Season 2001-02
65TH SEASON
SEASON REPORT
After the abandonment of the previous year, the weather was kinder and the season was completed without the need for evening games. It was an unremarkable one as far as the playing records were concerned with both the first and second teams finishing comfortably in mid-table in their respective divisions while the third team struggled and ended bottom of the league. Disappointingly, two matches had to be called off as the club were unable to raise a side – the 2nd XI fixture at East Dean in the Sussex Junior Cup and a 3rd XI league game away to White Knight II.
The matches on Saturday, 9th March provided wins for all three sides for the first time in recent memory and more remarkably, each team won by the same 4-1 scoreline. The 1st team’s success was perhaps the most expected against Division One strugglers Heathfield Hotspurs. However, the second team’s win at the expense of Crowhurst, Division Five leaders at the time, was a major upset and the third team earned a creditable victory away to Wadhurst United III. The goal scorers were also of interest and spanned the generations with 16-year-old Peter Harris scoring his first two goals for the club in the third team win whilst for the first team, player manager Bob Baker showed the benefit of having an old head on 46-year-old shoulders by coming on as substitute and also netting.
1ST TEAM
The first team started the season well, winning the first three league games and being awarded the points for an unfulfilled fixture against Hampden Park Athletic. When they did lose, 4-0 to Ninfield United, they were again given the points as Ninfield fielded an ineligible player. The side were actually top of the table in November but a poor run of five defeats in six matches followed. They did return to the top in March after the 5-4 victory over eventual champions Heathfield United where substitute Bob Baker grabbed a late winner, but having played more games than all the other teams promotion was never really a possibility.
Inconsistency was a problem. As well as the victory over Heathfield United, runners-up Battle Rangers were also beaten at Icklesham, but several heavy defeats were suffered. The first team reached the semi-final of the Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup after their best performance of the season, a 5-1 win against Premier Division Rock-a-Nore. Karl Tarrant with 17 goals was top scorer.
1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE |
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 17 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 42 | 55 | 28 # |
| Cup | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | N/A # |
| All Games | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 51 | 66 | 28 # |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9/2001 | Punnetts Town | Away | League | 5 – 2 | Karl Tarrant 3, Adam Bourne, Luther Sullivan |
| 8/9/2001 | Willingdon Athletic II | Home | League | 5 – 1 | Simon Corke 3, Karl Tarrant 2 |
| 15/9/2001 | Bodiam | Home | Hastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round | 0 – 2 | |
| 29/9/2001 | Slinfold | Home | Sussex Junior Cup 1st Round | 2 – 0 | Pete Gumbrell, Michael Beaumont |
| 6/10/2001 | Heathfield Hotspurs | Home | League | 5 – 3 | Tony Forster, Pete Gumbrell, Adam Bourne, Ryan Bull, Jim Taberman |
| 20/10/2001 | Ninfield United | Away | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 27/10/2001 | Cranbrook Town | Home | League | 2 – 3 | Mike Beaumont, Adam Bourne |
| 3/11/2001 | Battle Rangers | Home | League | 3 – 1 | Adam Bourne 2, Richard Brady |
| 10/11/2001 | Hampden Park Athletic | Away | League | 0 – 3 | |
| 17/11/2001 | Heathfield United | Home | League | 2 – 2 | Karl Tarrant 2 |
| 1/12/2001 | Rock-a-Nore | Home | Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round | 5 – 1 | Richard Brady 3, Adam Bourne 2 |
| 8/12/2001 | Ticehurst | Away | League | 1 – 5 | Karl Tarrant |
| 22/12/2001 | Battle Rangers | Away | League | 1 – 7 | Karl Tarrant |
| 5/1/2002 | Willingdon Athletic | Home | Leeford Place Challenge Cup 2nd Round | 2 – 4 | Simon Corke, Adam Bourne |
| 12/1/2002 | Ninfield United | Home | League | 1 – 4 | Karl Tarrant |
| 9/2/2002 | Willingdon Athletic II | Away< | League | 0 – 3 | |
| 16/2/2002 | Ticehurst | Home | League | 7 – 4 | Karl Tarrant 2, Richard Brady 2, Sean Baker, Karl Angell, Mark Taylor |
| 9/3/2002 | Heathfield Hotspurs | League | Away | 4 – 1 | Karl Tarrant 3, Bob Baker |
| 16/3/2002 | Heathfield United | Away | League | 5 – 4 | Karl Tarrant 2, Mark Taylor, Mike Beaumont, Bob Baker |
| 30/3/2002 | Punnetts Town | Away | League | 1 – 2 | Mark Taylor |
| 6/4/2002 | Cranbrook Town | Away | League | 0 – 6 | |
| 26/4/2002 | Hollington United | Neutral> | Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup Semi-Final | 0 – 4 |
| Notes # Points awarded for unfulfilled fixture v Hampden Park Athletic (Home) (22/9/2001) Points awarded for match v Ninfield United (Away) (20/10/2001) as Ninfield United played an ineligible player For 2nd Round of Sussex Junior Cup see 2nd Team results Match v Cranbrook Town (Leeford Place Challenge Cup 1st Round) (24/11/2001) awarded to Icklesham Casuals < Match played at Icklesham Recreation Ground > Match played at Robertsbridge |
2ND TEAM
The second team season was very similar to that of the first team with some outstanding performances interspersed with some decidedly mediocre ones and a halfway finish in the league. Scoring goals was not a problem with the side only failing to find the net in one match, but too many goals were also conceded and again like the 1st XI a number of losses by wide margins were sustained.
The highlights were the 4-1 away win in the first round of the Sussex Memorials Challenge Cup over Heathfield United II, the runaway winners of Division Four and a 2-1 victory in the next round against Mountfield United, also from Division Four. Disappointingly and summing up the season, the side failed to reach the semi-finals after losing 6-4 in the 3rd round to Peche Hill Select II, who finished bottom of Division Five.
The goals were evenly shared around with Paul Link leading scorer with 7 goals. Wayne Bumstead was 2nd XI Player’s Player of the Year with Sean Baker winning the Bert Glazier Cup.
2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION FIVE |
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 46 | 57 | 20 # |
| Cup | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 21 | N/A # |
| All Games | 23 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 61 | 78 | 20 # |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9/2001 | Peche Hill Select II | Away | League | 2 – 0 | Paul Milton, Sean Baker |
| 22/9/2001 | White Knight | Away | League | 2 – 4 | Sean Baker, Dave Harding |
| 29/9/2001 | Ticehurst II | Away | League | 2 – 1 | Wayne Bumstead, Richard Brady |
| 6/10/2001 | Little Common II | Away | League | 2 – 4 | Troy Whyborne 2 |
| 13/10/2001 | Chertsey Old Salesians III | Away | A F A Junior Cup Preliminary Round | 2 – 4 | |
| 20/10/2001 | Herstmonceux | Home | League | 6 – 3 | Steve Fuller 2, Troy Whyborne 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Sean Baker |
| 27/10/2001 | Hillcrest II | Away | Hastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round | 1 – 2 | Steve Fuller |
| 10/11/2001 | Old Hastonians | Away | Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round | 2 – 7 | Tom Herrieven, Karl Angell |
| 24/11/2001 | Old Centmodians II | Home | League | 1 – 1 | Karl Tarrant |
| 8/12/2001 | Crowhurst | Home | League | 2 – 7 | Troy Whyborne, Bob Baker |
| 15/12/2001 | East Hoathly II | Away | League | 6 – 2 | Luther Sullivan 2, Steve Baker 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Dave Harding |
| 5/1/2002 | Old Centmodians II | Away | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 12/1/2002 | Heathfield United II | Away | Sussex Memorials Challenge Cup 1st Round | 4 – 1 | Wayne Bumstead, Paul Link, Tom Herrieven, Trevor Saunders |
| 19/1/2002 | White Knight | Home | League | 0 – 3 | |
| 2/2/2002 | Victoria Baptists | Home | League | 4 – 0 | Paul Link 3, Paul Milton |
| 16/2/2002 | Victoria Baptists | Away | League | 5 – 4 | |
| 23/2/2002 | Mountfield United | Home | Sussex Memorials Challenge Cup 2nd Round | 2 – 1 | Paul Link 2 |
| 2/3/2002 | Peche Hill Select II | Home | Sussex Memorials Challenge Cup 3rd Round | 4 – 6 | Paul Link, Paul Milton, Sean Baker, Wayne Bumstead |
| 9/3/2002 | Crowhurst | Away | League | 4 – 1 | Steve Fuller 2, Tom Herrieven, Paul Milton |
| 16/3/2002 | Herstmonceux | Away | League | 1 – 2 | Martin Tytherleigh |
| 23/3/2002 | East Hoathly II | Home | League | 3 – 5 | Tom Herrieven 2, Sean Baker |
| 6/4/2002 | Peche Hill Select II | Home | League | 5 – 5 | Tom Herrieven, Paul Milton, Gary Osborn, Trevor Saunders, Sean Baker |
| 27/4/2002 | Little Common II | Home | League | 1 – 11 | Martin Ray |
| Notes # Ticehurst II withdrew – points deducted Match v East Dean (Sussex Junior Cup 2nd Round) (3/11/2001) awarded to East Dean as Icklesham Casuals unable to raise a side For 1st Round of Sussex Junior Cup see 1st Team results |
3RD TEAM
The season was a difficult one for the third XI who found themselves bottom of Division Seven. The season started brightly with a 1-0 win over Bohemia United but only two further league victories and one draw were gained.
In the second round of the JCF Jewellery Challenge Cup the side once more defeated Bohemia United, this time 3-2 on penalties after extra time, with Andrew Dunlop converting the decisive penalty. Michael Hambridge, Graham Payton and James Lock, who was voted 3rd XI Player’s Player of the Year, appeared in every match.
The third team was a young side that fought hard all season and never gave up trying.
3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| EAST SUSSEX FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION SEVEN |
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 19 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 19 | 62 | 10 # |
| Cup | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | N/A |
| All Games | 21 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 22 | 70 | 10 # |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/9/2001 | Bohemia United | Home | League | 1 – 0 | Perrie Hart |
| 22/9/2001 | Little Common III | Away | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 29/9/2001 | White Knight II | Home | League | 0 – 3 | |
| 6/10/2001 | Hastings A P F | Away | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 13/10/2001 | Sedlescombe II | Home | League | 0 – 12 | |
| 20/10/2001 | Bohemia United | Away | League | 1 – 2 | Paul Link |
| 27/10/2011 | Herstmonceux II | Home | League | 5 – 1 | Stephen Crisford, Martin Ray, Perrie Hart, Paul Link, Peter Wilson |
| 3/11/2001 | Punnetts Town II | Away | League | 2 – 4 | Martin Tytherleigh, Gary Osborn |
| 10/11/2001 | Catsfield | Home | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 17/11/2001 | Sedlescombe II | Away | League | 0 – 3 | |
| 24/11/2001 | Bohemia United | Away | JCF Jewellery Challenge Cup 2md Round | 1 – 1 * | Martin Ray |
| 1/12/2001 | Magham Down II | Home | League | 1 – 2 | Danny Juniper |
| 8/12/2001 | Herstmonceux II | Away | League | 0 – 1 | |
| 15/12/2001 | Punnetts Town II | Home | League | 1 – 3 | Steve Wood |
| 22/12/2001 | Hastings A P F | Home | League | 2 – 6 | Jon Fitton, Nick Bridger |
| 12/1/2002 | Little Common III | Home | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 16/2/2002 | Sedlescombe II | Home | JCF Jewellery Challenge Cup 2md Round | 2 – 7 | Jon Reardon, Stephen Crisford |
| 23/2/2002 | Wadhurst United III | Home | League | 1 – 1 | Andrew Dunlop |
| 2/3/2002 | Catsfield | Away | League | 0 – 4 | |
| 9/3/2022 | Wadhurst United III | Away | League | 4 – 1 | Peter Harris 2, Jon Reardon, Chris Whitfield |
| 23/3/2002 | Magham Down II | Away | League | 1 – 3 | Peter Harris |
| Notes # Match v White Knight II (Away) (5/1/2002) awarded to White Knight II as Icklesham Casuals III unable to raise a team * After Extra Time – won 3-2 on penalties |
VETERANS
The veterans showed improvement on recent seasons but still failed to progress from the group stage. A 3-1 defeat to Westfield, the eventual winners of the competition, in the opening game proved to be costly. Victories in the next two matches, 5-2 over Peche Hill Select and 5-0 against Robertsbridge United were not enough to qualify for the final.
VETERANS PLAYING RECORD
| Competition | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/9/2001 | Westfield Veterans | Away | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup | 1 – 3 | Martin Tytherleigh |
| 12/9/2001 | Peche Hill Select Veterans | Home | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup | 5 – 2 | Martin Tytherleigh 2, Mark Mills 2, Bob Baker |
| 19/9/2001 | Robertsbridge United Veterans | Home | Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup | 5 – 0 | Bob Baker 2, Pete Gumbrell, Martin Tytherleigh |
SEASON AWARDS
GENERAL MATTERS
The club were extremely appreciative once more of Rush, Witt and Wilson who generously provided the sum of £843 in sponsorship which allowed the purchase of two new kits.
Towards the end of the season, consideration was given to arrangements for the following year as Bob Baker had informed the club that he was unable to continue as first team manager. Being unable to find anyone prepared to manage a side in the higher reaches of the East Sussex Football League, the dropping the 1st XI and a reduction from three teams to two became a serious possibility. An advertisement for a 1st team manager had been placed in the local press but had not attracted any interest.
The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, 19th June 2002.