Ransomes Sports FC
Ransomes Sports Centre
Sidegate Avenue
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 4JJ
Ground Number: 1244
Saturday 18th November 2023
Ransomes Sports 3-2 Leiston St Margarets
Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division
RANSOMES SPORTS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The original Ransomes was established as Orwell Works, the works team of the Ransomes engineering company. They played in the Suffolk & Ipswich League, winning the league three seasons in succession between 1905 and 1907. They had one season in the East Anglian League in 1909, but continued in the Suffolk & Ipswich League, winning back-to-back league titles in 1961 & 1962, before changing their name to Ransomes F.C.. After winning the Suffolk Senior Cup in 1979, they won the Senior Division and Senior Cup double in 1981 and the League Cup in 1983. In 1986 they became RSSC Ransomes and won the league again in 1987. They also entered the FA Vase for several seasons during the 1980s, reaching the third round in 1982 and 1987. The club folded at the end of the 1994–95 season.
After the original football club folded, the Ransomes Sports Club invited Rushmere Athletic to take over the ground. Rushmere had been established as Fisons F.C. in 1948 but had been made homeless after their parent company sold their ground to Ipswich Town to use as a training ground in 1993. The club was renamed Ransomes Sports in 1997. In 1999 they finished runners-up in the Suffolk & Ipswich Division Two and were promoted to Division One. They were promoted again the following season, earning a place in the Senior Division. Although they were relegated back to Division One soon after, they were promoted to the Senior Division again in 2004. The club won the League Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010. In 2011–12 the club was relegated back to Division One and to Division Two in 2014. They were promoted from Division Two in 2015 and were Division One champions in 2016, resulting in promotion to the Senior Division. However, they finished bottom of the Senior Division in 2018 and were relegated again. In 2020, they were promoted back to the Senior Division. They've been there ever since, finishing a credible 3rd in the last two seasons.
MY VISIT
For this Saturday I drew up a list of potential games to go to. These were based on 'priority grounds'. These were where I had started a blog or clubs where I was close to completing leagues. There were for main contenders from my initial findings - these were Shawbury United, Whitton United, Uttoxeter Town & Whitchurch Alport. They were the four places that I could get to for reasonable value. The cheapest per mile was Shawbury United. It was not the most exciting ground but it completed the Midland Division 1. I remember Shrewsbury as a lovely town when driving through it a couple of years back too. However, the negatives were that it was a fair walk from the station and the pubs were not amazing on the Real Cider front.
I looked again on Thursday and pushed myself to make a decision. Not much was inspiring me but a special offer on the Trip.com app pushed me towards Whitton United. I'd initially dismissed it due to the bus replacement but it would be nice to look around Ipswich. I was able to shave another few quid off by making an early decision. It might have been foolish as the weather forecast worsened over the next day. At least Whitton appeared to have a decent pitch although fellow hopper Dan didn't think much of their ground or indeed Shawbury's. Neither club were prolific tweeters and so on Friday night, I prepared a list of potential backups just in case. It was over an hour's journey for Haverhill Borough, so I was hoping an early call would be made.
It was a slow journey due to traffic and some dirty pig in front of me kept coughing. The first piece of news was good with Ransomes Sports going ahead but then I found out that Whitton United had been called off, at least according to FA Full Time. Both clubs were silent on Twitter though which was disappointing and something to bear in mind for the future. It was especially slow getting into Witham. I missed one train by a minute and so would be getting into Ipswich at 12.30. With the earlier kickoff at Ransomes, it would mean alterations to my pre-match and post-match pubs but I was just grateful to have a game. The game has originally meant to be played at Leiston but was switched, so I got lucky in that respect. The train was a bit of a slow one, stopping at every station for ages and it had someone with serious B.O on it. I was glad to get off but the Wetherspoons was a 20-minute walk. Happily it was right opposite the bus station should I need it. The Cricketers was my 289th in the chain and I ordered the Christmas big cheeseburger meal and a pint of Black Dragon. I was disappointed that I was unable to stream the Wycombe game on my app but I was just glad of a pint. A pint of Strongbow was next up with me leaving at 1.35 to get the bus. There was finally confirmation from Whitton that the game was off and my bus was a few minutes late. I was at the ground five minutes before the scheduled kick-off.
Ransomes Sports were in 5th whilst Leiston St Margarets were in 12th. They'd seen a torrid end to September with a couple of defeats which included a 10-0 humbling at Halesworth Town and a 4-0 defeat at Trimpley Red Devils. They'd since won five in a row, the latest victory a 3-2 win over East Bergholt United. Leiston St Margarets were in more patchy form but they'd won the last two - 3-1 at Claydon and 4-3 at Haughley United. It kicked off a couple of minutes late but Ransomes in the red started on the front foot and hit the post after five minutes. Leiston got back into it and were awarded a penalty after 23 minutes but it was well saved by the home keeper. The visitors had a good spell, lots of play but not really threatening. The second half continued with Leiston the better side. They converted a penalty awarded for a trip just inside the area on 73 minutes to lead 1-0. The game appeared to have been sealed a few minutes later, a good run and finish by Pat Doyle who curled home from just inside the area. Ransomes pulled one back through twelve minutes from time, a square ball put away by Danny Allen from within the six-yard box. This spurred the hosts on and they smashed the top right angle of the post and bar as they sought a leveller. They got it right at the death equalising from the penalty spot through Ben Deacon. There was even the time for a winner, as they threw everything forward. The keeper could only parry the shot and the rebound was smashed past the keeper by Deacon for his second.
It was dusky by the time I left just after 4. I listened to Julian Dicks' Autobiography on Audible on the way to the Dove Inn. Originally my intention had been to get home in time for the last bus home but I grew less bothered after my plans had been disrupted. The pub was lovely and I had a pint of Wilkins Farmhouse first up. Then a pint of Ampleforth Abbey which was also good. From there, half an hour's walk to the station. With ad-hoc planning, I started to sober up. Nearly 30 minutes wait for the next train to London. Other passengers treating me as if I was the fount of all knowledge but to be honest, it was just as easy as reading a sign. The train came but there was no way to get around the rail replacement works as I fancied a stop in Colchester. There was an unwelcome wait in Witham but eventually, we were on our way. Billericay when this blog was finished and then home before work on Sunday.
THE GROUND
THE RANSOMES SPORTS GROUND is a great setup for the level. There is plenty of parking and it is on bus route 6 from Ipswich. The ground is three-quarters railed and has a small bit of cover and hard standing near the clubhouse. It's a nice place to watch a game and the pitch is good in wet weather. The club is also pretty active on Twitter keeping people informed. I'd imagine upgrading to step 6 requirements would be doable, subject to funding and planning permission.
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