Club Celebrations and Reunions
40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Icklesham Recreation Ground
Saturday, 30th April 1977
During the 1976-77 season, a small committee started work on arranging the club’s 40th Birthday Party. The committee consisted of – George Roberts (chairman and secretary), Larry Cooke (treasurer), David French, Arthur Baker, Jack Brown, John Crisford, Richard Forrest and Eric Hollingsworth. The first meeting was held on Thursday 3rd March 1977 with regular meetings being held thereafter.
The date was set and various venues were discussed including Frenchmans Beach and Rye School before agreement was reached that the event should be held at Icklesham Recreation Ground with the Memorial Hall being used as well as a marquee, which was hired at a cost of £27.50 from the Royal British Legion, Pett, Fairlight, Guestling and Icklesham Branch. A buffet costing £1.25 per head and disco at £25 were booked with a raffle also being run. Ticket prices were set at £1.80 per person.
Invitation Letters for the 40th Anniversary Party
The committee made a first class job of organising the celebrations which was enjoyed by about two hundred and forty members, past members and guests, including Peter Shearer who travelled all the way from Belgium to attend. They deservedly received congratulations for their efforts.
The day of celebration began at the Recreation Ground in style in the afternoon when the 1st team recorded a 7-1 victory over Spartan in a league match with goals from George Potter, Wayne Carter, Bob Baker, Colin Shearer, Derek Smith, Bill Kelly and an own goal.
This was followed at 6.30 pm by an inter-club game between the ‘Over-40s’, organised and led by John Dunk (and with frequent team changes!) and the ‘Under-14s’, champions of the Rother Valley Youth League and resulted in a 9-2 win for the ‘oldies’.
The party then continued in the Memorial Hall where everyone could catch up with friends and ex-team mates, many of whom they hadn’t seen for a number of years. A bar was held in the marquee and a buffet supper was served. The disco ran from 8 to 9 pm and 10 pm to midnight. Between 9 and 10 pm, a history of the club through the first forty years was given by five members.
Presentations were made to William Dunlop, Andrew Dunlop, Charlie Baker and club auditor, Arthur Penny. In the hall were a display of photographs, team sheets and press cuttings. At the end of the evening buses were provided, which left at 11.45 pm to take people to Hastings and returned to Icklesham at about 12.15 pm to pick up those wishing to go to Rye.
