Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh backs calls for Kent Senior Cup to be rebranded as pre-season tournament; Isthmian South East side held at home against Broadbridge Heath

Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh is backing calls for the Kent Senior Cup to be relaunched as a pre-season competition.

The idea was first mooted by departing Tonbridge manager Jay Saunders last month, with the competition having lost some of its appeal in recent years.

Playmaker Greenhalgh, still only 32, thinks the rebranded tournament, potentially played in a group-stage format before moving into knockout rounds, could fit nicely into sides’ summer schedules in place of pre-season friendlies.

He said: “It’s a good point that Jay made, but I’ve not spoken to him directly about it.

“It could spice pre-season up. Sometimes as a non-league team, you have got between seven and nine pre-season friendlies.

“I’ve been with pro teams where you go on tour and there’s an extra element of competitiveness to it. It could help bring crowds in, as well.

“I think the Kent FA should probably look into it.”

Gate - the 2022/23 Kent Senior Cup winners - were knocked out at the second-round stage of the competition at Herne Bay, having edged out fierce Thanet rivals Ramsgate 1-0 in front of a crowd of nearly 2,000 at Southwood in round one.

“We’ve played Ramsgate in the season,” said Greenhalgh, who thinks the final could still be held at the end of the campaign. “What a brilliant occasion it was.

“But at the same time, we had to chop and change because we had an FA Cup game after that.

“We had Hythe the year before and, where players are feeling it, priorities start to become these other games, which is a shame.

“I’ve had some great memories in the Kent Cup. It was the first thing I won when I was at Welling when I was 16.

“At Margate, we try to take it seriously because I think our fans do. Just look at what we did two years ago.

“I