

In addition, Ramshaw gained his UEFA “A” License 2001 and led Hucknall Town's FC Youth Academy to the Northern U19 Alliance League Championship and first round proper of FA Youth Cup.

November 2001 saw Ramshaw join Eastwood Town as the assistant manager to Bryan Chambers, however it was not long before he became his own man again. Ramshaw took the helm at Northern Premier League club Leek Town in May 2002,^[4] taking Paul Cox with him as his assistant. The 2002/03 season saw Leek Town have the tightest defence in the league, yet still only finish in ninth position.

The following season Ramshaw made the short journey across Staffordshire to Kidsgrove Athletic, where they were successful in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final also reaching the semi finals of the Northern Premier League Chairman's Cup.

Phil Starbuck was quick to get Ramshaw to join him at Arnold Town,^[5] during the 2003–04 season. This was followed by Arnold Town's most successful league campaign for ten seasons. Their best-ever run in the FA Vase (fifth round) ensued and they secured the future of the club by selling Ben Hutchinson to Middlesbrough for £100,000.

Ramshaw again joined Phil Starbuck at Northern Premier League club Hednesford Town,^[6] where they enjoyed a successful but ultimately disappointing season dropping out of the play-off positions in the final few weeks of the season after being in the top two for long periods.

Ramshaw left Hednesford to take the reins at Lincoln United ^[7] where he inflicted a first-day defeat on Witton Albion, which was to be their only defeat until the Badgers beat them on the opening day of 2008. He took the opportunity to join Eastwood as Paul Cox's assistant in October 2007.

In May 2011, Ramshaw was appointed first team manager of Shepshed Dynamo.^[8]

He returned to Eastwood Town as manager in November 2011^[9] but again left the club in October 2012 having tendered his resignation.^[10]

Ramshaw is currently Academy Director at league two side Mansfield Town.

References