Sheppey open their Kent League 1 season with a home game against Gillingham Anchorians on Saturday.

Although the Islanders finished in the relegation places last season, they were spared ‘the drop’ by league restructuring and coach Frank Davis believes Sheppey will be stronger for that experience this time around.

He said: "We have got a young side and they will have benefited from what happened last year.

"They know what to expect now in Kent 1.

"And I’m pleased we are still in Kent 1. In Kent 2 we would probably have had two or three hard games and the rest would have been non-contests.

"As a coach and player, what you strive toward is playing at a consistent level and hopefully we can produce that this season."