Season 1938-39

2ND SEASON

SEASON REPORT

The club’s second season was considered to be satisfactory without realising all the hopes expressed at the start of the season.

The 1st team again competed in Division Three of the Hastings League, the 2nd team played a number of friendlies and a Minor team entered the Hastings Minor League and were runners-up in the Hastings Minor Challenge Cup.

1ST TEAM

Of twenty-three league games played by the first team, seven were won, three drawn and thirteen lost. After drawing the first league match of the season, the next six were all lost but a strong finish saw the final four league fixtures all being won including the match against Northiam II which was played for four points. A convincing double was completed over Rye Harbour with 8-1 and 5-1 victories. Fifty-nine goals were scored and seventy-nine conceded and nineteen league points gained resulting in a tenth place finish out of thirteen teams. Two of the drawn games were against Sedlescombe and Woodwards Sports, the leading sides in the Division. Altogether, the 1st XI played twenty-nine matches, winning eight, drawing three and losing eighteen and scoring sixty-seven goals and conceding one hundred and eleven.

The 1st XI’s chances of a successful season were spoilt by a remarkable and calamitous series of accidents, injuries, illnesses and other unfortunate happenings, especially during the early part of the season. In consequence, the club had to field weakened teams for much of the season. It was decided rather than transfer players, to give the club’s reserves a chance and at one time or other most of the 2nd XI players appeared at least once in the first team. In the long run it was hoped this would be found to be the best policy and many of the younger players showed very promising form with Alan Titmuss and Bob Burnett making especially good progress. During the season, Peter Moon did not miss a game for the 1st team and had missed only one game since his first appearance on 1st January 1938. Frank Crisford and Jack Moore both finished the season with 11 goals in all matches to finish as joint leading goal scorer with Gordon Hickman netting 9 times.

The most serious injuries occurred to the vice-captain, Les Barden and to Jim Munn, who succeeded him in that position. The former hardly played at all after being hurt against Observer Athletic on 8th October and the latter did not play again after being injured at Westfield on 17th December. In each case the player twisted a knee. Their loss was serious not only because of their playing ability but also because their sporting play and willingness to help made them of value to the club, a great assistance to the officials and an example for the younger members. In addition, hardly any members of the first team did not miss some games through lesser illnesses or injuries.

In view of the constant team changes compelled by circumstances outside human control, the playing results were not unsatisfactory. The defence was much weaker but more goals were scored. At the end of the season when twelve points were taken from seven fixtures, the form was quite good. That the club went through these troubled times as well as it did was largely due to the loyalty of its members, several of whom refused offers to transfer to other clubs.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATE0OPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
3/9/1938Old Hastonians IIAwayFriendly0 – 10
10/9/1938Rye Old GrammariansHomeFriendly2 – 0George Bourne 2
17/9/1938Rye Grammar SchoolAwayFriendly1 – 2George Bourne
24/9/1938Rother Catchment BoardHomeLeague2 – 2Frank Crisford, Doug Barden
1/10/1938Little CommonAwayHastings F A Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 4Jim Munn
8/10/1938Observer AthleticAwayLeague4 – 6Gordon Hickman 2, Jim Munn, Les Beeney
15/10/1938Rother Catchment BoardAwayLeague1 – 2Doug Barden
22/10/1938Rye Old GrammariansAwayLeague3 – 8Les Beeney, Robert Woolley, Tom Lonsdale
29/10/1938Rye AlbionAwayLeague0 – 5
5/11/1938UdimoreAwayLeague2 – 3Richard Shearcroft, Jack Moore
12/11/1938Rye AlbionHomeLeague1 – 9Doug Barden
19/11/1938Hastings Central Old Boys IIHomeLeague6 – 3Richard Shearcroft 2, Gordon Hickman 2, Jack Moore, Les Beeney
26/11/1938SedlescombeAwayLeague3 – 3Jack Moore, Frank Crisford, Frank Balcombe
3/12/1938East GuldefordAwayLeague1 – 3Frank Crisford
10/12/1938Woodwards SportsHomeLeague3 – 3Jack Carey, Gordon Hickman, Frank Crisford
17/12/1938Westfield IIAwayLeague1 – 0Frank Balcombe
31/12/1938Rye Old GrammariansHomeLeague4 – 7Frank Crisford 2, Frank Balcombe 2
7/1/1939Westfield IIHomeLeague0 – 3
14/1/1939Hastings Central Old Boys IIAwayLeague2 – 5Frank Crisford, Bob Huxstep
21/1/1939Woodward SportsAwayLeague1 – 6Jack Moore
28/1/1939Rock-a-NoreAwayRye Charity Cup 2nd Round1 – 7 Gordon Hickman
4/2/1939East GuldefordHomeLeague1 – 3Frank Crisford
18/2/1939Rye HarbourAwayLeague8 – 1Richard Shearcroft 3, Jack Moore 2, Gordon Hickman 2, Les Beeney
25/2/1939SedlescomeHomeLeague0 – 3
4/3/1939Observer AthleticHomeLeague1 – 0Bob Rich
11/3/1939Rye HarbourHomeLeague5 – 1Frank Crisford 2, Les Beeney 2, Doug Barden
10/4/1939Erie ResitorAwayFriendly3 – 9Denis Breeds 2, Fred Tritton
15/4/1939Northiam IIHomeLeague5 – 3 #Jack Moore 2. Doug Barden, James Penfold, Frank Crisford
22/4/1939UdimoreHomeLeague5 – 0Jack Moore 3, Doug Barden, Gordon Hickman

