Date / Year of birth: 15th January 1979

Position: Midfielder / Right-back

Season of first appearance: 1998/99

Season of last appearance: 2010/11

Also played for: Gillingham (0), Gravesend & Northfleet, Lewes and Maidstone United

Hugely committed, whole-hearted player born in Whitechapel, London who represented Kent as a youngster and started his senior career with Gillingham. Jay joined the Gills for the 1995/96 campaign and played for the youth and reserve teams before being released during the 1996/97 season.

He then linked up with Gravesend & Northfleet and Jay had known the Fleet's manager Andy Ford for many years having played in the same junior side as his son. Jay played twice for the Fleet's first team before the end of 1996/97 and stayed with the club for the 1997/98 campaign but underwent two groin operations during that season which restricted his appearances.

In August 1998 Jay signed for Margate aged 19 after impressing in several pre-season friendlies and scoring in a 2-1 win over Gillingham on 23.7.98. He made his competitive debut at right-back as Margate lost 2-0 on penalties at Forest Green on 9.8.98 after drawing 1-1 in the Southern League Championship Match. Jay kept the number two shirt for the opening Southern League game of the campaign on 22.8.98 and the Thanet Times said he "proved an able deputy for the unfit Iain O'Connell" as Margate beat Andover 4-1 at Hartsdown Park. Jay then played in each of the next six matches at right-back but after featuring in a 3-1 defeat at Corby on 12.9.98 he fell out of favour and didn't start any of Margate's next seven games although he did appear as a substitute in five of them.

On 24.10.98 Jay returned to the starting line-up when he wore the number two shirt in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Raunds and in Margate's next match against Yate at Hartsdown Park on 7.11.98 he played in midfield for the first time. Jay did well in a 3-0 win and from then on he was a regular in the side, always lining up in midfield. On 30.1.99 he was carried off after falling awkwardly in a 2-0 home win over Cirencester and the Thanet Times said he'd suffered "a dreadful injury". The paper reported that Jay would be out for weeks but within two days all was well. Manager Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He trained on Monday night and was fine. Everyone just looked at him and said he's a big softie".

On 6.2.99 Jay confirmed his recovery by scoring his first goal for Margate to secure a 1-0 win at Yate and he doubled his tally for the season in the following match - a 2-2 draw with Chelmsford at Hartsdown Park on 13.2.99. Five more goals followed in Jay's next 16 appearances and his efforts included a 25-yard strike in a vital 2-0 home win over Havant & Waterlooville on 10.4.99 and another in a 4-0 win at Brackley on 1.5.99 that clinched promotion to the Southern League Premier Division for Margate. He ended the campaign having scored seven times in 42 appearances (eight as sub).

At the start of the 1999/00 season Jay couldn't break into the Margate side and in the first 16 matches of the new campaign he made nine substitute appearances. He finally made his first start on 2.11.99 when he played at right-back in a 3-2 home win over Tonbridge in the Kent Senior Cup and Jay then kept his place for the next two games - a 2-0 defeat at Tamworth on 6.11.99 and a 2-0 win over Weymouth at Hartsdown Park on 9.11.99. In Margate's next five matches he only made one sub appearance but on 1.12.99 Jay started in midfield for the first time in a 2-2 draw with Dartford at Purfleet in the FA Trophy. He enjoyed a good run in midfield after that and started the next 11 games.

Jay got his first goal of the season in a 4-2 home win over Baldock on 21.12.99 and he was also on target with a header in a 2-1 defeat against visitors Cambridge City on 18.1.00. In its report on a 3-2 home defeat against Folkestone on 25.1.00 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Jay had "looked Margate's liveliest player in the past couple of weeks" but he had to leave the field with a foot injury in the second half and missed the next three matches. Jay returned to the side for a 1-0 win over Burton at Hartsdown Park on 22.2.00 and the Thanet Times said he was "lively" in midfield during a 2-1 home defeat against Tamworth on 26.2.00. After that he usually played at right-back and on 1.4.00 Jay clashed with striker Phil Collins after the final whistle of a 1-1 home draw with Dorchester. Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "They were both disappointed, and it just shows how much they care. They were both alright in the changing rooms afterwards. It was all down to frustration and how much they wanted to win". Jay made a total of 40 appearances (11 as sub) during the season and scored twice. The Thanet Times said he'd turned in "consistent displays despite alternating between defence and attacking midfield".

Jay only featured as a substitute in the first three matches of the 2000/01 campaign but on 28.8.00 he made his first start of the new season in midfield as Margate thrashed Fisher 5-0 at Hartsdown Park. He was almost ever-present from then on and Jay always wore the number 11 shirt. He scored his first goal of the campaign with a header in a 5-0 home win over Welling on 19.9.00 but on 23.9.00 he suffered a badly cut eye in the first half of a 1-1 draw at Bath. Jay had to have six stitches inserted into the wound at half-time but played the second half. On 7.10.00 he scored in a 3-0 win over visitors Weymouth and later in October Jay signed a new three-year contract. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "worked hard in midfield" during a 1-0 defeat at Fisher on 24.10.00 and the Thanet Times described Jay as Margate's "most creative player" in a 3-1 win over King's Lynn at Hartsdown Park on 4.11.00. The paper added that he'd "been one of the most consistent players in the team". He scored in a 4-0 home win over Tonbridge on 14.11.00 and on 21.11.00 Jay was due to play for a Southern League representative side against an FA X1 along with several of his Margate team-mates but the game was called off.

After a spell of almost four months without scoring Jay got a vital goal to secure a 1-0 win at Dorchester on 10.3.01 as Margate battled it out with Burton at the top of the Southern League Premier Division. On 20.3.01 he scored a brilliant solo goal in a 4-0 win at Moor Green, cutting in from the left and rounding three defenders before firing home. Jay followed that with another goal in Margate's next match - a 2-0 home win over Bath on 24.3.01 - and Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "Jay Saunders was brilliant". He scored with a great header in a 2-1 win at Clevedon on 21.4.01 and in its report on a 3-0 home win over Worcester on 28.4.01 the Thanet Times wrote "man-of-the-match honours should go to Jay Saunders for his energetic tough-tackling display on the right side of midfield". Margate finished the season as Southern League champions to secure promotion to the Conference and Jay won the 'Players Player of the Year' award after scoring seven goals in 48 appearances (three as sub).

He started the 2001/02 campaign by playing in Margate's first-ever Conference match - a 1-0 win at Boston on 18.8.01 - and Jay was an automatic choice in midfield for the next few months, usually wearing the number 11 shirt. In its report on a 1-0 home defeat against Barnet on 29.9.01 the Thanet Times said he was "industrious" and "among the best players on show, covering all corners of the pitch and winning countless tackles". On 6.10.01 Jay got his first goal of the season in a 3-0 win at Chester and the Thanet Times said he was "the star of the performance". His next goal came in a 3-3 draw at Forest Green on 3.11.01 and the paper said it was "a superb individual strike". Jay picked up the ball 30 yards out, darted past two defenders and then crashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. By the end of 2001 he'd played in 26 of Margate's 28 matches.

The Thanet Times described Jay as "classy" in its report on a 3-1 win over Hayes at Hartsdown Park on 12.1.02 but he picked up an injury in a 3-0 defeat at Hereford on 19.1.02 and missed two games as a result. Jay returned as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with visitors Chester on 9.2.02 and played regularly again after that. On 5.3.02 he had his first outing at right-back in a 2-1 win at Braintree in the FA Trophy and Jay also wore the number two shirt in Margate's next three matches. By the end of March he was back in midfield and on 30.3.02 Jay scored with what the Thanet Times called a "fine strike" in a 1-1 draw at Northwich, blasting a shot home from a tight angle. On 23.4.02 he played as a centre-back for most of a 5-0 home win over Ashford in the Kent Senior Cup and was partnered by another makeshift centre-back Gary Blackford. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said that "both looked as if they had been playing there all season".

On 27.4.02 Jay scored as Margate thrashed Stalybridge 8-0 at Hartsdown Park in the final game of the Conference campaign and on 6.5.02 he was part of the side that was thumped 5-0 at home by Gravesend & Northfleet in the Kent Senior Cup Final. The Isle of Thanet Gazette praised Jay for a "battling performance in midfield against his former club" and said it "was one of few bright points to come out of the game for the Blues". Shortly afterwards the paper reviewed the campaign and described Jay as "a firm favourite among supporters after another tireless season's work". He'd made 46 appearances (two as sub) and scored five goals during 2001/02.

In the summer of 2002 Jay played for the Middlesex Wanderers touring side in Indonesia and Vietnam and he was the first Margate player ever to do so whilst with the club.

He had an eventful start to the 2002/03 campaign when he was sent off just before the end of the opening match of the new Conference season - a 1-1 draw with Morecambe at Margate's temporary home in Dover on 17.8.02. Jay was dismissed after picking up two bookings and Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "Jay was unlucky." He had to serve a one game ban but after returning from suspension Jay was a fixture in Margate's midfield. On 12.10.02 he scored an own goal in a 2-2 draw at Halifax and on 26.10.02 Jay turned in a great display in a 2-1 win at Gravesend & Northfleet in 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The Thanet Times said his "hard work...must not be underestimated".

On 16.11.02 he was part of the Margate side that drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup and the Thanet Times said Jay "really rose to the occasion". He also played in the replay at Dover on 26.11.02 which Margate won 1-0 and featured in the 3-0 defeat against Cardiff in the 2nd Round at Dover on 7.12.02.

Jay scored his first goal of the season in a 2-2 draw with Kettering at Hartsdown Park on 28.12.02 and the Thanet Times praised his "outstanding performance" in a 2-0 win at Worcester in the FA Trophy on 1.2.03. The paper also noted that Jay made a "brilliantly timed tackle" in the penalty area to prevent a near-certain goal. On 8.2.03 he was captain for the day as Margate took on Leigh at Dover and Jay was one of the scorers in a 2-0 win. The KM Extra newspaper said he turned in a "typically combative display, capped deservedly by a goal". He also skippered the side in a 2-0 defeat against Hereford at Hartsdown on 11.2.03 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Jay "again shone while taking care of the captain's armband".

In its report on a 2-0 defeat against Tamworth at Hartsdown in an FA Trophy tie on 22.2.03 the Thanet Times said Jay's "performance was one of the few highlights for Margate" and added "he showed boundless energy in midfield". It was Margate's last ever match at Hartsdown Park before the ground was demolished. On 5.4.03 Jay scored in a 2-1 win over Halifax at Dover and then made it back-to-back goals with a strike in a 2-0 win at Southport on 12.4.03 before being carried off after colliding with team-mate Sam Sodje. Jay suffered a facial injury that ruled him out for two matches but he returned as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Scarborough at Dover on 26.4.03. He rounded off an excellent campaign by playing as Margate won 2-1 at Welling on 30.4.03 to claim the Kent Senior Cup and Jay was chosen as the match sponsors' 'man of the match'. He won Margate's 'Players' Player of the Year' award having scored four goals from 48 appearances (two as sub).

In June 2003 Jay signed a new one-year contract and he played in Margate's first ten games of the 2003/04 season. On 13.9.03 he was sent off two minutes from the end of a 3-2 defeat at Accrington in the Conference after lashing out at opponent and following a 1-0 defeat against Barnet at Dover on 23.9.03 Jay had to serve a three match ban. He returned to the side for a game against Leigh at Dover on 11.10.03 and Jay marked his comeback with a goal in a 2-0 win. The Thanet Times then said he "performed well in midfield" in a 1-0 win at Scarborough on 18.10.03.

On 25.10.03 Jay headed a dramatic equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as Margate staged a very late rally to draw 3-3 at Grays in an FA Cup tie having been 3-1 down with almost 90 minutes played. He then scored in the replay played at Ashford on 28.10.03 as Margate lost on penalties after another 3-3 draw and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Jay was "the pick of Margate's players with a show of non-stop running and tough tackling".

He started 2004 with back-to-back goals in a 2-0 win over Forest Green at Dover on 4.1.04 and a 2-2 draw at Dorchester in an FA Trophy tie played on 10.1.04. The Thanet Times said Jay's strike in that game "was a fair reward...after an inspirational performance in midfield". He made it three goals in four matches when he was on target in a 2-0 win over Dorchester in the replay at Ashford on 20.1.04 and Jay continued to be a fixture in Margate's midfield until a 4-2 defeat at Leigh on 28.2.04. After that he missed three games due to injury but after returning in a 3-1 win over Accrington at Dover on 16.3.04 Jay was ever-present for the remainder of the season.

On 3.4.04 he got his seventh goal of the campaign in a 3-0 win over Farnborough at Dover and Jay then took his tally to eight when he struck in a 1-1 draw with Morecambe at Dover on 18.4.04. On 28.4.04 Jay won his second consecutive Kent Senior Cup winners' medal as Margate won 2-1 at Folkestone in the final and finished the season with a record of eight goals from 44 appearances.

In May 2004 Jay rejoined his old club Gravesend & Northfleet along with Margate's captain Graham Porter amidst uncertainty about which league Margate would play in during 2004/05. Jay opted to ensure he remained in the Conference and Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "It's hypothetical whether I would have liked them to stay or not - I knew they were going to go before the last game." In its round-up the 2003/04 campaign the Gazette said it had been a "solid season from the tenacious vice-captain" and added Jay had been a "key figure in midfield" who would "be missed next season".

In September 2004 the Non-League Paper ran a story about Jay under the headline "Saunders So Happy to Rejoin His Fleet" and he told the paper "It feels really good to be back." He made 84 appearances for the Fleet (ten as sub) during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons and scored 12 goals before being released in May 2006. Jay's contract had expired and he didn't want to go full-time - Gravesend were about to turn professional.

In the summer of 2006 he signed for Conference South club Lewes but Jay couldn't settle there and in September 2006 he was transfer-listed having made only six league appearances.

Shortly afterwards Jay rejoined Margate on a month's loan and on 23.9.06 he made his first appearance since April 2004 in a 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon at Hartsdown Park in the Isthmian League Premier Division. In its report on Margate's next match - a 0-0 draw with visitors Bromley on 26.9.06 - the Isle of Thanet Gazette chose Jay as 'man of the match' and said he "didn't shirk a challenge all night and he probably didn't lose one either". A few days later he signed a permanent deal.

After missing an FA Cup tie at Whitstable on 30.9.06 Jay returned to the midfield in a 1-0 defeat at Heybridge on 7.10.06 and from then on he was a regular in the side. The Thanet Times said he "showed he cared with some biting challenges" in a 2-1 home defeat against Potters Bar in the FA Cup on 14.10.06 and on 28.10.06 Jay wore the number nine shirt in a 4-0 win at Leyton. His outing as a makeshift striker immediately paid dividends as Jay was amongst the Margate scorers.

On 4.11.06 he found himself playing as a centre-back as Margate lost 1-0 at Gloucester in the FA Trophy and Jay also wore the number five shirt in a 2-0 win over Hampton & Richmond at Hartsdown Park on 11.11.06. The Thanet Times said he "looked the most comfortable centre-half on the pitch as he won every tackle and header going". Player-manager Robin Trott told the paper Robin Trott "Jay doesn't want to play there but mucking about I told him I'd found my centre-half. He'll do a job for the minute." Jay was back in midfield as Margate beat visitors Harrow 4-1 on 18.11.06 and the Thanet Times described him as "quality no matter where he plays".

Jay played up front again as Margate travelled to Tonbridge on 25.11.06 and he got his second goal of the season with a stunning strike in a 2-1 win. The Thanet Times said he "swiveled and scissor-kicked the ball into the bottom corner" after Jimmy Jackson had headed the ball across the penalty area. Jay made it back-to-back goals when he struck in a 4-2 home defeat against Staines on 28.11.06 and he also headed the winner as Margate beat Folkestone 1-0 at Hartsdown Park on 30.12.06. The Thanet Times' report on that game said Jay "was everywhere".

On 13.1.07 he was involved in a first half incident with team-mate Lee Protheroe as Margate beat visitors Worthing 2-1. The Thanet Times said Jay "appeared to take exception to a half-hearted Protheroe tackle and let his team-mate know what he thought" forcing the referee to intervene in the argument. Robin Trott told the paper that his assistant Mike Flanagan had dealt with the situation at the interval and said "Mick laid into Proths at half-time...I didn't have a problem with it at all, but it went on too long to be honest. When the referee calls over two of your players and warns them it's a bit embarrassing."

In February 2007 Jay again featured as a centre-back on a couple of occasions and he was wearing the number five shirt when he scored his fifth goal of the campaign in a 2-1 home defeat against Tonbridge on 20.2.07. He played as a striker once more in a match against Leyton at Hartsdown Park on 20.3.07 and Jay took his goal tally for the season to six in a 5-1 win. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "excellent in his new role" and it was the third time Jay had scored from three outings as a striker.

On 7.4.07 he was sent off in a 2-2 draw with Slough at Windsor & Eton and the Thanet Times said Jay was "wrongly" dismissed after what it described as "an almighty spot of handbags". The paper felt it was "guesswork on the referee's part". Jay played in Margate's next two games before his suspension started and the Thanet Times said he "did an excellent job" after dropping into defence when Pat Sappleton went off injured in the first half of a 3-1 win at Chelmsford on 14.4.07. That was Jay's last appearance of the campaign and he finished the season having scored six goals from 35 outings (one as sub).

In July 2007 Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette that he intended to use Jay as his replacement at centre-back during the 2007/08 campaign and said "I've always had this in mind for him. Two of his best positions are centre-half and centre-forward but when you get a bit older you tend to drop back. He's so calm at the back. I had a chat with him and said I need someone with experience there. He's happy to go with it and that's good for me and good for the club."

On the eve of the new season Trott spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Jay and said "Wherever he plays he's immense. He's a great player up front, in defence and in midfield. If he wasn't in our team I think we'd struggle as a whole."

Jay missed the first game of 2007/08 due to suspension and made his first appearance at centre-back in a 2-0 defeat at East Thurrock in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 21.8.07. He then had two further outings in defence and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Jay was "top-drawer at centre-half" and "tidied up everything at the back" in a 2-0 home win over Horsham on 27.8.07.

After sitting out a 3-1 win over Tonbridge at Hartsdown Park on 1.9.07 due to injury Jay returned to the side for a trip to Hastings on 4.9.07. He played on the left-hand side of midfield as Margate went down 2-1 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said "Jay Saunders will do the business anywhere". He was a regular in midfield for the next few weeks and on 8.9.07 Jay got his first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw at Staines. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "ran the show" in midfield as Margate drew 1-1 with AFC Wimbledon at Hartsdown Park on 25.9.07 and on 29.9.07 Jay scored an injury time winner to secure a dramatic 4-3 win over Fisher in an FA Cup tie played at Dulwich. With just 13 minutes left Margate had been losing 3-1.

After a run of nine matches in midfield Jay returned to the defence in a 2-1 home win over Leyton on 16.10.07 and also started the next three games wearing the number six shirt. The Thanet Times said he had an "outstanding game at the back" as Margate drew 0-0 with Aylesbury in an FA Trophy tie played at Chesham on 21.10.07 and after returning to his midfield role Jay scored in a 2-1 home win over Harrow on 10.11.07. The Thanet Times said he rose "brilliantly to send a smashing header into the top corner" to open the scoring from a Dan Young free-kick and Margate won the game 2-1. Jay then scored twice in his next outing - a 4-3 defeat against visitors Maidstone on 17.11.07 - but having taken his season's goal tally to five he missed the next four games due to a back problem.

Jay returned to the side at centre-back in a Kent Senior Cup tie against Welling at Hartsdown Park on 11.12.07 but pulled a thigh muscle ten minutes before half-time and had to go off. Margate won 2-1 and Jay missed the next three matches.

He made his comeback wearing the number five shirt in a 1-0 defeat at Horsham on 29.12.07 and Jay then spent the next month in the heart of Margate's defence. The Thanet Times said he was "head-and-shoulders the best player on the pitch" in a 1-0 win at Boreham Wood on 26.1.08 and on 9.2.08 Jay scored in a 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge. That was his last outing at centre-back and for the remainder of the 2007/08 campaign he played in the centre of midfield.

The Thanet Times said Jay was "comfortably Blues' best player" in its report on a 1-1 draw with Harlow at Hartsdown Park on 29.3.08 and on 19.4.08 he got his seventh goal of the season in a remarkable 5-4 home defeat against Folkestone. The Thanet Times said he found the top corner from fully 25 yards after "picking his spot superbly". Jay finished the campaign having scored seven times in 37 outings (one as sub) but in May 2008 he joined Maidstone at the same time as his team-mate James Pinnock.

As a child Jay had been a Stones supporter during their days as a Football League club and he made 36 Isthmian League Premier Division appearances for them during the 2008/09 season, scoring five goals in all competitions.

He became Maidstone's captain for 2009/10 and in February 2010 Jay was appointed as player-coach, working under manager Peter Nott who was a former Thanet United defender. However within a couple of weeks Jay left the Stones and returned to Hartsdown Park as new Margate manager Iain O'Connell's first signing. The pair had played together during Margate's glory years a few seasons earlier. Jay had made 21 Isthmian League appearances for Maidstone during 2009/10 and scored four goals in all competitions.

Speaking to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Jay's return for a third spell with Margate Iain O'Connell said "Jay Saunders is a passionate player and I'm hoping that spreads through the team." Jay was appointed as captain and made his first appearance in midfield in a 3-0 home defeat against Tonbridge in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 2.3.10. He was a fixture in the Margate side after that and after a 2-1 home win over Tooting & Mitcham on 9.3.10 Iain O'Connell told the Isle of Thanet Gazette that Jay "was outstanding in the middle" whilst the paper itself said he "pulled the strings once again".

In its report on a 2-1 win at Billericay on 13.3.10 the Thanet Times described Jay as being "terrific once again" and said that he was "head and shoulders the best player on the park" despite having to drop back into defence early in the game after John Keister was sent off. Jay missed a home game against Carshalton on 20.3.10 after injuring his foot at work by dropping a fireplace onto it and in the return match at Carshalton on 30.3.10 he broke his nose. Despite the injury Jay stayed on and with ten minutes left he scored to give Margate a 2-1 win. Iain O'Connell told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "Jay Saunders had his nose busted on Tuesday and I've seen players come off for a lot less. But he's gone back on looking like the Elephant Man and just got on with it."

Jay also scored in a 3-2 home defeat against Aveley on 10.4.10 and he finished the 2009/10 campaign having made 14 appearances as Margate avoided relegation despite finishing in the Premier Division drop zone.

In May 2010 Tonbridge made an approach for Jay but he turned the Angels down in favour of staying with Margate and on 28.7.10 he scored in a 2-1 home win over Sittingbourne in a friendly.

On 7.8.10 he was bizarrely sent off after the final whistle for arguing with the referee as Margate lost 3-2 in a pre-season match at Whitstable and Jay later had to serve a two-match ban as a result.

A few days before the start of the 2010/11 campaign Iain O'Connell spoke about him to the Isle of Thanet Gazette and said "Great leader, great tackling ability and a great header of the ball. Jay's timekeeping's improved due to the fact he doesn't shave any more. He's got such a massive chin it takes him three hours to shave !"

Jay retained the captaincy as Margate's season got under way with a 2-2 home draw against Canvey Island in the Isthmian League Premier Division on 21.8.10 and he then had to serve his suspension from the Whitstable friendly. He returned to action in a 1-0 defeat at Kingstonian on 4.9.10 and from then on he was a fixture in midfield.

On 9.10.10 Jay scored his first goal of the new campaign in a 6-1 win over Horsham at Hartsdown Park and after sitting out Margate's next fixture he was on target again in his next outing - a 5-1 win over visitors Whitehawk in the FA Trophy on 16.10.10. Jay found the net with what the Thanet Times called a "stunning 30-yard volley" but on 23.10.10 he was dismissed during a 0-0 draw at Billericay. The Thanet Times said he "was controversially sent off" after stretching to make a challenge on Micah Hyde who the paper felt overdid his reaction to being caught.

After a 2-0 home defeat against Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup on 2.11.10 Jay served a three-match ban before coming on as a substitute in a 5-3 defeat at Croydon Athletic on 17.11.10 and he then started Margate's next two games. On 27.11.10 he wore the number eight shirt in a 3-3 draw with Tooting & Mitcham at Hartsdown Park but that turned out to be Jay's final appearance for Margate. After initially being suspended again for accumulated yellow cards he was transfer-listed at the start of January 2011 after falling out with the club over its disciplinary system and soon afterwards Jay rejoined Maidstone. He'd scored twice from 19 outings (one as sub) before his departure.

Jay made his first appearance for Maidstone in a Premier Division match against visitors Harrow on 15.1.11 and he was sent off after picking up two yellow cards. The game finished 0-0.

In March 2011 Jay became the Stones' caretaker player-manager following Andy Ford's resignation and he told the Kent News website "I'm over the moon...it's something I wanted to do but I wasn't expecting it at this time. It's going to be tough but I'm looking forward to it. In football, you look at the things you'd like to do and it's something I've always wanted to do, although maybe not at the age of 32. Maidstone's a big club and I feel quite honoured to have been given a chance."

Maidstone were relegated at the end of the season but in the summer of 2011 Jay was confirmed as the club's permanent player-manager. He'd scored once from 15 league outings (one as sub) for the Stones during 2010/11.

He went on to make 19 Division 1 South appearances (nine as sub) during 2011/12 and on 12.5.12 Jay returned to Hartsdown Park to play in a testimonial match for the legendary Bill Edwards.

On 14.7.12 he featured as a substitute in Maidstone's first ever game at the their new stadium in James Whatman Way - a 5-0 friendly defeat against Brighton - and on 29.9.12 Jay brought his Stones side to Hartsdown Park to take on Margate in the FA Trophy. It was his first visit as a manager and in the build-up to the tie Jay told the Kentish Football website "I had some good years there and I've spent a lot of it playing under Chris Kinnear. He was the manager who gave me my chance in non-league football and I owe him a lot for what I've done in the game."

Maidstone won promotion via the play-offs at the end of the 2012/13 season and Jay only featured three times in Division 1 South matches, twice as a substitute. However he did score in a 4-0 win over Sittingbourne in the Isthmian League Cup on 16.10.12.