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Toms wants to take Whitstable to next level

EVERYONE at Whitstable Town is satisfied with their efforts having finished their Go Travel Kent League campaign in third place behind champions Ramsgate and Herne Bay, writes Stephen McCartney.

Although they finished their league programme earlier than their rivals, they still managed to finish in third place as a better goal difference put them above Maidstone United and VCD Athletic - who also collected 54 points from their 30 games.

The Oysterman finished 16 points short of Jim Ward's champions - who received the silverware after their 2-1 win over Maidstone United at Southwood Stadium from Kent League chair Denise Richmond - and eight points less than Jason Lillis' Herne Bay side.  However, the Whitstable Town chairman, Joe Brownett was still proud of his players.

He told the club's website:  “What a fantastic end for the club.  This is our highest finish in the Kent League for many a year.  In some ways it's very disappointing because everyone at the club knows that the players we have here are amongst the best in he league and some of the football we have watched at the Belmont would hold its own at any level.

"Its been a roller coaster season, but without doubt one of the best we have had and but for the blip in December when we took our eye off the ball, we should have finished two places higher.

"But as they say; that’s football, but what I can say is that the confidence this give the players, the supporters and everyone involved at Whitstable is that if we set our sights high, we have the talent and set up to achieve something really big next season.”

Whitstable manager Matt Toms added:  “What a fantastic boost for the club, to finish third, we were 5th last year, shows we are moving in the right direction.

"I’m in my third year at Whitstable and know that the pressure is on, but that's part of the job.  My challenge now is to take this club to the next level.”

Club captain Marc Seager added: “This is great for the football club, just a pity that we did not perform for five or six games against teams we should have beaten. This will make us even more determined to do better next season.”