Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh says there is plenty of positivity around the club ahead of opening-day home Isthmian South East game against East Grinstead Town

Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh believes there is plenty of positivity around Margate ahead of the new season.

Gate return to Step 4 this term, having suffered Isthmian Premier relegation, and are set to start at home against East Grinstead on Saturday.

“It feels a lot more positive,” said Greenhalgh, who recalled being involved in last campaign’s opening-day 2-1 home win against Whitehawk.

“It doesn’t feel like we were relegated last season.

“We have got positive fans. The players can take credit for that because they’re the ones putting the performances in.

“Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t got any points yet.

“We will try playing attacking and entertaining football - but our main objective is to win games.

“It’s going to be difficult to win every game after last season.

“There will be dips throughout the season - as a team and individually - but that’s when you need to stick together.

“I know, last year, we won our first game at home. I think it was one of the first times they have won their first home game of the year for a while.

“If we keep the performance levels high, we will get results but, if we allow them to drop, that’s when results will drop, as well.”

East Grinstead finished third-bottom last season - only five points clear of the bottom two.

Greenhalgh noted: “They’re young, energetic and they will be up for it.

“They had a good game against Glebe in the FA Cup (winning 2-0) last weekend. Glebe are a good outfit.

“But we’re going to be at home and we’re looking forward to that.

“We know all of these teams will not be easy to play.”

Margate finished their run of warm-up fixtures with a 2-1 weekend victory at last term’s Isthmian South Central play-off semi-finalists Westfield.

Among the goals was Kai Garande,