Ross County Database

1931-1932 John Ramage

At the AGM on May 31 the County members discussed the question of appointing a new player coach but decided to refer matter to committee for further discussion

In July 1931 County signed John Ramage as player coach. Ramage had spent several seasons with Hearts and when he arrived in Dingwall at the end of July he immediately used his senior experience and formulated a system of intensive training. He came with considerable experience and a good reputation after 8 seasons as centre half with Hearts. He was the captain for two seasons but an injury prompted a short retiral before he moved to Luton whom he left to join County.

In his first outing in County colours he led the B team to a 3-1 victory in the annual trial match early in August.

County lost their first league game, 4-3 at home to Buckie, under Ramage. John was rattled by a disputed “offside goal”. The match report noted that particularly good were his long punts up the field and to his wings. He goes whole heartedly into the game and fears nothing but needs training, a factor someone as enthusiastic as him will not fear.

His first win as County coach was a couple of weeks later, a 3-l victory at home to Keith. Ramage was encouraging the young players around him and his leadership was starting to impact on his young charges.

A 2nd round Qualifying Cup win over Elgin was a personal triumph for Ramage “he exerted all the wiles of defensive football known to the game” when County when 2-1 up, the defence was often taxed in this period but County held out. A 7-3 victory at Huntly then showed his able leadership, prompting and encouraging his men. All sides were applauding his play!

He had a combative and never say die spirit, unfortunately it was this style that probably got him into some serious trouble.

On October 14th 1931 County drew 1-1 away to Forres and the Ross Shire Journal remarked that Ramage was the outstanding performer in a game with little to commend it. Scott of County had to be hospitalised following a bad tackle and was not released from hospital until the day after. He was considered “a tower of strength in the full sense of the phrase”. However behind these words lay a more remarkable story as Ramage ended up in Forres Police Court a few weeks later when he pleaded guilty to assault.

He had punched a Forres fan, after a wholescale barracking of the County players. Ramage clearly felt no one was giving him or his players any protection from such behaviour and took the law into his own hands. The “sturdy response did quieten down the Forres fans whose behaviour was clearly beyond decent boundaries, but in a story that would continue to be paralleled through football history the only person ending up in court was of course the main ”personality”. His guilty plea was to avoid the expense of bringing witnesses through to court. By February the “mad hatters” in the Forres crowd had got the attention of the SFA who felt the need to take action against them.

ln the same week the former Scotland player George Brewster was questioning whether Hearts had let the player go too soon such was Ramage’s contribution on the field.

ln May 32 the County AGM was again discussing question of player coach, and again the matter was remitted to committee. A Charity cup game took place without Ramage as the coach’s annual tenure came to an end. County finished Ramage’s one season 8th out of 14 teams. They managed a point a game with 10 wins and six draws.