Season 1996-97
60TH SEASON
SEASON REPORT
This was the club’s sixtieth season, an event marked at the end of May by an inter-club friendly and a semi-veterans fixture versus Old Centmodians at the Recreation Ground in Icklesham followed by an evening function at the High Beech Hotel in St Leonards attended by over a hundred players, former players and guests.
1ST TEAM
On the field this was a difficult season. After a very poor start which saw the opening seven competitive games lost, the 1st XI manager jumped ship and not for the first time Martin Tytherleigh stepped into the breach and held things together. The transformation was not exactly immediate with Wadhurst United putting no less than twenty four goals past the side in two matches, but gradually league points started to accumulate. Four points were picked up against both Punnetts Town and Eastbourne Fishermen and later in the season a hard earned goalless draw with Rock-a Nore combined with a rare away victory over Hollington United ensured that relegation was avoided by a single point. In view of the earlier results, this was an exceptional achievement due in large part to an excellent team spirit which was apparent to any observer.
Goal scoring was a problem with only twenty eight goals scored all season in all competitions. Bob Baker recorded five of these to top the scoring chart but this was the lowest ever total for a leading scorer for the first team. Tony Forster was selected as a substitute for the East Sussex League Intermediate Representative XI against the West Sussex League XI at Lancing, the match being part of the League’s Centenary celebrations.
1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION |
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 23 | 60 | 12 |
| Cup | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 27 | N/A |
| All Games | 21 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 28 | 87 | 12 |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/9/1996 | Hollington United | Home | League | 1 – 5 | Tim King |
| 21/9/1996 | Polegate | Away | League | 2 – 3 | Paul Field, Karl Tarrant |
| 28/9/1996 | Polegate | Home | League | 0 – 7 | |
| 5/10/1996 | Willingdon Athletic | Away | League | 2 – 8 | Bob Baker, |
| 12/10/1996 | Royal Hussars | Home | Sussex Intermediate Cup 2nd Round | 1 – 3 | Dale Glazier |
| 26/10/1996 | Old Minchendenians II | Away | A F A Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round | 2 – 3 * | |
| 2/11/1996 | Hollington United | Away | Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round | 2 – 3 | Jim Taberman, Own Goal |
| 9/11/1996 | Punnetts Town | Away | League | 2 – 2 | Mark Taylor, Tony Forster |
| 16/11/1996 | Bodiam | Away | Hastings F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round | 0 – 3 | |
| 30/11/1996 | Wadhurst United | Away | East Sussex Challenge Cup 1st Round | 0 – 15 | |
| 28/12/1996 | Punnetts Town | Home | League | 3 – 2 | Paul Milton, Ian Carter, Bob Baker |
| 25/1/1997 | Westfield | Home | League | 1 – 5 | Bob Baker |
| 1/2/1997 | Eastbourne Fishermen | Away | League | 2 – 1 | Paul Milton, Karl Tarrant |
| 8/2/1997 | Eastbourne Fishermen | Home | League | 2 – 2 | Steve Fuller 2 |
| 22/2/1997 | Wadhurst United | Home | League | 0 – 9 | |
| 1/3/1997 | Willingdon Athletic | Home | League | 2 – 3 | Bob Baker 2 |
| 15/3/1997 | Westfield | Away | League | 1 – 3 | Own Goal |
| 29/3/1997 | Hollington United | Away | League | 3 – 1 | Jim Taberman, Karl Tarrant, Ian Carter |
| 5/4/1997 | Wadhurst United | Away | League | 1 – 5 | Steve Fuller |
| 9/4/1997 | Rock-a-Nore | Home | League | 0 – 0 | |
| 23/4/1997 | Rock-a-Nore | Away | League | 1 – 4 | Jamie Deroe |
| Notes * After Extra Time |
2ND TEAM
The second team also had what might be termed a slow start but picked up sufficient points either side of Christmas to ensure that relegation was never a real danger. When able to field a full-strength side, the team looked as good as any in the division – it’s potential underlined by the victory in the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup over Wadhurst United II who were three leagues higher. The 2nd XI was possibly only a couple of players short of being a trophy winning side which represented a vast improvement in a short space of time and manager Rick Fuller must take a lot of credit for this. Mark Taylor with 13 goals finished as leading scorer for the second team.
For the second successive year it was necessary for the East Sussex League to reorganise the divisions due to teams withdrawing and new clubs coming into the League. Once again this benefited the 2nd XI with the side being moved up to Division Six after the restructuring.
2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION SEVEN |
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 58 | 22 |
| Cup | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 11 | N/A |
| All Games | 25 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 45 | 69 | 22 |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/9/1996 | Claverham II | Away | League | 2 – 4 | Russell Price, Rick Fuller |
| 21/9/1996 | Battle Rangers II | Home | League | 1 – 0 | Steve Beale |
| 28/9/1996 | Robertsbridge United II | Away | East Sussex League President’s Cup 1st Round | 2 – 4 | Steve Beale, Rick Fuller |
| 5/10/1996 | Claverham II | Home | League | 1 – 2 | Steve Fuller |
| 12/10/1996 | Mayfield | Home | Hastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round | 1 – 2 | Rick Fuller |
| 19/10/1996 | Silverhill Rangers | Home | Hastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round | 1 – 2 | Rick Fuller |
| 26/10/1996 | Wadhurst United II | Away | Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round | 1 – 0 | Dave Harding |
| 2/11/1996 | Cranbrook Town II | Home | League | 4 – 4 | Steve Beale, Robin Frith, Steve Fuller, Stephen Crisford |
| 16/11/1996 | Punnetts Town II | Away | League | 1 – 4 | Stephen Crisford |
| 23/11/1996 | Cranbrook Town II | Away | League | 2 – 7 | Paul Milton, Steve Beale |
| 30/11/1996 | Hailsham Town III | Away | Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round | 0 – 3 | |
| 7/12/1996 | Battle Rangers II | Away | League | 1 – 1 | Robin Frith |
| 14/12/1996 | Iden III | Home | League | 5 – 2 | Mark Taylor 3, Russell Drew, Tony Forster |
| 18/1/1997 | Punnetts Town II | Home | League | 3 – 1 | Mark Taylor 2, Steve Fuller |
| 25/1/1997 | Pebsham Sibex III | Away | League | 1 – 3 | Troy Whyborne |
| 1/2/1997 | Westfield III | Home | League | 2 – 2 | Mark Taylor, Tom Churchyard |
| 8/2/1997 | Firehills | Away | League | 4 – 1 | Mark Taylor 3, Robin Frith |
| 15/2/1997 | Little Common Albion III | Home | League | 2 – 7 | Stephen Crisford, Mark Taylor |
| 22/2/1997 | Little Common Albion III | Away | League | 1 – 5 | Mark Taylor |
| 1/3/1997 | Iden III | Away | League | 2 – 2 | Jamie Deroe, Robin Frith |
| 8/3/1997 | Hillcrest II | Away | League | 3 – 2 | Mark Taylor 2, Nick Bellhouse |
| 15/3/1997 | Hillcrest II | Home | League | 3 – 0 | Robin Frith 2, Stephen Crisford |
| 22/3/1997 | Pebsham Sibex III | Home | League | 1 – 4 | Stephen Crisford |
| 29/3/1997 | Firehills | Home | League | 1 – 2 | Keith Swallow |
| 19/4/1997 | Westfield III | Away | League | 0 – 5 |
VETERANS
The veterans reached the final of the Hastings F A Veterans Cup for the second season in a row and were again beaten by Hollington United. Veterans. The defeat was a great disappointment, particularly as the side were ahead at half-time. However, this should not detract from another good performance in the competition in which the veterans put ten goals past Westfield Veterans without reply and scored another seven against Hooe Sports Veterans in the semi-final.
Veterans Cup Final Match Programme
The team that contested the final was – Trevor Hoath, Derek French, Michael Hambridge, Andrew Dunlop, Mick Booker, Steve Beale, Martin Tytherleigh, Steve Tytherleigh, Bob Baker, Paul Milton, Terry Ivemy. Substitutes – Keith Swallow, Richard Forrest, Chris Morrell and Rick Fuller (not used).
VETERANS PLAYING RECORD
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 14 | 4 |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/10/1996 | Upminster Veterans | Home | A F A Open Veterans Cup Preliminary Round | 7 – 1 | Bob Baker 2, Nick Griffen, Andrew Dunlop, Terry Ivemy, Steve Beale |
| 16/11/1996 | Port of London Authority Veterans | Home | A F A Open Veterans Cup 1st Round | 0 – 7 | |
| 11/4/1997 | Battle Rangers Veterans | Home | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup | 1 – 1 | Bob Baker |
| 18/4/1997 | Westfield Veterans | Away | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup | 10 – 0 | |
| 25/4/1997 | Hooe Sports Veterans | Home | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup Semi-Final | 7 – 1 | Steve Beale 3, Paul Milton 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Chris Morrell |
| 2/5/1997 | Hollington United Veterans | Neutral< | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup Final | 1 – 4 | Own Goal |
| Notes < Match played at the Pilot Field |
SEMI-VETERANS
A semi-veterans team, with goalkeeper Rob Wiley being the only non-veterans, contested a friendly match with Old Centmodians Veterans as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations at the end of May.
The side included a number of club stalwarts including Chris Ades, Colin McPhail and George Potter.
SEMI-VETERANS PLAYING RECORD
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | N/A |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/5/1997 | Old Centmodians Veterans | Home | 60th Anniversary Match | 1 – 0 | Martin Tytherleigh |
SEASON AWARDS
60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Saturday, 31st May 1997 –
Icklesham Recreation Ground and The High Beech Hotel, St Leonards-on-Sea
A celebration marking 60 years of the club was held on Saturday, 31st May 1997 with an inter-club friendly football match at Icklesham Recreation Ground followed by a veterans team (with the exception of goalkeeper Rob Wiley) taking on Old Centmodians Veterans.
The event moved to the High Beech Hotel in St Leonards in the evening for a get together attended by over a hundred past and present players, their partners and guests and included representatives from every decade of the club.
The end of season presentation evening was combined with the sixtieth anniversary celebrations. The first team Player’s Player of the Year award went to the man who counted all the votes – Martin Tytherleigh with the Manager’s Player of the Year trophy going to Russell Drew. Mark Taylor and Jamie Deroe won the respective second team awards. Karl Tarrant was presented with the Bert Glazier Cup.
GENERAL MATTERS
After the initial teething problems following the levelling work, the pitch had now settled down well and was attracting many favourable comments.
The Annual General Meeting at the end of the club’s sixtieth season was held at the Robin Hood in Icklesham on Friday, 27th June 1997.