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Barnet v Margate
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 20th April 3.00pm

Updated 19/04/02

Margate had a good start to their first season in the Conference. After beating Boston away on the oprning day of the season they only lost one of their next ten matches (against Leigh RMI) before the Mighty Bees went down to Margate and came back with three points after Doolan fired in a long range shot.

Just lately they seem to have liked drawing, with four on the trot, before losing at Telford 0-2 last Saturday. They drew again on Thursday, against Morecambe, 1-1. These had followed three wins on the spin, their last defeat before that being up at Stevenage by 1-3 on 2/3/02.

A good win for Barnet down at Yeovil on Tuesday night should be carried over to Saturday, so this is a great chance for the Bees ts show the home fans what they're capable of after two defeats at Underhill. If Barnet do win then this will be their third double of the season - and the last two games are potential doubles as well.

Peter Shreeves will probably carry on giving valuable experience to the younger players in the squad, and Stevie Searle who made his welcome return after his two year absence. There will be an update on the players available on Friday night.

Updated 19/04/02

Midfielder John Doolan remains on the sidelines for the clash with Margate. Doolan had been due to return after missing the previous two games through suspension, but he has now been told he needs an operation on a disc problem and will undergo surgery next week. Austin Berkley is also out for the remainder of the season with a groin problem.

Margate midfielder Nick Roddis has been named in the squad for the England National Game XI's game against the Netherlands next Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm). Roddis has made 10 appearances for the club since signing from Woking in December. The game will take place at Yeovil's Huish Park.

Peter Shreeves' Record

Margate Last Six

League games only
D D D D L D

Home
D D W W D D

Away
L W D D D L

Below is Barnet and Margate's league details based on their Home and Away performances.

The following programmes of previous Barnet v Margate are available to buy. If you are interested, please contact WilliamCresswell1@activemail.co.uk. Or see our programmes pages.

History

In October 1896 Margate were formed after variuos teams had played football locally.

They moved around quite alot in the early days, playing in the East Kent Leagues, Kent League division 2 and 1. They won the Kent Senior Shield in 1921 and were runners-up of Kent League Division 1 in 1927/28. Unfortunately heavy debts forced them to disband.

They reformed in 1929 and moved to their present ground at Hartsdown Park, going on to win the Kent League Division 1 in 1932/33.

Margate played in the Eastern Section of the Southern League, finishing runners-up to Norwich City Reserves. An arrangement with Arsenal began the following season where promising young Arsenal players played for Margate, with Arsenal also training at Hartsdown Park.

Because of this arrangemnt Margate were very successful in 1935/36. The club won various titles and trophies and also had a good run in the FA Cup. This put an end to 'nursery' clubs being admitted to the FA Cup in case they met Arsenal in a later round.

The club won the Southern League in 35/36 after beating Plymouth Argyle in a Section Final.

The arrangement with Arsenal ended and again debts forced the club to close down. Reformed again just before the War they returned to the Kent League Division 1. This was a very fruitful time and won several trophies along the way. In 1947/48 the double was achieved, winning the Kent League and League cup.

1959/60 sees Margate return to the Southern League following expansion of the Football League. The Division 1 title was secured in 1962/63 and promotion to the Premier Division is realised. They came sixth in 1964/65, their beat placing for the next thirty-five years.

Unfortunatly they were relegated the next season but came straight up again.

The Southern League cup was won in 1967/68, another thirty years were to pass before they would achieve this again.

Margate had the dubious honour of losing 11-0 to Bournemouth in the FA cup in 1971/72, with Ted McDougall scoring nine of the goals at Dean Court.

When the Alliance Premier League was founded Margate failed to qualify after finishing 19th. They then played in the Southern Section of the Southern League, spending twenty years there.

A change of name to Thanet United came about in 1981, but after an uneventful period in the eighties they reverted to Margate in 1989.

In the early nineties the illustrious Buster Bloodvessell of the band Bad Manners had a sponsership deal with the team having the bands name across their shirts.

1998/99 saw a see-saw finish with Margate gaining promotion to the Premier. Unfortuntely with work on the ground being finished late they were turned down, but luckily for them they won the appeal, and they finished third in their first season.

In 2000/2001 alot of work was carried out on the ground after a move known as the 'Thanet Stadium' was finally shelved. New seats, terracing, dugouts and floodlights were put in, while the infamous slope was levelled over a two week stint! This was all done for an incredible £175.000.

Of course promotion to the Conference came at the end of the season and 'The Gate' were one of the candidates to go straight back down, just like when they won promotion to the Southern League Premier. Again they seem to have foiled their critics!!

Margate have had alot of good cup runs, too many to mention here. For a full history I recommend visiting their website below.

Abridged from www.margatefc.net.

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