Season 1970-71

34TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The thirty fourth season was not one of the most memorable yet it did have good points. In all, the teams played ninety eight games between them without having a single player sent-off or cautioned, which was a source of genuine satisfaction. Former club captain, Alf Holdstock was vice-chairman of the Sussex County Football Association and had been elected as chairman for the 1971-72 season.

1ST TEAM

The first team returned to Intermediate football in 1970-71 after two years in the junior grade. The opposition was naturally stronger and playing results were poor on paper, but the experience gained against skilful opposition was of great value to the younger players.

The side were in Division One of the newly formed Eastbourne and Hastings League, where the competition was remarkably close. The team finished bottom, with Observer Athletic having withdrawn, but the goal difference of thirty three goals scored and forty eight conceded shows how level the games were. Against Magham Down (then second) and Old Parkonians at the end of the season, the 1st team played some of their best football for a number of years and with five players under twenty in the side, the 1st XI had a promising team for the future, which was well led by George Potter. Don Sanderson with 22 goals was comfortably the leading scorer.

The first team were knocked out of all three cup competitions in the first round, but had an enjoyable day out at Hendon where they lost 5-4 to Old Hendonians II in the A F A Junior Cup.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
28/8/1970Rye United ‘A’HomeFriendly1 – 6George Potter
7/9/1970The Junior Club TacklewayAwayFriendly2 – 0Rick Coombes, Don Sanderson
19/9/1970SedlescombeHomeLeague5 – 0Dave Minett 3, Don Sanderson 2
26/9/1970Langney SportsAwayLeague3 – 1Jimmy Britt, Dave Minett, Don Sanderson
3/10/1970IdenHomeLeague2 – 1Don Sanderson 2
10/10/1970Old Hendonians IIAwayA F A Junior Cup 1st Round4 – 5Don Sanderson 3, Dave Minett
24/10/1970BurwashHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round3 – 6Don Sanderson 2, Rick Coombes
31/10/1970Etchingham UnitedHomeLeague1 – 1Don Sanderson
7/11/1970Silverton RangersAwayLeague1 – 3Dave Minett
21/11/1970IdenAwayLeague0 – 6
28/11/1970CentraAwayLeague1 – 1Geoff Wickenden
5/12/1970Cross-in-HandHomeLeague1 – 3Dave Minett
12/12/1970Bexhill AthleticHomeLeague2 – 3Don Sanderson, Dave Minett
19/12/1970Linton AthleticHomeLeague1 – 5Don Sanderson
9/1/1971WestfieldAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round1 – 6Don Sanderson
16/1/1971Magham DownAwayLeague1 – 4Don Sanderson
30/1/1971Etchingham UnitedAwayLeague2 – 3Bill Black, Don Sanderson
6/2/1971Linton AthleticAwayLeague2 – 5Don Sanderson, Dave Minett
13/2/1971Silverton RangersHomeLeague0 – 1
20/2/1971CentraAwayLeague3 – 3Jimmy Britt 2. Colin Shearer
27/2/1971SedlescombeHomeLeague2 – 3Bill Black, Own Goal
6/3/1971Bexhill AthleticAwayLeague2 – 4John Crisford, Rick Coombes
13/3/1971Cross-in-HandAwayLeague1 – 1Don Sanderson (pen)
20/3/1971Magham DownHomeLeague3 – 0Bill Black 2, John Crisford
10/4/1971Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly5 – 0Bill Black 3, Don Sanderson, Roger Dollimore
17/4/1971The Junior Club TacklewayAwayFriendly2 – 2Don Sanderson 2
24/4/1971Langney SportsHomeLeague1 – 1Bill Black

2ND TEAM

The 2nd XI had another drab season with a number of depressing days relieved by a few good performances against useful opposition. In part, this was due to the presence in Division Three of several strong sides capable of holding their own in higher football, but there were weaknesses in defence and a lack of scoring power in attack, where Robert Glazier with 13, scored many of the goals. Brian Luck, as captain, and Andy Dunlop, as manager, deserve much credit for holding the side together.

In cup ties, the team lost after extra time to Christ Church, the eventual winners, in the second round of the Hastings F A Lower Divisions Cup having been drawn against and beaten the third team in the first round. They also put up reasonable fights against better sides in Australasian Bank II and Robertsbridge United in the A F A Minor and Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cups. Given progress by some of the younger players in the 3rd XI, the prospects were not too bleak for the coming season.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
3/9/1970Ecko HawkinsHomeFriendly5 – 1Colin Shearer 2, Don Sanderson 2, Dave Minett
19/9/1970Hastings PoliceAwayLeague8 – 2Robert Glazier 3, Rick Coombes 3, Keith Holdstock, Tony Harris
26/9/1970Drallim WanderersHomeLeague0 – 1
3/10/1970Mountfield UnitedAwayLeague0 – 7
10/10/1970Scientific LensAwayLeague1 – 8Keith Holdstock
17/10/1970Australian Bank IIHomeA F A Minor Cup 1st Round0 – 4
31/10/1970Icklesham Casuals IIIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round7 – 1Robert Glazier 3, Keith Holdstock 2, Fred Dallaway, Jack Brown
7/11/1970Westfield IIHomeLeague2 – 3Keith Holdstock, Own Goal
14/11/1970Ecko HawkinsHomeLeague3 – 4John Crisford, Jimmy Britt, Jack Brown (pen)
21/11/1970Kolster BrandesHomeLeague2 – 6Harold Stonham, Robert Glazier
28/11/1970CollegeHomeLeague3 – 2Keith Holdstock, Bill Black, Jack Brown (pen)
5/12/1970CollegeAwayLeague5 – 4Jack Brown 2, John Evans, Bill Black, Fred Dallaway
12/12/1970Christ ChurchAwayLeague1 – 8Keith Holdstock
19/12/1970BeckleyAwayLeague3 – 5Martin Shearer, Robert Glazier, Harold Stonham
9/1/1971Christ ChurchHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round4 – 7 *Robert Glazier 2, Bill Black, Keith Holdstock
16/1/1971Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague1 – 3
6/2/1971Scientific LensHomeLeague0 – 5
13/2/1971Drallim WanderersAwayLeague2 – 4John Dunk, Fred Dallaway
20/2/1971Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague1 – 7Fred Dallaway
27/2/1971Kolster BrandesAwayLeague0 – 10
6/3/1971Hastings PoliceHomeLeague2 – 7Harold Stonham, Keith Holdstock
13/3/1971Travaux IIAwayLeague4 – 1Robin Shearer 2, Robert Glazier, Dave Minett
20/3/1971Westfield IIAwayLeague2 – 0Dave Minett 2
27/3/1971Mountfield UnitedHomeLeague0 – 3
1/4/1971Robertsbridge UnitedAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round0 – 3
10/4/1971Ecko HawkinsAwayLeague0 – 3
17/4/1971Travaux IIHomeLeague2 – 3Robert Glazier, Herby Edwards
1/5/1971Christ ChurchHomeLeague3 – 3Jack Brown 2, Dave Minett
7/5/1971BeckleyHomeLeague3 – 4Dave Minett 2, Robert Glazier

3RD TEAM

The third team had another quite good year, fulfilling their purpose as a nursery for younger players and as a means for giving games to members who enjoyed their football but who could not command a place in the senior teams, which included some of the Club’s best and most loyal members. The strength of the side varied very much from one week to another – at full strength the team was nearly as strong as an average Division Four side, but on a number of occasions at the end of the season very young teams were fielded.

John Evans captained the third team very well for much of the season, but his work took him to Stroud in the spring. Colin McPhail took over and, like John, set an excellent example of effort and good sportsmanship. In the A F A Novets Cup, the side beat Sunallon IV 11-0 at Raynes Park before losing 4-1 at Barnet to Old Stationers IV, but were only 2-1 down until near the end.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
27/8/1970Ecko Hawkins IIHomeFriendly4 – 3Brian Thomas 2, Peter Turner, Rick Coombes
Udimore IIHomeFriendly2 – 3Keith Holdstock 2
12/9/1970Ecko Hawkins IIAwayLeague3 – 2Brian Thomas 2, Mick Osborne
19/9/1970PeasmarshHomeLeague3 – 4Brian Thomas 2, Mick Osborne
26/9/1970PeasmarshAwayLeague1 – 9Mick Osborne
3/10/1970Cooden EngineeringHomeLeague8 – 4Brian Thomas 3, Robin Shearer 2, Tim Jury, Andrew Minett, Stephen Beard
10/10/1970RolvendenHomeFriendly2 – 5Stephen Beard, Mick Osborne
17/10/1970SaintsHomeLeague1 – 1John Evans
24/10/1970Sunallon IVAwayA F A Novets Cup 1st Round11 – 0Keith Rose 5, Brian Thomas 4, John Evans 2
31/10/1970Icklesham Casuals IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round1 – 7Robin Shearer
7/11/1970Brede IIHomeLeague5 – 2Peter Turner 2, Robin Shearer 2, John Heasman
14/11/1970Sandhurst IIAwayLeague6 – 3John Evans 2, John Fuller 2, Robin Shearer, Colin Cooke
21/11/1970Observer AthleticHomeLeague4 – 3John Evans 2, Peter Turner, Robin Jacoby
28/11/1970Old Stationers IVAwayA F A Novets Cup 2nd Round1 – 4Brian Thomas
5/12/1970Robertsbridge United IIIHomeLeague3 – 2Mick Osborne 2, Keith Rose
12/12/1970Cooden EngineeringAwayLeague2 – 7Wayne Carter, Stephen Beard
9/1/1971Ecko Hawkins IIHomeLeague3 – 6John Evans 2, Brian Thomas
16/1/1971Sandhurst IIHomeLeague8 – 1John Evans 4, Colin McPhail, Wayne Cater, Robin Shearer, Peter Stone
6/2/1971SaintsAwayLeague0 – 8
13/2/1971Robertsbridge United IIIAwayLeague2 – 2Colin Hills, T Hambly
20/2/1971St Michaels IIHomeLeague2 – 5Keith Rose. Keith Holdstock
27/2/1971Travaux IIIAwayLeague3 – 3Robin Shearer 2, A Edwards
6/3/1971Travaux IIIHomeLeague3 – 1Robin Shearer 2, Keith Rose
13/3/1971Etchingham United IIHomeLeague0 – 6
20/3/1971Observer AthleticAwayLeague0 – 12
27/3/1971Etchingham United IIAwayLeague3 – 3Roger Best, Brian Thomas, Own Goal
3/4/1971Sussex TurneyHomeFriendly5 – 0W Freeman 2, Don Sanderson, Fred Dallaway, Dave Minett
10/4/1971St Michaels IIAwayLeague3 – 5Graham Bowles,
17/10/1971Brede IIAwayLeague0 – 2

YOUTH AND BOYS TEAMS

The youth team, admirably led by Stuart Baker, did not win a match until late in the season, but introduced some very useful new players to the Club, as did an end of season boys friendly. The loss of Bert Glazier was keenly felt in these games, as his encouragement as well as his lining and help with transport, played a big part in keeping this side going.

YOUTH TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
18/10/1970Guldeford MinorsAwayLeague0 – 6
1/11/1970Priory ColtsHomeLeague0 – 1
14/11/1970Pevensey MinorsHomeSussex Youth Cup 1st Round (Under 18)0 – 18
15/11/1970Sydney Close UnitedHomeLeague1 – 8Wayne Carter
29/11/1970Tackleway Boys ClubAwayLeague3 – 6Wayne Carter 2, Robin Jacoby
6/12/1970Guldeford MinorsHomeLeague2 – 7Steve Turner 2
13/12/1970Priory ColtsAwayLeague1 – 2Stuart Baker
14/2/1971Sydney Close UnitedAwayLeague0 – 15
21/2/1971Herstmonceux MinorsHomeHastings F A Youth League Cup0 – 9
28/2/1971Albion UnitedAwayHastings F A Youth League Cup1 – 12Larry Cooke
14/3/1971Guldeford MinorsHomeHastings F A Youth League Cup0 – 3
28/3/1971Hawkhurst UnitedAwayLeague and Hastings F A Youth League Cup3 – 1 #Wayne Carter, Larry Cooke, Own Goal
4/4/1971Tackleway Boys ClubHomeLeague2 – 12Guy Coombes, Wayne Carter

BOYS TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
28/4/1971Tackleway BoysHomeFriendly1 – 6P Hayes

GENERAL MATTERS

Colin Cooke again acted as groundsman. The Club once more enjoyed the occasional use of Fairlight Recreation Ground where John Evans and Colin McPhail organised most of the marking-out. John Dunk and Paul James suffered broken bones but it was good to report that both made good recoveries. Coaching sessions under the Sussex County Football Association and held in conjunction with Linton Athletic and Tackleway at the start of the season proved quite useful and George Potter took an F A coaching course late in the season. A Sunday club also used Icklesham Recreation Ground during the year and thanks to good liaison, no serious problems arose.

The thirty fourth Annual General Meeting took place at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Thursday, 22nd July 1971.

CLUB OFFICIALS