Seager keeps everyone's feet on the ground - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Whitstable Town’s manager Marc Seager is keeping everybody’s feet on the ground as they attempt to clinch the treble, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 34-year-old, who adopts a very professional attitude, has seen his side remain unbeaten during their 21 Kent League games so far and have a 13 point lead over their nearest rivals Croydon, and are on course to win the club’s first ever Kent League title.

But Seager’s side play three crucial home games during the next seven days, which will make or break their treble chances.

Tomorrow they welcome a VCD Athletic side who are in third place and sixteen points behind. Martin Ford’s men, who were knocked out of the FA Vase last weekend to a workmanlike Bideford outfit, are desperate to become the first side to beat Whitstable in league action.

Local-rivals Faversham Town visit the Belmont on Tuesday night in an eagerly-awaited Kent League Cup quarter-final showdown and Seager is giving Southern Amateur League side West Wickham the utmost respect ahead of next Saturday’s Kent Senior Trophy semi-final.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Seager said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.  “Any manager or player wants to look forward to the big games.”

“VCD are coming to us knowing they need to get three points. They’re a few points behind us with games in hand. Anything less than three points tomorrow it will make it very difficult for them to catch us.

“They will be looking to bounce back after their Vase defeat but we’re on a good run and we’ll be looking to make it 22 league games unbeaten.”

But Seager warned any side in the Kent League are capable of being the first side to beat them.

“Any team could be that team” he said. “Any team that we’ve played have always wanted to beat us and VCD have enough to be that team.

“We’re confident in our ability, we’re on a good long run, which breads confidence.

“We’re not going into it over confident, or complacent but we’ve got confidence in our own ability and that’s why we’re doing well this year.”

Seager knows, however, that any slip up’s during the business end of the season could mean his side finish the season empty handed.

“When you’re chasing honours every game is important and it’s great to be involved in and enjoy every minute,” he said.

“I’ve never had a run like this chasing all three trophies. I’ve won all the trophies (before) but not go all unbeaten.

“I’ve told the players to enjoy and learn the experiences and fingers crossed. We’re a good enough side to do the treble but it’s having that little but of luck on the day, make sure the players go into games with the right attitude.

“We’ve got the added pressure of everyone wants to be the first to beat us but the players have got the hunger, which is good to see.

“We’re taking one game at a time and we’ll see where it takes us. At the moment we’re on a great run - the league table doesn’t lie and to have the big gap is beyond our wildest dreams.

“But we have got on with our jobs, the time to celebrate is when you have your name on trophies.

“If we can do that we will have something to celebrate in a couple of months time.”

Seager insists next Tuesday’s Kent League Cup clash against local rivals Faversham Town in going to be a cracker.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” he said. “They will be desperate to beat us. It’s a quarter-final, a local derby and it’s got all the ingredience to be a great cup game.

“Terry (Cordice) will have his boys lifted, so will we. We want to win things and go out to win every game and we will be doing our best on the day.

“Both teams will be up for it.  It will be a great game but hopefully we’ll come out on top on the night.”

Seager has already watched next Saturday’s opponents West Wickham as he bids to avoid a shock exit.

The winners will meet either Sevenoaks Town or Kent County League side Bearsted in the Kent Senior Trophy Final - at Dartford’s stunning Princes Park Stadium on Sunday, 15^th April.

“That will be great, it’s a fantastic stadium,” said Seager. “West Wickham are a half decent outfit, they’ve knocked out two good Kent League sides in Herne Bay and Hythe Town along the way.

“It’s going to be a tough game on the day, they’re the underdogs and anything can happen on the day.

“I’m experienced to know that there will be shocks in football but we need to be focused, in the right frame of mind and I think we’ll have more enough to win.

“We’re at home, with the crowd behind us and we’ll get over the finishing line as I think we’ll have just too much for them.

“We will give them the respect they fully deserve and I’m looking forward to a great cup game.”

Nineteen-year-old striker Stuart King, whose on course to win the Kent League Golden Boot award this term, has turned down recent moves to Ramsgate and Dover Athletic and has signed a contract to remain at the Belmont for the rest of this season.

“It’s great testament to Whitstable Town Football Club and it shows just how far we’ve come and shows what the players have achieved,” beamed Seager.

“Stuart is a good player and he’s got the potential to become a great player.

“He has to concentrate on his game and it’s a great testament. The days of Whitstable being a nice club, being mid-table and players going to ambitious clubs have gone.

“It’s a great testament for the club and myself as a manager - I must be doing something right.

“The players know where we’re going. Dover is one, if not the biggest club in Kent, and it just shows how far we’ve gone.

“Stuart and the other players know what I’m doing. I don’t want to get into the Ryman League and don’t make the numbers up - I want to do something.”

“We’ve won 18 out of 21, we’re not a bad side but like I say we’re trying to build something at the club.

“We’re not getting carried away, not myself or the chairman. We’ve got a plan and we’re trying to work to it.

“It’s great for me that the players are showing loyalty and I’m proud of them. If it all went tits-up and we’ve blown it I will be proud of them.

“To be sitting there 13 points clears is unbelievable. That’s down to the players, they’re the ones that go out and do the business and I look forward to them doing that until the end of April.”

Striker Steve Marshall is expected to be nursing his torn groin for at least another two weeks, but Seager has King, Sam Prett and Andy Constable to call upon during his absence.

“It is a big blow, Steve is a fantastic player,” said Seager. “He’s been fantastic for us this year but we’ve got three other good strikers who I won’t swap with anyone.

“I’m looking forward to get Steve back for the title run-in. We’ve still got eleven games to go and we’ll see him in action for half of those and it will be great to see him back on the pitch and see the season out.

“There’s still some good sides trying to catch us. This team has questions asked of it all the time and they’ve answered them and I’ve got every confidence they’ll keep doing that.”

Visit club websites:

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

www.vcd-athletic.couk