2ND TEAM

Eleven 2nd XI friendly games, without age restriction, were also played with four being won and seven lost, thirty-nine goals scored and sixty-two conceded.

That one hundred and one goals were scored in just eleven matches shows that the 2nd team were involved in many high scoring fixtures. In fact the minimum number of goals scored in any game was four.

Reg Carter found the net six times to be leading goal scorer.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
17/9/1938Rye United IVAwayFriendly3 – 5Gordon Hickman 2, Jim Shearer
24/9/1938Woodwards Sports IIAwayFriendly1 – 12Robert Quaife
1/10/1938Rother Catchment Board IIHomeFriendly5 – 3Tom Lonsdale 2, Percy Smith 2, Ken Cooke
15/10/1938Rother Catchment Board IIHomeFriendly5 – 8Robert Woolley 2, Reg Carter, Les Jeffery, Cyril Barden
12/11/1938Woodwards Sports ‘B’AwayFriendly5 – 9T Ellis 2, Reg Harman 2, Robert Quaife
19/11/1938Rye United IVAwayFriendly0 – 11
3/12/1938St Leonards Central SchoolHomeFriendly9 – 3Reg Carter 3, William Bryant 3, Bob Packman, Robert Quaife, Bob Horton
17/12/1938Old Hastonians IIIHomeFriendly4 – 3Reg Carter 2, Robert Quaife, Percy Smith
14/1/1939East Guldeford IIHomeFriendly1 – 5William Bryant
18/2/1939Old Hastonians IIIHomeFriendly1 – 3George Hoad
18/3/1939Old Hastonians IIIAwayFriendly5 – 0T Ellis 2, Percy Smith, Les Beeney, Peter Moon

MINOR TEAM

The club competed in the Hastings Minor League and Hastings Minor Cup for players under 18 on 1st September 1938. In general, the team for these fixtures was composed of largely 2nd XI players but occasionally it was strengthened by the inclusion of some from the first team who were within the age limit.

In the Minor Cup, the club knocked out Houghton Rangers 10-0 in the first round in a game which saw Frank Crisford score six goals, Woodwards Sports 4-2 in the semi-final before losing 6-1 to Rye United in the final with Peter Moon scoring the goal from the penalty spot.

The team that played in the final was:- Ian Hepworth, Alan Smith, Gordon Hickman (captain), Bob Burnett, Peter Moon, Jim Shearer, Nick Francis, Richard Shearcroft, Jack Carey, Frank Crisford and Bob Packman.

In the Minor League, the team won two and lost five games with one match scratched as a league game and turned into a friendly owing to an insufficiency of players of qualifying age. In all Minor games, league, cup and friendly, four games were won and seven lost with thirty-three goals being scored and sixty conceded.

Four members of the club were included in ‘The Rest’ team for the Minor League ‘Champions v The Rest’ match. They were Bob Burnett, Gordon Hickman (captain), Peter Moon and Richard Shearcroft.

MINOR TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
29/10/1938Rye United MinorsAwayLeague0 – 9
5/11/1938Woodwards Sports ‘A’HomeLeague1 – 4Cyril Barden
26/11/1938Woodwards Sports ‘B’HomeLeague7 – 0Jack Carey 3, Cyril Barden 2, Reg Carter, Jim Shearer
4/12/1938Woodwards Sports ‘A’AwayLeague0 – 17
11/2/1939Houghton RangersAwayHastings Minor Challenge Cup 1st Round10 – 0Frank Crisford 6, Vic Clapson, Gordon Hickman, Nick Francis, Reg Carter
11/3/1939Woodwards Sports ‘B’AwayFriendly2 – 8 #George Hoad, A Henham
25/3/1939Woodwards Sports ‘B’HomeHastings Minor Challenge Cup Semi-Final4 – 2Nick Francis, Richard Shearcroft, Gordon Hickman, Bob Packman
15/4/1939Rye United MinorsAwayHastings Minor Challenge Cup Final1 – 6Peter Moon (pen)
22/4/1939OccasionalsAwayLeague2 – 4Tom Shearer, Bob Horton
29/4/1939Rye United MinorsHomeLeague2 – 7Richard Shearcroft, Nick Francis
6/5/1939OccasionalsHomeLeague4 – 3Nick Francis 2, Bob Horton, Peter Moon

GENERAL MATTERS

One new football was bought during the season and also some second-hand nets. Thanks were due to Frank Crisford and Peter Moon for setting up the nets, largely due to the initiative of the latter.

On the social side, a whist drive was held at Pett on 1st June and was financially successful. The club was grateful to Harry Barnes for his work in connection with it and to those people who gave prizes and refreshments.

As a result of the generous action of Mrs Hickman, a dance was held to raise club funds at the Merrivale Hall, Winchelsea Beach during August. On Easter Monday, a trip to London was again arranged and was generally enjoyed and this included a visit to Highbury to watch the game between Arsenal and Blackpool

The thanks of the club were due to the following among others:-

  • Icklesham Parish Council for free use of Icklesham Recreation Ground.
  • Mr George Fellows for refereeing 2nd XI friendlies and Minor League and Cup games free of charge. Not only was this of great benefit to the club, but opposing sides were quite agreed as to his fairness.
  • Mrs Marland for the use of the Oast House Tea Rooms garage for changing and for the use of the marker.
  • Harry Barnes, Les Barden, Alan Titmuss and Nick Francis for their help in marking-out.
  • Mr L Coombes for bringing the nets from Rye free of charge.
  • Those members of the club who made their own way to matches and who also assisted in transporting others. These included Jack Moore, Frank Crisford, Harry Barnes and Les Barden and also Mrs Hake of Pett.
  • The various officials of the Hastings Football Association, Hastings Minor Football Association and Hastings League for their co-operation and help, especially Messrs A E Johnson, R Perkins and F Crouch.
  • The captain, various vice-captains, chairman and treasurer for their co- operation which made the season a happy one, in particular Harry Barnes who spared neither time nor money, trouble nor petrol in the interests of the club. In his absence in hospital, the post of treasurer was competently carried on by Les Barden.
  • To those members who helped to get teams together, outstanding was Nick Francis, who did a great deal, while Ernest Quaife, Jim Shearer, Richard Shearcroft and Les Beeney were all of considerable help in this respect.

The Annual General Meeting of the club was again held at the Oast House Tea Rooms in Icklesham on Thursday, 18th May 1939 at 7.30 pm.

CLUB OFFICIALS