Margate Football Club is an English association football club based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent. The club was founded in 1896 and played only friendlies and cup matches until 1909, when the team joined the Thanet and District League. Two years later Margate joined the Kent League, initially also playing in the Thanet League due to the county league's small fixture list, before stepping up to the Southern League in 1933. After four seasons at this level, however, the club was forced to resign on financial grounds and return to the Kent League. Margate returned to the Southern League in 1959 and remained there until 2001 when they gained promotion to the Football Conference, the highest level of English non-League football. During their stay at this level they were forced to groun