FA Trophy · Final
Saturday 26 September, kickoff 15:00
Ramsgate will write their name into non-league folklore on Saturday when they travel to face Leatherhead in the FA Trophy Final, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST on 26 September. The Rams are on the grandest stage their club has ever graced, and for supporters making the journey from the Isle of Thanet, this is a day that will live long in the memory regardless of the result. A trophy of this magnitude, however, is there to be won, and B. Smith’s side will be desperate to return to Kent with silverware in hand.
The form guide
With no recent league fixtures on record for either side in the build-up to this showpiece occasion, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions from form alone. Both Leatherhead and Ramsgate arrive at this final having navigated their respective routes through the FA Trophy rounds, and the absence of recent competitive data means the two sides go into Saturday’s clash on something of an equal footing in that regard. What can be said with confidence is that reaching an FA Trophy Final demands consistency, resilience, and no small amount of quality — and both clubs have demonstrated all three to get here. For Ramsgate, the focus will be entirely on the occasion itself, with Smith’s squad having had the opportunity to prepare specifically for this match without the distraction of a congested fixture schedule.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 2025 | FA Trophy | Leatherhead | 4-1 | Ramsgate |
| 8 Aug 2026 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Ramsgate | 1-2 | Leatherhead |
The recent history between these two sides makes for interesting reading ahead of Saturday’s final. The two clubs have met twice in recent memory, and on both occasions it has been Leatherhead who have come out on top. The Surrey side claimed a 2-1 victory when the teams met in August 2026, and before that they ran out convincing 4-1 winners on their own patch in October 2025. That head-to-head record gives Leatherhead a psychological edge and accounts for the full weighting in the prediction data, with the hosts holding a 100% advantage in that particular metric. Ramsgate will be acutely aware of those previous defeats and will need to find a way to break a pattern that has not gone in their favour. Cup finals, however, have a habit of producing their own narratives, and the Rams will be determined to ensure history does not repeat itself on the biggest day in the club’s history.
The men in the dugout
Leatherhead
RamsgateIn the Ramsgate dugout, B. Smith will be preparing his side for the challenge of facing a Leatherhead outfit that has proven difficult to overcome in recent encounters. Smith’s work in guiding the Rams to a national final is a significant achievement in itself, and his tactical approach on the day will be crucial in determining whether Kent’s representatives can upset the head-to-head trend. Leatherhead’s managerial situation remains unconfirmed ahead of the fixture, though whoever occupies the home dugout will be well aware of the occasion and the opportunity to lift a prestigious piece of silverware.
Players to watch
With no standout individual scorers identified from either side’s recent data, Saturday’s final may well be decided by collective effort and team shape rather than the brilliance of a single individual. In finals of this nature, it is often the players who rise to the occasion — those who thrive under pressure and deliver when the stakes are highest — who prove the difference. Ramsgate supporters will be hoping that Smith has identified the men within his squad capable of producing that defining moment, whether it comes from a set piece, a moment of individual quality, or a well-worked team move.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Double chance : Leatherhead or draw
The data paints a cautious picture for Ramsgate. The head-to-head record firmly favours Leatherhead, and the prediction engine points toward a double chance outcome of either a home win or a draw as the most likely result, with the away side given little statistical hope on current metrics. That said, cup finals are notoriously difficult to predict, and the occasion itself can be a great leveller. Ramsgate have earned their place on this stage and should not be written off. A narrow Leatherhead victory or a closely contested draw appears the most probable outcome, but Smith’s side are more than capable of producing the upset that would send Kent football into raptures.
Preview data via api-football. Form, head-to-head, standings, manager and prediction figures sourced live at the time of compilation; squad and team-news availability subject to last-minute change.