Season 1992-93

56TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The fifty-sixth season promised much for the first team but ended disappointingly and although the second team finished bottom of their division mainly due to problems at the start of the season, there were some highlights. It was again encouraging to see more younger players coming to the club and by the end of the season two had progressed to the first team. This was also the season in which the East Sussex League introduced three points for a win.

1ST TEAM

With six matches to go promotion was still a possibility for the 1st XI but with a packed final league programme fatigue set in, several injuries were suffered and a poor run of form meant the season ended in rather an anticlimax and only a mid-table position achieved.

The league highlights were the double completed over champions Punnetts Town and a home victory over Rye United II when the side recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 playing some of their best football of the season. The semi-final of the Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup was reached where the first team lost to Premier Division Hollington United and the quarter-finals of the Hastings F A Intermediate Cup, having two memorable games against the Junior Club Tackleway in the opening round. The side recovered from 2-0 down to draw two-all in the first match and won the replay 3-2 after being 2-1 behind with only two minutes of extra time to go.

The 1st XI entered the Sussex Intermediate Cup for the first time since the 1967-68 season and were then drawn away to the holders, Hastings Town Reserves. After being postponed once, the match was played under floodlights at the Pilot Field in September where the side put up a tremendous defensive performance before going down 2-0 with both goals being scored in the last fifteen minutes. Neil Pincombe had an outstanding game in goal and the corner count was 26-0 in Hastings Town’s favour!

Of the younger players, Scott Fletcher was commanding a regular first team place and Daryll Young played several games at the end of the season and would hopefully be challenging for a position in the side at the start of the new season. Andy Vickers was voted Players’ Player of the Year and Dave Harding won the Manager’s Player of the Year award. Bob Baker topped the goal scorers with 18 goals while Steve Fuller and Paul Milton hit 12 each.

It was hoped that this first team squad would remain together and with the addition of one or two new signings to add strength in depth then there would be no reason why in twelve months time the first team could not be celebrating promotion back to the Premier Division.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
7/8/1992Old HastoniansHomeFriendly5 – 0Steve Fuller, Paul Milton, Iain Curry, Martin Tytherleigh, Bob Baker
15/8/1992Pebsham SibexAwayFriendly0 – 1
25/8/1992The Junior Club TacklewayHomeFriendly7 – 1Iain Curry 3, Bob Baker 2, Russell Drew, Paul Milton
2/9/1992Rock-a-NoreHomeFriendly2 – 3Bob Baker, Iain Curry
12/9/1992WestfieldHomeLeague2 – 0Steve Fuller, Bob Baker
19/9/1992BurwashAwayLeague2 – 5Bob Baker, Steve Fuller
30/9/1992Hastings Town IIAwaySussex Intermediate Cup 1st Round0 – 2
17/10/1992Old Town EastbourneHomeEast Sussex Challenge Cup 2nd Round4 – 5 *Bob Baker 2 (2 pens), Steve Fuller, Paul Milton
24/10/1992SandhurstAwayLeague1 – 1Bob Baker
31/10/1992Rye United IIAwayLeague1 – 1Bob Baker
7/11/1992Carshalton IIHomeA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round1 – 1 *Martin Tytherleigh
14/11/1992Carshalton IIAwayA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round Replay1 – 4Steve Fuller
21/11/1992The Junior Club TacklewayHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 2 *Paul Milton 2
12/12/1992Punnetts TownAwayLeague2 – 1Bob Baker, Steve Fuller
9/1/1993The Junior Club TacklewayAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round Replay3 – 2 *Bob Baker 2, Paul Milton
16/1/1993SandhurstHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round4 – 1Bob Baker 2 (2 pens), Stuart Homewood, Tony Forster
6/2/1993Old HastoniansHomeRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 0Steve Fuller 2
20/2/1993Old HastoniansAwayLeague2 – 0Paul Milton, Bob Baker
27/2/1993BurwashHomeLeague0 – 1
6/3/1993SandhurstAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round3 – 1Martin Tytherleigh, Scott Fletcher, Bob Baker
13/3/1993BodiamHomeHastings F A Intermediate Cup 3rd Round1 – 4Scott Fletcher (pen)
20/3/1993Old HastoniansHomeLeague4 – 0Paul Milton 2, Scott Fletcher, Steve Fuller
27/3/1993Ninfield UnitedAwayLeague1 – 0Steve Fuller
3/4/1993Punnetts TownHomeLeague4 – 1Scott Fletcher, Paul Milton, Stuart Homewood, Steve Fuller
10/4/1993The Junior Club TacklewayHomeLeague1 – 3Bob Baker (pen)
12/4/1993Rye United IIHomeLeague2 – 1Paul Milton, Scott Fletcher
17/4/1993Hastings RangersHomeLeague1 – 1Steve Fuller
19/4/1993WestfieldAwayLeague0 – 2
24/4/1993SandhurstHomeLeague1 – 4Paul Milton
27/4/1993Hastings RangersAwayLeague2 – 2Scott Fletcher, Daryll Young
1/5/1993Ninfield UnitedHomeLeague0 – 3
8/5/1993The Junior Club TacklewayAwayLeague0 – 2
11/5/1993Hollington UnitedNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup Semi-Final1 – 5Scott Fletcher

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

2ND TEAM

The 2nd XI finished in last place in Division Seven of the East Sussex League on goal difference. This was due to problems at the start of the season when the side was struggling for both players and a manager and at one point it looked as though the club would not even have a second team. With Bill Black working on Saturday afternoons, he was unable to continue as manager. Gareth Collier ran the side for the first few matches until Steve Jones offered to take over and thanks were due to them both for the work put in during the season as well as to all the players who stuck by the club in a very difficult period.

The side was on the end of some heavy reverses early on and the first victory was not achieved until the 30th January, the tenth league game, when the team beat Burwash II. Further league victories followed against Northiam 75 II, Cranbrook Town II and Durgates, who finished third in the table. The side also lost by only 2-1 at home to champions Heathfield Hotspurs, who won every league game, with the second half performance in the match being well worth a draw.

In cup competitions, the second team were unlucky to be drawn against teams from several divisions higher in three of the trophies and large defeats were suffered. However, the side reached the quarter-finals of the Hastings F A Lower Divisions Cup, beginning the campaign with a 5-5 draw after extra time against Bexhill Athletic II after leading 4-0 at half-time. In fact it was only a late penalty from Scott Fletcher that earned a replay. This was won comfortably 3-0 and victory by the same score was then achieved against Seeboard from a division higher in the next round. This was probably the best performance of the season. The quarter-final tie with Heathfield Hotspurs II finished level at 2-2 after extra time but the 2nd XI lost 2-0 on penalties after missing all four of their spot-kicks.

With the defensive problems encountered at the start when many goals were conceded it was good to note that at one stage during the season, after the introduction of a new look central midfield partnership of Trevor Hoath and Richard Forrest, the second team kept four consecutive clean sheets in league and cup games.

Gareth Collier was top scorer with 12 goals while Daryll Young on 10 also reached double figures. Mick Booker won the Players’ Player of the Year Trophy and Trevor Hoath the Manager’s Player of the Year award, both for the second season in succession. The Bert Glazier Cup was won by Daryll Young.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
5/9/1992National Westminster Bank XIHomeFriendly4 – 4Paul Milton, Gareth Collier, David Mayne, Own Goal
12/9/1992CatsfieldAwayFriendly1 – 5Gareth Collier
19/9/1992Tenterden St Michaels IIIHomeLeague1 – 2Own Goal
26/9/1992Beckley 92HomeLeague1 – 9Matthew Sams
3/10/1992Northiam 75 IIAwayEast Sussex League Fred Eade Cup 1st Round0 – 1
10/10/1992Claverham IIHomeLeague2 – 4Trevor Hoath, Own Goal
17/10/1992Heathfield HotspursAwayLeague1 – 9Trevor Hoath
24/10/1992Old Actonians Association IIIHomeA F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 9Trevor Hoath (pen)
31/10/1992Old CentmodiansHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 10Daryll Young, Matthew Sams
7/11/1992DurgatesAwayLeague0 – 3
14/11/1992Northiam 75 IIHomeLeague2 – 2Trevor Hoath, Paul Martin
21/11/1992Tack UnitedAwayLeague2 – 4Steve Jones, Trevor Hoath (pen)
19/12/1992Tenterden St Michaels IIHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 9
2/1/1993Beckley 92AwayLeague2 – 5Joe Beardsley, Gareth Collier
16/1/1993Westfield IIIAwayLeague2 – 3Daryll Young 2
23/1/1993Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round5 – 5 *Gareth Collier 2, Scott Fletcher 2 (1 pen), Daryll Young
30/1/1993Burwash IIHomeLeague2 – 1Joe Beardsley, David Hughes
6/2/1993Old Centmodians IIAwayLeague1 – 5Joe Beardsley
13/2/1993Claverham IIAwayLeague2 – 5Gareth Collier, David Hughes
20/2/1993Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round Replay3 – 0Daryll Young, Joe Beardsley, David Hughes
27/2/1993BurwashAwayLeague0 – 0
6/3/1993Seeboard (Hastings)AwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 3rd Round3 – 0Gareth Collier 2, Daryll Young
13/3/1993Northiam 75 IIAwayLeague1 – 0Gareth Collier
20/3/1993Heathfield Hotspurs IIAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 4th Round2 – 2 *^Daryll Young, Gareth Collier
27/3/1993DurgatesHomeLeague1 – 0Trevor Hoath (pen)
3/4/1993Cranbrook Town IIHomeLeague2 – 3Gareth Collier, Scott Fletcher
10/4/1993Cranbrook Town IIAwayLeague2 – 1Daryll Young 2
14/4/1993Heathfield HotspursHomeLeague1 – 2Daryll Young
24/4/1993Westfield IIIHomeLeague2 – 6Joe Beardsley, Hugh Sullivan
1/5/1993Tenterden St Michaels IIIAwayLeague0 – 3
5/5/1993Tack UnitedHomeLeague4 – 4Gareth Collier, Joe Beardsley, Paul Milton (pen), Own Goal
7/5/1993Old Centmodians IIHomeLeague0 – 5

VETERANS

The A F A Veterans Cup was entered again after an absence of eight seasons and the veterans side were drawn away to Old Aloysians Veterans. Although a much postponed match was lost 3-2, the day out in Finchley proved most enjoyable and confirmed the wisdom of taking part in the competition.

The Hastings F A Veterans Cup was run for the first time on a league basis therefore guaranteeing each team three games. The veterans started well with a 2-0 win over Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club Veterans but this was followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat against eventual winners Battle Rangers Veterans. With several players missing through injury or holiday the final tie versus Rye United Veterans was lost 3-1.

The veterans matches were again enjoyed by everyone and it was good to see Andrew Dunlop once more in an Icklesham Casuals shirt and watching his performances, it was hard to believe it had been nine years since he last played a game of football.

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/1/1993Old Aloysians VeteransAwayA F A Veterans Cup 1st Round2 – 3Alf Benton, Own Goal
9/4/1993Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup2 – 0Bob Baker 2
16/4/1993Battle Rangers VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Cup0 – 1
23/4/1993Rye United VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup1 – 3Bob Baker

SEASON AWARDS

ICKLESHAM CASUALS SIX-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT

Icklesham Recreation Ground – Saturday, 18th July 1992

Twelve teams took part in the 1992 Icklesham Casuals Six-a-Side Tournament held in conjunction with the Icklesham Fete in July.

The two group winners were the Robin Hood and Viking with Icklesham Casuals ‘B’ and Sedlescombe finishing as group runners-up. Robin Hood won their semi-final with Sedlescombe but Icklesham Casuals ‘B’ defeated Viking 3-0 to qualify for the final. A single goal in the final won the William Dunlop Memorial Shield for the Robin Hood.

The Icklesham Casuals ‘B’ squad was:- Neil Pincombe, Hugh Sullivan, Mick Booker, David Mayne, Paul Milton, Gareth Collier, Steve Beale and Andy Vickers.

THE ICKLESHAM CASUALS FANZINE

The season saw the introduction of the Icklesham Casuals fanzine ‘About Time Too Fuller!’ with the first two issues being published. The name resulted from the 5-2 defeat the first team suffered at Burwash early in the season when Steve Fuller managed to miss numerous one-on-ones with the opposing goalkeeper during the game. In the final minute or two he was put through again and this time found the back of the net at which point these were the words that Colin Stace, watching from the side, was heard to say. The idea of the fanzine was to act as a link between the teams and to keep past and present players informed of what was happening at the club.

ISSUE NUMBER ONE – front cover…..

ISSUE NUMBER TWO – front cover…..

GENERAL MATTERS

Off the field this was quite a busy season for the club with much effort being put towards fundraising for the pitch and pavilion improvements. Two quizzes were organised which proved very popular locally with Steve Beale doing a great job as question master. Mick Booker and Martin Tytherleigh ran in the Hastings Half marathon raising around £320 in sponsorship and in all almost £850 was added to the funds. The work to improve the showers was carried out during the year.

Since the death of William Dunlop in 1988, the club had probably taken a few backward steps which was understandable when remembering the contribution William made to the club. However, with the progress made, particularly off the field, over the last season, the feeling was that much of the spirit had returned within the club and the next few seasons could be looked forward to with confidence.

The 1993 Annual General Meeting was held in the pavilion at Icklesham Recreation Ground on Friday, 18th June at 8.15 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS