Season 1956-57

20TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

This year, the Club completed twenty seasons and celebrated the fact with a successful season in most respects. The 1st XI ended as runners-up in the Hastings League, the 2nd XI, after a very long bad patch in mid-season, finished relatively well while the young 3rd XI, usually with eight, nine or ten minors, held its own in Division Four and ended in really fine style. There was generally speaking a good spirit in the Club, a large number of promising youngsters were included in the teams and, in fact, finance was the only black spot of any account.

1ST TEAM

The first team, with a young side, at last fulfilled the recent years of rebuilding. The side was well-balanced, lacking the status of Westfield, the champions, but with no real weaknesses, and were well led by David French, who set an excellent example of determination combined with sportsmanship and was a captain in the wholehearted tradition of his predecessors, Les Beeney, Peter Moon, Reg Carter and Alf Holdstock.

In the Sussex Junior Cup, victories were gained against two teams from the Tunbridge Wells League, Frant and Wadhurst, both after extra time, before going down to Hamsey of the Lewes League. The tightening up of the rules of the competition would improve the chances of Hastings League clubs. In the Robertsbridge Charity Cup, the side lost rather unluckily at Sedlescombe and in the Hastings Junior Cup, a good win at Peasmarsh was followed by defeat to the eventual winners, Sandhurst, in a somewhat aggravating game.

In a small league of only nine teams, two new Club records were set – the lowest number of points dropped in a season (eight) and undefeated at home all season in league games. The team was not so free from injuries as Westfield, but basically the side was picked from about twelve players – Dick Crisford, Fred Swaine, Tony Gibson, David French, Colin Willard, Trevor Vince, George Noakes, John Parsons, Arthur Baker, David Cooke, John Clarke and Frank Baker, though Denis Care and John Dunk made several appearances. David French and George Noakes played in both representative games against the Hailsham League. With 23 goals, mostly from the left wing, Frank Baker was leading scorer in all games. Arthur Baker was close behind with 20 goals. David French played in all twenty-five matches and George Noakes missed just one game. Unpunctuality cost the team one or two goals as well as a good deal of anxiety and ill-temper.

An enjoyable friendly was played on Easter Monday at home against Old Colfeians from London and the Club was invited to a return game the following season.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
8/9/1956Battle Rangers IIAwayFriendly4 – 2George Noakes 3, John Clarke
15/9/1956WestfieldAwayFriendly5 – 3Denis Care 2, John Dunk, John Clarke, Jim Catt
22/9/1956Sedlescombe UnitedAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup Preliminary Round0 – 1
29/9/1956FrantHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round5 – 3 *Frank Baker 2, David Cooke, George Noakes, Denis Care
6/10/1956Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague2 – 5Arthur Baker 2
13/10/1956WadhurstAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round5 – 4 *Frank Baker 2, Trevor Vince, John Clarke, Arthur Baker
20/10/1956Hollington United IIHomeLeague4 – 1Arthur Baker 3, Frank Baker
3/11/1956Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague2 – 1George Noakes, Frank Baker
10/12/1956HamseyAwaySussex Junior Cup 3rd Round1 – 2Arthur Baker
17/11/1956Observer AthleticAwayLeague2 – 1Arthur Baker 2
24/11/1956Hollington United IIAwayLeague6 – 2Arthur Watkins 3, Arthur Baker 2, Frank Baker
1/12/1956PeasmarshAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round6 – 3Arthur Baker 2, Frank Baker 2, George Noakes, Denis Care (pen)
15/12/1956WestfieldHomeLeague1 – 1Frank Baker
29/12/1956Battle Rangers IIHomeLeague4 – 2Arthur Baker 2, Frank Baker 2
5/1/1957WestfieldAwayLeague3 – 3Arthur Baker 3
19/12/1957Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague3 – 2Frank Baker 3
26/1/1957SandhurstHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round0 – 2
9/2/1957Punnetts TownHomeLeague4 – 2Frank Baker 2, George Noakes, Arthur Baker
16/2/1957SandhurstAwayLeague0 – 1
2/3/1957Observer AthleticHomeLeague4 – 2David French, David Cooke, Frank Baker, Own Goal
9/3/1957SandhurstHomeLeague3 – 1John Parsons 2, Frank Baker
23/3/1957Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague4 – 2John Parsons 2, Arthur Baker, Frank Baker
30/3/1957Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague7 – 0John Parsons 3, John Dunk 2, Frank Baker 2
20/4/1957Punnetts TownAwayLeague3 – 6George Noakes, John Parsons, Frank Baker
22/4/1957Old ColfeiansHomeFriendly1 – 3John Parsons

2ND TEAM

The second team recovered after a long series of disappointments and finished with three wins in a row, while two good performances against the unbeaten champions, Peasmarsh (0-2 and 3-4) were also heartening. Of the twelve league defeats, six were by the odd goal and the side also suffered very badly from injuries. Denis Isaac, who had shown great promise at the back in the first few games, was out for the rest of the season with pleurisy, Jim Catt, who had added skill to the forward line, pulled a muscle in October and never came back, Cyril Rich, the regular centre-forward, was injured in November and did not play again, Bernie Beeching, who had settled down at left back, had only just returned from a troublesome injury when he broke his ankle in a motorcycle accident, while Bernard Jeffery moved to a new job at Shepperton during the season. In addition, Ernie Capon, goalkeeper for several seasons, moved to Watford and Stan Kelly, who replaced him, was far too good for Hastings League football and was soon playing for Sidley in the Sussex County League.

In these difficult circumstances, credit was due to the regular players for making the best of things, with once again, Eric Hollingsworth, as captain and Andy Dunlop, as team manager, giving a lead. Younger players in Michael Hobbs and Harold Stonham showed promise but the side too often was carrying too many ‘over 30s’. Rebuilding would be necessary the following season, when competition would hopefully not be quite as strong as the four top teams in the Division had been promoted. John Dunk was easily leading goalscorer with 18 goals.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
15/9/1956Guldeford Old BoysHomeFriendly2 – 4Cyril Rich, Laurie Butler
22/9/1956TicehurstHomeLeague1 – 4Jim Catt
29/9/1956Hastings TownAwayLeague2 – 3Cyril Rich 2
6/10/1956NorthiamHomeLeague1 – 2John Dunk
13/10/1956Punnetts Town IIAwayLeague3 – 2Cyril Rich, Bernard Jeffery, Bob Rich
20/10/1956NorthiamAwayLeague1 – 2Laurie Butler
27/10/1956MountfieldAwayLeague3 – 1Laurie Butler 2, Bob Rich
3/11/1956Battle Rangers IIIHomeLeague1 – 2Laurie Butler
17/11/1956Silverton RangersHomeLeague1 – 6Bernard Jeffery
24/11/1956Hastings TownHomeLeague1 – 2Eric Hollingsworth
1/12/1956L P S (Ponswood)HomeFriendly3 – 5Michael Hobbs 2, M Cutting
8/12/1956Silverton RangersAwayLeague2 – 6Colin Willard 2
29/12/1956Battle Rangers IIIAwayLeague2 – 4John Dunk 2
12/1/1957Flimwell British LegionHomeHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round3 – 3John Dunk 3
19/1/1957Flimwell British LegionAwayHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round Replay1 – 4John Dunk
26/1/1957CrowhurstAwayLeague4 – 2Michael Hobbs 2, Eric Hollingsworth, John Dunk
9/2/1957PeasmarshAwayLeague3 – 4John Dunk 2, Harold Stonham
23/2/1957Old Hastonians IIIHomeFriendly8 – 0Laurie Butler 2, John Dunk 2, Bryan Butler, Denis Swaine, Eric Hollingsworth, Harold Stonham
9/3/1957TicehurstAwayLeague0 – 8
16/3/1957PeasmarshHomeLeague0 – 2
30/3/1957Old Bexhillians IIAwayFriendly2 – 5Harold Stonham, J Simmons
6/4/1957CrowhurstHomeLeague2 – 1John Dunk 2
13/4/1957MountfieldHomeLeague4 – 2John Dunk 2, Michael Hobbs, Harold Stonham
20/4/1957Punnetts Town IIHomeLeague4 – 3John Dunk 2, Harold Stonham 2

3RD TEAM

In accordance with the decision of the Annual General Meeting, a third team was entered in Division Four of the Hastings League instead of entering the Minor League. Results proved the wisdom of this decision, instead of losing with ten men week after week to far stronger opposition, the boys had a series of good games, won several times and only twice played short in a league game.

Much credit was due to the enthusiastic captaincy of Michael Hills and to the management of Bert Glazier. The team was also grateful to those senior players who appeared in the 3rd XI from time to time as a steadying influence. Denis Care, in particular, was an outstanding centre half, while Alf Holdstock and Denis Swaine also did good work in this connection.

