Herne Bay Football Club is delighted to announce the launch of our new U23s side.
Managed by Bay's 19/20 first-team coach: Mark Taylor this new team will bridge a gap between the first team and youth football here at the Bay.

First team coach and U23s manager Mark Taylor had this to say: 'It's am important step for the club to bridge the gap from under 18's to 1st team, particularly Isthmian League standard.
The U23s will create competition among the First team squad as well. The players will be training in and around the 1st team. This also gives the coaching staff an opportunity to see players train and play regularly with games being midweek as well. This allows us to gain a full assessment of players and to know when/if they are ready to make the step up. The first team would have played 48 games last year (without play offs)in 36 weeks mathematically that tells you aloe that there will be opportunities to progress into the 1st team. Finally I think the fans, coaches and supporters all love to see a homegrown player progress through the club and break into the 1st team Many fan favourites such as Danny Lawrence, Simon Kabamba and Sam McCallum did the same. With this squad we hope we can give more opportunities to players wanting to play at Isthmian league level and above.

First team Manager Ben Smith had this to say: 'We have been playing catch up since coming in last season and quite simply the focus has had to be moving the 1st team away from a culture of battling to stay in the Isthmian league to one that has ambitions of success. Over the last couple months we have started to implement the foundations for our long term plans with closer ties to all of the youth clubs in Herne Bay (over 500 players), the launch of our junior academy and now the re-introduction of U23 Football. We still have additional plans within the development area of the club nut it's important that this is phased in appropriately to get the best possible system in place for the players at the club rather than a rushed approach that is used all too often. I'm delighted Mark has agreed to become the Development Manager, having worked as 1st team coach last season this gives great continuity and the U23 players will have a dedicated and talented young coach to progress with. Mark has experienced Isthmian level football, so has an understanding of what level is required and additionally the type of player that we are looking for within the 1st team set up.'

For any questions please contact hbfc.secretary@gmail.com