Season 1988-89

52ND SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The 1988-89 season proved to be a disappointing one for the first team but the 2nd XI showed some improvement on the previous year. Only six games were lost to the weather compared to twenty in season 1987-88 and as a result both sides completed their fixtures by the end of April with neither team being required to play any mid-week matches.

This was the first season as chairman for Nick Bellhouse who was elected to succeed Eric Hollingsworth at the 1988 Annual General Meeting when Eric stood down having held the role for eleven years. After fifty-one years, it was also the first full season for Icklesham Casuals Football Club without William Dunlop.

1ST TEAM

The 1st XI, after losing 7-0 away to champions Rock-a-Nore in their opening fixture in the Premier Division of the East Sussex Football League, then put together a good run which saw them win five and draw two of their next eight league and cup matches including a 1-1 draw at Sandhurst, the league leaders at the time with a one hundred per cent record. The team then suffered the loss of two key players through injury within two weeks of each other, from which they never recovered. Firstly, an A F A Cup match at Teddington against Lensbury II saw Jon Fuller sustain a serious knee injury which restricted him to just two games in goal during the remainder of the season. Then Paul Milton, having scored four goals in a 5-0 victory over Bodiam earlier in the season, suffered a bad ankle injury in the return fixture.

The first team won just one more match against bottom side Hastings Rangers. In fact they took just three points out of a possible thirty and avoided relegation by just one point. Although the playing record was disappointing, half the defeats were only by the odd goal. These included matches against the best sides in the division, 3-2 in the return with Rock-a-Nore when the side recovered from 3-0 down early in the game and in fact had two other ‘goals’ disallowed, and 1-0 versus Firehills when Richard Forrest put in a tremendous display in goal. Nevertheless, improvement would be needed and the side strengthened if the 1st team wanted to be competitive in the Premier Division.

In June, before the start of the season, a friendly was played which was organised through the Two Sawyers in Pett. Included in the opposition side was former England international and Chelsea and Stoke City star, Alan Hudson.

In a season when the side struggled for the most part no player was outstanding, however Derek French turned in consistent performances each week and was rightly named Player of the Year. Bob Baker top scored once more with 15 goals of which nine came from the penalty spot.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
19/6/1988Chelsea/Two Sawyers XIHomeFriendly1 – 4Bob Baker (pen)
9/8/1988Ferring IIAwayFriendly3 – 5Steve Fuller, Russell Drew, Bill Black
25/8/1988Ninfield UnitedAwayFriendly3 – 2Alan Butler, Paul Milton, Raj Rayan
3/9/1988Pebsham SibexAwayFriendly3 – 1John Dudley, Hugh Sullivan, Bob Baker
17/9/1988Rock-a-NoreAwayLeague0 – 7
24/9/1988BodiamHomeLeague5 – 0Paul Milton 4, Russell Drew
1/10/1988Ninfield UnitedAwayLeague2 – 1Russell Drew, Jon Fuller
8/10/1988SandhurstAwayLeague1 – 1Russell Drew
15/10/1988WestfieldHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round0 – 1
22/10/1988HarrowHomeRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round3 – 1Russell Drew 2, Derek French
29/10/1988Stamco IIAwayEast Sussex League Challenge Cup 1st Round1 – 1 *Derek French
5/11/1988Old Tollingtonians IIAwayA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round3 – 1Martin Tytherleigh, Bob Baker, Jon Fuller
12/11/1988Stamco IIHomeEast Sussex League Challenge Cup 1st Round Replay2 – 1Stuart Adams, Bob Baker (pen)
19/11/1988Hawkhurst UnitedHomeLeague1 – 2Russell Drew
26/11/1988Lensbury IIAwayA F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 3Bob Baker
3/12/1988Hastings RangersHomeLeague4 – 2Bob Baker 3 (1 pen), Paul Milton
10/12/1988BodiamAwayLeague1 – 4Bill Black
17/12/1988SandhurstHomeLeague0 – 3
31/12/1988IdenAwayEast Sussex League Challenge Cup 2nd Round2 – 3 *Mark Stace, Martin Tytherleigh
7/1/1989Ninfield UnitedHomeLeague1 – 1Bob Baker (pen)
14/1/1989RusthallHomeRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round2 – 3Paul Milton, Bob Baker
21/1/1989Hooe SportsAwayLeague3 – 4Bob Baker 2 (2 pens), Hugh Sullivan
28/1/1989WestfieldHomeLeague0 – 1
4/2/1989HarrowHomeLeague0 – 3
11/2/1989Stamco IIAwayLeague1 – 2Bob Baker (pen)
4/3/1989Hastings RangersAwayLeague4 – 2Paul Milton 2, Hugh Sullivan 2
11/3/1989FirehillsHomeLeague0 – 5
18/3/1989WestfieldAwayLeague0 – 1
25/3/1989HarrowAwayLeague1 – 3Bob Baker (pen)
1/4/1989Stamco IIHomeLeague1 – 3Martin Tytherleigh
8/4/1989Rock-a-NoreHomeLeague2 – 3Bob Baker (pen), Martin Tytherleigh
15/4/1989FirehillsAwayLeague0 – 1
22/4/1989Hawkhurst UnitedAwayLeague1 – 5Derek French
29/4/1989Hooe SportsHomeLeague2 – 3Hugh Sullivan Gavin Stace

NEWSPAPER ITEMS

2ND TEAM

Having been relegated the previous year, the 2nd team found themselves in a division more suited to their standard and played some good and enjoyable football. The side finished in seventh place out of ten but this could have been a lot better but for the absence of a regular goal scorer which can be seen from the fact Stephen Crisford and Michael Hambridge ended as joint leading scorers with just 5 goals each. The team held their own against most sides and took at least a point off all except two teams in the division.

After waiting until December 17th for their first win in the league, a great improvement was seen after Christmas and three further victories followed, the best of which was a 3-1 win over Pebsham Sibex II which ended their opponents chances of promotion. They also drew 1-1 at home to divisional champions The Junior Club Tackleway II. Defensively the team did better than in the previous season and Bert Mayatt’s outstanding performances in goal made a large contribution to this. Bert missed just one game and duly won the 2nd team Player of the Year trophy. Wayne Fuller was awarded the Bert Glazier Cup for his consistent displays in a variety of different roles.

Other memorable games included the 3-3 draw away to Pevensey and Westham II, a match of three penalties, two of which were scored by the 2nds and the home game against Silverhill Rangers which was lost 2-1, but went one better for penalties with all four being awarded to the opposition but only one being converted.

There were weeks during the season when sixteen or seventeen players were available for the second team and thanks were due to those who either stood down or started the games as substitute. The club was also grateful to Terry Blackford for managing the team and to John Oak who again refereed on the occasions when no official referee was available.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
24/8/1988Marina InnAwayFriendly1 – 7Scott Ellis
17/9/1988SegasHomeFriendly1 – 6Tony Mitchell
24/9/1988Silverhill RangersAwayLeague1 – 1Colin Sinden
1/10/1988Fulham Compton Old Boys IIIAwayA F A Junior Cup Preliminary Round2 – 3Bill Black, Dale Glazier
8/10/1988SedlescombeHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 5Paul Hawker (pen)
22/10/1988HillcrestAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round2 – 5Dale Glazier, Hugh Sullivan
29/10/1988ClaverhamHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 2
5/11/1988East Hoathly IIHomeLeague2 – 2Hugh Sullivan, Scott Ellis
12/11/1988East Guldeford and CamberAwayEast Sussex League Fred Eade Cup 2nd Round1 – 4 *Michael Hambridge
19/11/1988The Junior Club Tackleway IIAwayLeague1 – 3Stephen Crisford
26/11/1988Ticehurst IIHomeLeague0 – 1
3/12/1988HillcrestAwayLeague1 – 7Scott Ellis
10/12/1988Pevensey and Westham IIHomeLeague1 – 5Steve Beale
17/12/1988Heathfield HotspursAwayLeague2 – 0Bill Black, Michael Hambridge
31/12/1988The Junior Club Tackleway IIHomeLeague1 – 1Chris Morrell
14/1/1988Pesbham Sibex IIAwayLeague1 – 6Stephen Crisford
21/1/1988Heathfield HotspursHomeLeague3 – 0Stephen Crisford, Mick Booker (pen), Michael Hambridge
28/1/1988Travaux IIAwayLeague3 – 1Dale Glazer 2, Michael Hambridge
4/2/1988East Hoathly IIAwayLeague2 – 3Michael Hambridge, John Dudley (pen)
11/2/1988Travaux IIHomeLeague0 – 0
11/3/1988Pevensey and Westham IIAwayLeague3 – 3Maurice Sargent 2 (2 pens), Stephen Crisford
25/3/1988Silverhill RangersHomeLeague1 – 2Stephen Crisford
1/4/1988Ticehurst IIAwayLeague0 – 2
15/4/1988Pesbham Sibex IIHomeLeague3 – 1Maurice Sargent 2 (2 pens), Brian Spiers
22/4/1988HillcrestHomeLeague0 – 4

VETERANS

The veterans won their opening match in the Hastings F A Veterans Cup, 5-1 against Old Centmodians Veterans with Hugh Sullivan scoring a hat-trick. The following week, with a weakened side, they lost by the same margin in the semi-final to holders Rye United. Had George Potter and John Osborn been available and Eric Hysted not sustained an injury in the first few minutes, the result may well have been closer.

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
21/4/1989Old Centmodians VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup 1st Round5 – 1Hugh Sullivan 3, Tony Lennon, Bill Black
28/4/1989Rye United VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup 2nd Round1 – 5Terry Blackford (pen)

SEASON AWARDS

GENERAL MATTERS

The Christmas Raffle was again successful although the profit was down on the previous year. The end of season presentation evening was held at the Two Sawyers for the second time.

The fifty-second Annual General Meeting was again held in the pavilion at Icklesham Recreation Ground on Wednesday, 21st June at 8 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS