Season 1946-47

10TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The tenth season of the Club was in several ways a noteworthy one. For the first time two teams were fielded in the Hastings League, a third team played a number of friendly matches and the first team won more matches than they lost.

1ST TEAM

The first XI competed in Division One of the Hastings League in which they gained thirty-one points out of a possible forty-four. Owing to bad weather during the season, games against Etchingham United, Little Common and Old Hastonians II were played for four points. In the league, the side played nineteen matches, winning twelve, drawing one and losing six and finished in fourth position out of twelve teams.

In the Sussex Junior Cup, the first team lost 5-3 to Rye United II, the eventual runners-up out of seventy-eight teams. The side also went out in the first round of the Rye Charity Cup, but in the Hastings Junior Cup, the second round was reached after a first round win against East Guldeford which was the first XI’s first ever cup victory.

The defence was usually sound and the forward line stronger than in previous years. With a return to more normal conditions after the war, it was possible to field nearly the same team most weeks resulting in a big advance in teamwork and combination. Thirty-three players appeared for the first team, but fourteen of them played in only one game. The side was largely built around the following players – Syd Brann, Frank Crisford and Jimmy Jury (23 appearances each), Reg Carter, Bill Funnell, Gordon Hickman and Alf Holdstock (22 each), Phil Barling (21), Bob Huxstep (19), John Archer (17), Peter Moon and Alan Burton (14 each) and Alan Shearer (8). Syd Brann with 38 was leading goal-scorer followed by Gordon Hickman with 14.

The side continued to enjoy an excellent reputation among other local teams for their clean play and generally sporting attitude. This was again due in no small part to the example set by Reg Carter as captain and by Gordon Hickman, the vice-captain who deputised for him on a few occasions.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
7/9/1946Red Lake RangersAwayFriendly7 – 2Syd Brann 3, John Howell 2, Gordon Hickman (pen), Dick Crisford
14/9/1946Rye United IIHomeFriendly1 – 2Syd Brann
21/9/1946WestfieldAwayLeague2 – 5Syd Brann. Jimmy Jury
28/9/1946Ore UnitedHomeLeague4 – 3Bill Funnell 2, Syd Brann 2
5/10/1946Hollington United IIAwayLeague8 – 1Peter Moon 3, Reg Carter 2, Syd Brann 2, Alf Holdstock (pen)
12/10/1946R A F BrooklandHomeFriendly10 – 0R McNiven 4, Syd Brann 3, Bill Funnell, Gordon Hickman, Frank Crisford
19/10/1946Rye United IIHomeSussex Junior Cup 1st Round3 – 5Reg Carter, Gordon Hickman, Frank Crisford
2/11/1946Battle RangersHomeLeague1 – 3Frank Crisford
9/11/1946Ore UnitedAwayLeague5 – 5Gordon Hickman 2, Syd Brann, Colin Secker, Jimmy Jury
23/11/1946Hastings Rangers IIAwayLeague2 – 0John Archer, Jimmy Jury
21/12/1946Hastings Rangers IIHomeLeague8 – 0Syd Brann 3, Gordon Hickman 2, Reg Carter, Stan Chappell, Jimmy Jury
26/12/1946Rock-a-Nore IIAwayRye Charity Cup 1st Round0 – 2
28/12/1946Rye United IIHomeLeague3 – 5Gordon Hickman 2, Syd Brann
4/1/1947East GuldefordAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round2 – 1Gordon Hickman, Own Goal
18/1/1947WestfieldHomeLeague1 – 5Syd Brann
15/2/1947Rock-a-Nore IIHomeLeague2 – 1Frank Crisford, Jimmy Jury
1/3/1947WestfieldAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round4 – 5Alan Burton, John Archer, Syd Brann, Frank Crisford
22/3/1947Sidley United IIAwayLeague6 – 2Gordon Hickman 2, Syd Brann 2, John Archer, Jimmy Jury
29/3/1947Battle RangersAwayLeague1 – 4Alf Holdstock (pen)
5/4/1947Old Hastonians IIAwayLeague13 – 2 #Syd Brann 4, Frank Crisford 4, Gordon Hickman 2, Jimmy Jury 2, Alf Holdstock
7/4/1947Etchingham UnitedAwayLeague8 – 0 #Syd Brann 3, John Archer 2, Gordon Hickman, Frank Crisford, Jimmy Jury
12/4/1947Little CommonHomeLeague8 – 3 #Syd Brann 4, John Archer 3, Peter Moon
23/4/1947Rye United IIAwayLeague0 – 3
26/4/1947Sidley United IIHomeLeague4 – 0Syd Brann 2, Phil Barling 2
3/5/1947Rock-a-Nore IIAwayLeague3 – 2Syd Brann 2, Phil Barling
6/5/1947Hollington United IIHomeLeague4 – 1Syd Brann 2, Alf Holdstock,

2ND TEAM

The second team entered Division Two of the Hastings League and finished clear bottom out of twelve clubs. They obtained three points, two of which were by default when Westfield II were unable to field a side. Twenty-one league games were played with one being drawn and the other twenty lost, twenty-nine goals scored and one hundred and twenty-six conceded. Cyril Rich scored seven goals with Frank Baker getting six. The most regular players were Cyril Rich and Denis Swaine (25 appearances each), Charles Osborn (23), Frank Baker (19), Tom Shearer (16), Fred Jeffery and Bob Rich (15 each), Les Jeffery and Alan Shearer (10 each).

With the exception of two or three players on about two different occasions, the team never gave up trying and deserve praise on this account. The sincere thanks of the Club were due to Tom Shearer, who usually captained the side, for his excellent work under trying conditions with Alan Shearer deputising capably in several matches. On the whole players were much better about turning up though there was still room for improvement. Thanks were also due to Andrew Dunlop for being willing to take his gear and travel as reserve each week, which was a very practical help.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
21/9/1946Rye United IIIHomeFriendly1 – 4Fred Jeffery
28/9/1946Robertsbridge UnitedAwayLeague2 – 8Cyril Rich, Charlie Ades
5/10/1946Rye United IIIHomeLeague0 – 5
12/10/1946Bexhill Athletic IIAwayLeague2 – 4Charlie Ades 2
19/10/1946East GuldefordAwayLeague2 – 3Frank Baker 2
2/11/1946PeasmarshAwayLeague1 – 8Tom Shearer
9/11/1946Ore United IIHomeLeague0 – 4
23/11/1946PeasmarshHomeLeague1 – 2Bob Rich
7/12/1946Ore United IIAwayLeague3 – 12Cyril Rich, Reg Carter, Les Jeffery
14/12/1946UdimoreHomeLeague2 – 5Bob Rich 2
26/12/1946Rye United IIIAwayLeague0 – 11
28/12/1946Westfield IIAwayLeague3 – 5Nick Francis, Bob Rich, Les Jeffery
4/1/1947UdimoreAwayLeague0 – 2
11/1/1947Observer AthleticHomeLeague0 – 3
18/1/1947Red Lake RangersAwayLeague1 – 9S Harman
1/3/1947East GuldefordHomeLeague0 – 1
8/3/1947Sedlescombe UnitedHomeLeague5 – 5Fred Tritton 2, Frank Baker 2, Jimmy Jury
15/3/1947Red Lake RangersHomeLeague2 – 3Fred Tritton, Bill Funnell
22/3/1947Bexhill Athletic IIHomeLeague0 – 3
29/3/1947Observer AthleticAwayLeague1 – 19Harry Fellows
5/4/1947Robertsbridge UnitedHomeLeague2 – 6Harry Fellows, S Harman
7/4/1947Rye Grammar School XIHomeFriendly5 – 2Cyril Rich 3, Frank Baker 2
12/4/1947West Hill Youth ClubAwayFriendly3 – 3Cyril Rich 2, Fred Tritton (pen)
19/4/1947BredeHomeFriendly1 – 2Dick Crisford
10/5/1947Sedlescombe UnitedAwayLeague2 – 8Bob Burnett, Bill Jeffery

3RD TEAM

A young third team was started during the season and played ten friendly matches, winning five, drawing two and losing three with forty goals scored and twenty-one conceded. It did good work in providing several promising players with match experience. The enthusiasm of Dick Crisford in running the side was of great help while Bill Jeffery’s experience and example were also of much value.

3RD TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
2/11/1946East Guldeford IIAwayFriendly5 – 2Colin Secker 3, Cyril Jeffery 2
16/11/1946Hastings Air Training CorpsHomeFriendly9 – 0Cyril Jeffery 4, Colin Secker 2, Albert Cane, John Farrow, John Pierre
23/11/1946Udimore IIAwayFriendly2 – 2Harry Fellows, Bernard Jeffery
7/12/1946East Guldeford IIHomeFriendly5 – 1Cyril Jeffery 3, Jack Brown, Bill Jeffery
4/1/1947East Guldeford IIHomeFriendly4 – 1Albert Cane 2, R Rigden, Gilbert Jeffery
11/1/1947Hollington Old Church Boys ClubAwayFriendly3 – 3Cyril Jeffery 2, Albert Cane
22/2/1947Hollington Old Church Boys ClubHomeFriendly11 – 2Bill Jeffery 3, Cyril Jeffery 3, Fred Jeffery 2, Albert Cane 2,
12/4/1947Udimore IIAwayFriendly0 – 2
22/4/1947Rye Boys ClubHomeFriendly1 – 4Jack Brown
3/5/1947Hollington Old Church Boys ClubHomeFriendly0 – 4

MINOR TEAM

An under 18 team entered the Sussex Minor Cup and Hastings Minor Cup but in each case lost at the first attempt after putting up a good fight.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
26/10/1946West Hill Youth ClubHomeSussex Minor Cup 1st Round2 – 3Cyril Jeffery, Stan Chappell
22/4/1947Rye United MinorsNeutral<Hastings F A Youth Cup Semi-Final0 – 5

GENERAL MATTERS

During the season, the Club was concerned in two transfers with Charlie Ades going to Udimore and John Archer rejoining the Club from Westfield.

Marking out was better shared than in some past seasons, though Frank Crisford (1st XI) and Cyril Rich (2nd XI) still did more than their share. Thanks were expressed to them as well as to all those others who assisted in this necessary, if unexciting, task. The Club was presented with a new set of goalposts and nets by Bill Cooke. This gift was warmly appreciated and needless to say was of great value. Those members who had transport available were most generous in sharing it, thus keeping down travelling expenses. Phil Barling, Syd Brann. Frank Crisford, Jimmy Jury, John Archer and Alan Shearer were all very helpful in this respect. Len Rich again maintained the footballs and he also made and used a collecting box for the benefit of Club funds. No social functions were arranged during the year.

Towards the end of the season, Icklesham Cricket Club asked that the posts might be moved and for the remaining matches, the Club used the Church Field by kind permission of Messrs W Merricks and Sons. In the latter half of the season, the Oast House Tea Rooms garage was used for changing.

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Queen’s Head in Icklesham on Wednesday, 30th July 1947 at 8.45 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS