Season 2002-03

66TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The sixty-sixth season promised to be a difficult one with uncertainty right up to the last minute as to whether the club would be able to maintain a first team in Division One of the East Sussex Football League and also if the third team would continue to run. Problems were compounded during the season by another very wet winter and particular difficulties with the pitch at Icklesham, where a drain had collapsed.

Given these circumstances, it was creditable that not only did the club manage to complete the season, but the veterans won the Hastings F A Veterans Cup for the first time in the club’s history and the 1st XI, with an excellent end of season run, achieved promotion back to the Premier Division by finishing runners-up to champions Punnetts Town only on goal difference. The second team had an average year, never in contention for promotion but never in danger of relegation and the third team struggled for results, but in a very difficult transitional season enthusiasm remained high and only one game was forfeited through lack of players.

In a problematic season, the club was grateful to the three team managers, Michael Beaumont (1st XI), Martin Tytherleigh (2nd XI) and Graham Payton (3rd XI) who each faced and overcame very different but equally difficult challenges over the year. As a result the club was in a much healthier position than it had been twelve months previously.

An enjoyable presentation evening was held in May at the Firs in Hastings.

1ST TEAM

The first team spent the majority of the year in mid-table in Division One with the weather again causing major disruption to fixtures resulting in a number of postponements. In order to complete the league programme, where teams had not yet played opponents during the season, the East Sussex League were forced to introduce ‘double header’ matches where two games of thirty minutes each way were played on the same day. This meant the 1st XI playing ‘double headers’ against Cranbrook Town, Punnetts Town, Ticehurst and St. Leonards Social. After losing the first of these to Cranbrook Town, the side won six and drew one of the remaining seven matches therefore picking up nineteen out of a possible twenty four points available in the ‘double header’ fixtures and a dramatic move up the league. This included taking four points from champions Punnetts Town and two victories over third placed St. Leonards Social. The wins against St. Leonards Social proved to be decisive in the battle for the runners-up spot and were achieved despite several regular players being unavailable – 4-0 in the first match with a solitary Mark Taylor strike deciding the second game.

Karl Tarrant, who appeared in every game, was leading scorer with 16 goals and was deservedly voted 1st XI Players’ Player of the Year. Mark Larkin was close behind on 13 goals. Goalkeeper Rob Wiley and Mark Taylor each missed just one match and it was Mark Taylor who took the 1st XI Manager’s Player of the Year award.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
8/2002Rock-a-NoreHomeFriendly0 – 0
14/9/2002BurwashAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round7 – 0Mike Beaumont 3, Jamie Deroe 3, Karl Tarrant
21/9/2002Old CentmodiansHomeLeague3 – 0Karl Tarrant 2, Gavin Moor
28/9/2002Wadhurst UnitedAwayLeeford Place Challenge Cup 2nd Round1 – 3Mark Larkin
5/10/2002Plumpton AthleticAwaySussex Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 2Jamie Deroe
12/10/2002Hollington United IIAwayLeague2 – 6Mark Larkin, Karl Tarrant
19/10/2002SedlescombeAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 4
26/10/2002Punnetts TownAwaySuper Stitch 86 Challenge Cup 1st Round4 – 3Karl Tarrant 2, Mark Taylor, Chris Whitfield
2/11/2002SandhurstAwayLeague2 – 1Karl Tarrant, Mark Taylor
7/12/2002SandhurstHomeLeague1 – 0Gavin Moor
14/12/2002Old CentmodiansHomeSuper Stitch 86 Challenge Cup 2nd Round2 – 4Sean Baker, Karl Tarrant
11/1/2003Hollington United IIHomeLeague1 – 1Mark Larkin
18/1/2003Rock-a-NoreAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 2nd Round0 – 3
25/1/2003Old CentmodiansAwayLeague7 – 0Mark Larkin 3, Kark Tarrant 2, Gavin Moor, Bob Baker
8/2/2003Ninfield UnitedAwayLeague4 – 1Karl Tarrant, Mark Larkin, Gavin Moor, Mark Taylor
22/2/2003Ninfield UnitedHomeLeague2 – 1Mark Larkin 2
1/3/2003Willingdon Athletic IIAwayLeague2 – 5Karl Tarrant, Mark Larkin
15/3/2003Cranbrook TownAwayLeague0 – 3 #
15/3/2003Cranbrook TownAwayLeague3 – 1 #Karl Tarrant 2, Dave Southall
22/3/2003Willingdon Athletic IIHomeLeague2 – 2Mark Taylor 2
29/3/2003Punnetts TownHomeLeague0 – 0 #
29/3/2003Punnetts TownHomeLeague1 – 0 #Mark Taylor
5/4/2003TicehurstHomeLeague3 – 2 #Mark Larkin 3
5/4/2003TicehurstHomeLeague3 – 1 #Mark Taylor, Karl Tarrant, Sean Baker
12/4/2003St Leonards SocialAwayLeague4 – 0 #Steve Baker 2, Karl Tarrant, Gavin Moor
12/4/2003St Leonards SocialAwayLeague1 – 0 #Mark Taylor

2ND TEAM

The second team season was not a particularly memorable one finishing the year just below mid-table in Division Four, but with the League again having to restructure divisions prior to the start of the season due to new clubs joining as well as sides withdrawing, the 2nd XI were moved up a division so the performances on the whole were satisfactory.

There were some highlights in the league, notably coming from three down to earn a point in a 3-3 draw with runners-up White Knight when Paul Link hit the target to equalise two minutes from time. The 5-5 draw against Victoria Baptists was also a memorable game.

In cup matches, the 2nd XI overcame Old Vaughanians III at home in the 1st round of the A F A. Junior Cup to set up a long trip to Birmingham to play Silhill III where a heavy defeat was suffered. The side reached the 3rd round of the Hastings F A Lower Divisions Cup thanks to a 6-4 extra time victory over Hastings Rangers II and a win on penalties against Punnetts Town II.

James Glavin topped the scoring records with 13 goals from only nine starts and three substitute appearances, just ahead of Sacha Patterson (12) and Sean Baker (11). It was Sean Baker who was voted 2nd XI Players’ Player of the Year with Michael Hambridge picking up the Manager’s award. Sam Harris-Green won the Bert Glazier Cup.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
31/8/2002Old Centmodians IIHomeFriendly6 – 3
7/9/2002Hellingly HospitalAwayLeague3 – 0James Glavin 3
14/9/2002Willingdon Athletic IIIHomeLeague0 – 6
21/9/2002Old Centmodians IIAwaySussex Memorials Challenge Cup 1st Round0 – 2
28/9/2002Little Common IIHomeLeague2 – 2Sacha Patterson 2
5/10/2002HillcrestHomeLeague6 – 0Simon Betson, Trevor Saunders, Paul Milton, Danny Juniper, James Glavin, Sacha Patterson
12/10/2002Victoria BaptistsHomeLeague5 – 5James Glavin 2, Luke Barnard, Paul Milton, Sacha Patterson
19/10/2002Firehills SeniorsHomeLeague3 – 8James Glavin 2, Own Goal
26/10/2002Hastings Rangers IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round6 – 4 *
Wayne Bumstead 3, Sacha Patterson 2, Bradley Chapman
2/11/2002Old Vaughanians IIIHomeA F A Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 0Paul Link, James Glavin
9/11/2002White KnightAwayLeague0 – 2
16/11/2002Punnetts Town IIHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 2nd Round3 – 3 ^Paul Link 2, Jamie Deroe
23/11/2002Silhill IIIAwayA F A Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 9
30/11/2002Mountfield UnitedHomeRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 3Bradley Chapman
7/12/2002Old Centmodians IIAwayLeague2 – 1Sean Baker 2
21/12/2002SedlescombeHomeLeague1 – 3Jamie Deroe
18/1/2003BlacklandsHomeLeague1 – 1Sean Baker
25/1/2003White KnightHomeLeague3 – 3Sean Baker, Jamie Deroe, Paul Link
8/2/2003Old Centmodians IIHomeLeague2 – 3Jamie Deroe, Sacha Patterson
15/2/2003BlacklandsAwayLeague3 – 2Sean Baker 3
22/2/2003SedlescombeAwayHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 3rd Round0 – 3
1/3/2003Victoria BaptistsAwayLeague1 – 2Martin Tytherleigh
8/3/2003HillcrestAwayLeague10 – 1James Glavin 4, Jon Fitton 2, Sacha Patterson 2, Paul Link, Jamie Walker
15/3/2003Hellingly HospitalHomeLeague2 – 0Sacha Patterson, Sean Baker
22/3/2003Willingdon Athletic IIIAwayLeague1 – 2Sean Baker
29/3/2003Firehills SeniorsAwayLeague2 – 3Danny Juniper 2
9/4/2003Little Common IIAwayLeague2 – 4Sacha Patterson, Karl Tarrant
19/4/2003CrowhurstAwayLeague0 – 0 #
19/4/2003CrowhurstAwayLeague4 – 0 #Bradley Chapman, Sean Baker, Sacha Patterson, Bob Baker
6/5/2003SedlescombeAwayLeague1 – 2Sean Baker

3RD TEAM

From a results point of view the third team had a disappointing year, picking up only four points and finishing bottom of Division Six, but team spirit remained good throughout despite the side suffering some heavy defeats. It was not until the end of March that the side gained the first point with a 2-2 home draw with Wadhurst United III. The only win came in the last match of the season, an evening fixture away to Mountfield United II, when a slightly strengthened side recorded a 3-1 victory.

With five goals, Guy Hooper finished as leading scorer, Clinton Smith was 3rd XI Players’ Player of the Year, Kevin Bedford took the Manager’s Player of the Year award and Sean Parker won the one-off Referees’ Player of the Year award, voted for by the match officials during the season.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
7/9/2002Herstmonceux IIHomeLeague1 – 4Michael Dixion
14/9/2002White Knight IIAwayLeague1 – 6Chris Whitfield
21/9/2002Peche Hill Select IIHomeLeague1 – 4Karl Angell
28/9/2002Punnetts Town IIAwayJCF Jewellery Challenge Cup 1st Round0 – 8
5/10/2002Little Common IIIAwayLeague1 – 7Chris Miller
12/10/2002Heathfield Hotspurs IIAwayLeague2 – 4Ben Turner, Karl Angell
19/10/2002Beulah BaptistsHomeLeague1 – 4David Mayne
26/10/2002Wadhurst United IIIAwayLeague2 – 3Ben Turner, Stuart Ballard
2/11/2002Bohemia UnitedHomeLeague2 – 7Ben Turner, David Streeter
23/11/2002Castleham UnitedHomeLeague2 – 11Karl Tarrant 2
14/12/2002Herstmonceus IIAwayLeague2 – 8Guy Hooper, Lee Lidgard
21/12/2002Mountfield United IIHomeLeague3 – 5Lee Lidgard, Guy Hooper, Graham Payton
18/1/2003Little Common IIIAwayLeague0 – 14
8/2/2003Magham Down IIHomeLeague5 – 6Guy Hooper 3, Sean Parker, Danny Pain
15/2/2003White Knight IIHomeLeague1 – 2Sean Parker
22/2/2003Beulah BaptistsAwayLeague0 – 6
15/3/2003Heathfield Hotspurs IIHomeLeague2 – 4Aldo Esposito, Own Goal
29/03/2003Wadhurst United IIIHomeLeague2 – 2Aldo Esposito, Stefan Leyland
5/4/2003Peche Hill Select IIAwayLeague1 – 4Kevin Belbin
12/4/2003Castleham UnitedAwayLeague0 – 10
19/4/2003Magham Down IIAwayLeague0 – 3
25/4/2003Mountfield United IIAway League3 – 1Sean Baker 2, Aldo Esposito

VETERANS

The veterans had their best season to date culminating in a 4-0 victory in front of a good crowd at the Pilot Field over Little Common Veterans to lift the Hastings F A Veterans Cup for the first time after twenty five years of trying.

Six teams entered the competition and were divided into two groups of three teams. The group stage saw two comfortable wins against Bexhill United Veterans (7-0) and Peche Hill Select Veterans (6-2) and qualification for the final early in October.

Substitute Bob Baker, on for the injured Pete Gumbrell, opened the scoring as half-time approached and Martin Tytherleigh doubled the lead just before the break scoring direct from a corner. Steve Tytherleigh and Steve Fuller added further goals in the second half for a comfortable victory. The Little Common side included former Gillingham, Hereford United, Doncaster Rovers and Hastings Town player Peter Heritage.

The winning line-up was – Dave Bilsby, Mark Stace, John Ensell, Mark Mills, Tony Forster, Phil Hopkinson, Steve Tytherleigh, Michael Beaumont, Steve Fuller, Martin Tytherleigh, Pete Gumbrell. Substitutes – Bob Baker, Paul Milton and Michael Hambridge.

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
4/9/2002Bexhill United VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup7 – 0Steve Fuller 4, Martin Tytherleigh 2, Mark Mills
11/9/2002Peche Hill Select VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup6 – 2Martin Tytherleigh 3, Tony Forster, Mike Beaumont, Steve Fuller
2/10/2002Little Common VeteransNeutral<Hastings F A Veterans Invitation Cup Final4 – 0Bob Baker, Martin Tytherleigh, Steve Tytherleigh, Steve Fuller

SEASON AWARDS

PRESENTATION EVENING

The Firs, Hastings – May 2003

GENERAL MATTERS

The Annual General Meeting of the club took place at the Queen’s Head, Icklesham on Thursday, 26th June 2003.

CLUB OFFICIALS