Margate’s 28-goal striker Ibrahim Olutade on enjoying being the main man up top and having second crack at Isthmian South East promotion at Hartsdown Park in 2025/26 season

Striker Ibrahim Olutade has explained why he’s relished the responsibility of being Margate’s main man up front.

Top scorer Olutade finished their 2024/25 season with 28 goals as Gate finished fourth in Isthmian South East but missed out on promotion through the play-offs.

While player-boss Ben Greenhalgh also chipped in, adding 17, Olutade was left with what some consider to be the daunting task of being the side’s main source of goals.

But he said: “I enjoy it.

“I feel like, as much as putting the ball in the back of the net is probably what people say is one of the hardest things to do in football, I kind of always had confidence in myself. I feel like, everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve always scored goals and I’m never afraid to score goals.

“That feeling of the boys relying on me to score goals, I did feel like I relished it. It wasn’t something I was scared of - the pressure to score goals.

“I just felt like, if I kept doing what I normally do over the years, I’d score goals.”

But Olutade could have plenty more support when it comes to giving the team firepower next time around, with fellow forward Tom Derry and wideman TT Walters - both signed for the season run-in - expected to stay put.

“I knew TT before we were together at Margate,” revealed 26-year-old Olutade.

“We have mutual friends so I kind of knew when he came in what kind of player he is.

“With Tom Derry, I’ve always known of him, as well. Every striker knows every striker in non-league so I already knew what Tom was about.

“Even though they came quite late in the season, we kind of got to know how each other plays and the strengths they bring to the team.

“That’s why they wanted to probably keep everyone together so that we can have them from the start of the