More than 50 players turned up for Whitstable Town’s first pre-season training session on Saturday.

Manager Nicky Southall was delighted with the turn-out, which featured experienced senior players and those eligible for the club’s under-18 and under-21 teams.

And he challenged them to grab a place in his 18-man squad for next Saturday’s friendly against Dagenham & Redbridge at The Belmont.

Southall said: “I told them to really attack pre-season, not to hold back and sit behind people. With 50 lads here, the only way to stand out is to make yourself seen.

“This will be as close to a professional pre-season as some of these lads will ever get.
“The train’s leaving the station so they can either jump on board on stay on the platform.

“Dagenham are bringing their first team. I’ve spoken to Wayne (Burnett, manager) and he’s not going to mess around.”

Whitstable have signed two teenagers from Maidstone United, winger Josh Smith and striker Charlie Smith.