Before Sittingbourne embark on the Club’s first every Play Off campaign next week, Ryan Maxwell and his side play Littlehampton Town in their final match of the regular season at the Roman Stadium, Woodstock on Saturday. 

The Club has designated the game as a “Football for a Fiver” day and the Brickies boss explained, “it is really a gift and a thank you for the incredible, amazing, fantastic support that we have received from the fans this season and a real show of appreciation from us to them.”

“They have been unbelievable since I first came here, and I have got to know many of them!” 

Maxwell went on, “It’s great on a Saturday or Tuesday to see people who you genuinely know are supporting genuinely and want the best for the team and are so vocal with it as well – I’ve said to my players for a long, long time now how lucky they should feel and how lucky they are to have such a level of support and not to take it for granted.”

“You go to most clubs at this level, and you do not get half the level of vocal support that you give us! You have been fantastic – too many times the noise has been fantastic as they have turned out in their numbers…” 

“All that said though, make no mistake, they are going to be massive for us next week in the Play Offs, and so Saturday is a thank you for that support, but we will need every single one of them come Tuesday night and the Club’s very first Play Off Semi-Final!”  

“We still have a very tough game to get through this weekend first,” the Brickies boss admitted.

“I would like to say to Littlehampton’s players, officials and supporters, congratulations on guaranteeing another season at this level, as this is an incredibly competitive League – you just must look at the sides who have been at the bottom and were relegated – one of them was in the Play Offs last season!”

“And that’s how quickly things can turn as it’s unforgiving and there are no easy games – to stay in this League is a feat in itself for certain Clubs who are punching above their weight, as there are a lot of incredibly good teams in the League and to stay in the Division is an achievement!” 

“But we still want to win on Saturday to go into the Play Offs with three wins in a row! It has been a strange week for me as I always take things very much one game at a time, but I have been able to prepare for what’s ahead for some time as we knew it was coming!”

“I knew that we would be where I needed us to be – or wanted us to be – with at least a game or two in hand. So, I have been preparing for it and that has given me some clarity on some things as well, as we can go into Saturday very relaxed and with one eye on the next game, as ultimately that is the important one.”

“It is quite different but make no mistake, I still want the three points come 5.00pm Saturday!”