Margate FC - 2006 - 2007 Season - Ryman Premier Division - Manager: Robin Trott

Well the dust has settled on another season and quickly, thoughts turn to the next season as the football junkies search desperately for their next fix.

It is arguably difficult to construct the season as a success given the bold objectives set for Robin Trott and his side at his appointment as permanent manager at the end of the last campaign. Add to that Gate’s table topping position (with a game in hand) on 23rd January only to ultimately miss out on even a play-off place. And yet Margate’s young manager had all but assembled a completely new team that at times through the season played some sparkling football. It is easy to forget the trauma of supporting a club that came close to extinction on a number of occasions over the recent past, and how close to a third relegation in three years the Blues were before Trott’s appointment as Caretaker Manager just 15 months ago. Indeed, this was arguably Margate’s most successful season since a creditable finish in 8th place in the 2001/02 Nationwide Conference.

So what were the overall highlights for Margate’s season? Well, Danny Hockton’s 40 goals in just 46 appearances stands out as a remarkable achievement. Although that record should be appreciated within the context of the team that Trott had assembled around the Margate number 10. In addition to Hockton, Jimmy Jackson, Greg Oates, James Pinnock, Lee Protheroe and Robin Trott all clocked up at least 40 appearances for the club in the season. The Blues scored three or more goals on 14 occasions and in hitting the back of their league opponent’s net 79 times, were only out-scored by promoted Bromley and Chelmsford City. Compared to last season, Margate scored 30 more goals, conceded seven fewer and accumulated 21 more points.

There were a number of excellent performances by Gate, particularly in the first two thirds of the season. But for me, the clinical effectiveness of the second half demolition of then league leaders Horsham was a sight to behold for Gate fans.

Add to that a sense that the Ryman League is a tremendously competitive league - just look at how many key promotion and relegation issues went down to the wire – and to finish in sixth place remains a respectable result.

League Season - Month by month

When the season got underway in August, Gate fans were excited about the prospect of a successful season. With an opening 5-2 win at Worthing, followed three games later by a 5-1 win at Folkestone, the sense of optimism looked to be fully justified. Those two big away wins sandwiched a home draw and a home win to leave Gate with 10 from a possible 12 points, and second in the league.

Margate’s good form continued into September, with the Blues securing wins in their next two games. But then Gate came back down to earth with a crash, as Boreham Wood – surely one of the most inconsistent sides in senior English football – secured a Ryman League Performance of the Month award winning 6-1 victory. But Margate recovered their composure to play out two 0-0 draws against fancied AFC Wimbledon and Bromley; both at Hartsdown.

October saw Gate open the month in fourth place, but with only three league games played due to cup commitments, Margate suffered successive league defeats for the first time this season. Once again a good recovery was called for, and Trott’s men found it in East London against Leyton; scoring four without reply.

Having slipped to seventh in the league, Margate needed a good November, and they got one securing 12 from a possible 15 points. And the Blues had really found their shooting boots. Not once did they score less than two goals per game in any one of November’s league fixtures. Not even in the (albeit disappointing) 2-4 home reverse against bogey side Staines Town. So a successful month saw Margate climb five places to second in the table.

But things got even better in December. Undefeated in all five league games in the month, collecting 11 from a possible 15 points, Gate reached the summit of the Ryman League Premier division. Big wins over Horsham and Hendon, a narrow win over Folkestone and draws away at Ashford and Ramsgate saw Gate hold on to top spot into the New Year. The Boxing Day clash at Ramsgate was notable for attracting over 1,700 fans to Southwood for the first league clash in a generation, but the game failed to live up to its promise with both sides cancelling each other out over the 90 minutes even though the Blues did take an early lead.

Postponements in January due to inclement weather were costly for a number of clubs, and Margate were no exception. Playing just three league games in the month saw the Blues take six from a possible nine points and drop one place to second in the table.

The third of January’s three matches was perhaps a turning point for Margate’s season. This was the eventful game at Hampton and Richmond that saw the Blues lose by the odd goal in five, go down to nine men, and come so close to securing an unlikely point. The resulting suspensions to Steve McKimm and Justin Skinner that followed were particularly significant.

February started with an entertaining if ultimately disappointing 4-4 away draw at Harrow Borough, who featured the much travelled Radio Five pundit Steve Claridge. Gate then sneaked a win against Carshalton before enduring two defeats which proved to be the start of a disappointing five game winless run. The first defeat was away to Carshalton and the second a Kent derby defeat to Tonbridge Angels.

By the end of the month the Blues had slipped another two places to fourth.

And the results did not improve enough into March. Although playing catch-up due to a number of postponements, Margate had the opportunity to make up ground on the leaders but momentum had switched away from Gate.

Whilst a creditable home draw at AFC Wimbledon and comfortable home wins over Leyton and Walton and Hersham were all encouraging signs, defeats to Boreham Wood, Staines and Heybridge Swifts were very costly. Taking eight from a possible 21 points was closer to bottom of the table form rather than promotion form, and by the end of the month, Gate had fallen outside the play-off places to sixth; a position that they were never to recover from, despite an upturn in form in the final month of the season.

Gate finished the season with six games in April, and although it was only the final game at much improved Hendon that the Blues lost, two wins proved too little too late to mount a challenge for a play-off spot.

The two outstanding performances of the final month came at Hartsdown against Ramsgate and at Chelmsford. With a change of formation, Margate snuffed out any threat from the Rams and eventually sealed a deserved win in front of Gate’s biggest home attendance of the season. Then in Essex, Gate were back to their old selves in a wonderful display of incisive attacking football against title chasing Chelmsford. At that stage, the 3-1 win for the Blues was as much a surprise to the Margate faithful as it was to the home fans.

However, with no slip up by Wimbledon or Billericay on the final day of the season, Margate’s defeat in North West London - whilst disappointing - did not cost the Blues a play-off place.

Cup Competitions

In Cup Competitions, Margate failed to provide the expected excitement. Whilst the Kent Senior Cup and Westview League Cup were (with due respect to both competitions) not priorities, the FA Cup and FA Trophy were targeted as opportunities to measure the club’s development. However, the Blues failed in both.

In the FA Cup, Margate struggled to beat lower league opposition in the first two rounds – needing a replay against Fleet Town and a second half recovery against Kent League Whitstable. But they then suffered the indignity of going out in the Third Qualifying Round at Hartsdown to Potters Bar Town.

Gate faired a little better in the FA Trophy, where a good 3-1 away win against Wivenhoe Town sent the Blues to the West Country where they were unlucky to go out of the competition by a single goal at Gloucester City.

So all in all, perhaps it was a case of what might have been. But now, it’s a case of what might be. Roll on August, because I for one can’t wait for it all to start again!