Margate re-sign midfielder Henry Young from Dover Athletic after Sam Blackman goes off injured in FA Trophy exit | Blues visit Thanet rivals Ramsgate in Kent Senior Cup

Margate have boosted their midfield options by bringing Henry Young back to Hartsdown Park from Dover.

Local lad Young impressed in his previous spell as Gate lifted the Kent Senior Cup in 2023.

His return is timely with Sam Blackman forced off with a calf injury in Gate’s 4-2 FA Trophy first qualifying round defeat at Westfield on Saturday.

“We gave him his debut at Margate as a 17-year-old, and he’s a Thanet boy, so it’s brilliant to get him back in midfield,” said Blues player-boss Ben Greenhalgh, whose side visit Thanet rivals Ramsgate in the Kent Senior Cup first round tonight (7.45pm).

“We’re going to need legs in there with Blacky being out.

“I think that’s the main thing with our recruitment, we’re always quite precise with it.

“Two we did a lot of digging on were TT Walters and Kane Haysman.

“We knew they were players we always wanted but we took our time to make sure everything was right.

“The others are players we’ve known, worked with, or played with, because you can build that relationship a little bit quicker and a little bit easier.

“You know when things are going wrong how they will react and when things are going right how they’ll react.

“Henry’s one of them. He’ll come in and get game time with us and be a good asset.

“He fills that centre-midfield position because when Brandon (Davey) or Blacky are out, he’s someone who’s a natural centre-mid who offers that energy we’ve missed.”

Greenhalgh is likely to mix things up in the Kent Senior Cup tonight.

He’s enjoyed a good record against Ramsgate in his time at Margate, including victory in the same competition last season.

“It’s the rivalry, we all care massively about it,” said Greenhalgh.

“Last year was a good occasion. We played them away and won 1-0.

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