Friday 26 September 2014

Supporters Club ready for Cup Magic

After the extraordinary evening last Tuesday it might be easy to dismiss this Saturday as ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ but that would be wrong. The same enthusiasm shown in backing the players to a fantastic win needs to be repeated to ensure the F.A.Cup adventure continues. Let’s be heard chanting and singing loudly.

MSC now has its own HQ on match days this being situated next to the Security Office which in turn is near the catering facility. Here you can join the supporters’ association, collect your membership card, book away coach travel, find out about events and buy 50:50 tickets if you haven’t done so earlier. Or just stop for a chat with a committee member. We look forward to meeting you.


Tuesday 23 September 2014

Blues fans urged to make noise against Maidstone

This evening is undoubtedly the clash of the season to date. Maidstone are likely to bring with them a large following no doubt intending to turn Hartsdown into a replica of the Gallagher Stadium – without the all-weather pitch of course! It’s up to us, the Margate fans, to ensure that doesn’t happen. 

Let’s make the noise for the boys in blue deafening so everyone is acutely aware who the home side is. Enjoy the game and let’s make it a night to remember for all the right reasons.

Monday 15 September 2014

Time to Create a 12th Man Atmosphere

The number of fans who travelled to Folkestone on Saturday was impressive with the vocal support given suggesting Margate were the home team! Some of those attending may have been disappointed that we didn’t come away with a win but that’s football.


What would be good is for everyone to put the disappointment behind them and turn up in good voice on Tuesday evening and cheer the team to victory. Let’s help to make it as difficult as possible for the visitors by creating that ‘twelfth man’ atmosphere.

Friday 12 September 2014

Supporters light up the way to Hartsdown Park.

On behalf of supporters who walk to the ground via the park we have been in conversation with Thanet Council on the subject of the path that runs alongside the ground between Hartsdown Rd and Tivoli Park Avenue with 7 of 8 lighting columns not working thus rendering it unpleasant to transit in the darker months.

They have reacted well and a contractor was appointed and, as seen last Tuesday evening, has managed to remedy the situation whereby now 7 of the 8 lights are fully operational with the remaining one to be repaired with replacement equipment soon.


As the leaves fall from the trees along that route it should be even brighter particularly for evening games thereby safer for all concerned.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

MSC Programme Notes v Witham Town

The Dripping Pan was a suitably named venue for the wettest August Bank Holiday in living memory, a day so foul that the brand spanking new all-weather G3 pitch installed at Whyteleafe drowned under the weight of water! Don’t ask! Of course the Gate fans who travelled to Sussex, hopeful that the 100% record would be retained, accepted the soaking in remarkably good spirits as earlier in the day many were anticipating spending their afternoon wasting hard-earned cash on overpriced goods on offer at Clacket Lane! Don’t ask! 

For those waiting for news of the excellent victory via whichever technological masterpiece was at their disposal they most likely wished they had gone as their alternative day was probably washed out. Hands up on that one with personal, selfish regret that the fixture hadn’t been arranged for later in the season. No not because of missing the incomparable Harveys drawn from the hand pumps in the bar but because a distant memory needed to be addressed. I refer to a Tuesday evening during the one forgettable season in the Conference South the league fixture being Bill Edward’s 400th start for the club. 

The match was full of unusual incidents, talking points for sure, far too many to expand on here. Suffice to say a quiet return journey following the 7 – 3 drubbing. Revenge is not a word to use in football; payback is preferable. Thus those who watched us beat the Rooks at their home for the first time in a competitive match hopefully wore a self-contented smile on my behalf!

We reached the end of the first month of the season facing a variety of vexing questions. Would we complete August having won all seven fixtures? Or at least unbeaten? Still top of the league? The programme notes, perhaps unwisely, Ed?, spelled out the records within grasp. Indeed everyone was aware that we had had the best start of all teams the length and breadth of the country apart from that pub team that plays in the Frinton Sunday League Division Four! The gathering set back to await the latest foe being put to the sword. Maybe not, there is a hardcore of realism populating the terraces, they know the score I’m pleased to say. 

Straying from the plot the floodgates were effectively sealed by a resolute defence and inspired custodian. Full marks to Leiston for a well-thought out game plan and to the home players who may have felt it wasn’t to be their day but set about challenging that point resulting in a 90th minute reward. Despite the passing and movement being less sharp, something easily corrected to be sure, the match was exciting enough and that’s what we want for our shilling. Unbeaten it is then as we headed into September with an appointment in ‘sarf’ London.

Those who find the time to glance at the MSC web page and Facebook site will probably have picked up on the strongly worded statements about the conditions attached to travelling by coach to away games. No-one likes being a killjoy, for that is indeed what it feels like, but there really are serious consequences for failing to comply with the regulations. (Not expressed again, please check on the internet sites). 

The MSC committee has pondered at length to make coach travel a reality again after many years of not being able to do so our desire being to help as many fans as possible attend away matches. Let’s make sure it works successfully. Don’t forget anyone not yet in possession of their membership card may collect it at the hut inside the ground on match days prior to kick-off.


I’m not sure if tonight’s visitors from Witham have played at Hartsdown before. They are very welcome so let’s make them feel at home everywhere but on the pitch! Enjoy the game.

Monday 8 September 2014

MSC UPDATE: No Coach To Folkestone

After discussing with the regular coach travellers on Saturday it has been decided not to run a coach to Folkestone for the F.A.Cup tie. Anyone wishing to go and is looking for a lift please ask at the MSC hut on Tuesday Sept.9th, the Witham match, and we shall do our best to help.

Due to lack of numbers the planned social event at Sittingbourne dogs has been cancelled. However we are trying again the new date being November 30th. For full details of this and other events please refer to the MSC Facebook site.

Once again there will be a Christmas Draw. As always to make this a success we rely very much on the generosity of MFC fans who have kindly donated prizes in the past. A continuation would be very much appreciated.


Don’t forget the football club has organised a free bus service to and from the ground on match days starting from Cecil Square. Timetable details will be posted here in due course.