Margate welcome Canterbury City to Hartsdown Park for the 2023-24 season

MARGATE have confirmed that Canterbury City will be playing their home games at Hartsdown Park next season.

The homeless club have spent this season playing at Sittingbourne’s Woodstock Park ground and are struggling at the foot of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table.

A Margate statement said: “With their agreement at Sittingbourne coming to an end, Canterbury City have now agreed that a move to Hartsdown Park for the 2023-24 season will be beneficial to them as they continue their fight to return to their own home.

“For us, the groundshare enables us to bring in additional revenue into the club which will also boost further sponsorship opportunities, as well as meaning there will be a competitive fixture each week at Hartsdown Park for fans that are unable to attend our away matches.

“As well as the above benefits to the agreement, the two clubs have agreed a partnership which could see Margate youth players earn game time at a senior level with Canterbury City, and likewise Margate have the opportunity to promote City players to the Isthmian League should they wish.”

Margate director Dan Winsbury added: “Obviously as a club we remember just how hard it is when you don’t have your own home.  Travelling to Dover and Ashford in the early 2000’s really had an impact on us as a club.”

Canterbury City chairman Trevor James added: “The new partnership will not only offer Canterbury City stability, but also our players and supporters the benefit of a first-class facility.”

Margate are in sixteenth-place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table.

Visit Margate's website: www.margate-fc.co.uk