News, South East
Margate FCMusician Pete Doherty has made his non-league football debut as he led Margate FC out as captain in a friendly.
The singer and guitarist for The Libertines, who sponsor Margate FC, signed for the club in order to take part in their match against Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.
Doherty, wearing the number 10 and a brown hat, played about five minutes before being subbed off to do a soundcheck at nearby Dreamland ahead of a concert the same day.
Ricky Owen, Margate FC’s chairman, said: “It was fantastic, probably better than any of us imagined when we started putting this together.”
Margate, who lost 3-2, welcomed about 600 spectators to the game.
Margate FCOwen said: “I’m not sure we saw the best of his footballing skills, I’m not sure he had long enough to kind of show what he was about on that side of things, but apparently he was a player back in the day in his younger days.
“But it was a fantastic way to kick off our pre-season, something different for our supporters, a bit of fun for our first game and it seemed to go down really well.”
The Libertines, who became the main shirt sponsor for the club in 2018, also own a hotel in the area.
Owen said: “The reaction on our socials, the reaction on The Libertines’ socials, speaking to people at the ground yesterday, reports from our media team as well, it’s just been positively received right across the board really.”
When asked if Doherty could play for the Isthmian League South East Division-club again, Mr Owen said: “Never say never. We’ll see.”
