Season 1945-46

9TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

Since the last Annual General Meeting, the war in the Far East had ended and it was pleasant to report the return to this country and to civilian life of many members of the Club. More important things than football had dominated, however, the Club looked forward to an enjoyable post-War career.

The 1945-46 season was a transitional one, attended by many of the difficulties of wartime football but bringing a small-scale revival of local competitive football and promising better things in 1946-47.

1ST TEAM

There was a resumption of competitive football in the district with the Hastings League operating one division of eight teams in which the Club participated.

In all matches, the first team won twelve games and lost fourteen with no draws, eighty goals were scored and one hundred and fourteen conceded. In League games, four were won and ten lost, while all three cup matches were lost. Sixty-two different players appeared for the 1st XI.

Led with unobtrusive tact by Reg Carter – for whom Alf Holdstock deputised capably several times – the side gave away very few free-kicks, and it was pleasant to record that the same could be said of most of the opponents. John Gallop, with eighteen goals was leading scorer, followed by Frank Crisford with nine.

The Club entered the Sussex Junior Cup for the first time, losing heavily on aggregate to Rye United in a two-legged tie and took part in the Hastings F A Senior Cup for the only time losing 3-2 at home to Royal Army Service Corps Record (Ore).

In a League game at Rye against Rye United, Albert Cane had the misfortune to break a leg. This was a pure accident. A grant from the Sussex County Football Association and generous efforts by Rye United and by members and friends of the club did something to improve his position and to help his satisfactory recovery.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
15/9/1945Hastings and St Leonards IIHomeFriendly5 – 4Les Fuggle 3, Tony Gibson 2
22/9/1945Rock-a-NoreAwayFriendly2 – 3Alan Burton, John Gallop
29/9/1945Rock-a-NoreHomeFriendly4 – 1Tony Gibson, Alan Burton, Nick Francis, John Gallop
6/10/1945Victoria RangersAwayLeague2 – 3Tom Jones, John Gallop
20/10/1945Hastings and St Leonards IIAwayLeague2 – 3George Roberts, Frank Crisford
27/10/1945Rye UnitedHomeLeague3 – 4Eric Fellows 2, Alf Holdstock
3/11/1945Victoria RangersHomeLeague5 – 0John Gallop 2, Frank Crisford 2, Tom Jones
10/11/1945Rock-a-NoreAwayLeague0 – 12
17/11/1945Ore UnitedAwayLeague1 – 3John Archer
24/11/1945Rye UnitedAwayLeague3 – 2John Gallop, Eric Fellows, Frank Crisford
1/12/1945Rock-a-NoreHomeLeague1 – 8John Gallop
8/12/1945Ore UnitedHomeLeague2 – 8John Gallop 2
15/12/1945East GuldefordAwayFriendly4 – 2Cyril Rich, Eric Fellows, Ken Cooke, Tom Shearer
26/12/1945Rye UnitedAwayFriendly4 – 2John Gallop 3, John Archer
29/12/1945NorthiamAwayFriendly7 – 1Frank Crisford 3, Dick Shearer, John Archer, Brian Dawson, Tony Gibson (pen)
5/1/1945East GuldefordHomeFriendly3 – 0John Gallop, Colin Secker, Cyril Rich
19/1/1946Royal Army Service Corps Record (Ore)HomeHastings F A Senior Cup 1st Round2 – 3John Gallop, Frank Crisford
26/1/1946Hastings and St Leonards IIHomeLeague4 – 1Tom Jones, Cyril Rich, Frank Crisford, Jimmy Jury
9/2/1946East GuldefordHomeFriendly4 – 2P Gallop 2, John Gallop, Cyril Rich
16/2/1946Rye UnitedAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg1 – 11John Archer
23/2/1946Bexhill Wanderers IIAwayLeague5 – 9John Gallop 2, Les Jeffery 2, Jimmy Jury
2/3/1946Rye UnitedAwaySussex Junior Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg2 – 8Tom Shearer, Stan Chappell
9/3/1946Bexhill Wanderers IIHomeLeague4 – 0John Archer 2, Arthur Baker, Bob Rich
16/3/1946Little CommonHomeLeague0 – 5
23/3/1946East GuldefordAwayFriendly1 – 2Don Boreham
30/3/1946Ore UnitedAwayFriendly1 – 8Cyril Rich
13/4/1946Little CommonAwayLeague1 – 2John Gallop
22/4/1946East GuldefordHomeFriendly4 – 1Gordon Hickman 2, George Roberts, Tom Shearer
27/4/1946Hastings and St Leonards IIHomeFriendly3 – 6Fred Jeffery, Denis Breeds, Jimmy Jury

2ND TEAM

The second team had to build almost a new side and played fourteen friendly matches, winning three, drawing one and losing ten with Charlie Ades finishing top scorer with eight goals.

