Season 1950-51

14TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The fourteenth season was on the whole one of the most successful to date from the point of view of total activity and playing results. The first, second and minor teams all played competitive football and in addition six third team friendlies were arranged. On two occasions during the season, four teams were fielded.

1ST TEAM

The first team showed a great improvement in Division One of the Hastings League finishing in fourth place, which equalled the best previous position. The main reasons for this were that there were few changes in the composition of the side and the attack was far more threatening which can be seen by the total number of goals scored of one hundred and eleven which beat the previous record by one goal. Phil Barling (34 goals), Bill Winborn (20), Frank Baker (12), Cyril Rich (11), Arthur Baker and Gordon Hickman (9 each) were the leading scorers.

The season ended with five league games in eleven days, which threw an unreasonable strain on the Club and resulted in unrepresentative sides being fielded. However, all fixtures were carried through and several of the reserves did very well in these games. In the final match against the unbeaten League Champions, Rye United II, with four 2nd team players and two others injured during the game, the team drew 2-2 and were leading until about a minute from the end.

In cup ties, the side were knocked out at the first attempt in the Robertsbridge Charity Cup and Rye Charity Cup, in the latter losing 1-0 to the eventual winners, Wittersham. In the Hastings Junior Cup, the semi-final was again reached with victories over Old Centmodians, Bexhill Town Athletic III and Beckley, before losing 4-2 to Rye United II, who went on to win the competition, in a game that was generally considered to be more exciting than the actual final.

Alf Holdstock captained the Hastings League team that played the Lewes League at Battle on Boxing Day. Phil Barling was also selected for this game, but was not able to accept. The first XI maintained their reputation for clean football under Alf Holdstock, while Peter Shearer’s leadership was of great value in several of the end of season evening games.

Dick Crisford (31), David Cooke (30), Frank Baker and Phil Barling (29), Micky Wood (28), Gordon Hickman and Alf Holdstock (26), Tony Gibson and Peter Shearer (25), Arthur Baker (20) and Bill Winborn (17) all appeared in more than half the games.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/9/1950Battle Rangers IIHomeFriendly6 – 4Cyril Rich 4, Frank Baker 2
16/9/1950Rye United IIIAwayFriendly9 – 5Cyril Rich 3, Alf Holdstock 2, Frank Betts, Bill Winborn, Jack Brown, Own Goal
23/9/1950Robertsbridge UnitedHomeRobertsbridge Charity Cup Preliminary Round1 – 5Cyril Jeffery (pen)
30/9/1950NorthiamAwayLeague2 – 7Phil Barling, Frank Baker
7/10/1950Civil Service IIHomeLeague4 – 4Phil Barling 2, Alf Holdstock, Arthur Baker
14/10/1950Sidley United IIHomeLeague5 – 0Bill Winborn 3, Arthur Baker, Frank Baker
21/10/1950Ore UnitedAwayLeague1 – 4Bill Winborn
28/10/1950Old CentmodiansHomeLeague1 – 1Bill Winborn
4/11/1950Old CentmodiansHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round6 – 1Phil Barling 3, Arthur Baker 2, Gordon Hickman
11/11/1950Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague6 – 1Arthur Baker 3, Phil Barling, Bill Winborn, Gordon Hickman
25/11/1950WestfieldHomeLeague6 – 4Phil Barling 3, Bill Winborn 2, Arthur Baker
2/12/1950NorthiamHomeLeague4 – 5Bill Winborn 2, Phil Barling, Gordon Hickman
9/12/1950Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round4 – 1David Cooke, Arthur Baker, Phil Barling, Gordon Hickman
30/12/1950Old CentmodiansAwayLeague3 – 3Bill Winborn 3
6/1/1951Hollington United IIHomeLeague6 – 3Phil Barling 3, Cyril Rich 2, Frank Baker
13/1/1951Rock-a-Nore IIHomeLeague3 – 1Phil Barling 2, Frank Baker
27/1/1951Civil Service IIAwayLeague3 – 6Phil Barling, Gordon Hickman, Alf Holdstock (pen)
3/2/1951BeckleyAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round4 – 2Phil Barling 3, Bill Winborn
10/2/1951Sidley United IIAwayLeague2 – 1Bill Winborn 2
3/3/1951Hastings and St Leonards IIHomeLeague5 – 1Bill Winborn 3, Phil Barling, Frank Baker
10/3/1951Ore UnitedHomeLeague1 – 1Phil Barling
24/3/1951Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague1 – 5Gordon Hickman
26/3/1951WittershamHomeRye Charity Cup 2nd Round0 – 1
31/3/1951WestfieldAwayLeague4 – 1Phil Barling 3, Alf Holdstock
14/4/1951Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague4 – 3Phil Barling 3, Gordon Hickman
16/4/1951Rye United IIAwayHastings F A Junior Cup Semi-Final2 – 4Alf Holdstock, Frank Baker
21/4/1951Hastings and St Leonards IIAwayLeague6 – 1Phil Barling 2, Gordon Hickman 2, Tony Gibson, Frank Baker
25/4/1951DallingtonHomeFriendly4 – 1Frank Baker 2, Phil Barling, David Cooke
2/5/1951Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague4 – 2Cyril Rich, Phil Barling, Frank Baker, Own Goal
4/5/1951Rock-a-Nore IIAwayLeague1 – 1Phil Barling
8/5/1951Rye United IIHomeLeague1 – 5Cyril Rich
9/5/1951Hollington United IIAwayLeague0 – 2
12/5/1951Rye United IIAwayLeague2 – 2John Farrow, Own Goal

