Season 1959-60

23RD SEASON

SEASON REPORT

Season 1959-60 was an interesting one. The 1st team, due to long cup runs, played more games than ever before, the 2nd team made a good start in Division Two of the Hastings League, never being in danger of relegation and surviving a large number of team changes, the 3rd team finished bottom of Division Three but upheld the Club’s reputation by completing their fixtures and developed some useful players.

1ST TEAM

After a poor start, the first XI settled down into a useful, but not great team, which played particularly well in the league game against Observer Athletic at Icklesham which was won 4-2, and the Rye Charity Cup match versus Hastings Rangers also at Icklesham and won 2-1 against a side including eight County League players.

The team reached the final of the Robertsbridge Charity Cup, when the following side gained runners-up medals after losing to Observer Athletic:- Dick Crisford, John Moon, George Potter, David French (capt.), Jack Brown, Bryan Butler, George Noakes, Ron Barden, John Parsons, David Perkins and Frank Baker.

The side finished in fifth place in Hastings League Division One, lost in the Rye Charity Cup semi-final and also won through three rounds of the Sussex Junior Cup. David French played in two games for the Hastings League with John Parsons making one appearance. David French again led the team well and on the whole team spirit was good. With 31 goals, John Parsons was once more top goalscorer followed by Ron Barden with 25 and Frank Baker with 16.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
5/9/1959WestfieldAwayFriendly2 – 1Ron Barden, A Munday
19/9/1959L P S SportsAwayLeague0 – 1
26/9/1959Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague4 – 0David French, Ron Barden, Alan Turner, Frank Baker
3/10/1959GroombridgeAwaySussex Junior Cup Preliminary Round4 – 1Ron Barden 3, John Parsons (pen)
10/10/1959Hastings TownHomeLeague0 – 0
17/10/1959Peacehaven IIHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round3 – 1George Noakes, Alan Turner, Frank Baker
24/10/1959WestfieldHomeRobertsbridge Charity Cup 2nd Round3 – 1Alan Turner 3
31/10/1959Rye United IIIAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 2Alan Turner
7/11/1959Old Bexhillians IIHomeSussex Junior Cup 2nd Round9 – 0Frank Baker 5, John Moon 2, David French, Ron Barden
14/11/1959WestfieldHomeLeague2 – 3Ron Barden, John Moon
21/11/1959Observer AthleticAwayLeague1 – 4Frank Baker
28/11/1959Lewes IIIAwaySussex Junior Cup 3rd Round2 – 3George Noakes, John Parsons
5/12/1959Hastings PoliceAwayLeague2 – 2John Parsons 2
12/12/1959Hastings TownAwayLeague3 – 2John Parsons, Own Goal,
19/12/1959Rye United IIIAwayLeague8 – 0John Parsons 3, Ron Barden 2, David French, Peter Mathews, Own Goal
26/12/1959NetherfieldAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 3rd Round1 – 1John Parsons
2/1/1960UdimoreAwayLeague9 – 0Ron Barden 4, John Parsons 3, George Noakes 2
9/1/1960PeasmarshAwayLeague3 – 1Ron Barden, John Parsons, Own Goal
30/1/1960NetherfieldHomeRobertsbridge Charity Cup 3rd Round Replay3 – 3 *John Parsons 3
6/2/1960SandhurstHomeLeague3 – 4John Parsons 2, George Noakes
13/2/1960WestfieldAwayLeague5 – 2Brian Thomas 2, Frank Baker 2, Ron Barden
20/2/1960NetherfieldNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Cup 3rd Round 2nd Replay7 – 2Ron Barden 3, John Parsons 3, Frank Baker
27/2/1960Hastings PoliceHomeLeague2 – 4Ron Barden, John Parsons
12/3/1960UdimoreHomeLeague7 – 1John Parsons 3, Ron Barden 2, David French, Frank Baker
19/3/1960Rye United IIIHomeLeague1 – 0Frank Baker
26/3/1960Corbens SportsAwayLeague3 – 4George Noakes 2, Frank Baker
2/4/1960Observer AthleticHomeLeague4 – 2John Parsons 3, Brian Thomas
9/4/1960Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague4 – 0George Noakes 2, Ron Barden, Frank Baker
11/4/1960Hastings RangersHomeRye Charity Cup 1st Round2 – 1John Parsons, David Perkins
18/4/1960Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly0 – 3
20/4/1960HooeNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Cup Semi-Final1 – 0Ron Barden
23/4/1960L P S SportsHomeLeague1 – 1David Perkins
25/4/1960PeasmarshHomeLeague3 – 1John Parsons 2, Ron Barden
27/4/1960Rye United IIAwayRye Charity Cup Semi-Final1 – 2John Dunk
29/4/1960Corbens SportsHomeLeague2 – 1David Perkins, Frank Baker
1/5/1960SandhurstAwayLeague1 – 1Ron Barden
7/5/1960Observer AthleticNeutral>Robertsbridge Charity Cup Final1 – 5David Perkins

2ND TEAM

The second team did well in their first season after promotion to finish in mid-table in Division Two. In the early part of the season the side were among the leaders but an extraordinary series of troubles meant wholesale team changes. This can be seen in the fact that of the teams who played away to Beckley and Flimwell British Legion early in the season, only four and five players respectively played in the return fixtures at home,

Michael Hills went into hospital for an operation and did not play again, Ted Arnold went to a job in Oxford, George Potter was promoted to the 1st XI, Bernard Rankin and Tony Gibson had knee injuries which finished them for the season, Peter Mathews had a back injury and subsequently went fox-hunting on Saturdays and many players had spells of injury. In the circumstances much credit went to captain, Alf Holdstock, manager, Andy Dunlop, and to the regulars for holding the side together. These misfortunes gave a chance to younger players and Derek Perkins, Warwick Breeds and David Hull all made good progress. Roger Puttick was leading scorer with 17 goals and Brian Thomas also reached double figures with 13.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
3/9/1959Guldeford Old BoysAwayFriendly1 – 8Brian Thomas
19/9/1959Old Centmodians IIHomeLeague2 – 1Bob Rich, Brian Thomas
26/9/1959BeckleyAwayLeague4 – 1Roger Puttick 2, Brian Thomas, Peter Mathews
3/10/1959BodiamHomeLeague3 – 0John Dunk, Roger Puttick, Brian Thomas
10/10/1959NorthiamAwayLeague2 – 3Roger Puttick 2
17/10/1959Flimwell British LegionAwayLeague5 – 2Brian Thomas 3, John Moon, Peter Mathews
24/10/1959Etchingham UnitedAwayLeague1 – 6John Dunk
7/11/1959BredeAwayLeague1 – 0George Potter
14/11/1959Silverton RangersAwayLeague4 – 4Roger Puttick 2, John Pellett, Peter Mathews
21/11/1959Observer Athletic IIHomeLeague3 – 1John Parsons, Peter Mathews, Brian Thomas
28/11/1959WhatlingtonHomeLeague1 – 2Brian Thomas
5/12/1959Punnetts TownHomeLeague4 – 1John Dunk 2, Brian Thomas, Bernard Rankin
12/12/1959Guldeford Old BoysAwayLeague1 – 2Roger Puttick
19/12/1959Guldeford Old BoysHomeLeague3 – 4Colin Stace, Ian Bridger
2/1/1960Silverton RangersHomeLeague3 – 2Brian Thomas 2, Peter Mathews
9/1/1960SeeboardHomeLeague2 – 3Colin Stace, Ron Barden
23/1/1960Etchingham UnitedHomeLeague2 – 3John Parsons 2
30/1/1960Old Centmodians IIAwayLeague4 – 5Roger Puttick 3, Alf Holdstock
6/2/1960WhatlingtonAwayLeague0 – 6
13/2/1960BeckleyHomeLeague4 – 2John Dunk 2, John Sanders, Alf Holdstock (pen)
20/2/1960Hawkhurst UnitedAwayLeague1 – 6John Sanders
27/2/1960SeeboardAwayLeague5 – 2Roger Puttick 4, John Ellis
12/3/1960BodiamHome<League0 – 3
26/3/1960Flimwell British LegionHomeLeague3 – 2Colin Stace 2, Brian Thomas
2/4/1960Observer Athletic IIAwayLeague1 – 3Roger Puttick
9/4/1960NorthiamHomeLeague1 – 4Roger Puttick
30/4/1960Hawkhurst UnitedHomeLeague0 – 4

3RD TEAM

The playing record shows clearly that the season was a difficult and rather disappointing one for the third team but it was not disastrous in the same way as one or two of the Minor League years when fixtures had to be postponed to give time to sign fresh players to replace those who had left in disgust. The players kept going and very seldom did the side play short while several of the best performances came at the end of a depressing season. With one unfortunate exception, the 3rd XI maintained the good name of the Club and improved as they learnt the hard way. The team were unfortunate in losing their better players to the 2nd XI to fill vacancies and ended with some very young and inexperienced sides.

Bert Glazier was again team manager and Eric Hollingsworth most often captained the side. The lack of boys from Icklesham itself continued, but during the season Larry Osborne and Michael Cooke became fairly regular players and it was hoped this would be followed by many more.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
8/9/1959Guldeford Old Boys IIAwayFriendly0 – 3
12/9/1959Peasmarsh IIHomeFriendly3 – 3Roger Puttick 2, Brian Barden
19/9/1959Old Hastonians IIIAwayLeague2 – 6Cyril Rich, Own Goal
26/9/1959Robertsbridge United IIIHomeLeague6 – 0John Sanders 2, Brian Barden 2, Cyril Jeffery, Neil Perry
10/10/1959Battle Rangers IIIAwayLeague2 – 7Neil Perry, Cyril Rich
17/10/1959Northiam IIHomeLeague2 – 7
24/10/1959Hastings Rangers IIIHomeLeague1 – 2Brian Barden
31/10/1959Stewarts UnitedHomeLeague0 – 6
7/11/1959Hawkhurst United IIAwayLeague1 – 6Cyril Rich
21/11/1959Guldeford Old Boys IIHomeLeague1 – 2Cyril Jeffery
28/11/1959Peasmarsh IIAwayLeague0 – 5
5/12/1959Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague0 – 10
12/12/1959Mountfield UnitedHomeLeague0 – 7
19/12/1959Battle Rangers IIIHomeLeague0 – 7
2/1/1960Catsfield IIHomeFriendly1 – 4Larry Osborne
9/1/1960Peasmarsh IIHomeLeague1 – 8Cyril Rich
23/1/1960Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague1 – 1John Pellett
30/1/1960Peasmarsh IIAwayHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round2 – 3Colin Stace 2
13/2/1960Catsfield ‘A’HomeFriendly2 – 8Larry Osborne, Ian Spears
20/2/1960Hawkhurst United IIHomeLeague1 – 6Bert Glazier
5/3/1960Hastings Rangers IIIAwayLeague1 – 4Chris Hayes
12/3/1960Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague0 – 5
19/3/1960Robertsbridge United IIIAwayLeague7 – 0
2/4/1960Stewarts UnitedAwayLeague0 – 14
9/4/1960Northiam IIAwayLeague1 – 5John Sanders
16/4/1960Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague2 – 5John Sanders, Bob Rich
18/4/1960Old Hastonians IIIHomeLeague4 – 5John Dunk 2, John Pellett, John Sanders
23/4/1960Mountfield UnitedAwayLeague0 – 7
4/5/1960Catsfield IIAwayFriendly3 – 5Neil Perry, John Sanders, Ian Spears

GENERAL MATTERS

John Swaine again did most of the marking-out but with the purchase of the new marker, this operation was no longer such a big headache as in the past. David Hull did more than his fair share of marking-out at Guestling. The new pavilion at Icklesham, given to the village by the widow and family of the late Walter Merricks, was very greatly appreciated by visiting teams as well as the Icklesham players. Mrs Bob Rich looked after tea arrangements for home games at Icklesham which earned thanks from all players and referees.

Fred Swaine, the popular first team defender, broke a leg – a grant was received from the Sussex County Football Association Benevolent Fund and the Club increased its contribution to the Fund. On a sad note, the Club had its first player dealt with by a commission when Denis Swaine was suspended for twenty one days for violent conduct.

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Tuesday, 26th July 1960.

CLUB OFFICIALS