Player-manager Ben Greenhalgh is planning to take Margate’s squad to the races.

Among Isthmian South East Gate’s warm-up games will be a trip to take on Isthmian North Newmarket Town on Saturday, July 12.

The friendly will kick-off at noon so Margate can spend the rest of the day at Newmarket Racecourse.

That match comes seven days after they begin pre-season games at home against Tonbridge.

They also have friendlies arranged at Whitstable and Corinthian, and home matches against Concord Rangers, Dulwich Hamlet and Sutton Athletic.

They finish their warm-up schedule at newly-promoted National League South outfit Dover Athletic on Saturday, August 2.

“We have got a really good pre-season schedule this year,” said Greenhalgh.

“We have got Tonbridge Angels and Dover Athletic - both National League South sides - so they will be good games to test us.

“We have got Corinthian on a grass pitch, as well.

“We wanted to venture out a little bit [to Newmarket]. The new Margate shirts have been sold in 15 countries or something like that!

“We want people to come and travel with us and then we’re going to the races afterwards to make a bit of a day of it.

“It gets everyone back together after last year. At the end of last season, you’ve almost had enough of each other after 10 months.

“But after two months off, I think everyone is raring to go again.”

Greenhalgh says the club have received a positive reaction to their new home shirts for the 2025/26 season, inspired by Inter Milan’s 2009/2010 Champions League-winning kit.

The shirts, designed by local artist Luke McLean, feature sponsors The Libertines.

Greenhalgh said: “That's gone well.

“Margate has gone for the Inter Milan sort of design and I was on talkSPORT and spoke about it - and it’s sort of gone from there.

“I’m not sure it makes a difference in winning games. But it’s a nice kit and it’s good to see that it’s selling well.”

Margate will start pre-season training this Saturday as they look to go one better, having lost out to eventual play-off winners Burgess Hill during the semi-final after a fourth-placed finish last season.

But Greenhalgh, closing in on making summer signings, said: “I think our objective is to progress.

“When you look at everyone we’ve managed to retain, that’s a positive start. Everyone we wanted to keep has agreed to stay on.

“Things have been a bit quiet on signings, but we’re hoping to get a few completed this week. That puts us ahead of where we were this time last year.

“We were working out what we wanted and how we were going to play.

“Of course, you want to win the league but we have got to be mindful of just trying to be better and winning more home games.

“I would like to think 100 points will not be involved this year!

“But if it is, we’ll just need to keep up as best we can.”