HYTHE HEROES: We’re going up there to pull off a shock, insists boss Scott Porter

Wednesday 03rd November 2010

HYTHE TOWN manager Scott Porter says he is loving the limelight ahead of the club’s first ever FA Cup First Round tie - away to League Two strugglers Hereford United on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 31-year-old is in charge of the lowest ranked side left in the Greatest Cup Competition in the world and his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since their excellent 2-0 home win over Blue Square Bet South side Staines Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round just under two weeks ago.

Luckily, the Property developer had some time off during the last two weeks as the Safety Net Associates Kent League club are causing shockwaves in the national press.

Hythe Town are the first Kent League club to reach this stage of The FA Cup for 53 years - and Porter, in his longest ever interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk, lasting nearly 17 minutes, insists his side are not travelling to Hereford just for a boozy weekend.

“It’s a dream come true, it’s gone mental to be honest with you,” said Porter. “Every time my phone rings I don’t know who’s it going to be on the other end of it.

“I’ve got your number so I know it’s you ringing, but The Sun, The News of the World, The Times have called me. We had to meet a Times’ photographer at the ground to take some pictures and obviously Sky Sports (came to the ground) today.

“It’s a great experience for myself and the football club and long may it continue come Saturday. I suppose it’s living the dream at the moment with the media hype and the press.”

Porter added: “Everyone’s been so supportive in the media - obviously yourself (Kentish Football) are always there anyway but the local papers have been good, obviously they’re all travelling up there and obviously people like The Sun, The News of the World, The Non League Paper, The Times. I’ve never picked up The Times newspaper in all my life and they’re making a lot of effort towards us.

“The TV cameras were down at the ground with Clive (Cook) and the coaching staff and the lads’ training so we’re trying to share the limelight around the club with certain players. A couple of players are being interviewed with me today at the ground so we’re trying to spread it around.

“But like we said on Monday, we’re getting all this (media) stuff out of the way and we’re doing a bit today.

“Clive’s spoke to the lads today and yesterday about focusing on the game. We trained last night for a good hour and a half, fitness work and we’ll train again hard tomorrow.

“I’ll keep putting into these lads’ we’re not going up there just to make a day out of it. We’re going up there to pull off a shock, to do ourselves proud and have no regrets come five o’clock.”

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