Drury departs

Following yesterday's defeat by Cray Wanderers, Margate announced the departure of manager Andy Drury.

In an extremely short statement, the club explained:

'Margate Football Club have today parted ways with First Team Manager Andy Drury.

The Club has placed Reece Prestedge and Ben Greenhalgh in interim charge.

The Club will make no further comment at this stage.'

Drury has been in charge at Hartsdown Park since May, when he moved over from relegated Whitstable Town. He joined the Oysterboys in March, with seven games to save them from relegation. He sadly failed in that task, but his side delivered some impressive performances nonetheless.

He moved to the Belmont after spending some time as a player with Folkestone Invicta, making fourteen appearances, which followed a spell as Assistant Manager at Cray Wanderers.

Andy began his playing career with Sittingbourne back in 2001, went to Gravesend & Northfleet (now Ebbsfleet Utd), and then moved on to Lewes who were then in the Conference South.

In 2008 he was part of the FA Trophy winning side at Stevenage, and whilst he was with Stevenage he had his first taste of the Football League when Stevenage were promoted from the Conference.

He then had his first spell at Luton Town before being spotted by Ipswich Town, who paid Luton £158,000 for him. Drury played 64 games for Ipswich and in 2013, after a loan spell at Crawley Town, he signed for the Sussex side. In 2014 he returned to Luton Town and a year later joined Eastleigh. He later played for Havant & Waterlooville, before moving on to Sittingbourne once more for 2020-21.

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