Hythe Town granted permission to install 3G pitch at Reachfields

Hythe Town manager Andy Crush is excited by the prospect of having a 3G pitch at Reachfields.

At a council planning meeting on Tuesday night, the Cannons were given permission to dig up their problematic grass surface in favour of artificial turf.

The switch is central to chairman Andy Nanda’s plan to transform Hythe into a self-sustainable community club, along with the benefits for the first team of having a quality pitch and minimal chance of postponements.

Like neighbours Folkestone, when their 3G pitch was installed a year ago, the Cannons will need to play home games elsewhere while the work is carried out.

But any disruption at the start of the season will be worth it for the long-term gains that 3G will bring.

“I really do think a 3G will suit how we want to play football,” said boss Crush, whose side beat Canterbury 4-0 at home in their opening pre-season friendly last weekend.

“There’s a different approach to every game.

“Sometimes you might have to pump it long and sometimes you want to play.

“We want to be a team that will adapt to wherever we’re playing and be ready for whatever comes our way.

“But everyone’s ideal scenario is playing on a 3G because you can play both ways.

“You know how the ball’s going to roll but if you’re going to pump it long, you know how it’s going to fall.”

Jarred Trespaderne, Harry Andrews and Billy Lewins gave Hythe a commanding half-time lead against Canterbury and a trialist completed victory with a late fourth.

Crush could see the benefits of Hythe’s early start to pre-season.

“We’ve been training since June 9, so we’ve been in over a month,” he said.

“We probably went in two weeks earlier than you normally would.

“We got the boys together and were working on fitness, and we