2ND TEAM

The second team also finished in fourth place in Division Three (East), which again was a satisfactory performance and included a double over the Champions, Iden. The defence was probably the soundest in the Division taking one week with another, but the forwards missed many goals, which spoilt the effect of good play in midfield.

Albert Cane proved a hard-working captain and the team as a whole usually played sporting football, though one or two members of the side were rather easily provoked into argument on isolated occasions. Denis Swaine played in all twenty-six matches while Cyril Rich finished as top scorer with 23 goals followed by Denis Swaine (13) and Len Potten (11). The club could not have completed its Division One programme without a useful reserve side and its value was shown up clearly at the end of the season.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
9/9/1950Robertsbridge United IIHomeFriendly1 – 6Jack Brown
7/10/1950IdenAwayFriendly3 – 7Bob Rich 2, Jack Brown
21/10/1950Northiam IIHomeLeague2 – 2Derek Edhouse, Cyril Rich
7/10/1950IdenAwayLeague4 – 1Cyril Rich 2, Don Boreham, Gordon Hickman
14/10/1950Observer AthleticAwayLeague1 – 4Jack Brown
21/10/1950Ore United IIHomeFriendly6 – 0Cyril Rich 3, Jack Brown 2, John Archer
28/10/1950UdimoreAwayLeague1 – 4Albert Cane
4/11/1950Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayFriendly1 – 6Denis Swaine
11/11/1950Rye United IIIAwayFriendly5 – 6Denis Swaine 2, Cyril Jeffery, Cyril Rich, Len Potten
18/11/1950Round Table Boys ClubHomeFriendly3 – 6Len Potten 2, Frank Baker
25/11/1950Hastings Electricity IIAwayLeague5 – 2Denis Swaine 3, Cyril Rich, John Archer
2/12/1950Northiam IIAwayLeague0 – 9
9/12/1950Battle Rangers IIIHomeFriendly2 – 3Len Potten, Cyril Rich
13/1/1951Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague2 – 4Cyril Rich, John Archer
20/1/1951Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague2 – 0Len Potten, Own Goal
27/1/1951IdenHomeLeague3 – 2Len Potten 2, Denis Swaine
3/2/1951Observer AthleticHomeLeague1 – 3Cyril Rich
10/2/1951Old Hastonians IIIHome<League2 – 2Bob Rich, Denis Swaine
17/2/1951Westfield IIAwayFriendly3 – 3L Hayes, Cyril Rich, Denis Swaine
3/3/1951Beckley IIAwayLeague9 – 1Cyril Rich 4, Don Boreham, Bob Rich, John Farrow, Denis Swaine, Cyril Jeffery (pen)
10/3/1951Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague1 – 3Cyril Jeffery (pen)
17/3/1951Old Hastonians IIIHome<League5 – 3Cyril Rich 4, John Archer
24/3/1951UdimoreHomeLeague3 – 4Len Potten, Cyril Rich, Denis Swaine
7/4/1951Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague7 – 0Len Potten 3, Cyril Rich 2, Frank Baker, Denis Swaine
18/4/1951Beckley IIHomeLeague3 – 0John Farrow 2, Denis Swaine
26/4/1951Hastings Electricity IIHomeLeague4 – 3Peter Wood 2, Derek Edhouse, Own Goal

