A glowing reference from Whitstable manager Jamie Coyle helped convince Dean Grant to make his latest club return.

The vastly-experienced forward is back at The Belmont, having started the season at Southern Counties East Premier Division rivals Hollands & Blair.

Grant has quickly found his feet for Whitstable once more with two goals in his first three matches this term, as he works alongside Coyle and No.2 Matt Longhurst.

“I’ve known of both of them for a number of years,” he said. “I’ve never played with or under them before but I’ve played against them.

“In terms of playing against Matt, that was probably when he was a manager in the league above. I probably played against Jamie when I was last here and Jamie was at Glebe.

“They have both made me feel respected. When I spoke to them, they were complimentary about myself as a player but, also, what I could bring to the changing room.

“I suppose some people might look at my career and say ‘Oh, he’s played for a lot of clubs’. But I don’t see negatives in that.

“It means, when I do play for new clubs, there’s players there I have played with and that connection already.

“Jamie said I was one of the best forward players he has played against in the last seven or eight years. He said ‘They don’t really make players like you anymore’.

“As compliments go, they don’t get much better.”

Grant has had plenty of first-team spells at Whitstable and even started out in the club’s under-18s set-up before he joined Dover under then-manager Andy Hessenthaler.

“It’s nice to be back,” admitted Grant, who scored the only goal in Friday’s away 1-0 Kent Senior Trophy triumph over lower-division Canterbury.

“I have lived locally now for the last 10 years or so.

“I’ve done football coaching in the area so it’s always nice to see the youngsters I have coached chanting my name at games and stuff. They’re old enough to attend games on their own now.

“It was quite funny when we played Canterbury on Friday night.

“Obviously, Whitstable are quite well-supported - home and away, anyway - but there were 10 or so that were around 14 or 15. They were supporting the team.

“I scored early in the game and got to celebrate with them. It’s kind of been like a homecoming.

“I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I’m coming towards the end and I would like for that to happen at Whitstable.”

The Trophy tie also saw Grant come up against a City side managed by Danny Lawrence, a player he played alongside at Canterbury and Herne Bay.

Grant said: “Rob Lawrence (Danny’s brother) started, as well. He went off early.

“I still speak to Danny every now and again. He might text me about a player or just have general chit-chat, really. He’s always been someone I’ve respected in football.

“It was a funny situation on Friday night because they’re playing at Margate. But Canterbury did really well, to be fair.

“It’s quite funny, actually, because I’ve been quite ill in the last few days. He messaged me on the day of the game and said

‘Make sure you have a big lunch’, meaning ‘Make sure you’re not ready for the game’.

“I replied with ‘I’ve been feeling ill so I might just score and get it done early’ - and that’s exactly what happened!”

Midfielder Jayden Silcott-Brown came off the substitutes’ bench for his bow for the Oystermen against Canterbury after he agreed a one-month loan from Dover. Grant found himself in a similar position many years ago.

He explained: “Funnily enough when he came on, that’s the one thing I thought of.

“I didn’t know - and still don’t know - much about him. I just got told he has a lot of pace.

“I was in that bracket once. I didn’t have the game knowledge at 18 or 19 that I do now - but the one thing I did have was speed.

“It’s a similar situation for Archie Hatcher, as well. Hopefully, my experience can help them and they can improve.”

It’s been a mixed start to the league campaign for Whitstable.

But Grant, part of Sheppey’s quadruple-winning squad in 2022, said: “I think we have become, not exactly a dark horse, but people might look at us and say that we’re under-achieving again.

“No one is shying away from the fact Whitstable should be higher in the table than we are now. But if we can get on a run, I do think we will be up there.”

For now, there is FA Vase first-round action for the Oystermen to focus on at home to Combined Counties League Premier Division North Virginia Water on Saturday.

Grant, who played for Hollands & Blair against Whitstable in the competition last month, is cup-tied.

Midfielder Liam Gillies will also be cup-tied.