Season 1973-74

37TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

1973-74 was a pleasant but unremarkable season. Playing results showed improvement after the drab record of the previous year, and in spite of the general poor sportsmanship in the senior amateur and professional fields, the Club had only one player cautioned and none sent-off. This may have owed a little to good luck, but for the most part it reflected the attitude taken by the players to the game with the Club continuing to enjoy a much valued good name among officials, referees and other clubs.

1ST TEAM

As the figures show, the first team did better than in the previous season. The side was outplayed on about five occasions, but most of the other defeats were by narrow margins. The team played some good football in midfield, but too often lacked thrust near goal. Wayne Carter finished as leading scorer with 11 goals followed by Sid Hawes who found the net 9 times. Covering in defence left something to be desired but Richard Forrest had some splendid games in goal. The recurrence of Micky Pfundstein’s injury left a gap, but a young side showed great promise on a number of occasions. George Potter again gave a good lead in effort and sportsmanship and Colin Cooke deputised for him adequately in several matches.

In cup matches, the first team beat Tackleway of the Premier Division in the Hastings Intermediate Cup and ran Westfield, the beaten finalists, to 2-1 in the Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup. In the A F A Junior Cup, the side did not take advantage of a home game, losing to Old Owens II.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
3/8/1973The Junior Club TacklewayHomeFriendly1 – 3Bill Bird
4/9/1973Silverton RangersHomeFriendly0 – 3
8/9/1973EckoHomeFriendly0 – 8
15/9/1973National Westminster Bank XIHomeFriendly5 – 3Ian Thomson, John Smith, Chris Hutchings, Jimmy Britt, Own Goal
22/9/1973Ex-ServicemenAwayLeague5 – 1Chris Hutchings 2, Colin Cooke, Sid Hawes, Wayne Carter
29/9/1973Eastbourne College of Further EducationHomeLeague0 – 3
6/10/1973Old Owens IIHomeA F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 5Dave Minett
13/10/1973Etchingham UnitedHome<League2 – 0Micky Pfundstein, Colin Cooke
20/10/1973The Junior Club TacklewayAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 1Colin Cooke, Sid Hawes
27/10/1973Magham DownHomeLeague1 – 1Chris Hutchings
3/11/1973Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubHomeLeague4 – 5George Potter, Steve Beale, Jimmy Britt, Sid Hawes
10/11/1973Magham DownAwayLeague3 – 3John Crisford 2, Wayne Carter
17/11/1973Clive ValeHomeLeague1 – 3Colin Cooke
24/11/1973College (Eastbourne)AwayLeague4 – 4Wayne Carter 2, John Crisford (pen), Steve Beale
1/12/1973Hastings and St Leonards IIAwayFriendly4 – 4Sid Hawes 2, Colin Shearer, George Potter
8/12/1973EckoHomeLeague0 – 4
15/12/1973Hollington Old BoysAwayEastbourne and Hastings League Intermediate Divisions Cup 1st Round 1st Leg1 – 7Wayne Carter
22/12/1973Kolster BrandesHomeLeague2 – 4Sid Hawes, John Crisford
5/1/1974Hastings and St Leonards IIAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round2 – 6Colin Shearer, Ian Thomson
12/1/1974Hollington Old BoysHomeEastbourne and Hastings League Intermediate Divisions Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg0 – 4
19/1/1974Etchingham UnitedHome<League1 – 1Sid Hawes
26/1/1974Eastbourne College of Further EducationAwayLeague2 – 3Sid Hawes, Stuart Baker
2/2/1974Langney SportsHomeLeague2 – 5Steve Beale, John Crisford
16/2/1974Langney SportsAwayLeague1 – 7George Potter (pen)
23/2/1974Ex-ServicemenHomeLeague3 – 1Sid Hawes, Jimmy Britt, Colin Cooke
9/3/1974SpartanAwayLeague0 – 5
16/3/1974College (Eastbourne)HomeLeague0 – 1
23/3/1974EckoAwayLeague3 – 7Steve Beale, Bob Baker, Wayne Carter
30/3/1974Kolster BrandesAwayLeague3 – 3Bob Baker 2 (2 pens), Ian Thomson
6/4/1974Bexhill Amateur Athletic ClubAwayLeague2 – 8Bob Baker (pen), Wayne Carter
15/4/1974Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly5 – 1Wayne Carter 3, John Crisford, Martin Rea
18/4/1974WestfieldAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round1 – 2Bob Baker
20/4/1974Clive ValeAwayLeague0 – 2
27/4/1974SpartanHomeLeague2 – 2Ian Thomson, Wayne Carter

2ND TEAM

It was necessary to go back to the 1964-65 season to find the last year in which the 2nd team won more league games than they lost and it had not happened very often in the side’s history. Apart from a disastrous 14-0 defeat by Stamco, the team usually held their own and provided a good blend of experienced and young players. Six of the last eight league games were won and no less than twenty players were used in these six matches. In the A F A Minor Cup, the team lost 2-1 to Old Monovians III but it was an enjoyable day out.

Colin Gill and Ian Thomson were joint top goalscorers with 9 goals each while Bill Bird had a calming influence on the team.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
31/8/1973Ecko IIAwayFriendly0 – 2
8/9/1973UdimoreAwayFriendly2 – 5T Allen, Ian Thomson
22/9/1973UdimoreHomeLeague3 – 4Robert Glazier, John Causer, Andy White
29/9/1973Kolster Brandes IIAwayLeague2 – 2Ian Thomson 2
6/10/1973Seeboard IIIAwayLeague0 – 5
13/10/1973Old Monovians IIIAwayA F A Minor Cup 1st Round1 – 2Ian Thomson
27/10/1973St Michaels IIAwayLeague4 – 4John Smith 2, Martin Rea, Ian Thomson
3/11/1973Robertsbridge Rangers IIAwayLeague2 – 1Chris Hutchings 2
10/11/1973Iden IIHomeLeague2 – 3Robert Glazier, Ian Thomson
17/11/1973Old Hastonians IIIAwayLeague5 – 0Patrick Newble 2, Stuart Baker, John Smith, Andy White
1/12/1973The Junior Club Tackleway IIIHomeLeague5 – 0John Fuller 3, Stuart Baker, Ian Thomson
8/12/1973StamcoAwayLeague1 – 4Nick Jury
15/12/1973Seeboard IIIHomeLeague1 – 4Martin Rea
22/12/1973The Junior Club Tackleway IIIAwayLeague2 – 1Ian Thomson, R Collingham
29/12/1973StamcoHomeLeague0 – 14
5/1/1974Travaux IIIAwayLeague2 – 2Nick Jury, Colin Gill
19/1/1974Observer AthleticAwayLeague1 – 2John Smith
26/1/1974Old Hastonians IIIHomeLeague5 – 0Bob Baker 2, Martin Rea, Colin Gill, John Smith
2/2/1974UdimoreAwayLeague3 – 0Colin Gill, Martin Rea, Bob Baker
16/2/1974Iden IIAwayLeague3 – 2Colin Gill 2, Martin Rea
23/2/1974BodiamAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round2 – 3Bob Baker 2
2/3/1974Robertsbridge Rangers IIHomeLeague1 – 2Colin Gill
9/3/1974Observer AthleticHomeLeague1 – 3Ian Thomson
16/3/1974SandhurstAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round0 – 2
23/3/1974Travaux IIIHomeLeague3 – 2Colin Gill, Andy White, John Smith
6/4/1974Kolster Brandes IIHomeLeague4 – 2Nick Jury 3, Bill Black
12/4/1974Old BrentwoodsHomeFriendly3 – 2Bill Bird, Colin Gill, Bill Black
20/4/1974St Michaels IIHomeLeague3 – 2Andy White, Colin Gill, Own Goal

3RD TEAM

In league games, the 3rd team scored almost the same number of goals as in the previous season, but let through thirty seven fewer. Apart from the early weeks when there was considerable difficulty in fielding reasonably strong sides, the team played some useful football and had a period of about eight weeks without defeat. At the end of the season, the third team held champions Rye Athletic II to only 2-0 and drew 1-1 with runners-up, Collins and Hayes.

An injury to captain, Colin McPhail, was a serious blow, but Jack Brown looked after the side and had the help of veterans in Peter Turner and Fred Dallaway. During the season, Bernard Roberts, a Kent County Youth goalkeeper joined the Club and gave confidence to the defence. Colin Gill top-scored with 10 goals.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
29/8/1973Westfield IIAwayFriendly2 – 2I Thomson, Alan Murray
8/9/1973Guldeford and Camber IIHomeFriendly2 – 12Paul Milton, Clifford Collyer
15/9/1973Sandhurst IIAwayLeague0 – 6
29/9/1973Sandhurst IIHomeLeague0 – 5
6/10/1973Ore CentreHomeLeague2 – 4Larry Cooke, Gary Grainger
13/10/1973BodiamHomeLeague2 – 5Wayne Carter 2
20/10/1973Guldeford and Camber IIHomeLeague2 – 3Mick Mepham, Jack Brown
27/10/1973Hastings College of Further EducationAwayFriendly1 – 7Mick Mepham
3/11/1973Peasmarsh IIHomeLeague4 – 2Robin Jacoby, Brian Thomas, Colin Gill, Mick Mepham
10/11/1973BodiamHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round0 – 4
17/11/1973Guldeford and Camber IIAwayFriendly0 – 5
24/11/1973Winchmore Hill IVHomeA F A Novets Cup 1st Round1 – 10Brian Thomas
1/12/1973Rye Athletic IIAwayLeague3 – 9Fred Dallaway 2, Larry Cooke
8/12/1973Steadfast UnitedHomeLeague5 – 1John Gill 2, Robin Jacoby, Colin Gill, Gary Grainger
15/12/1973Rolvenden IIAwayLeague1 – 0Colin Gill
29/12/1973Ore CentreAwayLeague3 – 3David Eccles 2, John Gill
5/1/1974Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIIAwayLeague3 – 2Alan Murray, John Fuller, Philip Goodsell
19/1/1974Rolvenden IIHomeLeague4 – 1Colin Gill 3, Peter Harvey
26/1/1974Steadfast UnitedAwayLeague9 – 0Jack Brown 3, Peter Harvey 2, John Causer, Tony Bumstead, Mick Mepham, Own Goal
2/2/1974Collins and HayesAwayLeague2 – 8John Causer, Tony Bumstead
23/2/1974Peasmarsh IIAwayLeague2 – 4Alan Murray, Fred Dallaway
9/3/1974Steadfast UnitedHomeFriendly11 – 3Colin Gill 4, Jack Brown 3, Alan Murray, Andrew Dunlop, Peter Harvey
16/3/1974BodiamAwayLeague1 – 6Peter Harvey
23/3/1974Rye Athletic IIHomeLeague0 – 2
30/3/1974Collins and HayesHomeLeague1 – 1Peter Harvey
20/4/1974Guldeford and Camber IIAwayLeague0 – 6
27/4/1974Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIIHomeLeague1 – 3Jack Brown

BOYS TEAM

No official youth matches were played during the season but Gary Grainger and Tony Bumstead organised several boys games, mostly against Leasam House, which kept the Club in touch with the younger element. It was hoped that enough boys could be found to run a youth team in the following season, but it would be necessary to find senior members of the Club to be present at and look after these games.

SEASON AWARDS

GENERAL MATTERS

The pitch at Icklesham was in good order during the season aided by low rainfall with the ground at Fairlight again also being used. Mick Piper did some pre-season evening coaching, which although poorly attended, was still useful. David French was the main organiser of the Christmas Draw which was well supported by members. The Bert Glazier Cup went to Steve Beale, whose non-stop energy in good times and bad would have delighted Bert. The teams showed up well in the Hastings F A Sportsmanship Cup and all finished in the top ten with marks of over eighty one per cent.

The Annual General Meeting took place at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Thursday, 19th June 1974 at 7.45 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS