Margate assistant manager Matt Longhurst comments ahead of his first return to Whitstable Town since controversial exit as Gate also prepare for FA Trophy match to Ascot United

Matt Longhurst is excited as he and boss Jamie Coyle prepare for a first return to Whitstable with Margate.

The management duo, who enjoyed unparalleled success at The Belmont, securing an Isthmian League return for the club and claiming an historic FA Vase victory in May 2025, left Whitstable for the Hartsdown Park outfit in May - just 11 days after agreeing new two-year deals with the club.

No.2 Longhurst and Coyle have taken a raft of players, alongside first-team coach Taylor Couldry and goalkeeping coach Dan Eason, from Whitstable to the Thanet team with them.

Monday’s hotly-awaited clash is expected to attract a bumper Bank Holiday attendance but Longhurst insists he has nothing but respect for the Oystermen and new manager Lee Martin.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Longhurst. “We went there with the objective of getting the club back to Step 4 and, along the way, we won the Kent Senior Trophy and took 10,000 people from the town to Wembley.

“We have a good relationship with the majority of them.

“I’m sure some people will be unhappy but a lot understand that’s just how football works.

“We have got a great relationship with the board, it’s nothing personal in my mind. There will be a great crowd.

“Bank Holiday Monday, two teams trying to get promoted out of this division, yes we have got a number of ex-Whitstable players, they have some ex-Margate players, and that does add something extra to it.

"But I’ve got a lot of respect for Lee and his backroom team.

“Hopefully, there’s a lot of respect in the stadium and it’s a good game.”

Before then, though, Gate are at Isthmian South Central side Ascot United in the FA Trophy first qualifying round on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Longhurst added: “It’s a little