Cup Wins
1ST TEAM
EASTBOURNE AND HASTINGS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CUP WINNERS 1986-87
It was fitting in the fiftieth season that the club won a trophy, when the first team lifted the Eastbourne and Hastings League Division One Cup after a hard-fought final on a Monday evening against Eastbourne Rangers II at the Polegrove, the home of County League Bexhill Town.
The road to the final…..
1ST ROUND
The path to the final began in November with a narrow 3-2 home victory over Magham Down in the first round in a clean, fast and skilful game with Hugh Sullivan, Russell Drew and Bob Baker the scorers and with an opposing shot going just past the post in the last minute or two of the match with Richard Forrest lying powerless on the ground.
2ND ROUND
The second round in mid December saw a comfortable win by 4-0 against Hampden Park Athletic II at home where Paul Milton and Bob Baker, with two each, shared the goals.
SEMI-FINAL
In the semi-final Icklesham again received a home draw with the match played at the Recreation Ground on 7th March against Seeboard and whilst clearly the better side, the 2-0 victory was not secured until the second goal went in late in the game. The goal scorers were Tony Forster and Hugh Sullivan.
FINAL
In the final, Eastbourne Rangers II, who the first XI had drawn against in both league meetings during the season, strengthened their side by including several first team players from the Third Division of the County League. Also in the Eastbourne Rangers side was Derek French, who joined the Casuals the following season and went on to make 142 appearances for the first team and veterans.
The match was played throughout with a strong wind coming down the ground resulting in much of the play being in one half of the pitch. Icklesham played with the wind in the first forty-five minutes and went in at the interval with a narrow one-nil lead thanks to Hugh Sullivan’s shot being deflected into his own net by Eastbourne Rangers defender Terry Fox.
The second half saw Eastbourne Rangers apply almost constant pressure but on more than one occasion on the break the game could have been made more secure but the chances were missed.
The final whistle was greeted with both joy and relief, a 1-0 victory achieved and the trophy won. It was a tremendous team effort but Jon Fuller was outstanding at centre-half with Richard Forrest in goal pulling off several fine saves.
Bob Baker was presented with the Division One Cup as captain of the team with each player receiving an individual memento.
Action from the final…..
