Season 1949-50

13TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The season of 1949-50 saw an expansion of the Club’s activities in that three league sides were fielded regularly, the first team in Division One and the second team in Division Three (East) of the Hastings League and the minor side in the Youth Section. It was hoped from a long-term point of view that this would prove to be good for the Club. The playing results of all three sides were only moderate.

1ST TEAM

Division One of the Hastings League was very even and all except three teams were at some point near the bottom of the table. The first team eventually finished next to bottom – eleventh out of twelve teams – with fourteen points from twenty-two games. The main reasons for this unsatisfactory performance were poor shooting which often cost us points in matches against apparently weaker opponents and the absence of regular members of the team which finished the previous season so well. Alan Shearer broke a leg in September and did not play again, Harry Kennard played rarely after Christmas due to work, Peter Shearer and Gordon Hickman were married and missed several games each, while for the last few critical league games Phil Barling was injured. John Archer’s leg mended slowly and he played very little, while Bob Burnett and John Howell were seldom at home. In these circumstances, many of the second XI had several games in the first team with most of them giving useful displays, but were at times that shade too slow-thinking for Division One football.

In cup-ties, the side survived one round of both the Robertsbridge Charity Cup and Sussex Junior Cup but in the Hastings Junior Cup reached the semi-final for the first time after wins over East Guldeford, Northiam (after a replay) and Sedlescombe United (after extra time) before losing 3-2 to Rock-a-Nore II after playing good football.

The most regular players were Frank Baker (33 appearances), Frank Crisford, Alf Holdstock and Micky Wood (32), Arthur Baker and Cyril Jeffery (28), Phil Barling (27), Gordon Hickman (24) and Peter Shearer (20). Leading scorers were Arthur Baker (16 goals), Frank Baker (15) and Charlie Ades (10). Under the leadership of Alf Holdstock, the team maintained a good reputation for trying hard all the time and for sporting play generally.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
3/9/1949Red Lake RangersAwayFriendly5 – 3Charlie Ades 2, Frank Baker, Bob Rich, Lewis Marshall
10/9/1949Old CentmodiansAwayFriendly1 – 1Frank Baker
17/9/1949Sidley United IIAwayLeague1 – 5K Veness
24/9/1949Sedlescombe UnitedHomeRobertsbridge Charity Cup Preliminary Round3 – 1Charlie Ades, Jack Brown, Arthur Baker (pen)
1/10/1949TicehurstAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 1st Round1 – 6Fred Jeffery
8/10/1949Hastings and St LeonardsHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round5 – 1Charlie Ades 2, Frank Baker 2, Peter Shearer
15/10/1949Hastings and St LeonardsAwayLeague2 – 6Arthur Baker, Charlie Ades
22/10/1949Sidley United IIAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round3 – 5Gordon Hickman 2, Phil Barling (pen)
29/10/1949East GuldefordHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round5 – 3Charlie Ades 3, Frank Baker, Gordon Hickman
12/11/1949Old CentmodiansAwayLeague1 – 6Frank Baker
19/11/1949WestfieldHomeLeague1 – 1Arthur Baker
26/11/1949Rye United IIAwayLeague1 – 4Charlie Ades
3/12/1949Ore UnitedHomeLeague3 – 1Arthur Baker 2, Frank Baker
10/12/1949NorthiamAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 1Frank Baker
26/12/1949Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague3 – 2 Bob Burnett 2, Frank Baker
31/12/1949NorthiamHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round Replay3 – 1John Archer, Frank Baker, Arthur Baker
7/1/1950Hollington United IIAwayLeague6 – 4Arthur Baker 4, Gordon Hickman, Alf Holdstock (pen)
14/1/1950Red Lake RangersAwayLeague1 – 3Don Boreham
28/1/1950Rye United IIHomeLeague2 – 3John Farrow, Arthur Baker
4/2/1950Sedlescombe UnitedHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round2 – 1 *John Archer, Frank Baker
11/2/1950WestfieldAwayLeague1 – 5John Archer
18/2/1950Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague2 – 3Frank Baker, Peter Shearer
4/3/1950Ore UnitedAwayLeague3 – 2Arthur Baker 2, Bill Winborn
11/3/1950Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague1 – 2Cyril Rich
18/3/1950Sidley United IIHomeLeague1 – 4Bill Winborn
25/3/1950Bexhill AthleticHomeLeague2 – 0Arthur Baker, Bill Winborn
1/4/1950Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague1 – 3Frank Baker
8/4/1950Hastings and St LeonardsAwayLeague0 – 2
10/4/1950West Hendon Old BoysHomeFriendly4 – 2Bill Winborn 2, Anthony Gibson, Own Goal
15/4/1950Red Lake RangersHomeLeague1 – 1Arthur Baker
18/4/1950Rock-a-Nore IINeutral<Hastings F A Junior Cup Semi-Final2 – 3Frank Baker, Arthur Baker
22/4/1950Bexhill AthleticAwayLeague3 – 3Alf Holdstock 2 (1 pen), Bill Winborn
24/4/1950Old CentmodiansHomeLeague0 – 2
2/5/1950Hollington United IIHomeLeague2 – 2Frank Baker, Bill Winborn

2ND TEAM

Owing to the small number of teams in Division Three (East), the second team had to play a large number of friendly games. This, however, gave the opportunity to try out a number of players and was not without advantages.

The side’s chances of doing well in Division Three were affected by the misfortune of the first team, which meant that Cyril Jeffery played very little and Albert Cane not very often during the second part of the season. Most of the regulars missed one or more games while playing for the senior side so in the circumstances, a halfway position was not a bad achievement. As with the first team, weak shooting often ruined the effect of good work in midfield.

Eric Hollingsworth made the most appearances with twenty-nine, while Len Potten (26), Jack Brown (24), Bill Betts (23) and Bill Jeffery and Cyril Rich (22 each) all turned out regularly. Jack Brown was leading goal scorer with twenty goals followed by Cyril Rich (16) and Len Potten (14). As captain, Bill Betts set an excellent example of sportsmanship and was generally backed up by the team, though some players were too readily provoked into making indiscreet remarks both on the field and in the dressing room. Andy Dunlop again acted as 2nd team manager and reserve to travel.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
17/9/1949Rye United MinorsAwayFriendly1 – 6H Beeching
24/9/1949Old Centmodians IIIAwayFriendly1 – 7Dan Wellwood
8/10/1949Westfield IIAwayFriendly5 – 3Jack Brown 3, Cyril Rich, Harry Fellows
15/10/1949Hastings ElectricityAwayFriendly7 – 1Jack Brown 3, Harry Fellows 2, Len Potten, Albert Cane
22/10/1949IdenAwayLeague3 – 2Cyril Rich 2, Own Goal
29/10/1949Hastings ElectricityAwayLeague2 – 4Cyril Rich, Bob Rich
5/11/1949Observer Athletic ‘A’AwayLeague0 – 1
12/11/1949Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague2 – 2Cyril Rich, Jack Brown
19/11/1949Northiam IIAwayLeague5 – 2Jack Brown 4, Bob Rich (pen)
26/1/1949UdimoreHomeLeague0 – 1
3/12/1949Observer AthleticAwayFriendly4 – 4Norman Butler 2, Bill Jeffery, Bill Betts (pen)
17/12/1949East Guldeford IIHomeLeague6 – 1Don Boreham 3, Cyril Rich 2, Jack Brown
24/12/1949Old Centmodians IIIAwayFriendly0 – 2
27/12/1949Hastings ElectricityAwayFriendly7 – 5Cyril Jeffery 3, Norman Butler 2, Cyril Rich, Bob Lapraik
31/12/1949BeckleyAwayLeague0 – 2
7/1/1950Hastings ElectricityHomeLeague1 – 3Jack Brown
21/1/1950IdenHomeLeague1 – 7Cyril Rich
28/1/1950Westfield IIAwayFriendly2 – 1Cyril Rich 2
4/2/1950UdimoreAwayLeague1 – 2Cyril Rich
18/2/1950Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague1 – 1Bob Rich (pen)
25/2/1950Hastings Youth CentreAwayFriendly7 – 3Len Potten 3, R Collins, Don Boreham, Bill Jeffery
4/3/1950Beckley IIAwayFriendly1 – 0Bill Jeffery
11/3/1950Bohemia UnitedHomeFriendly6 – 3Jack Brown 3, Len Potten 2, Bob Rich
18/3/1950Old Hastonians IIIHomeFriendly5 – 7Cyril Rich 2, Bill Chamberlin, Len Potten, Norman Butler
25/3/1950PeasmarshAwayLeague9 – 4Len Potten 4, Bill Betts, Bob Rich, Jack Brown, Don Boreham, Bill Jeffery
1/4/1950Westfield IIHomeFriendly3 – 8David French, Don Boreham, Trevor Fisher
8/4/1950Observer Athletic ‘A’HomeLeague1 – 1Cyril Rich
10/4/1950PeasmarshHomeLeague3 – 3Len Potten 2, Jack Brown
15/4/1950East Guldeford IIAwayLeague0 – 3
22/4/1950UdimoreAwayFriendly2 – 5Jack Brown, Len Potten
29/4/1950BeckleyHomeLeague2 – 3Cyril Rich, Jack Brown
Notes
# Points awarded for unfulfilled fixture v Northiam II (Home)
Brede II withdrew

3RD TEAM

Six 3rd team friendlies were played during the season, all away from home and resulted in three victories, a draw and two defeats.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
1/10/1949Udimore IIAwayFriendly6 – 0David French 2, Gilbert Jeffery 2, John Farrow, Bill Chamberlin
8/10/1949Old Centmodians MinorsAwayFriendly2 – 4Albert Cane,
19/11/1949Rye Modern School IIAwayFriendly4 – 0Peter Wood 2, John Grainger, Norman Butler
7/1/1950Udimore IIAwayFriendly4 – 5David French 2, George Noakes, Michael Wise
21/1/1950Rye Modern School IIAwayFriendly4 – 2Trevor Fisher 2, David French, Michael Wise
18/2/1950Udimore IIAwayFriendly2 – 2Trevor Fisher, Peter Wood

MINOR TEAM

The decision to enter a team in the Minor League was justified, but it raised a number of problems, some of which were never satisfactorily solved, and for which a solution needed to be found before the under 18 team would be on a sound basis.

The team was on the whole young, with only one regular player being too old for the following season and the players were inexperienced compared with most of their opponents. In these circumstances, they learnt the hard way and suffered a number of heavy defeats. The need of an older player to coach and look after them was glaringly obvious and though various people went occasionally, with Bill Jeffery doing so several times, a Minor team manager with the right qualifications remained one of the greatest needs.

The team were also handicapped by the failure of selected players to arrive on several occasions. Various measures taken reduced this trouble, but not before it had done much harm and the problem was not eliminated completely. Lack of green and white shirts was also an obvious setback to team spirit – a set on order before the start of the season was not delivered during the whole year.

With all these reservations, it can safely be said that the side improved greatly in both playing ability and team spirit during the season and given favourable conditions, it was hoped the minors would do well in 1950-51. Ernie Capon, Bill Chamberlin, Trevor Fisher, David French, Bernard Jeffery, John Moon, George Noakes, Fred Swaine and Peter Wood all played in ten or more league games.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
15/10/1949Little Common Boys ClubAwayLeague2 – 6John Farrow, Peter Wood
22/10/1949Old Centmodians MinorsHomeLeague1 – 2John O’Neill
29/10/1949Rye United MinorsAwayLeague0 – 10
12/11/1949Round Table Boys ClubHomeLeague1 – 8John Farrow
10/12/1949Army Cadet ForceHomeLeague1 – 5Eric Pye
17/12/1949Rye United MinorsAwayHastings F A Youth Cup 1st Round0 – 27
24/12/1949Northiam MinorsHomeLeague2 – 0David French, Peter Wood
14/1/1950Army Cadet ForceAwayLeague1 – 10Peter Wood
28/1/1950West Hill Youth ClubAwayLeague3 – 3Trevor Fisher 2, George Noakes
25/2/1950Boys’ BrigadeHomeLeague0 – 3
4/3/1950Bexhill Athletic MinorsHomeLeague0 – 11
11/3/1950Boys’ BrigadeAwayLeague1 – 3Arthur Ades (pen)
25/3/1950Northiam AwayLeague3 – 3George Noakes 2, Trevor Fisher
8/4/1950Round Table Boys ClubAwayLeague0 – 25
15/4/1950Old Centmodians MinorsAwayLeague0 – 10
20/4/1950Rye United MinorsHomeLeague0 – 11
5/5/1950Hastings Youth CentreHomeLeague3 – 1 #Dick Crisford, Trevor Fisher, Peter Wood
6/5/1950Bexhill Athletic MinorsAwayLeague0 – 10

GENERAL MATTERS

The Club was again indebted to the Icklesham Parish Council for permission to use the Recreation Ground although defective drainage of the ground caused the postponement of one or two games or spoilt the enjoyment of others. Marking out was reasonably well shared, but some people made much more effort to help than others. Those who lived outside the village were making a certain sacrifice to belong to the Club as they had to travel for every home game and it was not unreasonable for those members living in Icklesham itself to do a larger share of this work. Once again the cricket pavilion was hired for changing at 2s. 6d. per time. The difficulty of fielding three teams on one ground was partially overcome by the use of the pitch at Winchelsea from time to time during the second half of the season.

The goal nets deteriorated in condition during the year and were unserviceable by April. The first team were particularly bad offenders as regards taking them down at the end of games and if a fresh set were to be obtained, more care would need to be exercised.

When Alan Shearer broke his leg very badly in only the second game of the season, he was in hospital for several weeks and away from work for a number of months. Grants from the Sussex County Football Association did quite a lot to limit his financial loss and the Club ran a successful Whist Drive for the Fund for which a great deal of the work was done by Mr and Mrs Bob Rich. A Whist Drive for Club funds at Pett, organised by Mr and Mrs Jack Benge also made a useful profit. Thanks were due to everyone who helped with these events.

Considerable anxiety was caused to officials and members by the offensive remarks of a few spectators, who passed from good-humoured sarcasm found on every ground to obscene language, vilification of referees, unsporting abuse of visiting teams and barracking of home players whom they did not like. This resulted in a fair amount of harm being done to the good name of the Club.

The Club was grateful to all those who helped by refereeing Minor League and friendly games, notably Ken Cooke, as well as to the many other members and friends who gave practical assistance which is essential to the smooth running of any club.

The thirteenth Annual General Meeting was held at the Queen’s Head, Icklesham on Tuesday, 25th July 1950.

CLUB OFFICIALS