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Gavin Hoyte has defended Maidstone new boy Taylor Curran following online abuse from Swindon fans.
Robins supporters made their feelings known on Curran’s abilities after his move to the Gallagher was confirmed.
The defender made 11 appearances in League 1 last season as Swindon were relegated just a year after winning the League 2 title.
Hoyte stuck up for his new team-mate on Twitter and felt fans were wrong to go after a youngster trying to make a fresh start.
“He’s a young guy, 21-years-old, and although he might not say it, deep down it does hurt to read all that stuff,” said Hoyte.
“In the end I had to say something. I don’t think people can just get away with saying whatever they want.
“Sometimes things don’t work at a club, fair enough, but just thank the player for what he’s done and wish them all the best.
“They’re saying he’s found his level, and that might be the case for now, but he’s still young and he has a long career ahead of him. I’ve seen players work their way back up and he wants to do that.
“He’s got his head down, he’s worked hard and he looks like he could do really well with us.
“One thing I really don’t like is when fans give players stick for whatever reason. He’s left their club, it’s gone, it happens.
“To be fair, after writing back to them, most of them pretty much said they shouldn’t have said what they did but the odd few will always say what they like.
“I just don’t get some people, especially with mental health being as prominent as it is today.
“It wasn’t so much being a senior player that made me stick up for him, it’s just because I don’t think it’s right.
“If you’ve got nothing good to say I don’t think you should go on social media and tag him and just be horrible, basically.
“I’m sure those same fans were the first ones cheering when he scored for Swindon and when they won League 2 I’m sure they weren’t saying anything then.
“Just because you’ve been relegated, you can’t blame one player for that.
“It’s the team that gets you relegated, he didn’t play every game so I don’t understand how they can give him so much stick.
“He was part of a Swindon team which won the league a year ago. He’s got his medal, he’s a winner, and that’s what we want.
“I’m sure he’ll bring his experiences from that winning side to us and help us move forward.”
At 31, Hoyte found himself with a regular day job for the first time after last season was curtailed by Covid-19.
He’d only ever known football since joining Arsenal as a kid.
But when the Maidstone squad were furloughed he didn’t want to sit around doing nothing.
“I’ve been working with my missus’ dad and doing other bits,” said Hoyte. “He does landscaping, so it was block paving, fencing, stuff like that.
“I was basically the labourer, carrying all the heavy stuff and digging.
"It was good to keep busy and do something I’ve never done before. I’ve been in football since I was nine, it’s the only job I’ve ever done.”
While he enjoyed getting his hands dirty, Hoyte is glad to be back on the training ground.
He added: “It’s brilliant to have a bit of normality. We’ve got a good squad, a good mix of young players and older heads.
“Everyone’s getting on well, we know what we want to do and we’re working for the same thing.
“National South gets harder every year, when you see some of the players teams have signed. It’s going to be tough but we’re all looking forward to the challenge.”
