Hythe Town Football Club, nicknamed “The Cannons,” is a non-league football club based in Hythe, Kent.
Established in 1910, they currently compete in the Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division, which is part of the eighth tier of English football. The team calls Reachfields Stadium their home ground.
The club has a long history of competitive football, beginning with its participation in the Folkestone and District Leagues before moving up to the Kent Amateur League in 1936. After a quiet period during the 1950s and 60s, the club saw success under manager Bob Davis in the early 1970s, earning three league titles and a Kent Junior Cup win. Granted senior status in 1977, the club joined the Kent League and settled at Reachfields Stadium, a former army sports ground. The arrival of chairman Tony Walton in 1988 ushered in a period of rapid growth, with significant investment in the stadium and team. Hythe won the 1988/89 Kent League title, setting a goal-scoring record, and earned promotion to the Southern League. Memorable cup runs followed, including a record attendance of 2,147 for an FA Vase semi-final match, but financial difficulties in the early 1990s led to the club’s liquidation.
Reformed by supporters as Hythe United, the club re-entered the Kent County League before regaining senior status and returning to the Kent League in 1995. A turning point came with the appointment of Paul Fisk as manager in 2002, as the club established itself as a competitive force. Under Scott Porter in 2010/11, Hythe enjoyed arguably its most successful season, winning the Kent League Championship and achieving promotion to the Ryman League after a dramatic final-day title win. That season also featured an impressive FA Cup run, reaching the First Round Proper, where they faced Hereford United. Subsequent years brought further highlights, including Kent Senior Cup success and multiple play-off qualifications, although league stability occasionally eluded the club.
Recent history has seen fluctuations in management and performance, with managers such as Clive Cook, Sam Denly, and Steve Watt each overseeing various achievements. Notable players like Alfie May and Zak Ansah brought attention to the club with prolific scoring records. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted several seasons, but the team reached the Isthmian League South-East play-off final in 2022/23, narrowly missing promotion. In 2023/24, a strong start included a deep run in the FA Trophy, but late-season struggles led to managerial changes, with Sammy Moore and later Nick Davis taking charge. Former Sheppey United chairman Matthew Smith joined to provide financial support, bolstering optimism for the club’s future at Reachfields, which has a capacity of 3,000, with 2,400 under cover.