Season 1941-42
5TH SEASON
SEASON REPORT
This was the Club’s fifth season and the third under wartime conditions and was again an interesting one. The first team had a long programme of friendly games against Army XI’s and occasional civilian sides, but the second team had to be suspended before Christmas owing to the shortage of suitable opposition. A minor team, composed of players under 19 on May 1st 1942, won the Hastings Minor Cup after three close games. This was the first trophy ever won by the Club.
1ST TEAM
The leading goal scorers for the first XI were Bill Funnell with eighteen, sixteen of which were scored while playing at half-back, and Joe Southerden with fourteen. No fewer than seventy-four players appeared for the first team, with most appearances being recorded by Bob Rich (31), Bill Funnell (30), Peter Shearer (26), Joe Southerden (23), Bob Burnett (22), Reg Carter (19) and Frank Crisford (16). Owing to Peter Moon joining the R A F and to an injury to Dick Merricks, Reg Carter captained the team, while Bill Funnell was vice-captain and also captain of the under 19 team.
Under Reg Carter, who set an excellent example of sporting play, punctuality and keenness, the team maintained the reputation for clean football built up under Les Beeney and Peter Moon, and in nearly thirty games, no foul was given against the side.
The Club again suffered heavily from the calling-up and volunteering of players. Bill Jeffery, who had managed the 2nd XI with great enthusiasm and tact, was called-up during the season while Tom Shearer, Peter Moon, Nick Francis, Bob Huxstep and a former captain in Les Beeney all volunteered for the R A F during the year and Joe Southerden volunteered for the Army.
The Service XI opposition were usually strong and experienced teams, but the games were greatly enjoyed both the Casuals and their opponents. Troop 239 Anti-Aircraft Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) included players who had represented Poole Town and Bournemouth and Boscombe before the war in their side for the match played in March with Icklesham only losing narrowly by 2-1. The thanks of the Club were due to all the various Army sports secretaries and sports officers whose co-operation made the season so pleasant. Among them, especial thanks went to Gunner Jack Wright (239 Battery, Royal Artillery). Lieutenant John Turner (7th Manchesters), Lieutenant Catchpole (341 Battery, Royal Artillery Winchelsea Beach), Lieutenant Wellington (Royal Regiment Canada), Lieutenant Stewart (61 Battery, R C A), 2nd Lieutenant Hughes (Anti-Aircraft Royal Artillery), Sergeant Major Payne (374 Battery, Royal Artillery), Lance Corporal Frank Wright (Duke of Wellingtons) and Lance Corporal E D Medley (Durham Light Infantry).
1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/9/1941 | ‘D’ Troop 236 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 3 – 6 | Bill Funnell, Peter Shearer, Bill Jeffery |
| 20/9/1941 | Carriers Platoon HQ Company 7th Manchester Regiment (Roughters) | Away | Friendly | 1 – 3 | Peter Shearer |
| 27/9/1941 | ‘D’ Troop 236 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) | Away | Friendly | 4 – 5 | Bill Funnell 2, Richard Carnaghan, E Bailey (pen) |
| 4/10/1941 | Carriers Platoon HQ Company 7th Manchester Regiment (Roughters) | Away | Friendly | 1 – 3 | Peter Shearer |
| 11/10/1941 | ‘D’ Troop 236 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 8 | Bob Burnett |
| 18/10/1941 | 341 Battery Royal Artillery (Winchelsea Beach) II | Away | Friendly | 5 – 6 | Reg Harman 2, Bill Funnell, R George, Bob Rich |
| 25/10/1941 | ‘B’ Company Royal Regiment Canada (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 5 – 3 | Nick Francis 3, Peter Shearer, Bob Rich |
| 1/11/1941 | 61st Battery Royal Canadian Artillery (Pett and Peasmarsh) | Home | Friendly | 3 – 3 | Bill Funnell, Joe Southerden, Frank Crisford |
| 8/11/1941 | ‘B’ Company Royal Regiment Canada (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 2 – 6 | Bill Funnell, Ernie Philcox (pen) |
| 15/11/1941 | 341 Battery Royal Artillery (Winchelsea Beach) II | Away | Friendly | 2 – 2 | S Sloman, Gordon Hickman |
| 22/11/1941 | 61st Battery Royal Canadian Artillery (Pett and Guestling) | Home | Friendly | 0 – 1 | |
| 29/11/1941 | Essex Scottish | Away | Friendly | 1 – 2 | Bill Funnell |
| 6/12/1942 | ‘B’ Company Royal Regiment Canada (Pett) | Away | Friendly | 0 – 1 | |
| 13/12/1942 | ‘C’ Company Part of Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 3 – 4 | Bill Funnell, Joe Southerden, Own Goal |
| 20/12/1942 | 341 Battery Royal Artillery (Winchelsea Beach) II | Away | Friendly | 2 – 5 | Richard Carnaghan, Joe Southerden |
| 26/12/1941 | ‘B’ Company Duke of Wellington Regiment (Rye) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 6 | R Nice |
| 27/12/1941 | ‘C’ Company Part of Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 2 – 3 | Bill Funnell 2 |
| 3/1/1942 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Away | Friendly | 4 – 0 | Joe Southerden 2, Frank Crisford, Peter Shearer |
