Season 1979-80

43RD SEASON

SEASON REPORT

After a difficult early period, the 1979-80 season ended by being quite a good one. When the season started, the club apparently had plenty of players signed and available, but in practice the early weeks were very problematical when it came to getting out sides. Once those who had proved to be uninterested, unavailable or injured had been replaced, it was a good playing season for all three teams and no player for the club was cautioned or sent-off during the year.

One serious problem was that there were no really young players coming in for odd games owing to the ban imposed by Mr Mitchell on Icklesham and Guestling Colts players signing for the club. This effectively meant that the club could not run a youth team of any sort.

1ST TEAM

The first team was dislocated by early season injuries to Steve Beale, who returned after Christmas and to Brian Barden, who did not play again. In spite of this, the side usually played methodical football, won the Hastings F A Sportsmanship Cup and were runners-up in the Eastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup. The team would probably also have been runners-up in the league but for a misunderstanding which led to the second last match being played with only ten men.

John Crisford and Steve Beale shared the captaincy. Both led well and received good support from the team. Bob Baker (23 goals) and Wayne Carter (17) led the goal scorers. The side which played against Drive Spartan at Sidley in the Division One Cup Final was – Richard Forrest, Ian Ruddock, George Potter, John Crisford, Steve Beale, Andrew Dunlop, Colin Shearer, Dave Coombes, Bob Baker, Paul Milton and Wayne Carter.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
30/8/1979Hastings PostalHomeFriendly3 – 4Bob Baker 2, Wayne Carter
4/9/1979Nutrition House RangersHomeFriendly2 – 2Bob Baker, Wayne Carter
6/9/1979WestfieldAwayFriendly2 – 1Bob Baker, G Harris
15/9/1979Langney Sports IIAwayLeague3 – 4Bob Baker 3 (1 pen)
22/9/1979Bank of AmericaHomeA F A Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round1 – 3Wayne Carter
29/9/1979Willingdon Athletic IIAwayLeague6 – 0Wayne Carter 3, Jon Fuller, Paul Milton, Colin Gill
6/10/1979Drive SpartanHomeLeague0 – 4
13/10/1979Mountfield UnitedAwayLeague3 – 3Wayne Carter 2, Bob Baker (pen)
20/10/1979Eastbourne Working Men’s ClubAwayLeague2 – 0Alan Fermor, Bob Baker
27/10/1979SeeboardAwayLeague2 – 0Colin Gill, Paul Milton
3/11/1979Northiam 75AwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 0Bob Baker, Wayne Carter
10/11/1979Drive SpartanAwayLeague2 – 3John Crisford 2
17/11/1979Albion United IIHome<Hastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round0 – 1
24/11/1979Mountfield UnitedHomeEastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup 1st Round3 – 1Wayne Carter 2, Bob Baker (pen)
1/12/1979Hampden Park Athletic IIHomeLeague5 – 0Bob Baker 2, Andrew Dunlop, Paul Milton, Wayne Carter
8/12/1979Wishing TreeHomeLeague3 – 1Bob Baker, Paul Milton, Wayne Carter
12/1/1980Hampden Park Athletic IIAwayLeague7 – 3Bob Baker 3, Wayne Carter 2, Paul Milton, Steve Beale
19/1/1980SeeboardHomeEastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup 2nd Round4 – 1Derek Morley 2, Steve Beale 2
26/1/1980Mountfield UnitedHomeLeague0 – 1
9/2/1980Wishing TreeHomeRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 2Paul Milton
16/2/1980Wishing TreeAwayLeague5 – 5Bob Baker 3 (1 pen), John Crisford, Nick Jury
1/3/1980Willingdon Athletic IIHomeEastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup Semi-Final4 – 1Paul Milton 2, Wayne Carter, Bill Black
22/3/1980Eastbourne Working Men’s ClubHomeLeague1 – 1Bob Baker (pen)
5/4/1980Heathians IIHomeFriendly3 – 1Bob Baker 2, Wayne Carter
11/4/1980Drive SpartanNeutral>Eastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup Final1 – 2Colin Shearer
19/4/1980Langney Sports IIHomeLeague1 – 3
26/4/1980SeeboardHomeLeague4 – 0G Rowley 2, Nick Batt, Paul Milton

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

2ND TEAM

At Christmas, the second team had lost six out of seven league games and had been knocked out of three cups. They lost only once in the next ten league games and finished with a respectable points total.

