Margate Football Club have announced the appointment of former Whitstable Town boss Andy Drury as the club’s new First Team Manager.

Drury, 38, joins the ‘Gate with a wealth of football experience in both the non-league and professional game. The Midfielder started his career at Sittingbourne in 2001 before signing for Gravesend & Northfleet.

After moving to Stevenage, Drury played a crucial role in helping the club lift the 2008-09 Conference Premier title and FA Trophy at Wembley after a 2-0 win over York City.

After a spell with Luton in 2010/11, Drury was rewarded with a move to Championship side Ipswich Town in January 2011, where he went onto make 64 appearances for the Suffolk side.

After leaving Portman Road, spells at Crawley Town and Luton Town in the Football League followed before a return to the Non-League game at Eastleigh. After Eastleigh, Drury joined Ebbsfleet and later Havant & Waterlooville before joining Cray Wanderers as Player-Assistant Manager to Danny Kedwell.

Drury spent a brief time as Whitstable Town Manager at the end of the 2021/22 season and moves to Thanet replacing Jay Saunders who left to take over at Tonbridge Angels.

Margate Chairman Ricky Owen said, “We were really impressed by Andy and his vision for the squad moving forward”.

“He has a wealth of knowledge in both the professional and non-league game and he is hungry to succeed”.

A statement from Whitstable Town confirmed Drury’s departure and that they now begin their search for a new manager. It reads:

“Whitstable Town Football Club can confirm that Manager Andrew Drury has left the club to take up the position of first-team manager at Isthmian League Premier Division Club Margate FC after the club received an approach to speak to him this evening.”

“We want to thank Andy for all his hard work during his short spell at the club; It’s a great opportunity which we understand Andy couldn’t refuse. We wish Andy all the best for the future.”

“The club will work tirelessly to appoint a successor to rebuild after a difficult season and work hard to ensure the best candidate is selected. We invite applications to be sent to [email protected] ”