Hastings ace joins rivals Hythe

Hastings United midfielder Sam Adams has joined Hythe Town. Picture courtesy Scott White

Sam Adams, who has scored 110 goals in 441 United appearances, has moved to fellow Ryman Football League Division One South outfit Hythe Town.

Hythe manager Clive Cook told the Folkestone & Hythe Express: “I’m over the moon to get Sam because I rate him as one of the best midfield players in the league. I’m absolutely elated with it because I’ve been after him for a while.

“I knew him from when David (Cook, Clive’s son) was down there. I got to know him very well. He’s a box-to-box player, he scores goals, he’s a great No.10 and prising him away after so long at one club, I’m over the moon with it.

“I do rate him very highly and his experience is something we probably missed last year. He will score goals from a midfield position and we need to score goals from midfield, not rely on the top boys.”

Adams first joined United in June 2005 and has almost been a permanent fixture at The Pilot Field ever since, aside from a spell with Rye United between 2011 and 2013.

Hard working yet good on the ball, the 29-year-old is a hugely versatile player who has turned out for United in defence, midfield, attack and even as an emergency goalkeeper, although he has generally been deployed as an attacking midfielder in recent times.

Adams scored seven goals in 54 appearances during the 2015/16 campaign and picked up the players’ player of the year award at the club’s recent end of season presentation night.

Hythe have also brought in former United striker Kenny Pogue from Eastbourne Town, as well as Dan Parkinson from Herne Bay, Charlie Webster from Tonbridge Angels and Chris Saunders from Ashford United.

United finished seventh in the league during the 2015/16 season - three places below Hythe, whose hopes of promotion were dashed by a 7-0 drubbing away to Worthing in the play-off semi-finals.

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