HYTHE HEROES: Don't walk off the pitch with any regrets, says Scott Porter

Wednesday 03rd November 2010

HYTHE TOWN manager Scott Porter says his side are capable of producing the biggest ever FA Cup shock when his brave hearts lock horns with Hereford United on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Hythe are the first Kent League club to reach the FA Cup First Round for the first time in 53 years and the 31-year-old insists his side are not going up to Hereford just to make up the numbers.

Porter and his father travelled up to Edgar Street to watch the Bulls’ 2-2 draw against Aldershot Town in Npower League Two last night - and this will be the best time to play Hereford as they haven’t won a home game all season.

“It was important I went to be honest with you, after their result (a 5-0 away win at Stockport County) on Saturday,” Porter told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I’ve watched every team leading up to this game so there’s no reason why we couldn’t make the effort and go up there last night with my dad and we came back this morning and we’ve learnt a lot.

“It was important that we saw them play in the fresh. Obviously we’ve had loads of reports back. We had loads of help from (Gillingham manager) Andy Hessenthaler. Exeter sent us a DVD. It’s ok watching a DVD but you’ve got to watch them in the flesh.

“I’ve learnt a lot from it, I wrote a lot down. I’ll speak to Clive (Cook) and the coaching staff before training tomorrow night and go over a lot of things and we’ll pick the bones out of it and see how we get on.”

The Hythe boss sensed some edgyness during the game against the Shots, who were defeated by Ebbsfleet United in the FA Carlsberg Trophy Semi-Final en-route to The Fleet’s glorious success over Torquay United at Wembley Stadium in 2008.

“You could see they’re edgy, you can see how the players play, especially the back four and the goalkeeper. There’s obviously a lot of pressure up there. The fans’ in the last 15-20 minutes were getting restless, which is encouraging for us to be honest with you.

“We took a lot of pointers out of it and it stands us in good stead for Saturday.”

Porter is confident that his brave hearts can cause the biggest FA Cup upset of all time - Hereford are third-from-bottom in Npower League Two, five league’s higher than the Kent League heroes.

“We could’ve watched the DVD’s and we were confident then. I went up there and I’m even more confident and our lads have got to come to the table and play to the best of their ability to get anything out of the game.

“Like I said to the lads’, don’t have any regrets come five o’clock. Don’t walk off the pitch and say ‘I wish I done this and done that’.

“This is the biggest chance to progress and to put your name on the map even more than it already is and the team talk before the game and obviously at a quarter-to-three will be intense and from the heart and what it was against Staines and Concord and the lads’ have taken note of that.

“They’re a good bunch and we’re all together and the togetherness within the squad and around the club is there at the moment and this will be said all the way up.

“We’re not here for a day out. We’re here to get in their faces, cause problems, get a bit of luck and who knows? Hopefully we’ll come away with something!”

Back in 1972, Hereford United, then a Southern League club, dumped top-flight Newcastle United out of The FA Cup - and Ronnie Radford’s screamer is showed year in, year out when it comes to FA Cup day.

Saturday is the day when a Kent League footballer goes down in FA Cup folklore!

Porter agrees, saying: “When we was talking in the boardroom last night with all of their directors they said that Ronnie Radford is a special guest on Saturday.

“It will be great to make a bit of history on Saturday! The lads’ can go down in football history and score the winner or even get a draw and take them back to our place and just earn a lot more money for the club and a bit more attention.

“We’re not going up there just to make a weekend of it. We’ve got every confidence in our team that we can go up there and produce a shock.

“The lads are fired up. I think fitness won’t come into it because it will just be adrenalin and that’s what came into it against Staines. We’ve got a fit squad, obviously we’re not going to be as fit as them because they’re professional footballers. We only train twice a week and they train every day of the week but the occasion it is I’m sure the adrenalin, the passion and the heart will take us through.”

Hythe will be playing their seventh FA Cup tie of the season, having defeated Bookham, Deal Town, Epsom & Ewell, Erith & Belvedere, who all play at the same level as they do, but the side pulled off giant-killing acts to knock out Concord Rangers (Ryman Premier League) and Blue Square Bet South side Staines Town were outplayed and were defeated 2-0 at fortress Reachfields Stadium two weeks ago.

“The 10 days that we’ve had since the Staines game have been unbelievable,” admitted Porter.

“We’ve got a job to do, we’re not in this round by luck. We’re there through merit and credit and we’re going to keep going, keep giving our all. We’re going to go out there fighting from the first minute to the last and that’s the type of lads I’ve got in my squad.

“I’ve always said if you haven’t got the ability, on the day just put in heart and soul and desire into your performance and you’ll always get rewarded at the end of it and hopefully it’ll be the same again on Saturday.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

Hereford United v Hythe Town

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Round

Saturday 6th November 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Edgar Street, Hereford, Herefordshire HR4 9JU