To think what could have failed Pompey drugs test
Football with Hawks, Gosport Borough and, for the last few years, AFC Portchester
thought to be one-time admirers during his time with Hawks.
Unfortunately, a second chance at trying to make it as a pro never arrived, but the midfielder developed a 'love' for the club in his time there.
‘It must have been a week or two later (after Pompey sacking) Shaun gave me a ring at Havant and he said he wanted me down there,' Ramsey recalled.
‘I didn’t think anything of it because I fell out of love with the game and I just thought I’d go there and see how it goes.
‘For half a season at Havant, I was probably just tinkering through and wasn’t really playing much.
‘When I started playing and became a regular there, I loved it.
‘It was my first real taste of men’s football - I was playing reserves at Pompey and stuff - but I went into men’s football and they were animals in the changing room when I went there. You had the likes of Shaun Wilkinson and that in the changing room; I didn’t really enjoy that, I didn’t really know what was going on!
‘It was straight away get the ball and then ‘whack’, big player and big man smashing you up in the air.
'I still love the club now to be honest with you, it’s a great club, I always look to see how they get on now. I always like to see them do well and stuff. It was sad, I was gutted to leave, I made a lot of friends there.
‘I would liked to have finished my whole career at that club, but things change.
‘It was a massive eye-opener but I’ve enjoyed all my time - all the clubs I’ve played for in non-league - I’ve enjoyed them.'
Ramsey's eventual Hawks departure was brought about after falling out of favour under Lee Bradbury.
Hawks appearances for Steve Ramsey in a sixyear career
Initially, he moved to Gosport on loan in January 2014 before making the move permanent that summer.
Unfortunately for Ramsey, he played no part in Boro's remarkable run to Wembley and the FA Trophy final after joining temporarily in the 2013/14 season.
Gosport faced rivals Hawks in a two-legged semi-final, with the midfielder not allowed to face his parent club, prior to being called back to Westleigh Park before the final took place.
That would add to the near misses in Ramsey's career having moved to Hawks in 2008 - the season after their run to the FA Cup fourth round where they faced Liverpool at Anfield.
He did at least feature when Boro were beaten 6-3 at Privett Park in the first round of the competition by Colchester in October 2014.
Ramsey would eventually drop down to the Wessex League Premier Division late in the 2015/16 season, joining AFC Portchester.
During his time at The Crest Finance Stadium he has been one of the highestscoring midfielders in the Wessex - netting 11 times in 2016/17, 15 in 2017/18 and 17 in the coronavirus-shortened 2019/20 season.
Ramsey has been captain of the Royals for the past three seasons, although the last two have ended prematurely because of the pandemic.
It might be a long way from the footballing career Ramsey had planned as he made his way through the ranks with Pompey, but it's still one he can take plenty of fond memories from.
‘I’m happy with what I’ve done so far,' said Ramsey.
‘I’ve played in the FA Cup, which is the greatest cup in the world, I played in the first round of that. It’s been good and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
'If I could go back - sometimes I wish I could - but when I look back on it I wouldn’t have met the people I have and my life would have been so much different - either for the better for the worse.
‘There is, yeah (tinge of disappointment), but I try not to let it beat me up too much.'
I would liked to have finished my career at that club (Hawks), but things change Steve Ramsey
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