Whitstable Town manager Jamie Coyle highlight’s club’s off-the-field work this season as title-chasers prepare to travel to Kennington

Manager Jamie Coyle has highlighted the work Whitstable have been doing off the pitch this season.

The Oystermen are closing on an Isthmian League return, sitting some way clear at the Southern Counties East League Premier Division summit.

They have an average attendance of almost 700 for their home league matches for the campaign, more than double anyone else in the division.

Coyle has also been working with No.2 Matt Longhurst and first-team coach Taylor Couldry at recent club Soccer Schools to make sure they are engaging the community.

“Our fanbase has been absolutely fantastic all season,” Coyle said.

“We were hoping the success we had in the FA Vase last season would have an impact - and it definitely has. When you’re doing well and get success, people vote with their feet, don’t they?

“Myself, Matt Longhurst and Taylor Couldry have attended the Soccer Schools and we have been really trying to integrate with the youth teams.

"In the last couple of games, we have had a lot of the youth-team players coming along with their parents.

“It’s not just about the first team.

“We’re on first-name terms with the majority of the youth-team players and their coaches. You can see what sort of success that is having with the gates.

“We look on social media on Saturday evenings and our attendances are up there with some massive clubs in Kent. We’re getting some bigger gates than some at Step 3.

“It’s testament to what we’re doing at the club, not just on the first-team pitch, but also across the whole club.”

Whitstable were pegged back in a top-of-the-table 1-1 home draw against Larkfield & New Hythe last weekend.

Coyle reflected: “I was fairly pleased.

"It was one of those games, if you look at the standings for both teams, that