Much credit went to John Jury who usually captained the side and Les Bull who deputised on several occasions.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
15/9/1945Rye United IIHomeFriendly1 – 3Charlie Ades
22/9/1945Rye Grammar School ‘A’AwayFriendly0 – 5
6/10/1945Rye United IIAwayFriendly2 – 1Colin Secker, Charlie Ades
13/10/1945Sea Cadets IIHomeFriendly6 – 0Cyril Jeffery 3, Colin Secker, Charlie Ades, Frank Baker
20/10/1945East GuldefordAwayFriendly2 – 0Charlie Ades, Frank Baker
27/10/1945Sea Cadets ‘A’AwayFriendly0 – 3
3/11/1945Rye United IIAwayFriendly0 – 7
10/11/1945East GuldefordHomeFriendly2 – 3Charlie Ades, Frank Baker
1/12/1945St Helens Youth ClubAwayFriendly1 – 6Cyril Rich
19/1/1946Rye United IIHomeFriendly0 – 3
9/3/1946East Guldeford IIHomeFriendly0 – 0
23/3/1946PeasmarshHomeFriendly2 – 3Charlie Ades, Jack Brown
30/3/1946St Helens Youth ClubHomeFriendly1 – 2Charlie Ades
13/4/1946PeasmarshAwayFriendly1 – 5Charlie Ades

MINOR TEAM

The under 18 side competed in the Hastings Youth League, winning one and drawing one of eight games. They also played three cup ties, all against Rye United Minors, in the Sussex Minor Cup and Hastings Minor Cup, drawing one and losing the other two.

Both the 2nd XI and the minor team included many new players who improved considerably as the season progressed.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
24/11/1945Victoria Rangers MinorsAwayLeague2 – 5Jack Brown, G Simmons
8/12/1945Rye United MinorsAwaySussex Minor Cup 1st Round0 – 13
15/12/1945Rye JuniorsHomeLeague0 – 5
22/12/1945Victoria Rangers MinorsHomeLeague3 – 0Jimmy Jury, Charlie Ades, Cyril Jeffery
29/12/1945St Helen Youth Club MinorsHomeLeague0 – 1
5/1/1946St Helen Youth Club MinorsAwayLeague0 – 4
12/1/1946Rye JuniorsAwayLeague0 – 7
16/2/1946Rye United MinorsHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round3 – 3Jack Brown 3
23/2/1946Rye United MinorsAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round Replay1 – 8Harry Fellows
16/3/1946West Hill Youth ClubAwayLeague2 – 10Peter Bryant, Harry Fellows
20/4/1946West Hill Youth ClubHomeLeague2 – 2Harry Fellows, Charlie Ades

GENERAL MATTERS

On the social side, a whist drive was again organised by George Roberts, to which prizes and refreshments were donated by players and others connected with the Club. This was a great success and did much to improve the financial position. The Club was once more indebted to many people who assisted in various ways. These included Frank Crisford, in particular for marking out the pitch, the Reverend W Hilton Wright for the use of his marker, Cyril Jeffery and Cyril Rich for setting up the posts, Dick Shearer, Tom Shearer, Frank Crisford and others for providing transport, Mr Keith Watts and the various officials of the Hastings Football Association and the Sussex County Football Association for their co-operation and hard work, the local press for valuable publicity, and all those, but especially Jack Brown, Frank Crisford, Jimmy Jury, Cyril Rich and George Roberts for help in collecting teams.

Although far from perfect, players were a good deal better as regards turning up to matches, and the Club was able to maintain its reputation for clean and sporting play.

In August 1945 the seventh Club news bulletin was issued and this was followed in June 1946 by news bulletin number eight.

NEWS BULLETINS

News Bulletin Number 7 – August 1945

News Bulletin Number 8 – June 1946

The ninth Annual General Meeting was held at the Queen’s Head Inn, Icklesham on Monday, 15th July 1946 at 9 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS