Seager looking for an unbeaten end to the year - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Whitstable Town manager Marc Seager wants to deliver the Kent League title to the Belmont for the very first time in their history, writes Stephen McCartney.

The former FA Vase winner takes his side to one of his former clubs tomorrow, Deal Town, as current leaders of the Kent League.

A smash and grab raid in front of the league’s largest crowd of the season, at local rivals Herne Bay on Wednesday night, saw the Oysterboys celebrate their return to top spot.

Steve Marshall’s tenth goal of the season, three minutes from time, was hard on a Herne Bay side that dominated most of the derby, in front a crowd of 530 fans.

Seager’s side are now three points clear at the top of the table with 38 points from 14 games and have yet to lose a league game.

Seager feels avoiding a defeat at Deal Town tomorrow and going into the new year as an unbeaten team in the league will be an “amazing achievement” for his young promotion chasing side.

He said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk :”It would be very nice to get through that one (unbeaten) because I think the lads deserve it.

“The lads have worked ever so hard since July 6^th, they’ve given everything and it will be great for the lads, great for the club, if we can get to the end of 2006 unbeaten.”

Can Whitstable win the Kent League title for the very first time in their history? “We’ll see,” Seager replied. “I’ll tell you that on April 28^th.

“We ain’t a bad side but a lot can happen between now and then. The question mark will be when we do lose a game how we bounce back from that?

“We’re going very well at the moment, we’re enjoying it, it’s a great feeling.

“I’ve said to the lads there’s no pressure being top because that’s where we want to be.

“We’re enjoying it. The lads are in great spirits, have had a great Christmas, six points out of six and we’ll see what happens at Deal on Saturday.”

The previous two meetings between the two sides have produced two nine goal thrillers, with Whitstable narrowly coming out on top in two 5-4 victories.

“I don’t know what the bookies will give us for another 5-4?” asked Seager. “Deal always seem to be a side that don’t have any problem scoring the goals against us but we always seem to score goals there.

“They’re going to be a hard side,” Seager warned. “They’re big and strong, they’ve got good players in their side and they are going to make it tough.

“Every game for us is going to be tough now because we are the team to beat. We are unbeaten, everybody wants to be the first team to beat Whitstable so every game is going to be a big game for us and this is what you play football for. You play for the big games and that’s what football is all about.”

The Whitstable Town faithful, “the Oysterboys and girls” have taken the mantle of the best supporters in the Kent League.

They started their vocal support of their side way before kick off at Winch’s Field on Wednesday night and throughout the clash and Seager would like to put on record his appreciation.

“I think the fans are absolutely outstanding,” he said. “I’ve said many times they are the 12^th man.

“For the record I want to say a big thank you for them. They way they’ve supported us throughout 2006 and even the way they supported me since I took over as manager they’ve always supported us.

“Don’t always agree with my decision or team selections but that’s supporters’ opinions.

“But at the end of the day we always try to do our best to try to bring a bit of silverware to the Belmont and give them fantastic supporters something to cheer.”

A club like Whitstable, with their vocal and large support and excellent facilities would do the Ryman League proud.

“It will be the first time the club have finished above third so if we can do that it will be a great achievement but we’re not going to get carried away,” said Seager.

“Yes we’re top at the moment but there going to be a lot of ups and downs between now and the end of the season. If we’re at the top it will be a great achievement.”

Despite playing below their standard at Herne Bay, Seager knows his side can play a lot better, and added: “A mark of a good side is even if they don’t play well, they win and we’re a good side.”

Visit Whitstable Town's website:  www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

Deal Town v Whitstable Town
Kent League
Saturday 30^th December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal