Season 1960-61

24TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

With the exception of the weather, the twenty-fourth season was one of the most successful in the history of the Club. The 1st XI won Division One of the Hastings League for the third time, reached the semi-final of the Hastings Junior Cup for the fourth time and, after playing right through from the preliminary round of the Sussex Junior Cup, reached last eight out of one hundred and forty two clubs. The reserves were third in Division Two and lost in the semi-final of both the Robertsbridge Charity Cup and the Hastings League Division Two Cup. The 3rd team showed decided improvement and had many promising players. Finances also improved.

Only the weather – with the wettest autumn for two hundred years and more wet weather for the next three months – made football unpleasant. In the Sussex Junior Cup Preliminary Round match on October 1st at Crowborough there was water on the pitch and in the last league game at Icklesham in May there was also water on the pitch. On many Saturdays in between those dates, grounds were wet, very wet or unplayable.

1ST TEAM

From the point of view of results, this was the best season to date for the first team. More games were won and more goals scored than in any previous season and also the fewest number of goals were conceded in league games. With one exception, the side was lucky with injuries and able to field a largely unchanged team throughout. The exception was an important one when Dick Crisford, keeping goal better than ever, was badly hurt in a car crash in November and did not play again all season. Fortunately, Jim Brunger took over in very competent style. Apart from Dick Crisford, the team that played in the first competitive game of the season remained intact and the build-up of teamwork was a major factor in the success. It will always be a matter for argument whether the side was as good as the first team of 1951-52 when there were teams such as Rye United II, Sidley United II and Hastings Rangers II in the Hastings League, but taking one week with another it was probably as good a team in the history of the Club to that date.

The regular side was:- Jim Brunger, Warwick Breeds, George Potter, David French, Jack Brown, Bryan Butler, George Noakes, David Perkins, Chris Ades, Bill Burt and Bob Southerden.

David French played regularly for the Hastings League representative side and George Potter appeared in two matches. Other players were also closely considered for representative honours. On no less than fifteen occasions the defence, which covered well all season, did not concede a goal.

Division One of the Hastings League was a strong and even competition, producing a series of hard fought games and in several cases the scales were tipped in favour of the team by the determined captaincy of David French, who again set a fine example of sportsmanship and non-stop action. On the whole, the side followed his lead, though there was a little too much talking on the field at times.

Due to cup runs and wet weather, the first team had to play thirteen games in April, including the enjoyable annual friendly against Old Parkonians and fifteen matches in total between April 1st and May 4th. Jim Brunger, Warwick Breeds and George Noakes played in all of them.

The team had its longest run to date in the Sussex Junior Cup, winning through five rounds against clubs from the Brighton, Tonbridge, Hastings, Hailsham and Crawley Leagues, before losing narrowly to Eastbourne United III, who went down by an odd goal to the eventual winners. The display given by the young Eastbourne United III goalkeeper was one of the best ever seen on the Recreation Ground at Icklesham.

Chris Ades was top scorer with 47 goals in all competitions while Bob Southerden found the net on 31 occasions and Bill Burt scored 22 times. Warwick Breeds, Jack Brown and George Noakes missed just one match all season.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
10/9/1960WestfieldAwayFriendly14 – 1Chris Ades 6, Bob Southerden 2, David Perkins 2, Bill Burt 2, Colin Relf, George Potter (pen)
17/9/1960Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayFriendly2 – 3David French, George Potter (pen)
1/10/1960Crowborough Athletic IIAwaySussex Junior Cup Preliminary Round7 – 1George Noakes 2, Bob Southerden 2, Chris Ades 2, David Perkins
8/10/1960Bexhill Town Athletic IIIAwayLeague3 – 0George Noakes, Bob Southerden, Own Goal
22/10/1960Jarvis BrookHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round10 – 0Chris Ades 3, George Noakes 2, David French, Bob Southerden, David Perkins, George Potter (pen), Own Goal
29/10/1960Old Hastonians IIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round13 – 0Chris Ades 7, Bob Southerden 3, George Noakes, Bill Burt, David Perkins
5/11/1960Observer AthleticAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round5 – 3David Perkins 2, Bob Southerden, George Noakes, Chris Ades
12/11/1960WestfieldAwayLeague5 – 0Chris Ades 2, Bob Southerden 2, George Potter (pen)
19/11/1960Hastings PoliceHomeLeague3 – 2Chris Ades, Bill Burt, Bob Southerden
26/11/1960Geebro Sports (Hailsham)AwaySussex Junior Cup 3rd Round3 – 0Chris Ades, Bob Southerden, Own Goal
3/12/1960Etchingham UnitedHomeLeague6 – 0Bob Southerden 3, Chris Ades 2, Bill Burt
10/12/1960Ore UnitedAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round8 – 1Chris Ades 4, Bill Burt 2, Bob Southerden 2
24/12/1960Hawkhurst UnitedAwayLeague3 – 1George Noakes, John Dunk, Bob Southerden
14/1/1961WestfieldHomeLeague4 – 0David Ades 2, George Noakes, Own Goal
21/1/1961PeasmarshAwayLeague4 – 2Chris Ades3, Bob Southerden
11/2/1961Universal Sports (Crawley)HomeSussex Junior Cup 4th Round8 – 1David Ades 2, Bill Burt 2, David French, George Noakes, David Perkins, Bob Southerden
18/2/1961WestfieldAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 3rd Round1 – 0Bill Burt
4/3/1961SandhurstHomeLeague1 – 0Bob Southerden
11/3/1961Bexhill Town Athletic IIIHomeLeague4 – 0Chris Ades 3, Bob Southerden
18/3/1961Eastbourne United IIIHomeSussex Junior Cup 5th Round0 – 2
25/3/1961Hastings PoliceNeutral<Hastings F A Junior Cup Semi-Final2 – 4John Parsons, Bob Southerden
1/4/1961NorthiamAwayLeague4 – 0Chris Ades 3, Bob Southerden
3/4/1961Old ParkoniansHomeFriendly3 – 0Chris Ades 3
6/4/1961Hastings PoliceAwayLeague2 – 1George Noakes, George Potter (pen)
8/4/1961SandhurstAwayLeague2 – 1Chris Ades, Bob Southerden
11/4/1961Observer AthleticAwayLeague3 – 1David Perkins 2, David Ades
13/4/1961PeasmarshHomeLeague9 – 1Bill Burt 4, Chris Ades 2, Bob Southerden, David French, George Noakes
15/4/1961NorthiamHomeLeague5 – 1Bill Burt 2, George Noakes, Bob Southerden, David Ades
18/4/1961Corbens SportsAwayLeague2 – 5George Potter, Bob Southerden
20/4/1961Hastings RangersAwayRye Charity Cup 1st Round0 – 4
22/4/1961Hastings TownAwayLeague1 – 1George Noakes
24/4/1961Observer AthleticHomeLeague3 – 0Chris Ades, Bill Burt, Bob Southerden
27/4/1961Hastings TownHomeLeague3 – 4David French, David Perkins, George Potter (pen)
29/4/1961Etchingham UnitedAwayLeague5 – 1Bill Burt 2, Chris Ades, David French, David Perkins
1/5/1961Corbens SportsHomeLeague2 – 1Bill Burt 2
4/5/1961Hawkhurst UnitedHomeLeague1 – 0Bill Burt

2ND TEAM

Although the side won no trophies, the second team was easily the strongest in the Club’s history to that time and at full strength was as good as the weaker teams in Division One. The side finished in third place in Division Two, ahead of Seeboard on goal average, but a good way behind the top two teams, Bodiam and Stewarts United. In the new Division Two Cup, the semi-final was reached but the glory came in the Robertsbridge Charity Cup, where the 2nd XI took over from the fixture-congested 1st XI. The second team knocked out two Division One sides away from home in Westfield and Corbens Sports and ran the holders, Observer Athletic, to 4-3 after extra time in the semi-final and were actually leading 2-1 only a minute and a half from the end of normal time.

John Dunk took over the captaincy from Alf Holdstock and maintained the latter’s spirit of energy and enthusiasm. Derek Perkins, Denis Care and John Parsons were a half-back line equal to many in the first division, the young players made good progress while the old hands maintained their form. Derek Bilsby, released by Rye United when Jim Brunger was promoted to the first team, was a useful emergency goalkeeper. Roger Puttick was leading scorer with 22 goals.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
24/9/1960Stewarts UnitedHomeLeague5 – 3Roger Puttick 3, Chris Ades 2
1/10/1960WhatlingtonHomeLeague3 – 1Neil Perry, Roger Puttick, Colin Relf
8/10/1960Seeboard (Hastings)HomeLeague5 – 2M Stace 3, Roger Puttick, Colin Stace
15/10/1960BodiamAwayLeague1 – 2Mick Hills
29/10/1960Observer Athletic IIAwayLeague5 – 2Frank Baker 4, Colin Relf
5/11/1960Stewarts UnitedAwayLeague2 – 3Brian Thomas, John Parsons (pen)
12/11/1960BodiamHomeLeague1 – 7Roger Puttick
19/11/1960UdimoreAwayLeague4 – 1Frank Baker 2, Derek Perkins, Ian Spears
3/12/1960Round Table Boys ClubAwayLeague2 – 3John Pellett 2
10/12/1960Seeboard (Hastings)AwayHastings League Division Two Cup 1st Round4 – 2Frank Baker 2, Brian Thomas, Roger Puttick
31/12/1960Battle Rangers IIIAwayLeague13 – 1John Dunk 4, Frank Baker 3, Brian Thomas 2, Peter Mathews 2, Denis Care, Own Goal
7/1/1961Observer Athletic IIHomeLeague4 – 2Brian Thomas 2, Roger Puttick, Frank Baker
14/1/1961Silverton RangersAwayLeague3 – 2John Parsons, Brian Thomas, Roger Puttick
11/2/1961Corbens SportsAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 2nd Round2 – 1Neil Perry 2
18/2/1961Battle Rangers IIIAwayHastings League Division Two Cup 2nd Round4 – 1Brian Thomas, John Dunk, Colin Relf, Ian Spears
25/2/1961Flimwell British LegionAwayLeague1 – 8David Johnson
11/3/1961BodiamAwayHastings League Division Two Cup Semi-Final0 – 5
18/3/1961WestfieldAwayRobertsbridge Charity Cup 3rd Round2 – 1John Dunk, Colin Relf
25/3/1961WhatlingtonAwayLeague5 – 2Roger Puttick 2, John Dunk 2, David Ades
1/4/1961Battle Rangers IIIHomeLeague2 – 0Roger Puttick, John Heasman
3/4/1961Observer AthleticNeutral<Robertsbridge Charity Cup Semi-Final3 – 4 *John Parsons, Roger Puttick, Own Goal
8/4/1961Flimwell British LegionHomeLeague3 – 3John Dunk 3
15/4/1961Seeboard (Hastings)AwayLeague0 – 3
22/4/1961Round Table Boys ClubHomeLeague5 – 4Roger Puttick 2, John Sanders, Brian Thomas, Colin Relf
25/4/1961Guldeford Old BoysHomeLeague4 – 3Roger Puttick 3, Own Goal
29/4/1961UdimoreHomeLeague2 – 0Own Goal,
2/5/1961Guldeford Old BoysAwayLeague9 – 1Roger Puttick 4, David Ades 3, Peter Mathews 2
5/5/1961Silverton RangersHomeLeague1 – 0Derek Perkins

3RD TEAM

The third team record, unimpressive on paper, did have a few good points. It represented an improvement on the last place of the previous season and though there were several heavy defeats, the side did score more goals which made the whole picture less discouraging. The team was exceptionally young, including many 14 and 15 year olds, some of whom with normal luck, would hopefully reach the first team in not too many seasons. In a very wet and usually losing season, the side was almost never short, which reflects great credit on the approach to the game of a very young team as well as on Eric Hollingsworth, as captain and Bert Glazier, who once again acted as manager, linesman, reserve, baggage man and emergency forward as well as frequently refereeing when there was no official present. A pleasant feature was the interest of several promising boys from Icklesham village itself. D Clark with 16 goals led the scorers, Cyril Rich hit 14 and David Johnson with 10 also reached double figures.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
10/9/1960Guldeford Old BoysHomeFriendly5 – 6Colin Stace 4, John Pellett
13/9/1960Guldeford Old Boys MinorsAwayFriendly5 – 1M Stace 3, Colin Hills, John Heasman
17/9/1960Robertsbridge United IIIHomeLeague3 – 6Larry Osborne, John Dunk, Alan Ransom
24/9/1960Eldridge and CruttendenAwayLeague3 – 11Cyril Rich, D Clark, Own Goal
1/10/1960Hawkhurst United IIAwayLeague4 – 7Cyril Rich 2, John Heasman, D Clark
8/10/1960Mountfield UnitedAwayLeague1 – 8John Pellett
15/10/1960Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague1 – 15Cyril Rich
22/10/1960Hawkhurst United IIHomeLeague4 – 2Cyril Rich 4
29/10/1960Peasmarsh JuniorsHomeFriendly1 – 5Colin Cooke
5/11/1960Old Centmodians IIIHomeLeague2 – 9D Clark, Cyril Rich
12/11/1960West Hill Boys ClubAwayFriendly0 – 1
26/11/1960Northiam IIHomeLeague3 – 3Cyril Rich 3
10/12/1960Mountfield UnitedHomeLeague0 – 1
17/12/1960Old Centmodians IIIAwayLeague3 – 2John Heasman, Neil Perry, David Johnson
24/12/1960Wittersham IIHomeLeague4 – 7David Johnson 2, Cyril Rich, D Clark
31/12/1960Hastings Rangers IIIAwayLeague0 – 8
14/1/1961Westfield IIAwayFriendly4 – 4D Clark 2, C Jones 2
21/1/1961Peasmarsh IIHomeLeague1 – 5Cyril Rich
11/2/1961Eldridge and CruttendenAwayHastings League Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round2 – 11David Johnson 2
18/2/1961Old Hastonians IIIHomeLeague2 – 7D Clark 2
25/2/1961Westfield IIAwayFriendly6 – 3Colin Hills 2, D Clark 2, J Heasman, Alan Ransom (pen)
4/3/1961Bohemia UnitedAwayLeague2 – 4George Hickmott, David Johnson
11/3/1961Old Hastonians IIIAwayLeague2 – 4D Clark, David Johnson
25/3/1961Hastings Rangers IIIHomeLeague0 – 7
31/3/1961Eldridge and CruttendenHomeLeague1 – 6David Johnson
15/4/1961Northiam IIAwayLeague1 – 3Cyril Rich
22/4/1961Wittersham IIAwayLeague0 – 5
29/4/1961Robertsbridge United IIIAwayLeague8 – 1D Clark 4, David Johnson 2, J Sanders,
4/5/1961Peasmarsh IIAwayLeague2 – 5Eric Hollingsworth, D Clark

GENERAL MATTERS

After a year in 1959-60 when marking out worked well, it was back to the rather unsatisfactory position where it was not very well shared and a constant headache. It was hoped that something better could be arranged for the next season. Mr and Mrs Bob Rich again provided tea after games and this was very much appreciated. The new pavilion at Icklesham gave the opportunity of a shower which was especially welcome in a season of such wet weather. The pitch at Guestling was only used on two occasions owing to a broken goalpost.

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Robin Hood Inn, Icklesham on Wednesday, 19th July 1961.

CLUB OFFICIALS