Showing continued improvement all season, the team ended in a blaze of glory with the last three games all won and sixteen goals scored in 6-2, 5-0 and 5-3 victories, the last a very exciting defeat of Brede which decided the League Championship.

With 15 goals, Brian Thomas was the leading scorer and the side had many promising boys including Ken Morton (in goal), Michael Hills and John Ellis (backs), Ian Lee (until injured) and Peter Cooke (wing halves), Brian Thomas and Alan Quinnell (inside forwards), John Pellett, a speedy but inconsistent winger and John Baker, who came in during the season, a utility man in defence.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
13/10/1956Old Hastonians IIHomeLeague2 – 2Harold Stonham, John Pellett
27/10/1956Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague2 – 2Michael Hobbs, Bert Glazier
3/11/1956Guldeford Old BoysAwayLeague1 – 6Bert Glazier
10/11/1956Guldeford Old BoysHomeLeague0 – 1
17/11/1956Old Hastonians IIAwayLeague1 – 14Alf Holdstock (pen)
24/11/1956BredeAwayLeague3 – 7Brian Thomas 2, Bernard Baker
8/12/1956Sandhurst IIHomeLeague5 – 0Brian Thomas 3, John Pellett, Dick Crisford
15/12/1956Ticehurst IIAwayLeague4 – 2John Pellett, Brian Thomas, Terry Quinnell, Tony Jarrold (pen)
29/12/1956WhatlingtonAwayLeague2 – 5John Pellett, Brian Thomas
12/1/1957WhatlingtonHomeLeague3 – 2Dick Crisford 2, Harold Stonham
19/1/1957Guldeford Old BoysAwayFriendly1 – 9George Potter
2/3/1957Observer Athletic IIAwayLeague3 – 3John Pellett, George Potter, Harold Stonham
9/3/1957Old Hastonians IIIHomeFriendly2 – 2Bert Glazier, Gilbert Jeffery
16/3/1957Observer Athletic IIHomeLeague1 – 5John Pellett
23/3/1957Sandhurst IIAwayLeague1 – 3Brian Thomas
30/3/1957BodiamAwayLeague0 – 7
6/4/1957Flimwell British LegionHomeLeague3 – 5Brian Thomas 2, George Potter
13/4/1957Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague2 – 1Alan Quinnell, Peter Stone
20/4/1957BodiamHomeLeague1 – 2John Pellett
22/4/1957Flimwell British LegionAwayLeague6 – 2Brian Thomas 2, Mike Hills 2, John Pellett, Alan Quinnell
27/4/1957Ticehurst IIHomeLeague5 – 0Mike Hills 2, David Cooke 2, Denis Care (pen)
30/4/1957BredeHomeLeague5 – 3Brian Thomas 3, Alan Quinnell, Denis Care (pen)

MINOR AND BOYS TEAMS

Five minor games were played, one in the Hastings Youth Cup and four friendlies. These matches gave football to some boys who did not get a regular game in Division Four. In addition, a boys team of 12-15 year olds played two friendlies at the end of the season.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
22/9/1956Rye Modern School XIAwayFriendly2 – 5John Pellett, Harold Stonham
29/9/1956West Hill Boys ClubAwayFriendly2 – 3Harold Stonham 2
20/10/1956Rye Modern School XIAwayFriendly7 – 2Harold Stonham 3, J Trill 2, Peter Cooke, Peter Turner
1/12/1956West Hill Boys ClubAwayFriendly1 – 6Harold Stonham
22/12/1956St Leonards MinorsHomeHastings F A Youth Cup 1st Round0 – 9

BOYS TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
26/4/1957West Hill Boys Club JuniorsHomeFriendly2 – 3L Willard, Brian Barden
29/4/1957West Hill Boys Club JuniorsAwayFriendly2 – 3Brian Barden, Ian Bridger

GENERAL MATTERS

Petrol rationing again complicated the season so the Club was grateful to all those who helped with transport. Marking out was once more a test of Club loyalty with several members doing more than their share. Mrs Morris of Pett took numerous telephone messages and was helped out in this respect by treasurer, Charlie Baker. Mr Gurney Tyler took collections at home games and a dance at Winchelsea and a whist drive at Pett were organised although both were rather poorly supported by actual players. Occasional use was made of Guestling Recreation Ground for home games.

The twentieth Annual General Meeting was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Tuesday, 23rd July 1957 at 8 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS