It’s a massive day for Whitstable Town this Saturday - but it’s matters on the field which remain the club’s primary focus.

The Oystermen will finally play their first first-team match on their new 3G pitch at The Belmont as they host Welling Town in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

Fourth-placed Whitstable, however, have opted against marking the occasion off the pitch, with their campaign already well under way.

“We need to focus on the football, we are in the season now,” said Whitstable chairman Steve Clayton.

“Had this been completed in pre-season, we would have made a bigger fuss about it. But football is our core business.

“We have tried to keep the atmosphere of the club, as it has been there since 1886, but with a modern pitch.

“We don’t want to lose the elements people love because it’s been there for so long.”

Nevertheless, the start of a new era is something everyone at the club is excited about.

Clayton said: “It’s massive, it’s a really big step for the club.

"Having the 3G means we have a state-of-the-art surface and it’s been FIFA accredited as well.

“It’s a great surface for the first-team but the youth structure - which is a massive part of what we are doing - can be a part of The Belmont as well. We are also moving our boys’ and girls’ development centres here and that will help the club, it brings the club together.

“We merged the junior and senior teams together three seasons ago but it didn’t feel quite together. But now, they can be part of The Belmont.

“We have two Academy teams. They had their education here before but had to do the physical side elsewhere. So for them, it’s a really big step.”

Plenty of work has been put in by contractors Velocity Sports and several club volunteers to get the pitch ready for action, the first-team training on the surface last week.

Clayton said: “There was a massive amount of work put in. It’s been a big project, it’s never easy getting these pitches in.

“We have to deal with the levels and historic stuff at the site. Lots of people have helped.

“Velocity have been fantastic as contractors along with the club volunteers, who already give up a massive amount of time. We have 79 volunteers down here now.

“We didn’t have the money to replace everything - that would have cost millions - but they have been here this week, getting everything ready for Saturday.”

Whitstable, who lost last weekend on penalties to Westside in the FA Vase despite captain Freeman Rogers scoring in a 1-1 draw, won 3-0 away to Canterbury City in the league on Wednesday night, with Harry O'Donnell to the fore against his old club. He scored one and set one up, the other goals being scored by striker Matt Gething and midfielder James Huggins.

Recent signings Reece Gillies and George Sheminant both started for Whitstable against Westside.