There was an eventful start to Margate’s pre-season - on and off the pitch - at the weekend.

Gate went down 3-2 to Craig Nelson’s National League South visitors Tonbridge despite goals from forwards Tom Derry and Louie Atkins.

As part of rock band The Libertines sponsoring Margate’s new shirts, Pete Doherty - the band’s singer and guitarist - started the match for the hosts.

But player-manager Ben Greenhalgh missed their friendly due to a family emergency while striker Ibrahim Olutade and midfielder Brandon Davey were also unavailable.

Greenhalgh said: “I wasn’t there in the end because my son got rushed to King’s Hospital on Friday night.

“He had an operation but is back on the mend now.

“The positive is that we sort of have a plan in place for that kind of situation and, after all the preparations we did at training on Thursday night, it showed everyone knew what they needed to do.

“It wasn’t like everything was lost, just because the manager wasn’t there.

“Obviously, the players applied themselves really well and there were loads of positives to take.

“We don’t want to look too much at the result because we just wanted to give people chances.

“But we gave them a good game and our application was massively there.”

Donning the No.10 shirt and a brown hat, Doherty played about five minutes as a crowd of 608 watched on at Hartsdown Park before the 46-year-old was subbed off to do a soundcheck at nearby Dreamland ahead of a concert on the same day.

Greenhalgh said: “It was a good laugh and, sometimes, that’s what pre-season is all about.

“You have to give credit to everyone at Margate Football Club for how well everything went on the day.

“There were a lot of positives to take from the day and a lot of positives to take for the players, playing against a team from two divisions above.”

Young forward Kieron Agbebi also played for the hosts, having joined on loan from newly-promoted National League South side Dover.

“Kieron has agreed a season-long loan,” revealed Greenhalgh.

“He’s done pre-season with us and he’s done really well.

“He’s a player that I’ve known about from when he was in the Dover Academy through our matches against them at Dartford. We played against him when he was at Gillingham, as well.

“I asked Mike (Sandmann, Dover’s Academy boss and No.2) and Jake (Leberl, manager) ‘What’s the plan with Kieron because we might be able to give him some minutes?’. They thought that would be best for him.

“He’ll offer us something different where he’s young, energetic and strong.

“There’s a good amount of options in the attacking areas for us now but that’s what you want.”

Margate have been drawn at Combined Counties League Premier Division South Cobham or Isthmian South East rivals Broadbridge Heath in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday, August 16.

They’ll make the journey to newly-promoted Isthmian South Central Egham Town in the Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy seven days later. The winners will visit Westfield in the First Qualifying Round.

Greenhalgh said: “Ideally when you get cup draws, you want them to be at home.

“They’re not, which isn’t ideal.

“It’s tricky because do you want a team you’re going to walk over or someone that’s really competitive at that point in the season?

“The team we have got in the Trophy, Egham, got promoted and won their league last year.

“Obviously, we know about Broadbridge. They’re a very good team and very good at home.

“We did get three points off them at their place, but that was a tough game.

“Overall, whatever side we have by then should be more than competitive.”

Margate will follow this Saturday’s friendly at Isthmian North Newmarket Town (kick-off 12pm) with a post-match trip to Newmarket Racecourse.

They’ll visit FA Vase winners Whitstable on Tuesday.