Club Celebrations and Reunions
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TWENTY FIVE YEAR REUNION OF THE UNDEFEATED EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM OF 1987-88
Queen’s Head, Icklesham – Friday, 10th May 2013
BOB BAKER’S INITIAL E-MAIL GIVING NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED REUNION
A reunion to mark twenty five years since the 1st team became champions of Division One of the East Sussex Football League without losing a game was held at the Queen’s Head in Icklesham on the evening of Friday, 10th May 2013. This is the only time in the Club’s history that a side has gone through a whole league campaign undefeated and was achieved with a 4-3 victory over Ticehurst at the Bell Field on Friday, 13th May 1988.
EAST SUSSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE TABLE FROM 1987-88
LEAGUE RESULTS 1987-88
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/9/1987 | Pebsham Sibex | Away | 4 – 0 | Bob Baker 2 (1 pen), Tony Forster, Martin Tytherleigh |
| 19/9/1987 | Heathfield United | Away | 9 – 0 | Paul Milton 3, Bob Baker 2, Tony Forster 2, Derek French, Martin Tytherleigh |
| 26/9/1987 | Mayfield | Home | 4 – 1 | Bob Baker 2 (1 pen), Jon Fuller, Russell Drew |
| 3/10/1987 | Ticehurst | Home | 7 – 0 | Martin Tytherleigh 4, Bob Baker, Stuart Adams, John Dudley |
| 24/10/1987 | East Guldeford and Camber | Away | 7 – 2 | Jon Fuller 3, Derek French 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Bob Baker |
| 21/11/1987 | Stamco II | Away | 0 – 0 | |
| 12/12/1987 | Pebsham Sibex | Home | 2 – 2 | Bob Baker, Own Goal |
| 20/2/1988 | Northeye | Away | 2 – 2 | Jon Fuller, Paul Milton |
| 12/3/1988 | Mayfield | Away | 4 – 0 | Jon Fuller, Paul Milton, Derek French, Martin Tytherleigh |
| 11/4/1988 | Northeye | Home | 6 – 0 | Bob Baker 2, Jon Fuller, Martin Tytherleigh, Paul Milton, Hugh Sullivan |
| 16/4/1988 | Old Hastonians | Away | 6 – 2 # | Steve Beale 2, Stuart Adams, Hugh Sullivan, Derek French, Paul Milton (pen) |
| 18/4/1988 | Stamco II | Home | 0 – 0 | |
| 23/4/1988 | Polegate | Away | 1 – 0 # | Martin Tytherleigh |
| 7/5/1988 | The Junior Club Tackleway | Home | 3 – 1 # | Martin Tytherleigh 2, Derek French |
| 13/5/1988 | Ticehurst | Away | 4 – 3 | Bob Baker 3 (1 pen), Hugh Sullivan |
The 1987-88 season was the first for the Club in the East Sussex League having transferred from the Eastbourne and Hastings Football League at the end of the previous season.
The championship-winning squad consisted of fourteen regular players and it was great to see ten of them present at the reunion. The ten were – Bob Baker, Steve Beale, Russell Drew, Richard Forrest, Tony Forster, Derek French, David Mayne, Paul Milton, Hugh Sullivan and Martin Tytherleigh.
Of the missing players, Stuart Adams would have been there if his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion had not been involved in the Championship play-off game at Crystal Palace on the same evening, no reply to an invite was received from either Mick Booker or Gavin Stace and Jon Fuller sadly passed away in 2006. Paul Milton came all the way from Cornwall to attend.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and brilliant to get everyone together again to reminisce about one of the highlights and greatest achievements in the history of the club. A souvenir brochure was produced to mark the occasion.
THE FRONT COVER OF THE REUNION BROCHURE
Derek French was presented with a medal for over a hundred appearances for the Club, Hugh Sullivan received a salver in recognition of three hundred appearances and Russell Drew a tankard for four hundred appearance. Between them the fourteen man squad had a total of 6,426 Club appearances and 1,338 goals. In keeping with the Club being up-to-date and on the ball, Derek French was also presented with his Veterans Player of the Year trophy from the 1996-97 season!
Sincere thanks were due to Bob Baker for organising such a successful reunion.
RE-CREATION OF 1987-88 PHOTOGRAPH
The above photograph was taken prior to the final match of the season against Ticehurst on Friday, 13th May 1988.
The picture below was re-creation as far as possible taken on Friday, 10th May 2013 with the addition of Tony Forster! Steve Beale arrived too late for the photo!
Photographs from the evening…..
The photograph below shows the team with the East Sussex Football League Division One trophy. The picture was taken prior to the friendly against a Chelsea/Two Sawyers XI including former England international Alan Hudson on Sunday, 19th June 1988.
