Faversham manager Ray Turner is excited about the start of a new campaign and hopes Saturday’s pre-season opener against Gillingham will be a great occasion for the club.

Despite it being just 56 days since the Lilywhites’ last game – the Ryman League, Division 1 South play-off final – and 43 until the opening league game of the new season, Town are back on the field at Salters Lane to take on the League 2 champions at 1pm.

Turner said: “We are looking forward to getting back, it feels like a long enough break. I’m looking forward to getting the lads all together at training on Thursday.

“We want to try and maintain the momentum we built last season and I’m sure everyone will be raring to go.”

It will be the fourth time the Gills have visited Town since the club’s re-formation with 5-0, 3-0 and 1-0 victories for the visitors but Turner said: “I’m not sure if that trend will continue – a lot depends on the team they bring with them.

“I’m optimistic that they will bring quite a strong side, even though they have two games on Saturday but with the lunchtime kick-off, it’s nice to be able to say we are the first team to play them as a League 1 side.”

Brendon Cass and Rhys Lawson, summer arrivals from Hythe and Herne Bay respectively, are set to make their debuts.