3RD TEAM

The 3rd team played six friendly matches, all before Christmas, winning one and losing five. The victory came against Rye Modern School II by 8-2 with Gilbert Jeffery scoring five of the goals.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
30/9/1950Udimore IIHomeFriendly1 – 3Bernard Jeffery
7/10/1950Rye Modern School IIAwayFriendly8 – 2Gilbert Jeffery 5, T Oliver, Peter Wood (pen), Bedwell
21/10/1950Rye Minors ‘A’AwayFriendly0 – 9
28/10/1950Catsfield IIHomeFriendly5 – 6R Collins 2, Malcolm Potten 2, Robert Leeves
25/11/1950Udimore IIAwayFriendly3 – 8Malcolm Potten 2, Robert Leeves
2/12/1950Robertson Street Young People’s SocietyHomeFriendly2 – 6William Chamberlain, Robert Leeves

MINOR TEAM

In their second season in the Minor League since the War, the minor team also showed a marked improvement on the previous year. The side suffered only one double-figure defeat and won or drew nearly half of the league games. The failure of players to turn up was again a serious handicap to the boys and nearly finished the team on more than one occasion. The determined and resolute leadership of John Farrow prevented this and he was well backed up by a few regular players. Ron Barden, Tom Byrne, Trevor Vince, Michael Wise, Peter Wood, W Easter and K Wall were all reliable and George Noakes and Fred Swaine were usually dependable. The team as a whole made considerable progress and included several boys who would hopefully be of great benefit to the Club in the future. Several younger boys who played only a few games would have more regular opportunities in 1951-52. The Club’s great need was for a minor team coach and there was good hope that one may be obtained. The Hastings Minor League age limit was likely to be reduced to 17 which would be a complicating factor for the next season.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
30/9/1950Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsAwayLeague0 – 13
14/10/1950West St Leonards Boys ClubHomeLeague3 – 3Peter Wood, George Noakes, Bob Lapraik
21/10/1950Northiam MinorsAwayLeague1 – 2John Gaunt
28/10/1950Old Centmodians MinorsAwayLeague1 – 8Trevor Vince
4/11/1950Army Cadet ForceHomeLeague2 – 2Peter Wood, John Farrow
11/11/1950Christ Church Boys ClubHomeLeague3 – 3John Farrow 2, Malcolm Potten
18/11/1950West St Leonards Boys ClubAwayLeague3 – 2John Farrow, Ron Barden, W Easter
25/11/1950West Hill Youth ClubHomeLeague4 – 1John Farrow, Peter Wood, Trevor Bowles, W Easter
9/12/1950Army Cadet ForceAwayLeague4 – 1Peter Wood 2, Ron Barden, Malcolm Potten
23/12/1950Hastings Youth CentreAwayLeague0 – 5
30/12/1950Christ Church Boys ClubAwayHastings F A Youth Cup 1st Round0 – 7
20/1/1951Northiam MinorsHomeLeague0 – 3
24/2/1951Hastings Youth CentreHomeLeague1 – 4John Farrow
10/3/1951West Hill Youth ClubAwayLeague10 – 0John Farrow 3, W Easter 3, George Noakes 2, Peter Wood, H Harris
24/3/1951Bexhill Town Athletic MinorsHomeLeague1 – 9H Harris
10/4/1951Round Table Boys ClubAwayLeague0 – 7
17/4/1951Rye United MinorsHomeLeague1 – 4Bob Lapraik
21/4/1951Round Table Boys ClubHomeLeague0 – 6
24/4/1951Christ Church Boys ClubAwayLeague1 – 8W Easter (pen)
5/5/1951Old Centmodians MinorsHomeLeague2 – 0John Farrow, Peter Wood
8/5/1951Rye United MinorsAwayLeague0 – 4

GENERAL MATTERS

Four Club members attended a coaching course at Rye and appeared to derive benefit from it. Thanks were due to Mr Pugh who organised this and to others who helped.

As in season 1949-50, games were spoilt by the defective drainage at the Recreation Ground and it had been decided in principle to mole-drain the ground in the autumn. Pitch marking was reasonably well divided out, however, Denis Swaine did more than his share and earned special praise. The cricket pavilion was once more used for changing and thanks were due to Lovell Turner for painting the goalposts. With the co-operation of Mr Freeman, Harry Edwards and Bob Collins Jnr the club was allowed to use the Wall Field at Winchelsea for a number of games.

Dances at the Beach Club and the Oast House, together with a whist drive at Pett Village Hall all did good work in raising money for Club funds and grateful thanks went to all those who helped with these events.

The behaviour of a small minority of spectators continued to be a source of embarrassment to Club officials, playing members and the majority of our supporters. It was worrying that if their unsporting and offensive remarks persisted, this would do the Club’s reputation much harm.

The fourteenth Annual General Meeting of the Club was held at the Queen’s Head, Icklesham on Monday, 30th July 1951 at 7.45 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS