Hythe Town add vital experience by signing Sri Lanka international Marvin Hamilton
05:00, 30 September 2022
updated: 09:55, 30 September 2022
Hythe have signed Sri Lanka international Marvin Hamilton.
Cannons boss Steve Watt has spoken in recent weeks of the need to add experience to his young squad.
Hamilton, 33, fits the bill, having enjoyed a 15-year career in the game since making his debut for Gillingham as a teenager in 2007.
He also boasts six caps for Sri Lanka, the birthplace of his mother, winning the first of those last year.
Hamilton, comfortable in defence or midfield, played under Watt at Margate five years ago and worked with Cannons assistant boss Darren Blackburn at Sittingbourne last season.
“He’s a versatile player who can play in a few positions and it’s another experienced head to help our squad,” said Watt.
“We added Steve Phillips last week and Marvin this week, so that’s two good signings.
“I’ve worked with him before, at Margate, and he was with Daz last year, so he’s a player we know well.
“We identified what we wanted and Marvin was at the top of the list.
“We had to see if he was, one, available, and, two, interested, and it was yes to both.
“We’ve been playing a back three this season, and that’s mainly where I see him, to give us a bit more experience and guidance back there.
“He can also play as a No.4 in midfield and he even played right-back at Margate, although that was a few years ago now.”
Hythe are off to Tonbridge for a friendly tomorrow (1pm) after finding themselves with a blank Saturday for the fourth weekend in a row.
Watt was Angels boss Jay Saunders’ captain at Maidstone, later serving as his assistant manager.
“Jay got in touch to see if we’d be interested in going over for a game,” said Watt.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Jay and the new 3G set-up at Longmead, which I’ve heard good things about.
“Tonbridge are a lovely club, I’ve always enjoyed going there, whether’s that’s been as a player or a manager, and it’ll be good for the boys to get a run-out.
"Me and Jay speak now and again but it’s one of those that when we do speak, we pick up where we left off and it’s like we’ve been speaking every day for two or three weeks.
"If he had players who needed games and I needed a player, he’d help out if he could.
“It’s important to have those relationships and it’s always good to play against one of Jay’s teams, regardless of whether it’s a friendly.”
Hythe lost 2-0 at Ramsgate in the Velocity Trophy on Wednesday.
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