Season 1991-92

55TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The 1991-92 season did not turn out to be one of the more memorable ones in the club’s history. The 1st XI struggled throughout the year, finished the season second bottom and were relegated from the Premier Division of the East Sussex League while the 2nd team ended mid-way in a division that the side had the ability to win.

On a more promising note, it was good to see more young players appearing in the second team than had been the case in recent seasons and with encouragement it was hoped it would not be long before they were progressing to the first team.

1ST TEAM

This was one of the most disappointing seasons for the 1st team for a long time with only three wins in twenty-six matches, one in the league, one cup game and one friendly. The Premier Division was won by Shinewater who were a class above any other side and although fourteen games were lost, a number of the matches were close and improvement was seen towards the year of the season when five out of the last six defeats were only by the odd goal. These included the games against Bodiam and Hawkhurst United when the winning goals were scored in the last minute or two.

Goalkeeping problems did not help the situation with the side losing Jon Fuller through injury before the start of the season and then his replacement, Matthew Hogan, going down with glandular fever and hepatitis after only a few games. In fact five different players appeared between the posts during the season. It also didn’t help that defensively the side managed to gift the opposition at least one goal in most games.

Regardless of relegation, the side would need strengthening for the next season which would partially be achieved from the young players coming through the second team. The awards this year went to David Mayne as Players’ Player and Stuart Adams as Manager’s Player. At the end of the season a friendly was played against a touring team from Holland followed by a barbeque at the Robin Hood.

Following the match with Shinewater AFC on 2nd November, the East Sussex League received a letter from referee Peter Mitchell praising the sporting behaviour of both teams.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
31/8/1991Rock-a-NoreHomeFriendly4 – 3Christian Kipps 2, Bob Baker (pen), Bill Black
11/9/1991BeckleyHomeFriendly1 – 1Bob Baker (pen)
21/9/1991Hollington UnitedAwayLeague0 – 5
28/9/1991Wadhurst UnitedHomeLeague3 – 3Paul Milton 2, Bob Baker
5/10/1991Eastbourne FishermenHomeEast Sussex League Challenge Cup 1st Round1 – 2 *Stuart Adams
19/10/1991BodiamHomeLeague1 – 4Andy Vickers
2/11/1991Shinewater AFCAwayLeague0 – 3
9/11/1991Old Latymerians IIHomeA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round1 – 2Paul Milton
16/11/1991Sidley United IIHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round0 – 1
23/11/1991Hollington UnitedHomeLeague2 – 6Russell Drew, Robin West
30/11/1991RusthallAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round4 – 1Paul Milton 2, Stuart Adams, Bob Baker
7/12/1991FirehillsAwayLeague0 – 4
14/12/1991Rock-a-NoreAwayLeague3 – 4Christian Kipps 2, Mark Stace
28/12/1991WestfieldHomeLeague4 – 0Christian Kipps 3, Paul Milton
4/1/1992FirehillsHomeLeague0 – 4
11/1/1992Hawkhurst UnitedHomeLeague3 – 3Paul Milton, Christian Kipps, Mark Stace
18/1/1992Wadhurst UnitedAwayLeague1 – 3Paul Milton
25/1/1992Rye United IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 4Steve Fuller
8/2/1992Tenterden St MichaelsHomeLeague1 – 2Christian Kipps
15/2/1992WestfieldAwayLeague2 – 2Martin Tytherleigh 2
29/2/1992Rock-a-NoreHomeLeague1 – 2Phil Clarke
14/3/1992Shinewater AFCHomeLeague0 – 5
21/3/1992Tenerden St MichaelsAwayLeague2 – 3Phil Clarke, Mark Stace
28/3/1992BodiamAwayLeague1 – 2Phil Clarke
18/4/1992Hawkhurst UnitedAwayLeague1 – 2Bob Baker
30/5/1991Dutch XIHomeFriendly2 – 3Iain Curry 2

2ND TEAM

For the 2nd XI the season promised much but eventually also ended in disappointment. With four games to go promotion was still a possibility but defeat in all four, although this did include two games against champions Nelson Tigers, meant only a mid-table position was achieved.

The problem the first team had with goalkeepers had a knock-on effect on the second team and on several occasions the side had to play without a recognised keeper. Most players had to take their turn in goal at some point during the season and this undoubtedly had a bearing on results. A priority for the 1992-93 was to find a regular goalkeeper. Thanks was due to Richard Forrest who came out of retirement to help out both teams.

On a brighter note, the 2nd team won their first cup game for six seasons with a 5-2 extra time victory against Old Hastonians II, a team two divisions higher, in the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup. Just to prove this wasn’t a one-off, the team went on to win another one in the East Sussex League Fred Eade Cup. Two other notable performances also came in cup fixtures – a narrow 2-1 loss to Hawkhurst United II from Division Three and a 4-3 defeat against Rye United III from Division Four, a game that should have been won comfortably. Another memorable match was the 10-0 league win over Ticehurst which saw Gareth Collier net four goals and Stephen Crisford also complete a hat-trick.

Trevor Hoath was leading scorer with 14 goals, followed by Gareth Collier with 13 and Iain Curry with 10. Mick Booker, always reliable at centre-half, won the 2nd team Players’ Player of the Year award with Trevor Hoath being Manager’s Player of the Year. Matthew Sams was the Bert Glazier Cup winner.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
28/9/1991Robin HoodHomeFriendly6 – 1Paul Milton 2, Tony Forster 2, Trevor Hoath, Own Goal
5/9/1991Nelson TigersHomeFriendly4 – 2Trevor Hoath 2 (1 pen), Christian Kipps, Robin West
7/9/1991National Westminster Bank XIHomeFriendly4 – 4David Mayne 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Christian Kipps
14/9/1991Mountfield UnitedHomeFriendly1 – 3Steve Fuller
21/9/1991BeckleyHomeLeague0 – 4
28/9/1991Cranbrook TownAwayLeague1 – 1Scott Fletcher
12/10/1991Old Hastonians IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round5 – 2 *Christian Kipps 3, Bob Baker, Trevor Hoath (pen)
26/10/1991Old Salesians IIIHomeA F A Junior Cup 1st Round0 – 3
2/11/1991Rye United IIIHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round3 – 4Paul Belchamber, Trevor Hoath (pen), Hugh Sullivan
9/11/1991Westfield IIIAwayLeague0 – 4
16/11/1991BainbridgeAwayLeague2 – 3Steve Beale, Scott Fletcher
30/11/1991Hawkhurst United IIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 2Stephen Crisford
14/12/1991Ticehurst IIHomeLeague10 – 0Gareth Collier 4, Stephen Crisford 3, Trevor Hoath 2, David Mayne
4/1/1992SedlescombeAwayLeague1 – 3Chris Morrell (pen)
11/1/1992Old Centmodians IIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round1 – 4Hugh Sullivan
18/1/1992BainbridgeHomeLeague2 – 1Iain Curry, Trevor Hoath
1/2/1992BainbridgeHomeEast Sussex League Fred Eade Cup 2nd Round4 – 2 *Gareth Collier 2, Trevor Hoath (pen), Iain Curry
8/2/1992Ticehurst IIAwayLeague8 – 4Trevor Hoath 4, Bob Baker 2, Iain Curry 2
15/2/1992SedlescombeAwayEast Sussex League Fred Eade Cup 3rd Round3 – 6Gareth Collier, Steve Jones, Own Goal
22/2/1992SedlescombeHomeLeague0 – 0
29/2/1992Tenterden St Michaels IIIAwayLeague2 – 3Bob Baker 2
7/3/1992Westfield IIIHomeLeague5 – 4Bob Baker 2, Gareth Collier 2, Iain Curry
14/3/1992Mayfield IIAwayLeague3 – 1Iain Curry 2, Gareth Collier
21/3/1992Tenterden St Michaels IIIHomeLeague5 – 1Iain Curry 2, Scott Fletcher, Gareth Collier, Matthew Sams
28/3/1992Cranbrook Town IIHomeLeague3 – 5Mick Booker, Nick Bellhouse, Iain Curry
4/4/1992Mayfield IIHomeLeague1 – 2Trevor Hoath
11/4/1992Nelson TigersHomeLeague1 – 3Gareth Collier
18/4/1992Nelson TigersAwayLeague0 – 3
27/5/1992Robin HoodHomeFriendly2 – 4Robin West, Gareth Collier

VETERANS

The veterans warmed up for the Hastings F A Veterans Cup with a win in a semi-veterans friendly against The Junior Club Tackleway Veterans before facing Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club Veterans in the first round. This proved to be a most enjoyable game with much skill displayed by both teams and resulted in a 3-2 victory after twice being behind. In the semi-final, the veterans faced Westfield Veterans and despite losing several players to injury and unavailability put up another good performance. The match was played throughout in pouring rain and after extra time the score was level at 2-2. In almost darkness the side then lost by the cruellest of ways, 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out.

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
10/4/1992Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Cup 1st Round3 – 2Bob Baker 2, Alf Benton
24/4/1992Westfield VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup Semi-Final2 – 2 *Bob Baker, Alf Benton

SEMI-VETERANS

SEMI-VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/4/1992The Junior Club TacklewayHomeFriendly1 – 0Bob Baker

SEASON AWARDS

ICKLESHAM CASUALS SIX-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT

Icklesham Recreation Ground – Saturday, 20th July 1991

Eleven teams took part in the 1991 Six-a-Side Tournament with the side from Rye Blackboys failing to turn up.

The teams were again split into two groups with both Icklesham Casuals sides finishing as runners-up in their groups and therefore qualifying for the semi-finals. The ‘A’ team defeated Silverhill on penalties after a 0-0 draw while the ‘B’ team won 1-0 against Claverham to set up an all-Icklesham Casuals final. In the final it was the ‘A’ team who was successful with a 3-0 victory, therefore winning the William Dunlop Memorial Shield.

The winning Icklesham Casuals ‘A’ squad was:- Russell Drew, Jon Fuller, David Mayne, Paul Milton, Gavin Stace, Mark Stace and Martin Tytherleigh while the ‘B’ team squad was:- Steve Beale, Bill Black, Wayne Farrier, Wayne Fuller, Jason Goodyear, Andy Vickers and Heath West.

GENERAL MATTERS

Research started into the possibility of carrying out improvements to the playing surface of the pitch at the Recreation Ground and also hopefully to the changing facilities and if these progressed, much time and effort would need to be put in over the following season, especially with regard to fundraising, if the work was to go ahead.

Over it’s 55 year history, the club had built up a reputation for sportsmanship and sense of fair play. This season, one player was sent-off and two cautioned with neither team finishing in the top ten in the Sportsmanship Trophy. While this did not mean high marks were not still achieved for sportsmanship, it was hoped that the sending-off and bookings were something that would not be repeated and would be borne in mind by everyone playing for the club in the coming seasons.

The Annual General Meeting was held in the pavilion at Icklesham Recreation Ground on Friday, 12th June at 8.15 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS