HYTHE HEROES: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND BECOME FA CUP LEGENDS!

Thursday 04th November 2010

HEROES Hythe Town are just hours away from setting off on their historic FA Cup First Round tie at Hereford United - and they have the support of managers around the Garden of England, writes Stephen McCartney.

Hereford United haven’t won a game at Edgar Street all season and are third-from-bottom in the Football League and Hythe’s brave hearts are dreaming of causing the biggest FA Cup shock ever.

This is the first time that Hythe have reached the First Round - they have already beaten Bookham, Deal Town, Epsom & Ewell and Erith & Belvedere, but their last two wins, away to Ryman Premier League side Concord Rangers and stunning Blue Square Bet South side Staines Town by 2-0 at Reachfields Stadium two weeks ago has Scott Porter’s side dreaming off even more success.

Don’t forget it’s been 53 years since a Kent League club has played in the first round of the FA Cup.

Hereford legend Ronnie Radford will be at Edgar Street as a guest of the home club on Saturday - his screamer helped the Bulls - then a Southern League club - seal a famous win over top-flight Newcastle United in 1972.

Everyone in Kent is backing the Kent League heroes to pull off a shock that will make Porter and the match winner household names like Radford all those years ago.

Hythe resident, Neil Cugley, the manager of Ryman Premier League neighbours Folkestone Invicta, is wishing his former club all the best.

“It’s a big, big day for the town,” Cugley told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “All credit to the them, what they’ve done. I didn’t realise it’s been over 50 years for the Kent League, it’s unbelievable really and I hope everybody has a really good day and have a good performance and they enjoy their day out.

“Like I said before, these days don’t always come along so you’ve got to enjoy every single minute they have and I think they’re the sort of lads that will.

“They’ve worked hard to get there. We’re (Folkestone Invicta) are very jealous! Just enjoy every single minute and I think they do anyway to be fair.

“You’ve got to milk it, not in a nasty way because you may never do it again so enjoy every single minute you can and who knows?

“You’ve got some lads there who are confident lads and they might get something.”

Folkestone Invicta were dumped out by Leiston in the Second Qualifying Round replay in Suffolk.

“That’s why I’m always gutted when you’re knocked out of the FA Cup,” said Cugley.

“I’m only jealous because it’s such a good day and for genuine non-league players that they’ve got down at Hythe, - they’re not on loads of money.

“There’s only Brendon Cass and Lee Shearer who have been around rally, most are lads who thoroughly deserve their day out and I hope they do well.”

Five years ago Cugley proudly took his side to Chester City and they took a first half lead through Adam Flanagan, before they went out by two-goals-to-one.

“We went to Chester and we went 1-0 up and I felt we should’ve brought them back home but yes, you never know.

“It’s the first 20 minutes. If they can settle down for the first 20 minutes - that’s when they’ll come out big and strong and very quick and it’s just getting used to the pace of that, if they can be in the game at half-time, yes, they’ll have a chance.”

Another neighbouring club, Dover Athletic, are also wishing Hythe well.

Manager Martin Hayes has past First Round experience with Swansea City - and suffered a shock exit at the hands of Nuneaton Borough during his time in Wales.

“It must be fabulous for them, these guys to be involved in these games” Hayes told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"I hope they take it all in - enjoy it as much as possible and play their game and treat it like a league match and give it their best.

Essex based Hayes added: “They’ve showed up until now they can upset sides, hopefully if they give it 100% they can come away with their heads held high and take all the credit that comes along with it and build on that for the rest of the season.

“Sometimes it’s a one-off thing that comes along once in a blue moon and it’s their time this year. They’ve got to milk it for all it’s worth, everything that’s going, take it, enjoy it.

“I’m sure the people around the club are having a fabulous time. I’m sure the chairman’s having a great time.

“Enjoy it now because when those Kent League games come along it’s going to be a bit demoralising.”

Dartford boss Tony Burman is looking forward to his club’s first FA Cup First Round tie for 21 years against Port Vale at a sold-out Princes Park on Saturday - but he took time out to wish Hythe well.

“It’s brilliant for the Kent League to get a club into the first round,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I expect the board of directors and their supporters are really, really proud of what their players have achieved at this moment in time and they must be absolutely loving it!

“Brendon Cass is there and I’d like Brendon to be on the score sheet because he was brilliant for us in his time with us.”

Burman, along with everyone else in Kent added, “I’d just like to wish them all the very best.”

Herne Bay may be fighting it out for the Kent League title with Hythe, but manager Simon Halsey also wants their rivals to do well at Edgar Street.

“I would like to on behalf of myself and everyone at Herne Bay wish Scott Porter, his staff and players best of luck for Saturday,” Halsey told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“They have had a tremendous run and who knows with a little bit of luck they could be in the next round.

“Scott has a great bunch of lads down there and should be proud of what they have achieved. Good luck!”

Hythe Town chairman, Paul Markland, who isn’t shaving during the club’s historic FA Cup run, feels it’s going to be his club’s day on Saturday.

He added: “Let’s hope you’re right about the giant-killing. It’ll be a great day for us and Kent football - we’re winners either way but are quietly confident.”

The chairman paid tribute to club secretary Martin Giles for his professionalism in dealing with the interest that this FA Cup run has generated during the past two weeks.

The chairman of the debt free Kent League club said: “I must say I am very pleased at the way everyone at Hythe Town FC has handled the national media exposure. Also our secretary Martin Giles has done very well fielding all the phone calls and organising the coaches for the team, and supporters - he’s been virtually full-time at the club office ever since we were paired with Hereford.”

Mr Markland just cannot believe the media attention his club is getting - even their local newspaper didn’t send a reporter for their heroic 2-0 home win over Staines Town in the fourth qualifying round!

He added: “The Sun brought The FA Cup down to Reachfields last Sunday for a photoshoot. When did any of us ever think that was likely to happen!

As the Hythe Heroes read this before setting off on Friday lunchtime, there’s just one more message.

Since Wednesday morning I have been absolutely buzzing in anticipation of the Hereford game. You have done yourselves proud, your families proud, Hythe Town FC proud and everyone around Kent are very proud of you all!

BUT we don’t want this run to end at Edgar Street on Saturday, do we! Play the game of your lives, run your hearts out and believe it WILL happen - and it will!

Hereford United have not won a game at home all season. They have everything to lose. You have everything to gain.

Just imagine the feeling at 5 o’clock when the final whistle has blown and you’ve produced the biggest ever FA Cup giant-killing.

Take the bull by the horns and become FA Cup legends!

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