Season 1958-59

22ND SEASON

SEASON REPORT

There was always a strong possibility that the 1958-59 season would be rather an anti-climax after the great year in 1957-58 when the first team won the Hastings League Division One, the second team won the Lower Divisions Cup for the first time and the season culminated in the unforgettable 21st birthday party. Although it was a slight anti-climax, the season was none-the-less quite a successful and enjoyable one.

At the start of the season a drainage scheme was carried out on the Recreation Ground, which although a great long-term benefit, in the short-term proved to be a serious trial. The ground was unavailable for four weeks early in the season and the uneven sinking of the drainage trenches meant that it was difficult to play skilful football for the remainder of the season. The consequence was that the best football was played either in thick mud or away from home and in the home games, kick and rush opponents robbed the teams of unexpected points.

After the end of the season, a pavilion was erected on the ground by the family of the late Walter Merricks as a memorial to him. This would provide a great improvement and avoid the embarrassment of visitors having to go home without a wash. It was expected that the Club would be represented on any management committee.

With regards to the three teams, Saturday, 31st January 1959 is a memorable one for the Club records. On this day, the 1st team defeated Bexhill Town Athletic III 10-1 in a league fixture, the 2nd team won 10-0 against Westfield II in the Hastings League Lower Divisions Cup but the Club was badly let down by the 3rd team in their league game with Northiam II – only managing a 9-3 victory!

1ST TEAM

After a good start, the first team fell away towards the end of the season and never looked quite good enough to retain the Division One Championship. They were hit by injuries at key times, but still looked a shade less effective, both individually and as a team, than in the previous season. Of the league winning side, Colin Willard had moved to London and Arthur Baker had retired, while David Cooke was posted to Cornwall early in the league programme. The defence was usually adequate but the forwards lacked scoring power and a large proportion of the goals came from John Parsons, who with 47 goals, broke Syd Brann’s first team scoring record. Frank Baker (18) and Ron Barden (15) also contributed but both John Parsons and Frank Baker missed several games through injury and in these matches good midfield play never looked like producing many goals.

The records up to the end of February measure the teams decline. In the league, the side had played twelve games, winning ten and drawing two, afterwards, ten games were played of which only two were won, three drawn and five lost. The season did provide one other new record – the first league defeat was not until March 14th, many months later than the previous best.

David French once more captained the side well. For the most part the team spirit was good but there was a bad patch when it became evident that the side were not going to win the league, but later on, players recovered from the disappointment and settled down to enjoy their football again. It was though, a period not in keeping with the Club’s history. David French played in three representative games for the Hastings League, Ron Barden made one appearance and both John Parsons and Frank Baker were selected as reserve to travel on one occasion.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
13/9/1958WestfieldAwayFriendly6 – 4Ron Barden 2, George Noakes 2, David Perkins, Harold Stonham
20/9/1958R A F FairlightAwayFriendly2 – 3David Perkins, Frank Baker
27/9/1958UdimoreAwayLeague5 – 1Frank Baker 2, Ron Barden 2, John Parsons
18/10/1958Wadhurst Toc HAwaySussex Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 1 *John Parsons
25/10/1958Wadhurst Toc HHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round Replay1 – 2 *David Perkins
1/11/1958Sedlescombe UnitedAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round7 – 3John Parsons 5, Ron Barden, David Perkins
8/11/1958Wadhurst IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 1st Round5 – 0John Parsons 3, Frank Baker, David Perkins
15/11/1958WestfieldAwayLeague7 – 1John Parsons 4, Frank Baker 2, David Cooke
22/11/1958L P S SportsHomeLeague3 – 2Ron Barden 2, David Perkins
29/11/1958Hollington United IIAwayLeague5 – 2John Parsons 3, David French, David Perkins
6/12/1958Rye United IIIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round4 – 0Frank Baker 2, David French, John Parsons
13/12/1958Battle Rangers IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 2nd Round2 – 4Harold Stonham 2
20/12/1958PeasmarshAwayLeague3 – 3George Noakes, David Perkins, Ron Barden
27/12/1958Hastings RangersHomeRye Charity Cup 1st Round2 – 4Ron Barden, Frank Baker
10/1/1959WestfieldHomeLeague2 – 2George Noakes, John Parsons
17/1/1959SandhurstHomeLeague2 – 1David Perkins, John Parsons
24/1/1959Observer AthleticHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round4 – 3George Noakes, John Parsons, Frank Baker, Own Goal
31/1/1959Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague10 – 1John Parsons 6, George Noakes 2, Ron Barden 2
7/2/1959Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague9 – 1Frank Baker 4, Alan Turner 3, Alf Holdstock, Ron Barden
14/2/1959PeasmarshHomeLeague4 – 2Frank Baker 4
21/2/1959UdimoreHomeLeague5 – 1John Parsons 4, Ron Barden
28/2/1959Hollington United IIHomeLeague4 – 1John Parsons 4
7/3/1959SandhurstNeutral<Hastings F A Junior Cup Semi-Final0 – 1
14/3/1959Rye United IIIAwayLeague2 – 4George Noakes, Ron Barden
21/3/1959Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague0 – 0
28/3/1959Observer AthleticAwayLeague2 – 2Alan Turner, Own Goal
30/3/1959Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly3 – 0George Potter, John Parsons, Own Goal
4/4/1959Sedlescombe UnitedAwayLeague2 – 4Ron Barden, John Parsons
11/4/1959Battle Rangers IIHomeLeague5 – 1John Parsons 2, David French, George Noakes, Alan Turner
18/4/1959Observer AthleticHomeLeague2 – 3Alan Turner, John Parsons (pen)
21/4/1959Rye United IIIHomeLeague1 – 2John Parsons
25/4/1959Sedlescombe UnitedHomeLeague3 – 3John Parsons 3
27/4/1959SandhurstAwayLeague3 – 0John Parsons 2, Own Goal
L P S SportsAwayLeague2 – 3David French, John Parsons

