Manager Nicky Southall has issued a rallying cry to the people of Whitstable to get behind his FA Trophy heroes and help take the club to the next level.

The Oystermen are in the first round of the FA Trophy after Saturday’s win at higher-division Carshalton and beat Maidstone in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday to book a semi-final place.

A delighted Southall said: “I hope for all the efforts of the players and staff at the football club that the people of Whitstable really embrace the club, get behind us and support us.

“One of my main targets when I got the job was to try and interact with the community and get them involved and coming along to games.

“There are about 35,000 people in the town and success has been a long time coming at the club. Hopefully, together we can all take the club to the next level.”

Southall’s side came from behind to beat Carshalton on Saturday – taking their prize-money from their Trophy run to more than £12,000 – and were handed a trip to another Ryman League, Premier Division side in the shape of Hendon in Monday’s draw.

Southall said: “To be honest I wanted a big club. It would have been good for the club and the players to have a big tie.

But when the draw is made, you either want a big club or a draw that gives you the chance to progress and I think we have that. Of course they are a higher division to us but so were Carshalton and Maidstone. It’s going to be difficult for us but we have got a chance. We are on the up at the moment.”

Attention turns to Ryman League, Division 1 South action on Saturday with the visit of Corinthian Casuals and Southall said: “It is a massive game. We want to get our league season on track. We have 11 games coming up in December and we’re going to be tested to the maximum.”