Ben Greenhalgh has hit the ground running in management as Margate bid to bounce back from relegation.
The return of right-back Harrison Hatfull completes new player-boss Greenhalgh’s squad for the Isthmian South East season.
They report for pre-season tonight with an open training session at Hartsdown Park before joining fans in the bar to watch England’s final Euro 2024 group fixture against Slovenia.
“Everyone that’s come in is buying into how big a club Margate is,” said Greenhalgh, who succeeded Mark Stimson following Isthmian Premier relegation.
“They understand we’ve got to have the objective of trying to get back up and it’s good to have that pressure to try and help the club progress again.
“The main thing is to get back to winning games of football.
“We want to change the playing style a bit, bring our own philosophy in and be able to say we’re bringing the club up in every factor.
“The connection with the fans looks like it’s back again, we’re all on board with the same objective and the new players are feeling that buzz as well.
“No one’s going to forget the heartache of the last couple of years but we can use that to push ourselves along.
“It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to boost the club again.
“In my head I was always going to go into management.
“It’s come earlier than I expected but it’s the perfect opportunity because I knew I could bring a good group together and all the boys are on board with what we want to do.
“I don’t feel pressure on that front but there’ll be pressure during the season because we’re expecting ourselves to win games and we’ll be demanding a lot out of each other to make that happen.
“If we’re not getting results, it’ll be down to us to make things right and I’m enjoying that aspect of being the person to have a good influence and a positive effect on the team.”
The fact Greenhalgh has completed his squad before the end of June shows how well recruitment has gone.
He’d been involved in that side of the game under former Gate managers Jay Saunders, Andy Drury and Reece Prestedge, and has embraced the challenge of building his own squad.
“I’ve been used to getting players because I’ve been doing that under Jay, Drury and Prez,” said Greenhalgh.
“I was always looking to bring players into the club.
“It’s probably easier now because it’s down to me to get the deal done and make the player fully commit.
“I’ve been on the phone to plenty of people and, luckily enough, the majority I’ve spoken to have committed to us.
“They pretty much all agreed and wanted to be part of the project.
“We’ve completed our squad. The plan was to have 18 players and we’ve got 19.
“They’re all very good players, different, dynamic players who give us different options and different formations we can play.
“I’m not naive enough to say we’ve cracked it because now the job is to get to work in pre-season and get everyone on the same wavelength.
“There’s always players that come about to push the other players.
“We’ll have a few extra trialists, 23s players and even some academy players who will be hungry to play in pre-season.
“Everyone will get an opportunity and if someone’s doing better than another player, or having a more positive effect, then they’ll play, no matter what age they are, where they’re from and whose shirt they are taking.”
Hatfull was the final piece of the jigsaw, returning to Margate after ending last season at Dulwich Hamlet.
Just 23, he’s already played 104 games for the Blues.
“I’ve been speaking to him for a while,” said Greenhalgh.
“We kept in touch after he went to Dulwich.
“We fully understand why he made that move because we were in a negative spiral and Dulwich are a big football club.
“Unfortunately it didn’t work out for him there.
“He’s had his best football days with us and it’s something I’ve always done where I’ve gone back to managers and clubs who have got the best out of me.
“That’s the reason I’m at Margate, because Jay got me down here three years ago and I’d had success with him in the past.
“Harrison’s going down the same lines, we’ve had a good conversation and I think the way we want to play will be perfect for him. I’m sure he’ll have a brilliant season.”
