Whitstable Town (H) Match Preview

Punjab United vs Whitstable Town, SCEFL Premier Division, The Steve Cook Stadium, Tuesday 8th April 2025, 7:45pm Kick-Off

After a commanding 5-1 win against Sutton Athletic, Punjab now turn their focus to one of the last games of the season, a home game against Whitstable Town.

After their win on Wednesday, Punjab see themselves in 5th place, with a 5 point gap from tonight's opponents, Whitstable. It is more than obvious what the stakes are for this match, a win could see Punjab widen the gap to 8 points, and even overtake Fisher and Rusthall if they lose their corresponding games, a loss however could see them shorten the gap between them and Whitstable to just 2 points. A win here would mean everything for Punjab's playoff hopes.

However, a win over Whitstable will not be an easy task. They haven’t lost a game in 5 games, with commanding wins over Premier Division teams such as Holmesdale (6-1) and Larkfield (2-1). They have also been dominant in another competition this season such as the FA Vase. In a historic run they have managed to reach the FA Vase Final against AFC Whyteleafe; to get here they have beaten teams like Hartpury University, Fleet Town and Walsham and Virginia Water, all of which are well respected teams in their own divisions and leagues.

No matter the result tonight, we wish Whitstable the best of luck in the FA Vase Final.

Team and Match Stats:

Considering that this will be home game for Punjab, it is worth mentioning their stats from previous home games. Punjab are currently 5th place in terms of points taken away from all home games this season, Punjab have a respectable tally of 30 points, not too far behind 3rd place team Fisher, who have 36 points. However on the flip side, Whitstable also hold a very respectable away performance tally with 30 points from all away games, with a +11 goal difference. This puts Whitstable and Punjab on even ground going into this tie when it comes to points gained.

Looking at some more general statistics, Whitstable Town have a higher points per match average than Punjab, with them having 1.81 and Punjab having 1.74, they also have a tight win percentage differential, with Whitstable Town winning on average, 55 percent of their games, and Punjab wins on average just under 52 percent of their games. While these statistics are showing the narrowest of margins, they are important to consider as these stats can really set two teams apart, but as everyone says, what happens on the day is what really counts.

Looking at the predicted final table, Punjab are predicted to finish outside of the playoff zone, based off goal differental, Whitstable are predicted to finish in 3rd place, so if Punjab really wants to challenge their fate, they must fight their way to a victory on Tuesday.

Opposition (A Brief History):

Credit: SCEFL Website

Whitstable Town FC was founded in 1885, originally known as Whitstable United, before adopting the name Whitstable Town in 1886. The club began playing at the Belmont Ground in 1888, which remains their home today. After folding briefly in 1904, the club was reformed in 1908 and soon joined the Kent League, where they achieved early success in the 1920s and 30s, including two Division 2 titles and a Kent Amateur Cup win.

Following World War II, Whitstable rejoined the Kent League and enjoyed a strong spell in the 1950s, even briefly turning professional. However, financial difficulties and league changes led to a period of decline in the 1960s. The club rejoined the reformed Kent League in 1967 and steadily rebuilt, celebrating its centenary in 1985 with high-profile games against Charlton and Crystal Palace.

The club's most successful season came in 2006-07 under player-manager Marc Seager, winning both the Kent League and the Kent Senior Trophy. This earned promotion to the Ryman League (Step 4), where the club remained for several years with respectable finishes.

In recent years, the club has focused on development off the pitch, launching a football academy and merging with Whitstable Town Junior FC in 2019 to provide a pathway for young players. Ground improvements, including a new 3G pitch, were completed in 2022. After a tough few seasons and another relegation in 2022, the club appointed Jamie Coyle as manager and now looks forward to the 2024-25 season with renewed ambition to return to Step 4.

Getting There:

The nearest train station to Punjab United is Gravesend. You can then either get the bus which takes 30 minutes or get a taxi from the station which takes 11 minutes.

Our sponsors Apollo Taxis are offering a 10% discount for any supporters who are travelling from Gravesend Train Station to the ground. We'd like to thank Apollo Taxis once again for their continued support each season.

The Steve Cook Stadium

Dunkirk Close

Gravesend

Kent

DA12 5ND

Matchday & Ticketing Information:

Tickets for the game can only be purchased on gate and not in advance.

Ticket prices for the game are as follows:

• Adults: £8

• Concessions : £5

• Under 16s: Free

  
  

Card payments are available across the stadium, including on the turnstiles and at any bars and catering facilities.

How to follow the game:

There will be live updates during the game on Punjab's’ Twitter / X page from Football Web Pages.

A post-match interview with the gaffer will also be posted on our YouTube channel and other social media platforms after the game.

We hope to see you at The Steve Cook Stadium!

Pride Passion Punjab

Written by Sahib Singh Khera