Season 2000-01

64TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The winner in the 2000-01 season was without doubt the weather, although in a year when everything appeared to conspire against them there were also other factors which contributed to the final and inevitable decision of the East Sussex League to abandon the season with the exception of the Premier Division who were the only division in a position to complete their fixtures.

The problems began in September with the fuel protests throughout the country over the cost of petrol and diesel where blockades of oil facilities caused widespread disruption to the supply. This meant many teams were unable to travel and led to the loss of nearly the whole of one week’s fixtures. Then the rain came – and it certainly did rain – which resulted in the second wettest October (after 1903) on record for England and Wales. The rain continued throughout the winter with a remarkable eight successive wet months and with pitches so waterlogged it was only possible to get games in on the odd Saturday. Even April 2001 proved to be among the wettest since 1935. Then on top of this, February 2001 saw the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK and the closure of some football grounds.

In January 2001, the East Sussex League made the decision to cancel all cup competitions. This was also the case with the Hastings and District Football Association Competitions, the Robertsbridge Charity Cups and Sussex County Football Association Competitions. By taking this step at this time it would have been possible to complete the League programme but the weather continued to be against them. Despite the tireless efforts of the Officers and Management Committee of the League, particularly Alan Apps as Fixtures Secretary and Paul Hammond as Referees’ Secretary, in trying to arrange evening fixtures, playing matches for six points or switching games to available fit pitches, in April it was agreed that the League would be abandoned.

The problems can be highlighted by the fact that by the end of September the third team had played five league matches – they played only another five in the next seven months! At the time the decision was taken in mid-April 2001, between them the three teams still had thirty one league games to play.

Particular gratitude was due to all those involved in running the club, especially the team managers in what was a very difficult and trying season with sides having to be arranged time and time again only for the matches to be called off. In view of the season not being completed, no Player of the Year awards were made.

1ST TEAM

When it was possible to get onto the field, the 1st team started badly with a 4-0 defeat away to Little Common but recovered with six successive victories in league and cup. The side reached the third round of the A F A Intermediate Cup with wins over Old Wokingians II (3-2 after extra time) in the preliminary round and Old Isleworthians II (4-2) in the second round. The first round tie should have been at home to Silhill II from Birmingham at the end of October but, despite confirming the fixture, they then decided that they didn’t want to travel all the way to Icklesham for a game of football. This was perhaps understandable and whilst they did inform the A F A that they were not coming, it would have been nice if someone had actually told the club. Having arrived at the Recreation Ground, marked the pitch out, got changed and put up the nets it was a little annoying when no opposition turned up.

In the fifteen games that were played during the season, Adam Bourne was again top scorer with 13 goals.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
8/2000Robin HoodHomeFriendly1 – 5
29/8/2000TravauxHomeFriendly4 – 3Mike Beaumont, Bob Baker, Paul Milton, Own Goal
2/9/2000Little CommonAwayLeague0 – 4
9/9/2000Heathfield HotspursHomeLeague2 – 1Adam Bourne, Jim Taberman
16/9/2000Punnetts TownAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round4 – 1Adam Bourne 3, Jim Taberman
23/9/2000Ninfield UnitedHomeLeague4 – 1Adam Bourne 2, Pete Gumbrell, Own Goal
7/10/2000Old Wokingians IIHomeA F A Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round3 – 2 *Adam Bourne 2, Pete Gumbrell
11/11/2000Old Isleworthians IIHomeA F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round4 – 2Adam Bourne 2 (1 pen), John Ensell, Pete Gumbrell
18/11/2000Cranbrook TownHomeLeague5 – 0Dave Southall 2, Steve Baker, Adam Bourne, Mike Beaumont
9/12/2000Old ManoriansAwayA F A Intermediate Cup 3rd Round0 – 6
13/1/2001TicehurstHomeLeague0 – 7
20/1/2000Hampden Park AthleticAwayLeague2 – 0Mark Taylor, Jim Taberman
17/2/2001Willingdon Athletic IIAwayLeague3 – 3Adam Bourne 2, Mike Beaumont
24/2/2001Little CommonHomeLeague0 – 2
10/3/2001Ninfield UnitedAwayLeague1 – 4

Division One at the time the League was abandoned

2ND TEAM

It was pleasing to see the second team once more entering the A F A Junior Cup after a gap of seven years despite going out in the preliminary round to Old Josephians II. The side also took over from the first XI in taking part in the Sussex Junior Cup.

The league results were mixed, with three wins, three draws and three defeats. Points were awarded in one match where opponents Ryecroft could not raise a side. Troy Whyborne with 8 goals was leading scorer.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/9/2000Robertsbridge United IIAwayLeague5 – 1Tom Herrieven 4, Steve Fuller
9/9/2000RyecroftAwayLeague2 – 2Sacha Patterson, Steve Fuller
23/9/2000East Hoathly IIAwayLeague3 – 3Steve Fuller 2, Jamie Deroe
30/9/2000Iden IIHomeLeague2 – 6Tom Herriven 2
7/10/2000Horsham OlympicAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 3Martin Tytherleigh
14/10/2000Old Josephians IIHomeA F A Junior Cup Preliminary Round1 – 2Martin Tytherleigh
28/10/2000Ticehurst IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round4 – 2Ian Carter, Jamie Deroe, Danny Juniper, Mark Taylor
11/11/2000Willingdon Athletic IIIAwaySussex Memorials Challenge Cup 2nd Round1 – 4Troy Whyborne
23/12/2000Peche Hill Select IIHomeLeague7 – 1Bob Baker 3, Troy Whyborne 2, Gary Osborn, Wayne Bumstead
17/2/2001Old HastoniansHomeLeague2 – 4Jamie Walker, Troy Whyborne
24/2/2001HerstmonceuxAwayLeague4 – 1Troy Whyborne 3, Paul Milton
3/3/2001Ticehurst IIHomeLeague1 – 3Troy Whyborne
10/3/2001Robertsbridge United IIHomeLeague1 – 1Luther Sullivan

Division Five at the time the League was abandoned

3RD TEAM

The third team recorded one win and a draw in their ten league games but introduced several more promising young players to the club. The side ended with a good 2-2 draw against Magham Down II in the final match completed and the victory came against Bohemia United in September.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/9/2000Hawkhurst United IIAwayLeague0 – 5
9/9/2000Magham Down IIAwayLeague1 – 2Chris Whitfield
16/9/2000Punnetts Town IIHomeLeague1 – 9Jamie Deroe
23/9/2000Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague3 – 1James Metcalf 2, Simon Betson
30/9/2000CatsfieldAwayLeague0 – 1
21/10/2000Wadhurst United IIIHomeLeague0 – 9
13/1/2001Punnetts Town IIAwayLeague2 – 6Martin Ray, Graham Payton
17/2/2001Heathfield Hotspurs IIHomeLeague0 – 3
24/2/2001Hillcrest IIHomeLeague1 – 4Martin Ray
3/3/2001Magham Down IIHomeLeague2 – 2Keith Swallow, Martin Ray

Division Seven at the time the League was abandoned

VETERANS

With the competition being played at the start of the season, it was possible to complete the Hastings F A Veterans Cup. The Veterans started with a convincing 5-0 victory over Ninfield United Veterans but for a variety of reasons it was not possible to field the same side the following week against Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club Veterans and the team went down to a 3-2 defeat with Dave Harding netting at both ends. This meant the Veterans needed to beat Hollington United Veterans in the final group game to reach the final but suffered a 1-0 defeat to a goal scored two minutes from time with the side pushing up looking for the vital winner themselves. The result may well have been different had it been possible to see the goalposts, opposition, team-mates or even the referee above the height of the grass!

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
6/9/2000Ninfield United VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup5 – 0Martin Tytherleigh 2, Paul Milton, Andy Vickers, Steve Tytherleigh
13/9/2000Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Cup2 – 3Dave Harding, Pete Gumbrell
20/9/2000Hollington United VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Cup0 – 1

SEASON AWARDS

THE ICKLESHAM CASUALS FANZINE

Issue number eight of the club fanzine ‘About Time Too Fuller! was issued in November 2000 and was a ‘Special Millenium Souvenir Edition’!

Issue Number Eight – front cover…..

GENERAL MATTERS

On a sad note, it was learned that former player Jon Fuller had been diagnosed as suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. One thing Jon wanted to do was meet up with his former team-mates from Icklesham Casuals and those from his Sunday side, Viking and an enjoyable evening was arranged in Eastbourne with a curry and the inevitable few beers. Following on from this, as a tribute to Jon, Bob Baker, David Mayne and Keith Swallow ran the Hastings Half Marathon in March and raised the sum of £650 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Once all the money had been collected, a cheque was presented to representatives of the MDNA at the Queen’s Head in Icklesham on the 22nd June.

The Christmas Raffle was held at the Queen’s Head in Icklesham on Friday, 8th December with a first prize of a portable CD/radio/cassette player and a quiz night was run by Stuart Baker in the Memorial Hall to raise much-needed funds for the club.

A race night was organised in the Memorial Hall on 21st April to raise funds for the Icklesham Trust Committee and was enjoyed by all those who attended with a happy and friendly atmosphere. Steve Beale came in for particular praise, doing a wonderful job as compere for the evening.

The Icklesham Casuals F C Male Bonding Club had by now been renamed the Icklesham Casuals Fell Walking and Mountaineering Association and in July 2000 twenty or so intrepid members met at Grasmere in the Lake District in order to join with Martin Tytherleigh in celebration of his fortieth birthday. After a night’s sleep – spent either in tents on a camp-site or in a warm and comfortable Bed and Breakfast – spirits were high and looking forward to climbing Helvellyn. The camp-site boys and B & B residents had arranged to meet up, however, under Bob Baker’s direction the B & B party discovered that they were some way off course and had to back track for almost a mile before even leaving the main road.

The two groups did eventually join up and proceeded to climb the Helvellyn Horsehoe together. At the summit champagne was produced to toast Martin’s birthday. Shortly after, Martin informed the party that they were now to walk Striding Edge and Swirrel Edge, a further three miles, before descending. At this point, the less hardy souls declined Martin’s offer and decided to descend there and then, making good time and reaching the road at Thirlmere where a decision was made to catch a bus back to Grasmere, failing that hitch hike, failing that steal a bike or failing that find alternative accommodation – anything to avoid walking any further. As luck would have it, a bus appeared as if from nowhere and everyone boarded and made a leisurely way back to Grasmere and a welcoming pub. The more hardy folk made it back a couple of hours later.

CLUB OFFICIALS