| 10/1/1942 | ‘C’ Company Part of Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 3 | Joe Southerden |
| 17/1/1942 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Home | Friendly | 3 – 1 | Bill Funnell, Joe Southerden, Arthur Baker |
| 31/1/1942 | Ore United | Away | Friendly | 7 – 3 | Gordon Hickman 4, Bill Funnell 2, Joe Southerden |
| 14/2/1942 | 239 Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Roughters) II | Home | Friendly | 4 – 0 | Joe Southerden 3, Frank Crisford |
| 21/2/1942 | 341 Battery Royal Artillery (Winchelsea Beach) II | Home | Friendly | 3 – 1 | Joe Southerden 2, Peter Shearer |
| 28/2/1942 | 374 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett Level) | Home | Friendly | 3 – 4 | Bill Funnell, Tom Shearer, Joe Southerden |
| 7/3/1942 | Troop 239 Anti-Aircraft Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 4 | Stan Huggins |
| 14/3/1942 | 341 Battery Royal Artillery (Winchelsea Beach) II | Away | Friendly | 2 – 3 | A Adam, Bob Rich |
| 21/3/1942 | Troop 239 Anti-Aircraft Battery Royal Artillery (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 2 | Bill Funnell |
| 28/3/1942 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Away | Friendly | 3 – 2 | Peter Martin, Bill Funnell, Bill Jeffery |
| 4/4/1942 | ‘A’ Company 16th Durham Light Infantry (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 1 – 2 | Peter Shearer |
| 11/4/1942 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Home | Friendly | 0 – 3 | |
| 18/4/1942 | 374 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett Level) | Home | Friendly | 0 – 4 | |
| 25/4/1942 | Troop Battery Royal Artillery (Little Hazels) (Pett) | Home | Friendly | 4 – 2 | R Dean 2, Arthur Baker, Bob Rich |
| 9/5/1942 | 374 Battery Royal Artillery (Pett Level) | Home | Friendly | 0 – 4 |
2ND TEAM
The 2nd team played only six matches, all before Christmas. The side won five and lost one, a heavy defeat against Hastings Physical Training Club. Because of the difficulty in finding opposition of a similar standard the decision was taken to suspend 2nd XI games for the remainder of the season.
2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/9/1941 | Ore United | Home | Friendly | 3 – 2 | R Smith 2, Ted Mann |
| 4/10/1941 | Carriers Platoon HQ 7th Manchester Regiment II | Home | Friendly | 5 – 1 | K Holloway 2, Ted Mann, Bill Jeffery, Bob Packman |
| 8/11/1941 | Hollington Old Church | Away | Friendly | 6 – 1 | K Holloway 3, T Upton, R Gibbs, Bill Jeffery |
| 15/11/1941 | Rye Army Training Corps | Home | Friendly | 9 – 3 | Fred Tritton 3, K Holloway 2, Arthur Baker 2, Peter Blackman, Bob Packman |
| 29/11/1941 | ‘B’ Company Royal Regiment Canada (Pett) ‘A’ XI | Home | Friendly | 4 – 1 | K Holloway 2, S Harman, R Morris |
| 6/12/1941 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Away | Friendly | 0 – 11 |
MINOR TEAM
In the 1941-42 season, the Minor XI became the first team to win a trophy for the Club when they defeated Silverhill Young Men’s Club 2-1 at the Pilot Field in the final of the Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup. The side came from a goal down at half-time to lift the trophy thanks to goals from Bill Funnell and Arthur Baker.
To reach the final the Minors had victories over Ore United Minors in the 1st round of the competition and Hastings Physical Training Club after extra time in the semi-final.
The winning team in the final was:- J Munday, Dick Shearer, Alan Burton, Bob Burnett, Bill Funnell (captain), Peter Shearer, Arthur Baker, John Archer, Joe Southerden, Peter Martin, Derek Coombes.
MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD
| DATE | OPPONENTS | VENUE | COMPETITION | RESULT | GOAL SCORERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/4/1942 | Ore United Minors | Away | Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup 1st Round | 3 – 1 | Bill Funnell 2, Arthur Baker |
| 29/4/1942 | Hastings Physical Training Club | Neutral< | Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup Semi-Final | 2 – 1 * | Joe Southerden, Bill Funnell |
| 6/5/1942 | Silverhill Young Men’s Club | Neutral< | Hastings F A Minor Challenge Cup Final | 2 – 1 | Bill Funnell, Arthur Baker |
GENERAL MATTERS
Many members of the Club assisted financially by making their own way to games, as did those members who gave lifts. Len Rich again looked after the footballs. Almost every member helped in some way in collecting and arranging teams, but special thanks were due to Peter Shearer for his untiring efforts, and also to Bob Burnett, Bill Funnell, Peter Blackman, Bill Jeffery and Bob Packman. The Club was also grateful again to the Icklesham Parish Council for the use of the ground and to Icklesham School for the use of the goalposts. It was again found possible to give games to old players on leave.
After the close of the playing season, Bill Allen, a playing member in the Club’s first season, had been reported missing in Libya and all members hoped for early good news of a popular goalkeeper.
The Annual General Meeting was held at the Royal Oak in Pett on Monday, 22nd June 1942 commencing at 8 pm.
CLUB OFFICIALS
