Margate assistant manager Adam Flanagan on facing Ramsgate in Kent Senior Cup first round - again!

Assistant manager Adam Flanagan is looking forward to being involved in another Thanet derby with Margate at fierce rivals Ramsgate this season.

While the teams will spend the 2025/26 campaign in different divisions - the Rams claimed the Isthmian South East title last term while Gate suffered play-off disappointment - they have been pitched against one another in the Kent Senior Cup first round at Southwood.

It’s the second consecutive year the sides have drawn each other in a Kent Senior Cup first-round tie, Margate winning 1-0 last September through striker Ibrahim Olutade’s stoppage-time penalty.

They played out a 2-2 Boxing Day draw at Hartsdown Park in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,500 while Gate eased past Ben Smith's Ramsgate team 4-1 at Southwood in the league on Easter Monday - that match coming after the Rams had already sealed the title - with more than 3,000 supporters in attendance.

“Last year, it was a new fixture to me in terms of being involved,” said Flanagan.

“I felt both clubs embraced it brilliantly.

“Both [league] games were really well supported and there was a great atmosphere for both so it’s good to have that fixture again.

“When we saw it, we did think ‘This is two years in a row of getting Ramsgate in the first round… What were the chances of that happening?!’. But we’ll take it.

“Having lost those [league] fixtures, it’ll be good to at least play them once this year.”

Gate have also learnt they will start their new Isthmian South East league season at home against newly-promoted Jersey Bulls on Saturday, August 9.

Three days later, they are due at last campaign’s runners-up and play-off finalists Sittingbourne while they will also visit much-fancied Ashford and host newly-promoted FA Vase