Rhys Lawson is more excited about football than he has been for a long time after making an impressive start to his Hythe career.

Lawson, who signed from Faversham last week, was named man-of-the match on his debut in the 2-1 defeat to Hastings on Saturday before setting up Shaun Welford’s equaliser in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Folkestone.

The 24-year-old former Herne Bay winger was grateful to Faversham for releasing him so quickly, having only moved to Salters Lane in the summer when he was attracting the interest of several other clubs, including Hythe, Chatham and Whitstable.

He said: “I knew I wasn’t going to play as much as I would like, so I had a chat with Ray Turner (Faversham manager). He was good about things and I left on friendly terms.

“He didn’t want me to leave and asked me to think over my decision. I had almost made up my mind by then and it was something I had been sleeping on. At my age, I just want to
play.”

Lawson added: “Scott Porter has got a great managerial style and everybody dies for each other out there on the pitch.

“I haven’t been this excited about football for ages. Ray could have made me serve out the seven-day approach but Scott got things done quickly and I came straight in and couldn’t have asked for a better start."

Hythe travel to Three Bridges in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, with a home tie against Maidstone United the prize for the winners.