Margate player-boss Ben Greenhalgh rates goalkeeper Reece Hobbs as good as some No.2s in National League South.

Greenhalgh has wasted little time this summer in keeping the core of his squad together for their 2025/26 Isthmian South East promotion bid after play-off semi-final disappointment.

Among those staying are No.1 Tom Wray and Hobbs - who both came through Dartford’s youth-team ranks - as well as goalkeeping coach Owen Kallmeier.

Wray played in 46 games for Margate, quickly establishing himself as one of the division’s best keepers, while Hobbs played 10 times in his absence.

He kept three clean sheets, including a last-minute penalty save as Gate ended their regular campaign with a 1-0 victory at Ashford.

Greenhalgh said: “When you look at Reece last year, he was the No.2 all year but he only played two or three times.

"This year, he’s got 10 games as a No.2 - if you consider him that.

“He played in some big games, as well.

“It was a great learning experience for him. You know you’re probably not going to have your No.1 available all year.

“But Reece is the best No.2 in the league, the level above and maybe even the level above that! I’ve spoken to a few in the level above and they have said they’d have him as their No.2.

“I’ve had them both at the Dartford Academy so I’ve worked with them both since they were a young age and they have worked closely together.

“Tom - in some big games - has been absolutely brilliant. His Ramsgate performances in both games were on another level.

“But Reece was brilliant for us, as well.”

Two others already among a healthy retained list at Hartsdown Park are young full-backs Kai Garande and Harrison Hatfull.

“That’s a massive positive in the way we play,” said Greenhalgh. “We don’t need to change too much there in pre-season.

“Our full-backs having a lot of time on the ball is one of our strengths. Harrison has already played more than 150 games for the club.

“Kai was never really a trialist [last summer] and was a player we always wanted around. Credit to him that he wanted to stay.

“I think he wants to kick on - but, hopefully, he can kick on with us.”

Top scorer Ibrahim Olutade will also be staying on as he aims to build on his 28-goal season.

Greenhalgh said: “I’m very grateful to the players that they have shown that commitment. But it shows we’re doing things right.

“I said after the play-off game, we gave it a go and stuck to the game-plan. I know Ramsgate had been brilliant up there for a few years now and they got promoted. Our aim was to be up there - and it will be again.

“But when you have a good season and you don’t go up, your group becomes the pool that everyone wants. When I look back to last year, in pre-season, we were very late.

“But this time, we have acted early and that’s what I like to do as a player. I like to know where I’m going to be playing. We’re happy with where we are at.

“We have got a good team and it’s now about adding what we can to make us even stronger.”

While the 33-year-old didn’t rule out summer signings, he technically has already made one.

Midfielder Sam Blackman has rejoined after he ended the campaign at Gate, having left them to join Folkestone last summer, only to head back the other way on loan in late February.

He helped Margate enjoy a strong finish to the regular season alongside winger TT Walters and returning defender Emmanuel Oke.

“We hope to bring a few new players in,” said Greenhalgh.

“But when we look back at last year, Ricky (Owen, chairman) and the board gave us a bit extra to finish the season strongly - which we did with six wins in eight before the play-offs - with the signings of TT, Sam and E-Man and, if you want to go back a bit further than that, Tom Derry. We definitely felt they strengthened the squad.

“This is my first off-season as a manager, reflecting on a season. What has been positive is that we’ve got some really positive feedback.

“Obviously recruitment-wise, we’re not done yet. There will probably be two or three more players coming through the door.

“We need to make sure they’re the right players and they strengthen us, in and around the changing room.

“But even if we don’t sign anyone else, we feel like those players will be like new signings for us, come the start of the sea-son.”

Margate have confirmed their pre-season programme.

They start at home against National League South Tonbridge (July 5), with further warm-up games at Hartsdown Park coming against Concord Rangers (July 19) and Dulwich Hamlet (July 26).

Gate will travel to FA Vase victors Whitstable on Tuesday, July 15, followed by a journey to Corinthian seven days later.

They conclude their run of friendlies against Dover - led by ex-Margate midfielder Jake Leberl - on Saturday, August 2.