Darren Blackburn says a year working alongside manager Steve Watt at Hythe was a real benefit to his own coaching career. Blackburn was no.2 to Watt last season as Hythe beat the odds to make it to the Isthmian South East play-off final, losing out to Whitehawk after dumping Ramsgate out in the semis. For personal reasons, Blackburn stood down at the start of the 2023/24 campaign and has now taken on the role of joint assistant manager at Sheppey. He’s previously managed at Hollands & Blair and Sittingbourne but is even wiser now after that terrific season with Sheppey’s league rivals Hythe. B…