2ND TEAM

The second team gained promotion from Division Three of the Hastings League by finishing as runners-up to Northiam. The side was much younger than the 2nd XI of a few years ago and included several players who would hopefully do well in the future. The team was led with determination by Alf Holdstock. The success of the team was due to good all round play in which a free scoring forward line played a leading part. In competitive games alone, ten goals were scored in a game on three occasions, seven goals in one match, six goals in two games, five goals in three matches and four goals no less than five times. Peter Mathews top scored with 30 goals, John Dunk found the net 19 times, Harold Stonham 18 and Brian Thomas also reached double figures with 14.

George Potter and Brian Thomas earned their promotion from the 3rd team and played key roles in the success while John Jury came out of retirement to play well at centre-half and John Turner returned from the Army to left-back. Once again Andy Dunlop managed the side and acted as linesman and played a key part in the successful campaign.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
27/9/1958Guldeford Old BoysAwayLeague4 – 4Bryan Butler, Mike Hills, John Dunk, Bernard Rankin
4/10/1958MountfieldHome<League4 – 1Bryan Butler, Mike Hills, Bernard Rankin, Harold Stonham
11/10/1958Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague10 – 2Brian Thomas 3, Peter Mathews 3, Harold Stonham 2, Mike Hills, David Perkins
18/11/1958Old Hastonians IIAwayLeague5 – 1Peter Mathews 3, Bryan Butler, Harold Stonham
25/10/1958UdimoreAwayFriendly6 – 2Mike Hills 3, Brian Thomas 2, Peter Mathews
1/11/1958Peasmarsh IIHomeLeague5 – 0Peter Mathews 3, John Dunk, Harold Stonham
8/11/1958Old Centmodians IIHomeFriendly9 – 0Peter Mathews 5, Mike Hills 2, John Dunk 2
15/11/1958Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague6 – 1Peter Mathews 2, Harold Stonham 2, John Dunk, Own Goal
29/11/1958Guldeford Old BoysHomeLeague3 – 6Bob Rich, Peter Mathews, Harold Stonham
6/12/1958NorthiamAwayLeague2 – 5Peter Mathews 2
20/12/1958Rye United MinorsHomeFriendly2 – 3John Dunk 2
26/12/1958Old Hastonians IIAwayFriendly2 – 4Kenny Morton 2
3/1/1959Old Hastonians IIAwayHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round4 – 2Peter Mathews 2, Brian Thomas, Denis Swaine
24/1/1959Flimwell British LegionAwayLeague5 – 1Denis Swaine 2, Peter Mathews, Brian Thomas, Harold Stonham
31/1/1959Westfield IIHomeHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round10 – 0Brian Thomas 4, Peter Mathews 3, Harold Stonham 2, John Dunk
7/2/1959Battle Rangers IIIHomeLeague10 – 0Roger Puttick 4, John Dunk 3, Harold Stonham 2, Bill Terrell (pen)
14/2/1959Peasmarsh IIAwayLeague6 – 1John Dunk 2, Peter Mathews 2, Alan Turner, Harold Stonham
21/2/1959NorthiamAwayHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 3rd Round2 – 5Peter Mathews 2
28/2/1959WhatlingtonAwayLeague7 – 1Brian Thomas 3, John Dunk 2, Mike Hills, Harold Stonham
7/3/1959WhatlingtonHomeLeague2 – 2George Potter,
14/3/1959Old Hastonians IIHomeLeague4 – 1John Dunk 4
21/3/1959Flimwell British LegionHomeLeague4 – 1Bernard Rankin 2, Mike Hills, Brian Thomas
30/3/1959Griffith and Diggens (Wembley)HomeFriendly3 – 6Harold Stonham 3
4/4/1959Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague0 – 1
18/4/1959NorthiamHomeLeague1 – 3Alf Holdstock

3RD TEAM

The third team continued the policy of bringing along young players, with the help of one or two near-veterans to act as a steadying influence, under the guidance of Bert Glazier who was again team manager, linesman and quite often, last minute forward. The actual results of the team were of less importance than the chief function of giving games to promising boys.

John Ellis usually captained the team and was well supported by the older members. Several players made good progress and new boys in Warwick Breeds, John Goundrey, Roger Puttick and Derek Perkins all made their mark. The most disturbing feature was the lack of boys from Icklesham itself, with players coming more from Winchelsea, Guestling and other places. It was hoped for an improvement in this respect.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
20/9/1958Observer Athletic IIAwayFriendly0 – 1
27/9/1958BeckleyAwayLeague2 – 4Colin Stace, Derek Perkins
4/10/1958Guldeford Old Boys IIAwayLeague4 – 0Roger Puttick, Brian Thomas, George Hickmott, Arthur Ades
11/10/1958Beckley ‘A’AwayFriendly7 – 3Neil Perry 3, Brian Barden 2, John Goundrey, George Hickmott
18/10/1958Sandhurst IIHomeLeague1 – 6Arthur Ades
25/10/1958Hastings Rangers IIIHomeLeague1 – 9John Goundrey
1/11/1958Old Hastonians IIIAwayFriendly4 – 1John Sanders, George Hickmott, Roger Puttick, Own Goal
8/11/1958Old Hastonians IIIAwayLeague5 – 1John Pellett 2, Roger Puttick 2, Own Goal
15/11/1958Westfield IIHomeLeague2 – 0John Pellett, Own Goal
29/11/1958BeckleyHomeLeague3 – 5David Hull, John Pellett, Brian Thomas
6/12/1958Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague2 – 4Cyril Rich, Roger Puttick
20/12/1958Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague0 – 3
27/12/1958Northiam IIHomeLeague8 – 2Cyril Rich 4, John Goundrey 2, David Hull, Roger Puttick
10/1/1959Westfield IIAwayLeague3 – 3Eric Hollingsworth, Alan Turner, Bob Rich
17/1/1959Robertsbridge United IIIAwayLeague1 – 6John Pellett
31/1/1959Northiam IIAwayLeague9 – 3Roger Puttick 3, John Pellett 2, Alan Turner, Bert Glazier, Bernard Rankin, David Hull
7/2/1959Guldeford Old Boys IIHomeLeague3 – 2Bernard Rankin, Peter Turner (pen), Own Goal
14/2/1959Old Centmodians IIIHomeFriendly2 – 3Bernard Rankin 2
21/2/1959Old Hastonians IIIHomeLeague2 – 4Roger Puttick 2
28/2/1959Hastings Rangers IIIAwayLeague0 – 4
7/3/1959Bohemia UnitedHomeFriendly5 – 7John Sanders 3, Warwick Breeds, Roger Puttick
21/3/1959Stewarts SportsAwayFriendly2 – 2Cyril Rich 2
28/3/1959Observer Athletic IIHomeLeague2 – 1Brian Thomas, Own Goal
4/4/1959Sandhurst IIAwayLeague1 – 6
11/4/1959Robertsbridge United IIIHomeLeague3 – 3Roger Puttick 2, Derek Perkins
18/4/1959Observer Athletic IIAwayLeague0 – 6
25/4/1959BeckleyAwayFriendly4 – 6Chris Edwards 4

GENERAL MATTERS

John Swaine and Len Swaine did most of the marking out at Icklesham. The pitch at Guestling Recreation Ground was used quite often and thanks for this were due to Guestling Parish Council and also to Guestling Cricket Club for the use of the hut for changing. David Hull, Roger Puttick, Warwick Breeds and Bert Glazier did the bulk of the marking out at Guestling. A debt of gratitude was owed to the members and friends, especially Mrs Parsons, who ran dances at Winchelsea. Mr and Mrs Bob Rich also took a leading part in all money raising efforts.

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Tuesday, 7th July 1959 at 8 pm.