ramage played in the same youth team as taylor, michael chopra and adam rundle under alan irvine, before later being coached by former newcastle players kenny wharton and peter beardsley. he would later partner taylor in central defence when they broke into the first team. in the reserve team he was coached by another former united player, tommy craig. in march 2003, ramage won the jackie milburn trophy, given each year to the rising star of north-east football. he worked his way through newcastle's youth system and captained the newcastle reserve side before making his breakthrough to the first team squad. ramage made his first team debut as a substitute in newcastle's uefa cup round-of-16 match second leg against olympiacos on 16 march 2005.