Season 1953-54

17TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The seventeenth season was from a strictly statistical angle, a bad one, but from a long-term viewpoint it had many good features. At the end of November, the three teams had only one league point between them, but all improved later in the year and in doing so, maintained the good name of the Club for carrying out fixtures and overcoming setbacks.

1ST TEAM

Though gaining only one league point from the first nine games, the first team obtained fourteen from the last thirteen matches. Six league and two cup games were lost by an odd goal and it can be fairly said that the team were better than the early record suggested. Illness, injury and unavailability for domestic or business reasons played havoc with team selection and great credit was due to the regular players for their acceptance of difficulties outside the control of the Club. The highlight of the season was saved for the final game when a 5-4 victory was gained over champions Rye United II who dropped just four points in their twenty-two matches and was the first ever success against our old rivals.

Frank Baker was leading scorer with 31 goals followed by Ron Barden (13) and Arthur Baker (10). The captain, Alf Holdstock, set his usual cheerful example and on the numerous occasions when he was unavailable, Gordon Hickman ably deputised. Chairman, Frank Crisford, came out of his semi-retirement to help the Club out of a goalkeeping crisis until his brother Dick was released by the Army late in the season. Of the younger players, Ron Barden and John Moon made good progress and Bob Lapraik and Derrick Pope established themselves late in the season.

The only blemish on a good record of sportsmanship was the persistent unpunctuality of the team, which cost several goals and much bad language and ill-temper.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
5/9/1953Old CentmodiansAwayFriendly5 – 9Frank Baker 4, Ron Barden
12/9/1953Battle Rangers IIHomeFriendly3 – 0Frank Baker 2, Trevor Vince
26/9/1953Sedlescombe UnitedHomeLeague1 – 4Ron Barden
3/10/1953UdimoreAwaySussex Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 3Phil Barling, Frank Baker
10/10/1953Hollington United IIHomeLeague0 – 3
17/10/1953Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague1 – 5Phil Barling
24/10/1953Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague5 – 5Frank Baker 2, Jimmy Herbert, Gordon Tatham, Alf Holdstock (pen)
31/10/1953Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague2 – 4Frank Baker, Ron Barden
14/11/1953Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague1 – 2Jimmy Herbert
21/11/1953Rye United IIHomeLeague3 – 4Frank Baker 2, Phil Barling
28/11/1953Hollington United IIAwayLeague0 – 8
5/12/1953Old CentmodiansAwayLeague2 – 3Ron Barden, Frank Baker
19/12/1953Hastings ElectricityHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round2 – 2Ron Barden, Frank Baker
26/12/1953StonegateAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 1st Round12 – 3Arthur Baker 4, Frank Baker 3, Cyril Rich 2, Ron Barden 2, David Cooke
2/1/1954Hastings ElectricityAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round Replay2 – 1Ron Barden 2
16/1/1954Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague7 – 4Frank Baker 3, Ron Barden 2 (1 pen), Gordon Tatham, Arthur Baker
23/1/1954Battle Rangers IIHomeLeague1 – 1Frank Baker
6/2/1954Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague1 – 1Frank Baker
13/2/1954Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague3 – 3Arthur Baker 2, Gordon Tatham
20/2/1954Rye United IIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round2 – 6Arthur Baker, Frank Baker
27/2/1954Old CentmodiansHomeLeague1 – 2Arthur Baker
6/3/1954Observer AthleticHomeLeague2 – 1Ron Barden, Frank Baker
27/3/1954Sedlescombe UnitedAwayLeague3 – 1Phil Barling, Frank Baker Edward Pye
3/4/1954Little CommonAwayLeague4 – 6Derrick Pope 2, Gordon Hickman 2
20/2/1954Robertsbridge UnitedNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Cup Semi-Final0 – 1
17/4/1954Sidley United IIHomeLeague2 – 3Arthur Ades, Arthur Baker
20/4/1954Observer AthleticAwayLeague0 – 1
24/4/1954Little CommonHomeLeague4 – 1Frank Baker 2, Derrick Pope, Ron Barden
27/4/1954Sidley United IIAwayLeague3 – 3Frank Baker 2, Phil Barling
1/5/1954Rye United IIAwayLeague5 – 4Frank Baker 2, John Archer, Alf Holdstock, Gordon Tatham

2ND TEAM

The second team had a difficult season and an undistinguished record. The side of the previous year was the best 2nd XI to date, for two main reasons – a largely unchanged team and a half-back line (Oliver Campbell, Jim Hayward and John Moon) which was well above the normal Division Three standard. The calls of the 1st XI meant frequent changes this year while the half-back line was broken up – Oliver Campbell took a job in Venezuela, Jim Hayward went to live in St Leonards and left the Club and John Moon was promoted to the first team.

Once again the great weakness was in shooting and many simple chances were missed. Leading scorers were Denis Swaine and Alwyn David, each with 15 goals, and the latter, just out of the Minors, was one of the most improved players by the end of the season. Eric Hollingsworth and Denis Swaine appeared in all twenty-three matches whilst Alwyn David (22) and Cyril Rich (21) were also regular players.

Much credit went to Eric Hollingsworth, as captain, for keeping the team going and to Andy Dunlop, as manager, linesman and reserve-to-travel. Bill Jeffery, the evergreen veteran, was always on call ready for a crisis and the ten games he played were of great value. No less than twelve Minors played at least once for the Reserves and though some were obviously out-classed, the arrangement provided a valuable link between the teams.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
19/9/1953GuestlingAwayFriendly4 – 3Trevor Vince 3, Alwyn David
26/9/1953Sedlescombe United IIAwayLeague1 – 4Cyril Rich
3/10/1953Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyAwayLeague0 – 2
10/10/1953UdimoreAwayLeague0 – 3
17/10/1953Corbens SportsAwayLeague1 – 2Bob Rich
24/10/1953Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyHomeFriendly1 – 7Alwyn David
31/10/1953Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague0 – 3
7/11/1953Woodchurch IIIHomeFriendly6 – 1Bill Betts 2, Alan Brodie, Denis Swaine, John Moon, Own Goal
14/11/1953Corbens SportsHomeLeague2 – 7Alwyn Davd, Bob Rich
21/11/1953GuestlingAwayLeague2 – 4Bill Betts 2
28/11/1953Hastings Electricity IIAwayLeague6 – 0Denis Swaine 3, Alwyn David 2, Laurie Butler
5/12/1953Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague5 – 3Alwyn David 2, Cyril Rich, Eric Hollingsworth, Denis Swaine
19/12/1953Hastings Electricity IIHomeLeague4 – 2Denis Swaine 2, Cyril Rich, Alwyn David
2/1/1954Observer Athletic IIAwayHastings League Division Three Cup 1st Round2 – 3Denis Swaine 2
16/1/1954UdimoreHomeLeague3 – 5Denis Swaine 2, Bill Betts
30/1/1954Old Centmodians IIHomeLeague2 – 6Alwyn David, Denis Swaine
13/2/1954Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyHomeLeague1 – 5Bill Betts
27/2/1954Old Centmodians IIAwayLeague3 – 7Eric Hollingsworth, Alwyn David, Laurie Butler
13/3/1954Observer Athletic IIAwayLeague0 – 1
20/3/1954Sedlescombe United IIHomeLeague9 – 3Alwyn David 3, Denis Swaine 3, Eric Hollingsworth 2, Laurie Butler
3/4/1954GuestlingHomeLeague2 – 3Frank Baker, Bob Rich
10/4/1954Hastings LabourHomeFriendly0 – 3
17/4/1954Observer Athletic IIHomeLeague3 – 3Alwyn David 2, Laurie Butler

MINOR TEAM

Two years ago, the first team achieved local fame by winning the Hastings League, one year ago the Reserves were the side of the year by winning seventeen games and reaching the Division Three Cup Final, but this season belonged to the Minors. With the generous help of a sympathetic local press, the successful efforts of Norman Hickman and his team to complete their fixtures against general expectation of failure became a topic all through this end of Sussex.

The crisis arrived early in December, when following a succession of heavy defeats, several members lost heart and gave up, and others were not far from following this example. Games had to be postponed and the next three fixtures were played with 8, 8 and 9 men, losing 12-2, 20-0 and 6-0. However, new players were signed, the old ones stuck with the team and the season was finished with a full side in eight of the last ten games. Five league matches were played in the last twelve days of the season to complete the fixtures.

It would be difficult to over-estimate the part played by Norman Hickman as captain. He realised perfectly clearly that there would be no short cut to recovery, but he ran himself to a standstill every week keeping the score down and it is safe to say that his example played the leading part in the team’s success.

Outstandingly regular was Bryan Butler who played in all twenty-four games, while John Sinden (21 matches), John Young (20), Duncan Lee (19), Peter Small (15), John Turner (14), Alan Skinner (11), Peter Stone (11), Michael Wise (11) and Bob Vincent (10) all did well. Almost the whole team would still be under-age for the next season.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
12/9/1953Rye United MinorsAwayFriendly3 – 3David Ades, Bryan Butler, John Parsons
19/9/1953St Thomas Sports ClubHomeLeague2 – 1D Griffen, David Ades
26/9/1953West St Leonards Boys ClubAwayLeague0 – 10
10/10/1953Army Cadet ForceHomeLeague2 – 6John Turner, D Turner
24/10/1953Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsAwayLeague0 – 7
31/10/1953Rye Modern SchoolAwayFriendly3 – 0Michael Wise, John Sinden, John Turner
7/11/1953Round Table Boys ClubAwayLeague1 – 5Derrick Pope
14/11/1953Rye United MinorsHomeLeague2 – 6John Parsons 2
21/11/1953St Leonards MinorsHomeLeague0 – 10
26/12/1953Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsHomeLeague2 – 12Peter Small, John Sinden
23/1/954Rye United MinorsAwayLeague0 – 20
6/2/1954Round Table Boys ClubAwayHastings F A Minor Cup 2nd Round0 – 6
20/2/1954St Leonards MinorsAwayLeague0 – 8
27/2/1954Air Training CorpsAwayLeague3 – 1Peter Small 2, John Sinden
6/3/1954Army Cadet ForceAwayLeague2 – 8Alan Skinner, Bryan Butler
13/3/1954West St Leonards Boys ClubHomeLeague0 – 7
20/3/1954Rye Modern School ‘A’ XIAwayFriendly11 – 0Peter Small 5, Chris Larkin 2, Duncan Lee, Peter Stone, Parviz Yegenegi, G Miller
27/3/1954Guestling MinorsHomeLeague1 – 1Duncan Lee
10/4/1954The Junior Club TacklewayAwayLeague0 – 7
19/4/1954Guestling MinorsAwayLeague5 – 1B Smith 2, Michael Wise, Peter Small, Own Goal
21/4/1954Round Table Boys ClubHomeLeague0 – 8
24/4/1954Air Training CorpsHomeLeague2 – 2Peter Small 2
29/4/1954Hastings ColtsAwayLeague0 – 13 #
1/5/1954The Junior Club TacklewayHomeLeague0 – 10

GENERAL MATTERS

The Club was again indebted to Mr Anthony Freeman for the occasional use of the Wall Field in Winchelsea. Icklesham Recreation Ground stood up fairly well to a wet winter and the Club once more entered into an arrangement with Icklesham Cricket Club for the use of the pavilion for changing. The Club purchased nets from Iden Football Club at a reasonable price. Marking out was again rather unevenly shared with Denis Swaine doing more than his fair share.

Dances at Winchelsea and Pett Level and whist drives at Icklesham and Pett were organised for Club funds and thanks were due to all who helped to make them a success. Members showed a rather disappointing apathy in their support of these necessary events.

The seventeenth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Wednesday, 28th July 1954 at 8 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS