Winning a national title under the Wembley Arch in your last game as a player would be good enough for most people. But Whitstable Town boss Jamie Coyle has left his Isuzu FA Vase winners behind and has gone to the Far East seeking international glory to end a truly remarkable season! 

“The whole thing really is an unbelievable experience,” Coyle admitted as he reflected on his side’s incredible Wembley win against AFC Whyteleafe from his hotel room in Thailand where he is now part of the England Seniors side looking to retain their World Cup crown.

“From the day itself to the open top bus ride through the town the next Saturday was amazing for everyone involved and just to bring the people of Whitstable together and see the number of smiling faces was a surreal experience, it really was!” 

“The day itself was really absolutely what I wanted it to be! It’s not until you come away – I watched the game in my “man-cave” “live” on the Monday and the Tuesday, and it was really only then that I realised the impact of what we had actually achieved for everyone involved, and to see the ways the fans completely took over Wembley with their noise, and for us to deliver that for the people of Whitstable was a proud moment for all of us!” 

“After watching it, I really can appreciate what a great game it was for the neutral!” Coyle admitted.

“It was a real good advert not only for Step Five football, but for Non-League football in general! I watched the Charlton Play Off Final, and I thought, without being biased, the quality of football played in our game was right up there with it which says a lot.”

“It was really, really proud to see the level of performance from both teams, but our togetherness got us over the line.” 

Coyle himself, in what the manager has already confirmed will be his last playing game at the end of his own long-playing career, played a pivotal role on the pitch which was a huge credit to Matt Longhurst and the rest of the bench staff.

“I think it’s worked well for the last three months in truth,” Coyle told us. “I can support and organise on the pitch knowing that I have a phenomenal team on the sidelines that I have full trust in.”

“Matt is one of the best coaches that I have ever worked with as a player and a manager, and I thoroughly trust his decisions on the side.”

“There weren’t many breaks in play in the Final where we could have a conversation to discuss potential changes along with the noise levels as well.”

“It’s not until you look back at the videos and get more photos every day it dawns on you more and more just what a surreal experience it really was!”

“I am so pleased for everyone involved with the football club – this is the one club that I have been at whether as a player or a manager that is just full of really genuine people and to bring the success back to them is a real pinnacle of my career!” 

It’s a “playing” career that has now come to an end, but Coyle is now in Thailand playing for England’s Senior side looking to retain the Seniors World Cup and we spoke to Coyle not long after he’d scored the second goal in a 3-2 win over hosts Thailand which followed an opening 2-1 win over Vietnam.

Talking about the competition, Coyle told us, “We’ve had a week to get used to the conditions and then face literally six games in ten days before the Semis and the Final…”

“Last year, I came back eight kilos lighter and so it is going to be tough to stay injury free after the back end of the season that we have been through!” 

“We have a real good group that have gone for the last few years, and we have a really good chance to win the Trophy for a third year running!”