Whitstable manager Richard Styles has named his captain ahead of the start of the new season.

Freeman Rogers, who followed Styles to The Belmont from league rivals Tunbridge Wells this summer, has been given the armband.

The defender - brother of striker Fjord - has previous captaincy experience at Lordswood, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

“Freeman Rogers will be the club captain,” Styles confirmed ahead of their first match of their Southern Counties East Premier Division season at Fisher this Saturday.

“He was always one of the boys that wanted it. He has done it for a number of years at a number of different clubs at different age levels. He’s 26 but very experienced.

“Last year, I think he played 68 games all in all.

"That’s the type of character he is. He’s very consistent and keeps himself fit.

“I believe he’s someone you want in the changing room.”

Young prospects Gus Barnes and Montrell Deslandes have left the club, joining Ashford and Margate respectively, but Styles still has plenty of rising stars coming through the club’s ranks and former Gillingham frontman Harry Stannard back at the club too.

Among the club's young prospects are centre-back Cameron Chamberlain and midfielder George McIlroy, who got first-team exposure last term, and Alfie Prior and Harry O’Donnell, who previously was with Canterbury City.

Styles, whose side won their last friendly against Lydd 4-3 on Tuesday, said: “Some of them got Isthmian League experience and will get SCEFL experience this year. It’s good to have that.

“Then the current crop of under-18s are coming up and can play for the reserves. If they do well, I expect they’ll be knocking on my door and wanting a chance in the first-team."

Styles is hoping to get off to a winning start for the club’s fans, saying: “There’s an array of new grounds people will travel to this year.

“We will not be able to play at home for a little while so it’s important they follow us on the road.”

Due to work to install the club’s new 3G pitch, Styles’ side are not due to play at home until at least September - but the Whitstable boss can see the positive side to that.

“We have got the whole of August away. We will have to do a bit of travelling but, on the flip side, we will have a run of home games at some point,” he explained.

“It will also allow the pitch to be ready and for us to be able to train on it before our first home game which will be good.”

At the weekend, the Oystermen continued their pre-season preparations with a goalless draw against Division 1 team Faversham Strike Force.

Styles was pleased with how things went, saying: “It was a good exercise.

“The way Faversham Strike Force set up is a way we will have to come up against in our league. We need to be able to create chances against that and win games

“We dominated the ball and, on another day, it’s 4-0 or 5-0. Pre-season is a little bit different, it’s not the same intensity as league games, and changes kill the tempo a bit as well.

“But overall, I was pleased.”

Against Lydd, two-goal James Jeffrey, Ryan Flack and Fjord Rogers scored.