Margate begin their 2026/27 campaign on Saturday as they travel to Eltham to face recently relegated Cray Valley (PM) in our Isthmian South-East curtain raiser.
This will be the first competitive game in charge for Jamie Coyle and his assistant Matt Longhurst after a summer of change at Hartsdown Park.
Ahead of their first game, Harry Seaden is set to take his place in the team after returning to Hartsdown Park this week, especially with Jacob Russell suspended for this game.
There should also be first competitive starts for excting summer signings Bradley Schafer and Javaun Splatt. Margate will be without two as Lewis Chambers is set to undergo an operation on a hernia injury, whilst Defender Jake McIntyre isn’t expected to recover from injury in time to feature.
Ahead of his first game in charge of the ‘Gate, Manager Jamie Coyle said “We are excited to get going now. This is the beginning of a new chapter and one we expect to be successful, there will of course be bumps in the road but we have proven over a long period what works and what success looks like, it’s a process and tomorrow is just the very start of that process.”
“We can’t wait to hear the fans in full voice, they are one of the big reasons we have come to this football club and it’s now down to us as players and staff to knit this whole club and its fans together on a journey”.
Previous meetings between these two sides are very rare, and in Margate’s favour, however this will be our first visit to The Artic Stadium with the only two previous meetings taking place at Hartsdown Park.
Both of those occasions were Kent Senior Cup fixtures with Margate winning both, 5-0 and 3-0 respectively.
Saturday’s hosts are currently managed by former Charlton Athletic striker Kevin Lisbie, however they suffered a difficult 2025/26 campaign as they suffered relegation from the Isthmian Premier Division.
Kick-off at The Artic Stadium is scheduled for 3pm, however if you can’t be there you can stay up to date via X from 2:15pm.
Ground address
The Artic Stadium
Badgers Sports
Middle Park Avenue,
Eltham,
London,
SE9 5HP
