A big crowd is expected at Priestfield tonight to watch the Kent Senior Cup final between Chatham Town and Margate.

Around 2,000 tickets had already been sold at the start of the week and more supporters are expected to purchase in the final few hours before kick off in Gillingham.

The Kent Senior Cup has been running since 1888 and it’s over 100 years since Chatham last won the competition - back in 1919. Margate last won the trophy in 2005. This will be the 133rd final of the competition.

Fans of both sides will be segregated with Chatham fans having the Medway Stand - with tickets initially on sale in the lower tier - while Margate supporters will be housed on the Gordon Road side.

Having secured Priestfield as the venue to stage the final Kent FA chief executive Darryl Haden said: “We’re pleased that our Senior Cup final will be (at Priestfield) and it’s really important moving forward that players in Kent playing in our county cups can aspire to play at venues like this.”

Former Gills youth player Kevin Hake will be bringing his Chatham side to Priestfield fresh from their title winning success in Isthmian South East.

He said: “It’s a great achievement for us to get to the Kent Senior Cup after facing some tough opposition along the way.

“The Kent Cup competitions has a special place in everyone’s hearts at Chatham, particularly in more recent times, as winning the Kent Senior Trophy in 2019 marked the first honours the club had won in 25 years.

“This final is a competition we haven’t won since 1919 so it would be great to bring this trophy back to the Bauvill in modern times.

“This game concludes the 2022/23 season for us so it’s a good chance to see us for the last time before the Summer break.”

Chatham are captained by former Gills player Jack Evans while title-winning striker Danny Kedwell is their player-assistant manager. Former players Dean Beckwith and Matt Bodkin are also set to be involved.

Gillingham’s young right-back Ike Orji is also set to play. He joined the Gills on February 9 and was loaned back to Chats for the rest of the 2022/23 season.

Reece Prestedge’s Margate finished 17th in the Isthmian Premier Division this season and will be facing Chatham in the league next term - an early opportunity for these two sides to suss each other out.

Gate player-assistant manager Ben Greenhalgh told the Kent FA: “To beat Ramsgate in the semi-final is something we thoroughly enjoyed as a club. It was a fantastic evening at Hartsdown Park in front of a crowd of 1,481 and the atmosphere was incredible.

“To reach a final of a cup competition is always a big achievement and it is one that we are very proud of. This season has been a difficult one for many reasons. However, tonight gives us the opportunity to shine a bright light on the last nine months.”

Kick off at Priestfield is 7.45pm and tickets must be purchased online in advance, which are available through this link, at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 concessions. Children aged 5-11 pay £2.

During the 14th minute of the game fans are being encouraged to pay tribute to young Chats supporter Freddy Leitch, from Gillingham, who recently died of a rare genetic disease at the age of eight.