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Margate player-manager Ben Greenhalgh has spoken of his pride at Martial Godo’s journey to the top - even after turning down his latest offer!
Godo made his Premier League debut for Fulham in this month’s goalless draw against Southampton at Craven Cottage, having had his first taste of senior football at Hartsdown Park when he was on dual registration from Dartford.
While 21-year-old winger Godo is now sponsored by footwear brand Skechers, Greenhalgh - who worked with Godo at Dartford’s Academy - is sticking with the boots he’s donning for now.
Greenhalgh said: “It’s unbelievable.
“I spoke to Martial the other day after he came on.
“He has just signed a Skechers deal and he has been offering me Skechers boots - but I’ve always been a Nike man! There’s been a bit of banter about that.
“It’s brilliant for him and us, as well, to get a little bit of recognition. I’m very proud of him but he has done it himself at the end of the day.
“We gave him an opportunity but, to jump from this to the Premier League, that’s unbelievable.
“That’s all down to his own attitude so it’s really good to see.”
Gate backed up their comeback 2-2 home draw with fierce Thanet rivals Ramsgate in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,500 on Boxing Day with a 2-0 Isthmian South East victory at East Grinstead on Saturday.
That extended the play-off occupants’ unbeaten league run to 13 matches.
“Thirteen unbeaten is brilliant in any season of football, no matter who you’re playing against,” said Greenhalgh, who didn’t feature at East Grinstead alongside defender Lewis Knight due to knocks. “In home league games, we’re unbeaten, as well.
“That’s something we wanted to be better at this year.
“I think teams sit off us a bit more this year but on Boxing Day - against a top-quality team - we took it to them in the second half.
“When we're shooting towards our fans, we look like we’re always going to beat teams.”
Playing in front of a packed house against Ramsgate was a new experience for many of the younger members of Margate's squad.
Greenhalgh said: “It’s a good learning curve for a lot of the boys to feel the occasion.
“I think there were a few players who were slightly under-par, which is good because they’ll learn from that.
“When we hopefully get the bigger games at the end of the season that mean even more, they’ll have learnt from this. Hopefully, they’ll progress and kick on.
“They can go from the seven out of 10s they offered to eight or nines out of 10.”
Captain Harry Hudson equalised for Gate against Ramsgate after they fell behind on the stroke of half-time - with just his second goal this term - before substitute Max Walsh grabbed a dramatic injury-time equaliser.
On Hudson’s goal-scoring return, Greenhalgh admitted: “We’re always onto Harry about that.
“He defends brilliantly every game - but we’re always onto him about getting more goals, as well. We knew on Boxing Day, a big game, we would need our big players.
“He turned up and I think a couple of the other experienced boys turned up. They helped the younger boys more, who haven’t really played in these kinds of occasions and they’ll learn from it.
“It was good for Harry to get that goal and I’m sure he enjoyed that moment.”
As depleted Gate rotated the pack at East Grinstead - also giving a start to youngster Reece Hobbs with No.1 Tom Wray (illness) unavailable - top scorer Ibrahim Olutade’s 19th goal of the campaign put them into a first-half advantage in front of a crowd of 210.
Young forward Louie Atkins then struck after the restart to seal the win, having also been involved in Olutade’s goal.
Margate visit Herne Bay on New Year’s Day before a home game against Merstham on Saturday (both 3pm).
A history website, which is dedicated to Margate FC, has been relaunched.
Visit www.margatefootballclubhistory.com for details.
