Matt Singh – Credit: Hutton
Matt Singh led Hutton to promotion in the 2022/23 campaign, securing a place in the Thurlow Nunn Division One South for the forthcoming campaign. The Reds also play at New Lodge, home of Billericay Town, which enables them to train at the Isthmian Premier Division club as well.
I asked Singh about last season’s promotion, Saturday’s pre-season encounter with Billericay and more.
Hutton earned promotion from the Essex Olympian Premier Division last season. What were your overriding thoughts on the campaign and how proud were you of what you achieved?
‘This was actually planned when I first took over the first team – the club set out for promotion in a three-year plan. Massive credit goes to them for backing us with the groundshare at Tilbury, I think the key for us was that we got off to a flying start. We managed to win 16 and draw one in our opening 17 league and cup games. This momentum obviously instilled a winning mentality that was hard for other sides to cope with.’
‘We then hit a bad patch as all teams do, but that still only resulted in two losses all season. I am extremely proud to take the club that I have been at since the age of five into their first ever season of senior football. The players and my management team deserve all the praise they get as they were honestly superb and it’s an achievement that will stick with us all.’
The Reds will be occupants of the Thurlow Nunn Division One South next season. What differences do you think there will be next season compared to last?
‘I think next season will be an interesting test. There are some very experienced senior sides who have moved down the pyramid and some others who we know well from past seasons in our league or cup games.’
‘There are plenty of sides in the division who are used to winning leagues, cups and promotions and that will make it very competitive throughout.’
Hutton secured a groundshare agreement with Billericay Town in December which means your side will be playing and training at New Lodge next season. How important is it for you as a manager to have access to those facilities?
‘This was a brilliant piece of business for our club! We had a good relationship with Tilbury but it was very important to move closer to home. The facilities at New Lodge are fantastic for the seventh tier, never mind in the 11th tier. Playing and training at the ground has not only generated a lot of interest from new players, but it has also lifted our current players and staff.’
‘It will allow us to invite many of our youth teams and parents to come over and support the side now that we are much closer to home. We played four games there last season and had around 150-200 supporters in all of those! We know how fortunate we are and we plan to make the most of it.’
In your opening pre-season match on Saturday, you face Billericay at New Lodge. How excited are you and your team to be taking on an Isthmian Premier Division side?
‘The opening fixture will be a huge test for our lads as everyone knows. The first pre-season game is not one that has many people talking about a result. For both sides, it will be about minutes in legs, trials for new faces, introductions for young players and hopefully no injuries for either side. The fixture however is more than just a football match. Both Hutton and Billericay agreed on the ground share with hope that the clubs can contribute to each other’s success in some way.’
‘This has already begun to take shape off the pitch. The youth sections of both clubs have already benefited from the partnership. We will also be introducing joint season tickets for all youth players under the age of 12 so that youth players from both clubs can attend each other’s first-team home games. There will also be a discount for adult season ticket holders to attend those games. We are two clubs but we want to work as one community and it has been a very promising start!’
What are you hoping to achieve with Hutton next season?
‘Firstly, I plan to enjoy being a part of my clubs first season at senior level. We feel that we deserve to be where we are but last season has gone and now we need to step it up a gear and ensure we compete in every game. It’s crazy that we will play more than double the fixtures we played last season but that’s what it’s all about. It will be a test for our players and staff but one we are very much looking forward to.’
