Ryan Cooper has joined us to compete for honours, says Hythe Town boss Scott Porter

Wednesday 29th May 2013

HYTHE TOWN have tonight unveiled the signing of highly-rated defender Ryan Cooper from Sittingbourne.

Cooper, 22, enjoyed a successful season as part of an organised and disciplined side jointly-managed by Jim and Danny Ward.

Sittingbourne enjoyed a far better than expected season, finishing in ninth-place in the Ryman League Division One South table, an improvement of ten places on the season before.

Predominately a right-back, but a player who is capable of covering several positions, Cooper is a highly-rated product of Dartford’s Academy and started the season at Maidstone United, who went on to finish as runners-up to Dulwich Hamlet last season, before Jay Saunders’ side beat Folkestone Invicta and Faversham Town to clinch promotion via the play-offs.

Hythe Town boss Scott Porter said he has secured the signing of a player being chased by several top clubs.

“Ryan has joined us as he wants to progress and compete for honours,” Porter told www.hythetownfc.co.uk.

“I’m delighted to have secured Ryan’s signature when several other clubs were after a player that is highly thought of in Kent football circles.

“Ryan brings some more youth to our squad and is a player who joins us looking to win things.”

Meanwhile, the club confirm that right-back Greg Smith is no longer with the club.

“Greg has suffered from a lot of injury problems since our promotion to the Ryman South two years ago,” said a club statement.

“However, Greg was almost an ever-present in our Kent League championship winning side with 47 of his 84 appearances in a Hythe shirt coming that season as he made the right-back berth his own.

“Greg will always be fondly remembered for the part he played in that historic season.”

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk