Season 1995-96

59TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The highlights of the 59th season were the veterans reaching the final of the Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup for the first time since 1983-84 and the 2nd XI finished with their best playing record for a number of years. The first team had a disappointing season overall but did enjoy some notable victories.

1ST TEAM

At the start of the season a determined effort was made to introduce more young players into the 1st XI and not unexpectedly the side struggled initially, losing four of the first five games before beating Punnetts Town 3-2 after extra time in the Sussex Intermediate Cup, a week after losing 6-0 to the same opponents in the Hastings F A Intermediate Cup.

A run of five wins in eight league games during the season lifted the team to a respectable mid-table position but a poor end to the year saw the side lose the last seven matches and slip to third from bottom in the Premier Division although comfortably ahead of the two relegated teams. The best win being the 2-1 defeat of third-placed Rock-a-Nore.

Steve Fuller was leading scorer with 13 goals with Dale Glazier netting on 12 occasions. Goalkeeper Robert Wiley, who started the season with the 2nd XI, was Players’ Player of the Year and Jim Taberman won the Manager’s Player of the Year award. Thanks were due to Martin Tytherleigh who took over as first team manager during the season.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
22/8/1995Peche Hill SelectHomeFriendly1 – 1Daryll Young
26/8/1995Pebsham SibexAwayFriendly1 – 1Tony Forster
29/8/1995Rock-a-NoreHomeFriendly2 – 3Bob Baker, Martin Tytherleigh
31/8/1995Westfield PloughHomeFriendly5 – 0Martin Tytherleigh 2, Dave Southall, Jim Taberman, Mark Taylor
2/9/1995Old CentmodiansAwayFriendly2 – 1Steve Fuller, Russell Drew
9/9/1995Little Common AlbionHome<League2 – 3Steve Fuller, Martin Tytherleigh
16/9/1995Punnetts TownHome<League0 – 5
23/9/1995PolegateAwayLeague0 – 4
30/9/1995Eastbourne FishermenAwayLeague1 – 1Bob Baker
7/10/1995Punnetts TownAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round0 – 6
14/10/1995Punnetts TownAwaySussex Intermediate Cup 2nd Round3 – 2 *Steve Fuller 2, Dave Southall (pen)
21/10/1995Wadhurst Toc HAwayLeague0 – 3
4/11/1995Old MagdaleiansHomeA F A Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round6 – 2Bob Baker 3, Jim Taberman, Steve Fuller, Russell Drew
11/11/1995Eastbourne Rose and CrownHomeSussex Intermediate Cup 3rd Round2 – 6Martin Tytherleigh, Dale Glazier
18/11/1995Little Common AlbionAwayLeague2 – 1Dale Glazier, Steve Fuller
25/11/1995Wadhurst UnitedAwayLeague2 – 4Stuart Homewood 2
2/12/1995Old HighburiansHomeA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round4 – 1Steve Fuller, Andy Vickers, Stuart Homewood, Russell Drew
16/12/1995Hollington UnitedHomeEast Sussex League Challenge Cup 2nd Round1 – 2Simon Tolcher
6/1/1996Hampstead Heathens IIHomeA F A Intermediate Cup 1st Round1 – 2Martin Tytherleigh
13/1/1996Punnetts TownAwayLeague3 – 3Bruce Hughes 2 (1 pen), Dale Glazier
20/1/1996BodiamHomeLeague3 – 0Dale Glazier 2, Paul Milton
3/2/1996PolegateHomeLeague1 – 3Steve Fuller
10/2/1996BodiamAwayLeague5 – 3Dale Glazier 3, Steve Fuller, Martin Tytherleigh
17/2/1996Tenterden St Michaels IIHomeRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 5Dave Southall
24/2/1996Eastbourne FishermenHomeLeague2 – 0Steve Fuller 2
2/3/1996Rock-a-NoreHomeLeague2 – 1Steve Fuller, Dale Glazier
9/3/1996Eastbourne Rose and CrownAwayLeague0 – 2
30/3/1996Hollington UnitedHomeLeague2 – 5Dave Southall, Dale Glazier
6/4/1996Hollington UnitedAwayLeague1 – 4Dale Glazier
13/4/1996Wadhurst UnitedHomeLeague1 – 7Steve Fuller
17/4/1996Rock-a-NoreAwayLeague0 – 5
27/4/1996Wadhurst Toc HHomeLeague2 – 3Andy Vickers, Bruce Hughes
4/5/1996Eastbourne Rose and CrownHomeLeague2 – 7Paul Milton, Dale Glazier

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

2ND TEAM

This was the best second team record for a long time, finishing in third place in Division Eight with points gained against every other side in the division except the champions, Pebsham Sibex III who were comfortably the best team in the league. Four points were taken off Punnetts Town II, who ended the season as runners-up but disappointingly points were dropped against sides who the 2nd XI would have expected to beat although this was partly due to the side meeting opponents when their first team did not have a game. This can be best illustrated by the 4-1 loss to Wittersham II, who only a week before had been beaten 9-0 by Pebsham Sibex III with the second team being assured that it was essentially the same side as the previous Saturday – “we only had four first team regulars in”.

This made a mockery of the situation where the second team were instructed by the East Sussex League to replay the home league match with Firehills, which was won 2-0, because they brought on an unnamed substitute who was ordered from the field of play by the referee and the side had to play the last 35 minutes with only ten men. Due to a misunderstanding the substitutes had not been named to the referee prior to the start of the match. Whilst not disputing that a rule was broken, it did not appear right that a team can be punished for playing nearly half a game a man short, but strengthening a 2nd or 3rd team with players from a 1st XI is perfectly acceptable. In fact it would not have contravened the rules if the club had played the whole of the first team in the replayed match with Firehills which was played on a Tuesday evening and won 3-1.

The second team was also not helped by losing goalkeeper Robert Wiley to the first team early in the season after 1st XI goalkeeper Neil Pincombe dislocated his shoulder. This left the side without a recognised replacement and altogether twelve different players appeared in goal at some stage during the season. Despite missing out on an automatic promotion place by three points, the reorganisation of the divisions by the East Sussex League meant the team were moved up to Division Seven for the 1996-97 season.

The 2nd XI also put in some good performances in cup games including meeting Division Four side Hurst Green Village 89 in two separate competitions. The first game was away in the Hastings F A Junior Cup and saw a narrow 3-2 defeat. When the two teams met again two months later in the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup at Icklesham, the 2nd team ran out 4-2 winners, a result that must have had such a demoralising effect on Hurst Green that they disbanded shortly after. The next round of the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup saw the second team lose by only 3-1 to Northiam 75, who finished the season as runners-up in Division Two, with the third goal being scored in the last couple of minutes.

The League introduced an ’Invitation Trophy’ towards the end of the season to give teams extra matches where league fixtures had been completed early because of the favourable weather and the second team missed out on a place in the semi-finals by just one point after four victories out of five. This competition did produce some memorable games – recovering from 3-0 down to defeat Pevensey and Westham II 5-4 and the 3-2 victory over Robertsbridge United III where Dave Harding netted from his own half only to redress the balance by also scoring an own goal, but perhaps the greatest achievement was overcoming a strong ITL (Hastings) II side 2-1 at Pannel Lane. The 2nd team fielded only a bare eleven players with no recognised goalkeeper, six of the side had appeared for the veterans the previous evening and by half-time they had sustained two injuries. The aftermath of Mark Taylor’s winning goal – Mark and Jamie Deroe running round the pitch in celebration with shirts over their heads and Danny juniper pumping his car horn – formed one of the more bizarre sights of the season. The ITL side included one Michael Beaumont, taking a couple of years away from Icklesham to play for his works team, but it was good to see Mike’s heart was still with the club as, despite wearing the white shirt of ITL, on a number of occasions he was heard to shout “ we can still win this, greens”!

Gareth Collier top scored with 16 goals while Troy Whyborne with 11 also reached double figures. The Players’ Player of the Year was Robin Frith with Richard Constantine the Manager’s Player and Danny Juniper winner of the Bert Glazier Cup. Rick Fuller and Keith Swallow did a great job in running the side.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
23/8/1995Old Centmodians IIHomeFriendly1 – 8Martin Tytherleigh
28/8/1995Peche Hill Select IIAwayFriendly1 – 3Hugh Sullivan
3/9/1995Andy Jervis XIHomeFriendly2 – 4Gareth Collier,
6/9/1995The Junior Club TacklewayHomeFriendly2 – 4Gareth Collier 2
9/9/1995FirehillsAwayLeague0 – 0
16/9/1995Magham Down IIHome<League5 – 1Steve Beale 2, Gareth Collier, Andy Jervis, Russell Price
23/9/1995The Junior Club Tackleway IIHome<League3 – 0Troy Whyborne 2, Danny Juniper
30/9/1995Bodiam IIAwayEast Sussex League President’s Cup 1st Round4 – 1 *Gareth Collier 2, Russell Price (pen), Jamie Deroe
7/10/1995Northiam 75 IIHomeLeague3 – 2Andy Jervis 2, Robin Frith
14/10/1995Hurst Green Village 89AwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 3Troy Whyborne, Russell Price (pen)
21/10/1995Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round2 – 0Robin Frith, Gareth Collier
28/10/1995StaplecrossHomeLeague5 – 3Gareth Collier 3, Robin Frith, Jamie Deroe
11/11/1995Pebsham Sibex IIIAwayLeague2 – 3Gareth Collier, Troy Whyborne
18/11/1995Castle IIHomeLeague0 – 4
25/11/1995Westfield IIIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 3rd Round0 – 1
2/12/1995Pebsham Sibex IIIHomeLeague0 – 6
9/12/1995Hurst Green Village 89HomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round4 – 2Stephen Crisford 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Troy Whyborne
16/12/1995StaplecrossAwayLeague3 – 0Stephen Crisford, Robin Frith, Gareth Collier
6/1/1996Castle IIAwayLeague5 – 0Paul Milton 2, Troy Whyborne 2, Gareth Collier
13/1/1996Punnetts Town IIHomeEast Sussex League President’s Cup 3rd Round0 – 1
20/1/1996Northiam 75AwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 3Nick Bellhouse
3/2/1996The Junior Club Tackleway IIAwayLeague7 – 2Troy Whyborne 2, Gareth Collier, Richard Constantine, Tom Churchyard, Robin Frith, Hugh Sullivan
10/2/1996Punnetts Town IIHomeLeague3 – 2Troy Whyborne 2, Stephen Crisford
17/2/1996Wittersham IIAwayLeague1 – 4Danny Juniper
24/2/1996Magham Down IIAwayLeague3 – 4Gareth Collier, Rick Fuller, Stephen Crisford
2/3/1996Northiam 75 IIAwayLeague4 – 2Jamie Deroe, John Olds, Bob Baker, Own Goal
9/3/1996FirehillsHomeLeague2 – 0 #Robin Frith (pen), Gareth Collier
16/3/1996Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club IIAwayEast Sussex League Invitation Trophy0 – 2
23/3/1996Wittersham IIHomeLeague3 – 0Stephen Crisford, Paul Milton, Rick Fuller
30/3/1996Punnetts Town IIAwayLeague1 – 1Adam Bourne
6/4/1996Pevensey and Westham IIHomeEast Sussex League Invitation Trophy5 – 4Bob Baker 2, Russell Price, Steve Beale, Rick Fuller
13/4/1996Instrument Technology Limited IIAway>East Sussex League Invitation Trophy2 – 1Michael Hambridge, Mark Taylor
16/4/1996FirehillsHomeLeague3 – 1 #Stephen Crisford, Martin Tytherleigh, Robin Frith
20/4/1996Robertsbridge United IIHomeEast Sussex League Invitation Trophy3 – 2Mark Taylor, Dave Harding, Jamie Deroe
27/4/1996Bohemia UnitedAwayEast Sussex League Invitation Trophy7 – 1Rick Fuller 3, David Mayne 2, Mick Booker (pen), Richard Constantine

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

VETERANS

The veterans side, with several key players missing, lost narrowly 4-3 away to Ulysses in the A F A Veterans Cup, but this was more than made up for by reaching the final of the Hastings F A Veterans Cup.

Wins over Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club Veterans and The Junior Club Tackleway Veterans and a draw with Hollington United Veterans saw the team through to the semi-finals where they gained a hard-fought 1-0 victory over great rivals Westfield Veterans. The opposition in the final at the Pilot Field was again Hollington United with the veterans going down 2-0, but this could have been so different if one of Bob Baker’s two efforts in the opening ten minutes had found the net instead of striking the woodwork.

Steve Beale organised the side well, giving games to all those available where possible and the team spirit was good to see with everyone enjoying the run to the final. It was also pleasing to note that, with one valid exception, all the players had definite past as well as present connections with the club with most having played several hundred games over the years. This could probably not be said about several of the other teams which enter the competition.

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
28/10/1995Ulysses VeteransAwayA F A Veterans Cup Extra Preliminary Round3 – 4Bob Baker 2, Richard Forrest
5/4/1996Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup4 – 0Bob Baker 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Steve Beale
12/4/1996Hollington United VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup0 – 0
19/4/1996The Junior Club Tackleway VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup7 – 2Bob Baker 3, Paul Milton 2, Steve Tytherleigh, Martin Tytherleigh
26/4/1996Westfield VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup Semi-Final1 – 0Martin Tytherleigh
10/5/1996Hollington United VeteransNeutral<Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup Final0 – 2

SEASON AWARDS

ICKLESHAM CASUALS SIX-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT

Icklesham Recreation Ground – Saturday, 8th July 1995

The Six-a-Side Tournament attracted eight teams which were divided into two groups of four with the top two sides again qualifying for the semi-finals.

Both Icklesham Casuals and the Robin Hood entered two teams and it was the Robin Hood ‘A’ team which lifted the shield by defeating Westfield 3-0 in the final. Both of the Casuals side finished in third place in their groups.

THE ICKLESHAM CASUALS FANZINE

The season included a further edition of the club fanzine ‘About Time Too Baker!’ (renamed for one publication) and contained a report on the Ben Nevis trip, an ‘interview’ with Tony Forster and excerpts from Bob Baker’s biography (possibly written by Steve Fuller!).

Issue Number Five – front cover…..

GENERAL MATTERS

One down side to the season was the number of players sidelined by injury and illness. The most serious of these were the broken legs suffered by both Steve Fuller and Gareth Collier, the latter being sustained in the game away at Punnetts Town at the end of March. In addition to Neil Pincombe’s dislocated shoulder, Tom Churchyard underwent a leg operation, Andy Jervis had a facial operation as well as a bad leg injury and Danny Juniper missed several matches with glandular fever. Rick Fuller, who had displayed every injury and illness known to man during the season then demonstrated the dangers in heading the ball by obtaining whiplash after scoring the winning goal against Pevensey and Westham II in the Invitation Trophy.

The club moved back to Icklesham for the majority of the season having played at Pannel Lane in Pett the previous year. It was necessary to hire pitches at Bulverhythe Recreation Ground for the first week or two of the season due to problems with the pitch at Icklesham Recreation Ground – problems which were not of the football club’s making.

In early August prior to the start of the season, the latest expedition saw several members of the club – Bob Baker, Tony Forster, Steve Fuller, Dave Harding and Martin Tytherleigh – climb to the summit of Ben Nevis which raised the magnificent sum of £643. This was split between Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, Children in Need (Bosnia) and the Icklesham Casuals Pitch and Pavilion Fund.

In November 1995, former player and club chairman, Alf Holdstock was awarded the Fred Crouch Memorial Trophy for his services to football over a 50 year period.

The Annual General Meeting of the club this year was held at the Two Sawyers in Pett on Friday, 28th June 1996 at 8.30 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS