Season 1939-40

3RD SEASON

SEASON REPORT

Since the last annual meeting, the Club had undergone a trying time due to the outbreak of war. During the summer a number of good players were signed, some cricket matches had been played and Bill Francis, the former Hastings half-back, had very kindly given some coaching.

At a meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards Football Association held in early September, as a result of the Government banning all competitive football following the start of the war, it was decided that for the time being, the Hastings League should cease to exist. At least six teams had already asked to withdraw in any event due to having depleted ranks. If permission to resume football was given in the near future then a further meeting would be held with the clubs to gain the opinion of running a new league.

This meeting was held at the Grand Restaurant on Saturday, 21st October 1939 when it was decided that one undivided league be formed for the playing of competitive football during the 1939-40 season. Initially there were nine teams entered but East Guldeford withdrew during the season.

1ST TEAM

The 1st team played friendly fixtures in September and October and then entered the wartime Hastings League in which it finished seventh out of eight teams, winning two matches, drawing three and losing eight. In the circumstances this was not a bad performance.

The first team was frequently very young and inexperienced, but in twenty-one games out of twenty-six, no foul for anything except handball was given against the side – a record of which to be proud. Peter Moon, who succeeded Les Beeney as captain midway through the season, missed only one game.

Bob Horton and Richard Shearcroft were leading goal scorers with ten each.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
26/8/1939Woodwards SportsAwayFriendly2 – 5Fred Breeze, Brann
16/9/1939Rye Grammar SchoolAwayFriendly8 – 3Cyril Barden 5, J Jarrett 2, Denis Breeds
23/9/1939Rye United IIAwayFriendly1 – 12Nick Francis
30/9/1939East GuldefordAwayFriendly2 – 5Richard Shearcroft 2
14/10/1939WestfieldAwayFriendly1 – 9F Hickman
21/10/1939Rye United IIIHomeFriendly8 – 0Bob Horton 3, Richard Shearcroft 2, Jack Carey 2, Alan Smith
4/11/1939Rye Grammar SchoolAwayFriendly4 – 4Bob Horton 2, Tom Shearer, Denis Breeds
11/11/1939CrowhurstAwayLeague7 – 2Richard Shearcroft 4, M Mitchell, Alf Holdstock, Own Goal
18/11/1939UdimoreAwayFriendly11 – 0Richard Carnaghan 5, Bob Horton 3, Peter Moon 2,
25/11/1939Rye United IIAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round3 – 3Denis Breeds 2, Bob Horton
2/12/1939Rye United IIHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round Replay2 – 9Bob Horton, Alf Holdstock
16/12/1939Rye United IIAwayLeague1 – 4Alf Holdstock
23/12/1939Ore UnitedAwayLeague2 – 2Alan Titmuss, Jack Carey
6/1/1940WestfieldHomeLeague2 – 5Nick Francis, Robert Hickman
13/1/1940Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague4 – 4Les Beeney (pen), Tom Shearer, Peter Moon, Own Goal
10/2/1940Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague1 – 4Alan Titmuss
24/2/1940WestfieldAwayFriendly1 – 8 #T Ellis
2/3/1940Hastings Grammar SchoolAwayFriendly3 – 0Richard Shearcroft 2, Tom Shearer
9/3/1940R A F (Hastings)HomeLeague1 – 1Cyril Barden
16/3/1940Battle RangersHomeLeague2 – 5Nick Francis, Derek Edhouse
23/3/1940CrowhurstHomeLeague6 – 2Fred Breeze 2, Jack Carey 2, Denis Breeds, Peter Moon
30/3/1940Ore UnitedHomeLeague2 – 7
6/4/1940Battle RangersAwayLeague0 – 4
13/4/1940R A F (Hastings)AwayLeague2 – 5Fred Tritton,
20/4/1940R A F (Hastings)AwayFriendly3 – 2Fred Tritton 3
4/5/1940Rye United IIHomeLeague0 – 5

2ND TEAM

The second team was very short of fixtures, playing only eleven friendly matches. Several games were cancelled owing to weather and ground conditions. The backbone of an ever-changing second team were Reg Carter, William Bryant and Bill Davidson.

Nick Francis and Fred Tritton lead the goal scorers with six goals each.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
23/9/1939Rye United MinorsHomeFriendly0 – 4
30/9/1939Rye Grammar School ‘A’AwayFriendly1 – 4Tom Shearer
14/10/1939Reverend H E Moxon’s XIHomeFriendly4 – 6Bunclarke 2, Reg Carter, Bob Rich
21/10/1939Rye Grammar School ‘A’AwayFriendly4 – 1T Ellis 3, Cyril Barden
11/11/1939UdimoreHomeFriendly5 – 3Fred Breeze 4, Nick Francis
25/11/1939Rye Grammar School ‘A’AwayFriendly7 – 3Fred Tritton 4, Ken Cooke, Bob Packman, Arthur Pope
9/12/1939Kings CollegeHomeFriendly8 – 0Nick Francis 3, Chris Light 3, Ted Mann Jnr, C Read
13/1/1940Hastings Sea CadetsAwayFriendly1 – 0Peter Shearer
2/3/1940Rye United MinorsHomeFriendly1 – 9
9/3/1940Rye Grammar School ‘A’AwayFriendly4 – 6Fred Tritton 2, Nick Francis 2
16/3/1940Kings CollegeAwayFriendly6 – 2D Wood,

MINOR TEAM

The only minor game was the Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup Final versus Rye United which was lost 10-1.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
11/5/1940Rye United MinorsNeutral<Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup Final1 – 10Bill Funnell

GENERAL MATTERS

In matters outside football, the Club expressed its best wishes to Les Barden, Frank Balcombe, Fred Bourne, Gordon Hickman, Bill Dann, Derek Edhouse, Percy Smith and Jim Richards who were on active service, and to former members in Jack Munn and Bill Allen.

It was with great regret that the Club recorded the death of Doug Barden, He was killed in an accident while on active service in France aged just nineteen. Doug played 42 games for the first team, scoring nine goals and three friendlies for the second team, scoring once, in the two pre-war seasons and was one of the first to join after the Club was founded. He usually played at outside right, his shooting was weak and he never learnt to use his left foot, but he was fast and never gave up, however many goals the team was down. As good a game as he ever played was his last against Udimore in April 1939. Doug was a sporting player who never had a free-kick for a foul given against him. He also passed one of the hardest tests of sportsmanship – if dropped from the team, and then asked to play on Friday night or Saturday morning, he did not refuse. Members felt sincere regret at his death and sympathy was expressed on their behalf, by the Honorary Secretary, to Mr and Mrs Tom Barden, his parents.

Owing to a lack of organisation, the supper on 1st June was only moderately successful.

The thanks of the Club were due to all those who assisted by helping with organisation, finance and in many other ways. Harry Barnes had, as usual, devoted much time and energy and, unfortunately, some money to the Club. Many people helped to get teams together, notably Peter Shearer, Richard Shearcroft, Peter Moon and Nick Francis. George. Fellows had again refereed 2nd XI home games. To all these and to many other members, and to the officials of the various Football Associations, the Club owed a debt of gratitude.

NEWS BULLETINS

A news bulletin, edited by William Dunlop, was introduced and this appeared four times during the year – in August, October and December 1939 and February 1940.

News Bulletin Number 1 – August 1939

News Bulletin Number 2 – October 1939

News Bulletin Number 3 – December 1939

News Bulletin Number 4 – February 1940

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Oast House Tea Rooms, Icklesham on Thursday, 30th May 1940 at 7.30 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS