It is going to be a busy month in the South East division of the Isthmian League with all our teams facing at least six matches in the month – with four facing derbies this midweek before we even reach December leaving Hythe Town boss Steve Watt angry.

Hythe Town face Sittingbourne at the newly named Roman Stadium tonight and then face eight more games before the end of 2024, with the rescheduling leaving boss Steve Watt scratching his head as his small squad will be stretched to breaking point. 

The Hythe Town boss though is in no doubt who is to blame for the packed schedule – the Isthmian League. 

Speaking to us before the weekend’s game against Phoenix Sports, the Hythe boss said, “I have no sympathy with the League!” 

“I have never been quiet about it as I really do not know why they do not give Clubs more grace to rearrange games.”

“We have asked to push back a fixture later in December – to push it back a few weeks because of the congestion and the League have refused the request despite both managers and both Clubs agreeing the idea.”

“I do not think the League help at all to be honest – you get a six-week period to rearrange a game that has been called off and I really do not know why that period cannot be eight or even ten weeks.”

“I understand why it cannot be months, but I just do not get why the game must be played within six weeks – I really do not!” 

“The League needs to look at it. Look at the highest level of our game and how people talk about the number of games and over playing – I really do not think any players at our level get a second thought about that.” 

“We are about to play nine games in four weeks and Cray Valley are in the same boat – you have been giving the League great coverage in Cups and have been successful or sides that you are due to play have, and I do think teams then get punished for it.”

“Just look after January and into the New Year, after the ones that we have had to reschedule in the window, we do not have a single midweek game scheduled until the end of the season!” 

“We have next to none midweek games at the start of the season or next to none and you always get to this period in November and December when clubs are playing in the worst conditions for everyone including the fans, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday and it’s just too much!” 

“I know a lot of clubs would prefer that at the start of the season – the thing that gets me the most is this situation that we’ve tried to move over the festive period because of the packed schedule; everyone agreed to move it and we were flatly refused!” 

“We were even told that we could bring it forward,” exclaimed the Hythe boss, “I just do not understand; I really do not understand!