Whitstable Town FC

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury Pat Todd  has invited player’s, management and officials of the club to a civic reception in Canterbury on Monday the 14th May to honour Whitstable’s great season. Manager Marc Seager speaking when he heard the new express his delight at the recognition his young side have received since winning promotion to the Ryman League and lifting the Kent Senior Trophy.

Picture: Marc Seager & wife Paula “Thrilled and delighted that the players and my staff are to be presented to the Lord Mayor, this is further proof of how far the club has moved forward in the last few years.” Seager said speaking at the clubs presentation night in a specially erected marquee on the pitch as he paid tribute to his players, staff and the clubs backroom staff;

“They, (the club) allow us to turn up and just play football, and that to me is the mark of a well run club, on match days the only thing I ask of the players is they turn up and play with a smile on their face. We do all the hard work during the week in training; on match days it’s all about giving your best for the club.”

At the presentation evening Kevin Fewell, Whitstable’s keeper picked up an armful of awards, the Players Player of the Year, the Supporters Player of the year and the Official Supporters Club, (The Oysters) Player of the year. Fewell who played one game for Town (on loan) the previous season kept Seager waiting for the news he was to sign for the club. Seager revealed: “Kevin was a bit down after had had been messed about a bit before he joined us and when my goalkeeping coach Mark Lane broke the news at per-season that Kevin was joining us, I said to him and Simon Halsey; ‘That’s it, Kevin is the missing link’ and we can push on now.”
Twenty six year old Fewell who has played over 170 games at a higher level of football than the Kent League went on the prove his worth by being the backbone of Towns defence and was instrumental in their fantastic twenty three game unbeaten run-in to the Kent League title.

Marlon Button won the goal of the season for his strike that won the Kent Senior Trophy for Seager’s side: “Apart from the fact it was a stunning strike and worthy of winning any game it was my first piece of silverware for the club and proved the stepping stone for our run into the last few games and wining the League.” said manager Marc Seager

Rob Thomas won the managers player award; Thomas who is yet another product of Town very successful youth set up, played in almost every match of the 2007/08 season:

Seager saying: “Rob has developed into an immense talent he is a very committed player who gives his all for the team. I am delighted to honour him as my player of the season he has hardly put a foot wrong and he will relish playing in the Ryman League as will all the players.”

 
Seager revealed the whole squad are off to Spain next weekend with Steve Marshall who will be getting married before the start of next season. Marshall has enjoyed a new lease of life since he joined Whitstable.

Marshall revealed: “I might have won the FA Vase, won the league title and couple of times but nothing like winning the league and promotion. I am so looking forward to next season, we shall relish playing in the Ryman we have a great squad, quality players in every position and we are a team of winners, As Marc says, we are not stepping up just to make up the numbers we want to repay the supporters for the way they have turned up throughout the season, we will still be doing what we do best trying to win games by playing football, but doing it in the Ryman League.”

Stuart King won the Whitstable Town golden boot he is also the recipient of the Kent League Golden Boot, “ Seager said: “When I first spoke to Stuart before he joined the club he said if you want me to score goals for you then I’m your man, get the ball to me and I will do the rest.” Seager added: “Stuart has scored over 40 goals for the club this season in cup and league which is fantastic, he joined us as a raw talent and has matured into a fine footballer topping the KL charts with 30 goals to his name, Rikki Cable of Thamesmead was closest to him with 26, given that Stuart missed a few games that’s remarkable.”

Sam Prett and Jimmy Strouts were the only players not able to there on the night both due to prior family commitments.