There’s no reason why evergreen Chatham defender Matt Bodkin cannot play on for a few years yet, according to his boss.

Bodkin claimed an assist in Chats’ opening-day Isthmian Premier 1-0 win over Bognor as he crossed for debutant forward Jamie Yila to head in last weekend.

Bodkin - 40 next month - began his career as a winger but plays as a full-back these days and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Chatham chairman-manager Kevin Hake said: “He defies logic and, now he’s playing full-back for us, who knows?

“He could play for another three or four years! He was sort of in cruise control on Saturday.

“It’s really pleasing to see because he deserves it. He works really hard, as all the boys do.”

Others to play the full game for Chatham against Bognor included player-assistant Danny Kedwell, who recently turned 40, and another 39-year-old in centre-half Dean Beckwith.

Their experience could prove key as Chats aim to adapt to playing at Step 3.

“They embrace the young kids and vice-versa,” Hake noted.

“Their experience is crucial, especially when you’re seeing out games.

“They provide that calming factor when you need it most.”

Another involved was striker Chinedu McKenzie, whose signing was revealed the day before the big kick-off, and he came off the bench for his competitive bow in the second half.

It’s an encouraging sign for the Medway club that even players like former Tonbridge and Carshalton man McKenzie aren’t automatically being handed starting berths.

Hake said: “I had to leave four lads out [of the squad] on Saturday, who were disappointed. But they’ve shown a great attitude.

“We’ve said to the lads that it’s all about a squad. If you look at last year, it was all about the squad, which went on to win the league.

“There’s a good collective in there, some really good lads.

“Hopefully, that stands us in good stead.”

A bumper crowd of 1,553 were at the Bauvill Stadium to see Chatham’s first home game as they compete at the highest level they’ve been at in their 141-year history.

“The rate of our rise has been ridiculous,” admitted Hake, with Chats potentially eyeing a third successive promotion this term.

“We had an average of more than 1,000 last year and, obviously Saturday was only the first game, but we’ve already got more than 1,500.

“Even pre-season we were getting crowds of 700 or 800 coming here, which is just unheard of in the holiday period. Gillingham were at home on Saturday but we were still attracting that sort of crowd.

“The fans were great. I felt it really made a difference.”

Chats made it two wins from two this season with a dramatic 3-2 Kent derby victory at Folkestone on Tuesday.

Yila netted a winner at the death of a topsy-turvy affair after Invicta’s Ira Jackson had made it 2-2 in front of a 758-strong crowd.

The late drama came after goals from Ashley Nzala and Ben Allen had seen Chatham respond following Andre Coker’s 24th-minute opener for the hosts at Cheriton Road, as Bodkin came through another full game.

This Saturday, Chatham visit Cheshunt, who came second-bottom and were relegated from National League South last campaign.

Chats midfielder Che Krabbendam is a former Cheshunt player but Hake stated: “I think they’ve had a lot of changes [since Krabbendam left them].

“But we’ve had them scouted so we’ll look at that, come up with a game-plan from there and, hopefully, we’ll execute it well.”

Chats then finish their first month at the level with a home game against Potters Bar (August 26) and a Bank Holiday trip to Dulwich, another side relegated from National League South, on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

“It’s nice looking at the rest of the division because there’s blockbuster games literally every week,” Hake said.

“As we always do, we won’t get too high - or too low - with the results because we know it’s a long, hard marathon and not a sprint.”