Club Celebrations and Reunions

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75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

SEASON 2011-12

In an era when new clubs form and then disappear again in the blink of an eye it is quite a feat for a club to reach a 75th anniversary. There are probably only a handful of clubs locally at grassroots level who can boast this achievement and it is something of which Icklesham Casuals can be proud. It was decided the 75th anniversary season would be one to remember and would be marked with a series of events held throughout the year. As it turned out the celebrations extended into the following season with a formal dinner held at the Lodge at Winchelsea in September 2012.

A small committee consisting of Bob Baker, John Dunk, Richard Forrest, David Mayne, George Potter and Steve Tytherleigh was set up to consider how the Club could mark the 75th Anniversary season of 2011-12. It was agreed that a series of events would take place throughout the season to celebrate the first seventy five years of the Club with the main celebration taking place on Saturday, 16th June 2012. Ideas were put forward, not all of which came to fruition, but much planning and hard work went into organising all the events held.

Three events or goals in particular were high on the agenda – a day of celebration involving football matches in the afternoon including recreating the very first game against Rye Old Grammarians and an informal get together in the evening, a more formal dinner and to use the 75th season and the publicity that came with it to raise funds for charity. The committee also wanted to mark the 3rd April which was the date in 1937 when the meeting was held at Thompson’s Tea Rooms in Rye to formally found the Club. Through no fault of the Club the only one of these aims that was not achieved was the recreation of the first match.

It was decided the charity fundraising would be themed in line with the 75th anniversary and a target was set of raising £7,500 to be divided between 10 different charities so each would receive £750. Funds were raised in many different ways throughout the year but the big effort would be focused on members of the Club playing 75 holes of golf in one day on two courses in different counties with all holes being sponsored. One other event must be mentioned which contributed in no small way to the fundraising target and this was the triathlon completed by Mike Beaumont, Val Newman and Martin Tytherleigh.

The charities chosen to benefit from the fundraising all had links to the Club or members of the Club –

• The Motor Neurone Disease Association
• The Alzheimer’s Society
• Breast Cancer Breakthrough
• St Michael’s Hospice
• Children with Tumours
• The Pett Level Rescue Boat Association
• Crohn’s and Colitis UK
• Parkinson’s UK
• The Stroke Association
• Access Sport

The celebrations kicked-off on Sunday, 11th September 2011 following the Jon Fuller Memorial Match when a photograph was taken at Icklesham Recreation Ground of current and former players covering as many decades of the Club’s history as possible. It the end we achieved every decade except the very first of the 1930s and only because Reg Carter was slightly late in arriving and the group photo had already been taken.

It was established that Thompson’s Tea Rooms in Rye was now Turtle Fine Art at 26 Landgate. The property was for sale and the owners kindly agreed the Club could display photographs and items of memorabilia in the window from the beginning of April right up to the day of celebrations in June. The window display was in place for the 3rd April to commemorate the meeting that formed the Club.

The main celebration took place on Saturday, 16th June 2012. The plan was to begin in the afternoon by as closely as possible recreating the first match against Rye Old Grammarians which took place on the 11th September 1937 with a game against Rye Old Scholars Association. Despite their best efforts Rye Old Scholars advised late on that they were unable to get a team together. A pennant had been produced as a memento of the match with one due to be given to the Rye Old Scholars. With the game not taking place perhaps the pennant will become a collectors item in a few years!

With Rye Old Scholars dropping out of the match this caused a few headaches but the Club was extremely grateful to Hastings Town Under-18s who ‘Re-United’ and stepped in at the last minute to provide the opposition.

With a number of players turning out for the Casuals who shall we say were in the veteran stage of their careers in the end it seemed quite appropriate that on the 75th anniversary an older Icklesham side played against somewhat younger opponents!

A programme was produced for the match, one copy being signed by all those current and former players present at the game.

A second friendly match followed between the ‘green and white’ and ‘red’ teams made up of current and former players.

The celebrations then turned to the evening. The original plan was to hold all the events of the day at the Recreation Ground with the evening buffet to be in the Memorial Village Hall with a marquee attached. The hall was booked and all the details started to be arranged when it was discovered there had been a double booking with the original reservation not being entered in the bookings diary. The first booking could not be changed and the Club was forced to look for an alternative venue.

Discussions had already taken place with the Lodge at Winchelsea as the venue for the formal dinner in September and it was the Lodge who came to the rescue for the 75th anniversary evening buffet with thanks to the manager Toby Darkins who was extremely helpful. The venue was therefore moved a short way along the A259 and was attended by around 100 players, former players, guests and friends with George Cooke and Steve Beale being the speakers.

The 75 holes in a day charity golf event followed shortly after on Monday, 25th June 2012. There was incredible interest in and support for this with all 75 holes sponsored. A tiring but enjoyable and rewarding day raised over £3,000.

The final major event of the 75th anniversary celebrations took place in the September of the 2012-13 season with the formal dinner at the Lodge at Winchelsea.

75TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTOGRAPH

Icklesham Recreation Ground – Sunday, 11th September 2011

Following the Jon Fuller Memorial Match on Sunday, 11th September, to kick-off the celebrations to mark the Club’s 75th season, a photograph was taken which included players from almost every decade of the Club’s history. The only decade missing was the 1930s and only because Reg Carter arrived just too late for the group photo and Jack Brown forgot!

A picture was taken of Reg Carter with other stalwarts of the club, George Potter and Chris Ades and it was great to see him there. Many players were invited, not all could make it, but the turn out was good and the players involved in the photo had appeared in a combined total of 8505 games for the club up to the end of the 2010-11 season. Reg Carter, first team captain from 1941-42 to 1947-48, played his first game on the 15th October 1938, John Archer and Dick Crisford both made their first appearances in the 1940s, John Dunk and George Potter in the 1950s and Chris Ades in 1960.

Coincidentally the date of the 11th September was the same date that the club played the very first match against Rye Old Grammarians in 1937.

The photograph was included on the front cover of the 75th anniversary souvenir brochure and in a major article in the Rye Observer on Friday, 2nd December.

BOB BAKER ON THE RADIO

There was a short interview with club chairman, Bob Baker, about the Club and the 75th Anniversary Celebrations on RXfm which did a weekly local sports show covering Rye and the local villages.

The interview was on the ‘Keep it on the Island’ show with Richard King and the link to the interview was www.webinsite.co.uk/rxfm/sport.html. It was available on the 3rd October 2011.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND CLUB MEMORABILA

Turtle Fine Arts in Rye – April to June 2012

The Club was officially founded at a meeting held at Thompson’s Tea Rooms in Rye on Saturday, 3rd April 1937. The tea rooms were upstairs with the downstairs being a bakers. Those present at the meeting were Percy Allen, Les Beeney, Frank Crisford, William Dunlop, Jack Munn, Geoff Smith and Robert Woolley.

After a few enquiries and the help of Jo Kirkham, chairman of Rye Castle Museum, it was established that Thompson’s Tea Rooms was now Turtle Fine Art at 26 Landgate. The building was up for sale and the owner, Mrs Pat Field was contacted with the kind help of the selling agents, Phillips and Stubbs in Rye. Leading up to the main celebrations in June 2012 Mrs Field kindly allowed the Club to put a display of photographs from all decades of the Club’s history along with other memorabilia in the window.

On Saturday, 31st March Bob Baker and David Mayne with help from Helen Ferris organised the window display ensuring this was in place in time to mark the anniversary of the meeting of the 3rd April 1937. In return for allowing the display it was agreed that the Club would clean the windows!

There was an article in the Rye Observer advising of the window display and it is hoped the extra interest helped to sell the property!

CHARITY TRIATHLON

Thursday, 24th May to Saturday, 26th May 2012

As part of the 75th anniversary charity fundraising the intrepid triathletes, Martin Tytherleigh and Mike Beaumont decided to set themselves a bit of a challenge based around the 75 year theme by attempting a long triathlon over two days, the route being from Hastings to Abbeville in France and back.

The challenge itinerary being –

Day 1 – 25th May

• Cycle from Hastings to Dover – 75 km
• Ferry to Calais
• Cycle from Calais to Abbeville – 110 km approximately
• Swim in a nearby piscine – 3.75 km each
• Run 37.5 km each…..
• Beer and sleep

Day 2 – 26th May

• Cycle to Dieppe and take the ferry to Newhaven and home

Although Martin and Mike welcomed anyone who wished to join them in the challenge most were sensible and decided to sponsor them instead……apart from Val Newman who somehow thought the challenge was a good idea!!!

After including an additional run on the 24th May, the three (with Bob Baker sitting comfortably in the support van along with Mel Thomas!!!) completed their mega-triathlon at Icklesham Pavilion on Saturday, 26th May. An amazing £1,100 was raised towards the 75th anniversary charity fund. Well done to the lads and everyone who sponsored and supported the challenge.

An article about the triathlon appeared in the Rye Observer on Friday, 11th May 2012.

Photographs from the triathlon…..

SPORTS AUCTION

An auction of items of sporting memorabilia took place through the Club website from mid-May to the end of June 2012 with all the proceeds going to the charity fundraising.

Included in the items was a Manchester City shirt signed by England international Gareth Barry which was kindly obtained for the club by Shane Cuddington of PCM Estate Agents and Icklesham Casuals veterans player.

Dan Marsh, who was working for Brighton and Hove Albion at the time, secured an Albion shirt signed by their first team squad and manager Gus Poyet and also arranged for Lee Dixon, the former Arsenal and England defender and then Match of the Day pundit to sign a retro Arsenal shirt.

Other items included a tour of Celtic Park for four people kindly donated by the club, a place on a Chelsea Football Club Soccer School and a family ticket for a Pro40 group match at Hove given by Sussex County Cricket Club. Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City and Wolverhampton Wanderers also generously donated auction items.

75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Saturday, 16th June 2012

The main celebration took place on Saturday, 16th June with two games of football in the afternoon followed by an evening buffet at the Lodge at Winchelsea.

The celebration was attended by around a hundred past and present players, guests and friends of the Club.

AFTERNOON FOOTBALL MATCHES

Icklesham Recreation Ground

ICKLESHAM CASUALS v HASTINGS TOWN RE-UNITED UNDER-18S

The wet weather leading up to the big day gave cause for concern over the football games. The cricket club had been most co-operative in allowing the matches to be played during their season and the Club was extremely conscious of ensuring no damage was done to the outfield. Fortunately three dry days leading up to the Saturday meant the games could go ahead.

The first match was against Hastings Town Re-United Under 18s, who kindly stepped in at short notice when Rye Old Scholars Association advised that they were unable to raise a side. The contrast in the youth of the Hastings Town team and some of the more veteran players in the Casuals squad seemed quite appropriate to mark the 75th anniversary. Those who turned out having not pulled on their boots for a number of years included Andrew Dunlop, Steve Beale, Richard Forrest and Derek French and the nineteen players on duty for the Casuals had between them made 5695 appearances.

A minutes silence was held before the game to remember former players in John Archer, Ron Barden, Les Beeney, Reg Carter, Harry Fellows, Cyril Rich and George Roberts who had sadly passed away during the 75th season.

Icklesham largely dominated the first half and goals from Phil Badrock, Chris Baker and Sean Baker put them 3-0 ahead at the interval. The second half was a different story when the superior fitness of the young Hastings Town team began to show. They pulled two goals back before Bob Baker made it 4-2. Hastings Town netted once more from the penalty spot to leave the final result a 4-3 win. The match was also refereed by a former player in John Cannan.

First half action from the game…..

Second half action…..

Other photographs…..

Among the spectators were a group of ‘football travellers’. They have visited all ninety two league grounds and then moved on to non-league football and try to watch a game somewhere every Saturday. They come from various parts of the country and heard about the match through the internet. There is a Football Traveller magazine and the commemorative programme issued for the game was be reviewed in the next issue which was published in September.

MATCH PROGRAMME

Signed by past and present players attending the game

INTER-CLUB FRIENDLY

The second game was a friendly amongst current and former players of the Club which included an appearance by Tim Jury. This was won 4-1 by the ‘green and white’ side with Steve Baker among the scorers. The Club was grateful to Keith Swallow for officiating the match.

Action from the game…..

EVENING CELEBRATION

The Lodge at Winchelsea

Following the football games the celebrations moved to the Lodge at Winchelsea. It was good to see so many old faces with a number of people coming a considerable distance to attend. Colin McPhail travelled all the way from Scotland, George Cooke, who was with brother Peter, from Middlesbrough, Brian Barden from Peterborough and Mike Hills from Suffolk. Other members of the Sussex Junior Cup winning team of season 1963-64 in attendance were Chris Ades, Jack Brown, Bill Burt and George Potter. Also present during the day who have all played a significant part in the history of the Club included Jimmy Britt, Wayne Bumstead, Dick Crisford, John Crisford, Stephen Crisford, Peter Drew, Russell Drew, John Dunk, Tony Forster, Colin Hills, Matt Hogan, Eric Hollingsworth, Nick Jury, Tim Jury, Dave Minett, Michael Osborne, Neil Perry, Roger Puttick, Robin Shearer, Hugh Sullivan and Steve Turner. Sadly both David French and Bob Southerden were unable to be there due to ill-health.

Bob Baker acted as Master of Ceremonies and introduced guest speakers and former players, George Cooke, who talked about his time as a director of Middlesbrough Football Club and the major role he played in the club moving to their current Riverside Stadium and Steve Beale, who spoke about his recollections of the Club during his 491 appearances including the amazing contribution made by Will Dunlop. George Cooke very kindly presented the club with a Middlesbrough shirt with ‘Casuals’ printed on the back.

Colin McPhail had advised that he would like to donate a trophy on the evening and the Club could decide how this would be used. This was a very kind gesture and one which is greatly appreciated. It had been decided that the trophy would be given to an individual who had made a major contribution to the club and Colin presented the trophy to the much deserved first recipient, Stuart Baker. Stuart has raised over £1500 for the club from the quizzes in the Memorial Hall, as well as raising similar amounts for all the other village organisations, he has given the Club tremendous support during the 75th anniversary season and has played a major role in pushing for a new pavilion on the Recreation Ground. Stuart has backed the Club in many other ways including being present at 4 am for the 75 hole charity golf event on June 25th.

The evening was a relaxed affair and a great success.

Photographs from the evening…..

75 HOLES-IN-A-DAY GOLF CHALLENGE

The 75 holes-in-a-day charity golf challenge took place on Monday, 25th June at Sedlescombe Golf Club in East Sussex and the Weald of Kent Golf Course at Headcorn, Kent with the first ball being struck at around 4 am!

Those taking part were Bob Baker, Chris Baker, Steve Beale, Mike Beaumont, Ollie Beaumont, Wayne Bumstead, Richard Forrest, Tony Forster, Matthew Hogan, David Mayne, George Potter and Keith Swallow with Stuart Baker also completing all 75 holes as caddy for George Potter.

It was a long and tiring day but also extremely enjoyable, worthwhile and rewarding. A day that will live long in the memory. With all holes sponsored, the event raised over £3,000 towards the charity fund raising target.

Photographs from the golf challenge…..