Will Thomas is looking forward to playing alongside summer signing Michael West at Whitstable - a player who gave him an early footballing lesson!

Centre-back Thomas can only remember facing former Football League midfielder West, now 33, once before.

That meeting came in November 2015 when West - then of Ebbsfleet - helped the Fleet thump a youthful Maidstone side, including Thomas, 6-2 in the Kent Senior Cup.

“The only time I’ve played against him was in the Kent Cup when he was at Ebbsfleet,” Thomas recalled.

“We had a lot of young lads and he was one of the more senior ones, playing for them.

“He gave me a bit of a lesson that night!

“From what I’ve heard, he brings a lot of experience - Football League experience - and he will add to the group.”

Alongside West, defenders Finn O’Mara, Karn Miller-Neave and Jake McIntyre have agreed to join The Belmont club for the 2024/25 Southern Counties East Premier Division push, alongside midfielder Zach Dainkeh and experienced forward Jerson Dos Santos.

Thomas said: “I know a few of them.

“I know Jake very well and have played with him before.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition in the squad.”

Thomas is one of many to have agreed to remain with the Oystermen for another campaign under new boss Jamie Coyle and assistant Matt Longhurst alongside their summer recruits.

They’ve replaced the former management team of Marcel Nimani and his assistant Craig Coles.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” said Thomas. “It’s a big year for the club and we have got a new management team.

“I’m just looking forward to getting going and seeing where it takes us.

“Last year was a thoroughly enjoyable season with Marcel and Craig. They’re both great guys but the club wanted to push on.

“As a club, we want to give ourselves the best shot we can of getting promoted and getting to the next level - where the club should be.”

Thomas worked under Coyle, a centre-half himself, in his youth-team days at Maidstone and also played for Longhurst at East Grinstead.

“Coyley was the Academy manager when I was at Maidstone,” he said. “He was a big part of my transition from youth football to men’s football.

“Being a centre-half as well, he gave me all the tips and tricks of the trade. It’s been seven years now (since they were at Maidstone together).

“I’m looking forward to working with him again, as well as Matt.

“Matt knows a lot of the lads already.

“It’s not like he is coming into a dressing room where he doesn’t know anyone.”

While Thomas is now looking ahead to some time off, he doesn’t expect it will be long before he’s chomping at the bit to get back to playing again.

He said: “It’s coming to the stage at the end of the season where you do look forward to having some downtime.

“But I’m sure, when it comes to late June, I will want to get back at it.

“It’s a long old season so you need to make the most of the break.”

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