Chris Morrell deservedly became the first holder of the cup presented by chairman, Eric Hollingsworth, for the 2nd team clubman of the year and another veteran in Bill Bird captained the side well. Michael Coleman was top scorer with 17 goals followed by Nick Jury with 12. It was a particularly cheerful and friendly side which made many friends.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
29/8/1979East Guldeford and CamberHomeFriendly3 – 5Wayne Carter 2, Jon Whiteman
1/9/1979Westfield IIAwayFriendly2 – 4Philip Goodsell, Alan Fermor
15/9/1979Silverton RangersAwayLeague1 – 4Michael Coleman
22/9/1979Bank of America IIHomeFriendly1 – 5Bob Baker
29/9/1979Malvern WayAwayLeague1 – 3Own Goal
6/10/1979UdimoreAwayLeague4 – 3Gary Grainger 2, Michael Coleman,
13/10/1979SedlescombeAwayLeague0 – 1
20/10/1979Standard Chartered IIHomeA F A Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 1Larry Cooke 2
27/10/1979Silverton RangersHomeLeague0 – 4
3/11/1979Brede AthleticAwayFriendly0 – 5
17/11/1979Barclays Bank IIIHomeA F A Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 4
24/11/1979BeckleyAwayEastbourne and Hastings League Division Three Cup 1st Round1 – 9Larry Cooke
1/12/1979BeckleyAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 5George Potter, Michael Coleman
8/12/1979Robertsbridge RangersAwayLeague1 – 4Larry Cooke
15/12/1979Stamco IIHomeLeague0 – 8
12/1/1980East Guldeford and CamberHomeLeague4 – 0George Potter, Nick Jury, Michael Coleman, Philip Goodsell
19/1/1980BeckleyAwayLeague0 – 4
26/1/1980Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubAwayLeague2 – 2Michael Coleman, Larry Cooke
9/2/1980Seeboard IIAwayLeague5 – 1Nick Jury 2, Bill Bird, Michael Lockerbie, Larry Cooke
16/2/1980Steadfast UnitedHomeLeague5 – 1Michael Coleman 3, Alan Sutton 2
23/2/1980Malvern WayHomeLeague2 – 2Nick Jury, Bill Black
8/3/1980East Guldeford and CamberAwayLeague4 – 4Nick Jury 2, Michael Coleman, Michael Lockerbie
29/3/1980Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubHomeLeague3 – 3Nick Jury 2, Larry Cooke
4/4/1980Old Brentwoods XIHomeFriendly0 – 2
5/4/1980SedlescombeHomeLeague2 – 0Michael Coleman 2
8/4/1980BeckleyHomeLeague1 – 1Alan Fermor
12/4/1980Stamco IIAwayLeague2 – 6Michael Coleman, Alan Fermor
15/4/1980Seeboard IIHomeLeague6 – 1Michael Coleman 2, Wayne Carter 2, Nick Jury, Alan Fermor
19/4/1980Robertsbridge RangersHome>League0 – 2
22/4/1980UdimoreHomeLeague5 – 0Michael Coleman 2. Paul Milton, Steve Beale, Colin Gill
26/4/1980The Junior Club Tackleway IIAwayLeague2 – 7Nick Jury, Larry Cooke
1/5/1980Steadfast UnitedAwayLeague5 – 2Nick Jury 2, Michael Lockerbie, Michael Coleman, Colin Stace
3/5/1980The Junior Club Tackleway IIAway>League0 – 6

3RD TEAM

The 3rd XI made a terrible start, playing short and losing by big scores and having to call off the A F A Minor Cup game – at that time only the third competitive match scratched in over forty years. Far from giving up, Nick Bellhouse, as captain, signed new players, inspired old ones and the result was a very good season with a long unbeaten league run in mid-winter.

Jamie Adams was leading goal scorer with 22 goals in 23 matches. Jimmy Ballard also netted on 12 occasions.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
1/9/1979National Westminster Bank XIHomeFriendly4 – 1Bob Baker,
5/9/1979Haswat Sports and Social ClubHomeFriendly2 – 4
22/9/1979Haswat Sports and Social ClubAwayLeague1 – 4Alan Sutton
29/9/1979Sidley United IIIHomeLeague2 – 3Stuart Baker, Jamie Adams
6/10/1979Iden IIAwayLeague0 – 10
13/10/1979Wittersham IIHomeLeague0 – 8
20/10/1979CrowhurstAwayLeague3 – 3Jamie Adams 2. Robert Glazier
3/11/1979Northiam 75 IIHomeLeague1 – 0
10/11/1979Wittersham IIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round0 – 2
24/11/1979The Junior Club Tackleway IIIAwayLeague6 – 0Jamie Adams 3, Jimmy Ballard 2, Peter Turner
1/12/1979Beckley IIHome<League5 – 0Nick Batt 2, Robert Glazier, Peter Turner, Jamie Adams
15/12/1979Old Centmodians IIHome<League4 – 0Andrew Dunlop 2, Jamie Adams, Bill Bisping
12/1/1980Brede Athletic IIHome<League4 – 2Derek Morley, Nick Batt, Jamie Adams, Jimmy Ballard
26/1/1980Northiam 75 IIAwayEastbourne and Hastings League Division Four Cup 2nd Round2 – 3Derek Morley, Nick Batt
9/2/1980The Junior Club Tackleway IIIHome<League5 – 1Jimmy Ballard 3, Jamie Adams 2
16/2/1980Robertsbridge Rangers IIHome<League2 – 1Nick Batt, Jamie Adams
23/2/1980Wittersham IIAwayLeague2 – 6Nick Bellhouse, Jimmy Ballard
1/3/1980Old Centmodians IIAwayLeague2 – 1Michael Lockerbie, Jamie Adams
15/3/1980Northiam 75 IIAwayLeague2 – 4Jamie Adams 2
22/3/1980CrowhurstHome<League1 – 1Jamie Adams
12/4/1980Brede Athletic IIAwayLeague4 – 3Gary Grainger, Paul Milton, Jimmy Ballard, Jamie Adams
17/4/1980Robertsbridge Rangers IIAwayLeague0 – 1
23/4/1980Iden IIHomeLeague1 – 3Jimmy Ballard
24/4/1980Beckley IIAwayLeague2 – 2Jamie Adams, Jimmy Ballard
26/4/1980Sidley United IIIAwayLeague2 – 5Jamie Adams, Jimmy Ballard
29/4/1980Haswat Sports and SocialHomeLeague5 – 2Jamie Adams 3, Nick Batt, Jimmy Ballard

VETERANS

A Veterans team played in the A F A and Hastings F A Veterans Cups, losing 4-1 in both competitions.

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
Old Westminster Citizens VeteransA F A Veterans Cup 1st Round1 – 4
Beckley VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup 1st Round1 – 4

SEMI-VETERANS

A Semi-Veterans side drew 3-3 with a touring G W R Semi-Veterans team on Easter Monday in April.

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
7/4/1980G W RHomeFriendly3 – 3

SEASON AWARDS

GENERAL MATTERS

The end of season disco was a disappointment for those who had worked hard to organise the evening and it was a pity that the club could not achieve one social event which members would support. Andrew Dunlop did more than his share of work over the Christmas Draw and more help was needed with this.

There were difficulties about changing at Guestling but it was hoped that this would be resolved. A pleasant evening was spent at the Smugglers, Pett Level where the Bert Glazier Cup was presented to Nick Bellhouse and there were farewells to vice-chairman, Colin McPhail.

A quote for a set of new shirts was obtained from Wisdens in Hastings –

The Annual General Meeting took place at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Tuesday, 8th July 1980 at 8 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS