Season 1971-72

35TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

From the playing results point of view, the 1971-72 season was far from outstanding, but it was in many ways an interesting one and it was hoped that in a few years time it would be possible to look back and realise that an extremely good crop of young players either joined the Club or made rapid progress during the season. It was probably the strongest youth side since the era of David French, Trevor Vince, Ron Barden, George Noakes and others who all went on to play big parts in the league and cup successes of later years. In all the Club played over one hundred games and with the exception of the dismissal of Andy Ellison in an A F A cup tie, did not have a player sent off or cautioned in a year when such cases reached a record total in Sussex of about three thousand.

1ST TEAM

Having finished bottom of Division One on goal average in 1970-71, the 1st team kept their place in the top division of the Eastbourne and Hastings League due to its expansion and justified this decision by finishing nearly half-way up the table. With George Potter setting an excellent example and Don Sanderson doing the same when George was out injured for some weeks, the side finished well up in the Hastings F A Sportsmanship Cup. The team was a useful one, lacking class in some positions and often inaccurate in front of goal and the finishing position fairly reflected the fact the side was missing all round class but usually defended well.

In cup games, the team was drawn away every time including the longest ever journey to that date in the A F A Junior Cup, where the side lost 3-1 at Derby to Old Bemrosians in a good day out where all arrangements worked well and in a match that saw 15-year-old John Fellows make his first team debut nearly two hundred miles from home. Dave Minett with 21 goals was comfortably the top scorer with Bill Black (10), the only other player to reach double figures. Michael Pfundstein missed just one game all season.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
31/8/1971IdenHomeFriendly1 – 1Bill Black
4/9/1971The Junior Club TacklewayAwayFriendly2 – 2John Crisford, Bill Black
18/9/1971IdenHomeLeague1 – 10Colin Shearer
25/9/1971Cross-in-HandAwayLeague4 – 0Dave Minett 3, Colin Hill
2/10/1971LangneyAwayLeague5 – 2Colin Shearer, Rick Coombes, Dave Minett, Don Sanderson, Alan Sutton
9/10/1971Old BemrosiansAwayA F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 3Dave Minett
16/10/1971UdimoreAwayLeague1 – 4Dave Minett
23/10/1971HooeAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round3 – 5Don Sanderson 2 (1 pen), Colin Shearer
30/10/1971Willingdon AthleticHomeLeague2 – 3Dave Minett, Rick Coombes
6/11/1971Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubHomeLeague4 – 1Dave Minett 3, Jimmy Britt
13/11/1971IdenAwayLeague0 – 5
20/11/1971Cross-in-HandHomeLeague5 – 0Ian Thomson, Colin Shearer, Dave Minett, Rick Coombes, Bill Black
27/11/1971Sedlescombe UnitedAwayLeague0 – 5
4/12/1971Red LakeHomeLeague1 – 4Dave Minett
11/12/1971Magham DownAwayLeague4 – 2Dave Minett 3, Bill Black
18/12/1971Clive ValeHomeLeague4 – 3Dave Minett 2, Colin Shearer 2
1/1/1972Silverton RangersAwayLeague1 – 2Bill Black
8/1/1972Heathfield UnitedAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 1Bill Black 2
22/1/1972Clive ValeAwayLeague8 – 1Dave Minett 3, Alan Sutton, Colin Shearer, Jimmy Britt, Colin Hill, Bill Black
29/1/1972Etchingham UnitedAwayLeague0 – 6
5/2/1972Magham DownHomeLeague1 – 1Alan Sutton
12/2/1972Willingdon AthleticAwayLeague0 – 1
19/2/1972UdimoreHomeLeague1 – 2Dave Minett
26/2/1972Etchingham UnitedHomeLeague2 – 0Don Sanderson, Dave Minett
4/3/1972Red LakeAwayLeague0 – 7
11/3/1972Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubAwayLeague2 – 1Bill Black 2
18/3/1972Silverton RangersHomeLeague0 – 3
25/3/1972LangneyHomeLeague1 – 5Own Goal
3/4/1972Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly2 – 2Tony Harris, Roger Dollimore
11/4/1972Sedlescombe UnitedHomeLeague1 – 2Jimmy Britt
15/4/1972NorthiamAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 4 *John Crisford
8/5/1972Robin HoodHomeFriendly2 – 2

2ND TEAM

The second team finished bottom of Division Three (East) of the Eastbourne and Hastings League and would no doubt benefit from a year or two in Division Four to allow the promising young players to develop. Division Three was very strong with both Kolster Brandes and Ecko reaching the semi-finals of the Hastings Junior Cup.

Brian Luck, as captain, and Andy Dunlop, as team manager and linesman, had a rather uphill struggle and the Club owed them sincere thanks. Several young players made good progress while Ian Thomson was leading scorer with just 8 goals.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
24/8/1971Ecko HawkinsHomeFriendly0 – 3
7/9/1971The Junior Club Tackleway IIHomeFriendly3 – 2Martin Shearer, Robert Glazier, Dave Minett
11/9/1971Red Lake IIHomeLeague0 – 1
18/9/1971Rye AthleticAwayLeague1 – 6Dave Minett
25/9/1971PeasmarshHomeLeague0 – 4
2/10/1971Kolster BrandesAwayLeague1 – 5Bill Black
9/10/1971Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague2 – 5Bill Black, Stuart Baker
16/10/1971`Old Parkonians IIIAwayA F A Minor Cup 1st Round1 – 8Harold Stonham
23/10/1971Mountfield UnitedHomeLeague5 – 1Harold Stonham 3, Graham Glazier, Jack Brown
6/11/1971Drallim WanderersAwayLeague0 – 2
13/11/1971Ecko HawkinsHomeLeague0 – 6
20/11/1971Red Lake IIAwayLeague3 – 6Colin Hill, Sid Hawes, Fred Dallaway
27/11/1971Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague2 – 6Jack Brown 2
4/12/1971Silverton Rangers IIAwayLeague1 – 0Ian Thomson
11/12/1971Kolster BrandesHomeEastbourne and Hastings League Division Three Cup 1st Round0 – 3
1/1/1972PeasmarshHomeFriendly2 – 8Ian Thomson, Colin Hill (pen)
8/1/1972Silverton Rangers IIHomeLeague3 – 6Ian Thomson 2, Keith Holdstock
15/1/1972BeckleyAwayLeague1 – 1Colin Hill
22/1/1972Drallim WanderersHomeLeague1 – 0Jack Brown
29/1/1972Travaux IIHomeLeague2 – 1Sid Hawes, Keith Holdstock
5/2/1972Mountfield UnitedAwayLeague0 – 10
19/2/1972PeasmarshAwayLeague2 – 7Colin Hill 2
26/2/1972BeckleyHomeLeague4 – 7Ian Thomson, Sid Hawes, Fred Dallaway, Keith Holdstock (pen)
4/3/1972Travaux IIAwayLeague1 – 8Ian Thomson
11/3/1972Heathfield United IIHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round5 – 1Ian Thomson 2, Fred Dallaway 2, Sid Hawes
18/3/1972Ecko HawkinsAwayLeague1 – 5Jack Brown
1/4/1972Old BrentwoodsHomeFriendly1 – 2
8/4/1972Rye AthleticHomeLeague0 – 0
22/4/1972Bohemia UnitedHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 3John Evans
29/4/1972Kolster BrandesHomeLeague1 – 6Colin Hill

3RD TEAM

Although the third team won eight games in the league, the same as in the previous year, they scored only about half the number of goals. When the 3rd XI could field somewhere near its best side they were a very useful team. Constant changes reduced teamwork and there were odd days when they had to play young, weak and inexperienced sides. Great credit was due to Colin McPhail for keeping the team cheerful and for encouraging them to follow his own example of sportsmanship and effort. Robin Shearer with 8 led the goal scorers.

The home league match with Saints in November was played at Fairlight Recreation Ground in very foggy conditions. The game was won 5-1 but it was so foggy that keeper Richard Forrest only saw one of the goals – the one scored by Saints although there was some debate as to whether he even saw that!

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
26/8/1971Ecko Hawkins IIHomeFriendly3 – 4Robert Glazier 2, Robin Shearer
4/9/1971StamcoHomeLeague0 – 3
11/9/1971Ecko Hawkins IIHomeFriendly4 – 3Don Sanderson 2, Guy Coombes, Colin Hill
18/9/1971Kolster Brandes IIHomeLeague1 – 0Martin Shearer (pen)
2/10/1971Old Parkonians VHomeA F A Novets Cup 1st Round0 – 9
9/10/1971Rye Athletic IIHomeLeague3 – 1Robert Glazier 2, Sid Hawes
16/10/1971Rolvenden IIHomeLeague3 – 1Andy White 2, Rick Coombes
23/10/1971Ecko IIHomeLeague0 – 3
30/10/1971The Junior Club Tackleway IIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round3 – 3 *Harold Stonham, John Heasman, Fred Dallaway
6/11/1971The Junior Club Tackleway IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round Replay1 – 5
13/11/1971Ecko IIAwayLeague0 – 7
20/11/1971Travaux IIIHomeLeague0 – 5
27/11/1971SaintsHomeLeague5 – 1Andy White 2, Sid Hawes 2, Alan Barker
4/12/1971Kolster Brandes IIAwayLeague0 – 8
18/12/1971Robertsbridge Youth CentreAwayLeague3 – 1Sid Hawes 2, Peter Card
1/1/1972Peasmarsh IIAwayLeague0 – 3
8/1/1972StamcoAwayLeague4 – 3Robin Shearer 2, Peter Card 2
15/1/1972Guldeford and Camber IIHomeLeague1 – 3Peter Card
22/1/1972Sandhurst IIAwayLeague1 – 9Robin Shearer
5/2/1972SaintsAwayLeague0 – 10
12/2/1972Rye Athletic IIAwayLeague3 – 6Robin Shearer 2, Peter Card
19/2/1972Travaux IIIAwayLeague2 – 3John Fuller, Robin Shearer
26/2/1972Guldeford and Camber IIAwayLeague1 – 0Robin Shearer
4/3/1972Sandhurst IIHomeLeague2 – 2Wayne Carter 2
11/3/1972Peasmarsh IIHomeLeague2 – 2Wayne Carter 2
25/3/1972Robertsbridge Youth CentreHomeLeague1 – 6Own Goal
8/4/1972Rolvenden IIAwayLeague2 – 1Guy Coombes 2
15/4/1972Sandhurst IIHomeFriendly1 – 4Peter Card
22/4/1972The Junior Club Tackleway IIHomeFriendly1 – 5Colin McPhail

YOUTH TEAM

The chief function of the youth team was to interest boys in the Club and so to provide a steady stream of young players for the adult sides. The team of 1971-72 not only did this, but had a good playing record and set an excellent standard of sportsmanship well led by John Fellows and in his absence by Sid Hawes. These two and Richard Forrest all played for the first team before the end of the season. Rick Coombes acted as team manager and coach for the youth team on some Sundays.

YOUTH TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/9/1971Tackleway MinorsHomeFriendly (Under 17)4 – 2Wayne Carter 2, Larry Cooke, Mick Coleman
3/10/1971Rye Boys ClubAwayFriendly (Under 17)3 – 5Sid Hawes 2, Larry Cooke
17/10/1971Tackleway MinorsHomeLeague3 – 3Larry Cooke, Sid Hawes, Own Goal
31/10/1971Physical Activities Club MinorsHomeLeague1 – 8Guy Coombes
7/11/1971Guldeford MinorsHomeLeague1 – 4Larry Cooke (pen)
21/11/1971Fairlight RangersAwayLeague1 – 3Andrew Dunlop
5/12/1971Guldeford MinorsAwayLeague1 – 2Sid Hawes
12/12/1971Sydney Close UnitedHomeLeague1 – 1Andy White
2/1/1972Rye Boys ClubHomeFriendly (Under 17)3 – 2Wayne Carter 2, Own Goal
9/1/1972Fairlight RangersHomeLeague0 – 5
16/1/1972Sydney Close UnitedAwayLeague4 – 3Andy White 2, Larry Cooke, Guy Coombes
6/2/1972Guldeford MinorsHomeHastings F A Youth Club1 – 2Andrew Syrett
20/2/1972Westfield MinorsHomeHastings F A Youth Club5 – 0Guy Coombes, Larry Cooke, Sid Hawes, Wayne Carter, Mick Coleman
19/3/1972Tackleway MinorsAwayLeague3 – 1Guy Commbes, Sid Hawes, Andy White
18/4/1972Wittersham MinorsAwayHastings F A Youth Club1 – 3Andrew Syrett
30/4/1972Physical Activities Club MinorsAwayLeague3 – 3Andrew Syrett, Sid Hawes, Wayne Carter
/5/1972Tackleway MinorsHomeFriendly (Under 15)0 – 3

GENERAL MATTERS

The Club’s gratitude was again due to Colin Cooke as groundsman as well as the representative on the Icklesham Trust Committee.

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Thursday, 20th July 1972.

CLUB OFFICIALS