For Sittingbourne last season, it was a question of what might have been… for the 2024/25 season there is unfinished business for boss Ryan Maxwell.  

Losing in the play-offs was a bitter pill for the Brickies faithful to take, one which initially was made even worse by boss Ryan Maxwell’s announcement that he was leaving the Club. But to the relief of the Sittingbourne supporters, the popular Irish manager reversed his decision and now, going into the new season, he’s focused on unfinished business. 

“I had a short sabbatical at the end of last season which did not last too long,” he told us.

“Everything happens for a reason I think, having been beaten in the play-offs last year, it was a sore one for all of us to take! Coming back to the Club, I have made it very clear that it is to go one better and get Sittingbourne FC into the higher division.

“Although it was a brief period away, it really did not feel to me at least as if I had ever left, I really am looking forward to the new campaign as we have had a good pre-season in many ways and cannot wait for today!” 

“Being able to keep a lot of the players from last year has obviously helped as you do not want to lose your best players. Other than the departure of Chris Harris, I think that we have kept everyone we wanted to, it makes the integration of fresh players a lot easier as there are not so many although we have signed some exciting ones, the heart of the team is still here.

“We kept several good players who wanted to stay, they know why they are staying, and they know what the objective is, and I am delighted that they are still Sittingbourne players.” 

“Without bigging up or highlighting individuals, I would like to think that we have brought a very good group of players to the Football Club, some of whom are known to people and some who will be known to people once this season is finished, I can assure you.

“We have signed some experience along the way, we have signed some youth, Godrey Poku who in his thirties, has bags of experience and has captained many clubs; we have signed Codey Cosgrave who is only nineteen, talented and I am looking forward to seeing that develop. So, we have a great mixture at the Club, and I am looking forward to seeing them shine!” 

Maxwell has always enjoyed a near hero status with the Brickies faithful – support that constantly amazes the manager. “They (the supporters) are going to play a big part in what we achieve this season.

“We are all very much in touch with each other, I have spoken many, many times to KSN about how important I regard your support at this Football Club and how lucky the players are to represent you.

“To have that incredible support home and away, even in pre-season says it all and I really, really, really do want to thank each and every one of them and I can assure them all that it has not gone unnoticed I can promise you. They will play a massive, massive part just as they all did last year, and I do really hope that we can take that one step further.” 

Sittingbourne begin their campaign with a home game against Broadbridge Heath at Woodstock and Maxwell is taking nothing for granted.

“They finished last year well like a train and will be tough opposition! They too have kept the nucleus and will be a very tough test for us and one that we will have to be right on top of.

“The first game of the season always throws up a lot of shocks at time as there is a lot of apprehension and anxiety as players cannot wait to play; its blood and thunder, we are prepared for it and are ready for a tough game!”