Welcome to the TGS Pilot Field
Club CEO/Chairman
Billy Wood Welcome to the TGS Pilot Field as we welcome Cray Valley PM staff, management and players for another Isthmian South East fixture.
On a personal note, I would just like to say how pleased I am that the staff are all in place and staying on board. I really enjoy working with this bunch daily and long may that continue.
It’s a new day for The ‘U’s and I am full of excitement. I would like to at this time wish Gary, Browny and Jon Meeney all the very best for today and the future here at Hastings United. It was all about making sure we had stability and quality in the roles and with these three I think we have hit the nail on the head. Most will say time will tell but the reaction from the supporters and everyone inside the club has been incredible and the belief you show them will urge the lads on, like you do every match day.
Today I expect to hear you, the amazing ‘U’s support getting right behind our lads in claret and white.
This is our club, our ambition, our journey.
COYU!
Billy Billy Wood HUFC Chairman / Chief Executive Officer Photo: Scott White Photography
The Gaffer Welcome to the TGS Pilot Field this afternoon for officially my first game in charge as manager.
Gary Elphick
It’s an honour and a privilege to be announced as manager and I’m really looking forward to the job in hand. The staff will resume its normal roles lead by Andrew Brown which will be pivotal in the road ahead, and we’ve also brought in Jon Meeney whom I’ve experienced success with in a similar situation at Worthing, especially with me resuming my playing role at the club for the time being. I’d also like to thank Billy, Darren and Peter for placing their faith in me for the next chapter of the football club. Today will be a real acid test of where we’re at, Cray Valley PM will be a tough opponent and Kevin Watson has done a fantastic job there. We’ve had a few sessions with the players this week, and now the time has come. Commitment and honesty will hopefully be there for the fans to witness today and most importantly I hope the Pilot Field roar is in full voice to help get the positive result we require. The fans here at Hastings are first class and a massive reason why I’ve loved playing here. We’ll need you these next few weeks. Onwards and upwards! COYU’s ...
Gary Elphick HUFC First Team Manager
Photo: Scott White Photography
MATCH SPONSOR
Commercial Director
Good afternoon everyone.
Hayley Clout
Welcome back to the TGS Pilot Field after a disappointing away result last Saturday, but we move forward to today's game against Cray Valley. I would firstly like to say congratulations to Gary and Browny on their appointments and to welcome Jon to the Club, onwards and upwards we go. I would like to welcome and thank today’s Match Sponsor, Green Insurance Group who offer a wide range of insurance services for commercial organisations including specialised trades and private clients, each on competitive and flexible terms. They have been offering help, advice and service for over 40 years and have offices throughout Kent and Sussex. They offer a wide range of insurance services for commercial organisations, families, home and valued possessions of private clients each on competitive and flexible terms. Their insurance advisers will take the time to understand your needs and they enjoy working relations with many of the best known insurers who have each been carefully selected for their customer care, claims management and completive premiums to ensure all their clients benefit from reliability of their insurance policies.
We hope Clive Galbraith and his guests, Keith, Greg and Jeff enjoy their day with us and we thank them for their continued support here at the Club. I would also like to welcome and continually thank Bob H who is our Matchball Sponsor for every game, Bob does so much for the Club and we thank him for his continued support both with the first and the ladies team. I would finally like to welcome and thank our Mascot to today's game, George who is 7. We hope you enjoy your day with us and the whole Pilot Field matchday experience. Enjoy the game and hopefully 3 points!
Hayley If you would like any further details on our Commercial side, please call me on 07766 825573
MATCH MASCOT
George Crispe - Age 7 Favourite Team - Arsenal Favourite Player - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
HASTINGS UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT & OFFICIALS
CLUB DETAILS
DIRECTORS & SECRETARY
Co Name: Hastings United Football Club Limited
Chairman / CEO / Director Billy Wood Vice Chairman / Director Pat McCrossan Director Hayley Clout Director Craig Barrow Director Ross Shewry-Maryan Director Peter Sherlock Non-Executive Director Daren Burney Company Secretary Dane Martin
TGS Pilot Field Elphinstone Rd Hastings TN34 2AX Private Limited Company: Incorporated 24/9/1997 Company Registration Number: 03441850 Registered office address:
36 Cambridge Road Hastings East Sussex TN341DU
Ownership - Major shareholders: Bohemia Hastings LLP - 95.27% Daren Burney & Peter Sherlock 100% controlling party Telephone
01424 444635
CLUB PRESIDENT Dave Ormerod
Email club@hastingsunited.com Website www.hastingsunited.com
MEMBERS OF
FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT
Pitching In Isthmian Football League Sussex County Football Association
Director of Football Dean White FIRST TEAM MANAGEMENT & STAFF First Team Manager Gary Elphick Assistant Manager Andrew Brown First Team Coach Jon Meeney Coach Peter Heritage GK Coach / Opposition Scout Ben Cornelius Kit Coordinator/Matchday Physio Dane Martin Sports Therapist / Physio Paige Wise Performance Analyst James McCrossan
LIFE MEMBERS Les Britton Peter Eastman David Harding David Nessling Dave Ormerod Charles Pilbeam Tony Cosens
VICE PRESIDENTS C Barrow
J Downton
A Keen
U23 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS
U23 Manager
Club Secretary
Dane Martin
Commercial Director
Hayley Clout
Programme Editor
Paul Hoggard
Press Officer
Billy Wood
Public Address/Matchday Media Team: Eddie Denyer Pat McCrossan Nick Clarke Ryan Segal Bob Quinn Matchday Liaison Officer Steph McCrossan 1st Team Photographer (M & W )
Scott White
1st Team Videographer (M & W )
Joseph Knight
U23/U18 Photographer
Joe Knight
Health & Safety Officer
David Russell
Deputy Safety Officer
Greg Agathocli
Club Shop Managers Ged Clout & Sue Gallop Pilot Bar Manager
Dane Martin
Kit/Laundry Manager
Sue Cornelius
Head Groundsman
Simon Rudkins
www.hastingsunited.com
U18 SQUAD MANAGEMENT
U18 Manager
Andrew Brown Andrew Brown
ACADEMY Coaching Partner Skiltek Education Scheme Partner East Sussex College Hastings Head of Academy Senior Development Phase Lead Andrew Brown Management Group Craig Barrow, Andrew Brown, Sean Ray Welfare Roger Bond / Louise Chalmers Administration Roger Bond Discipline Hannah Smith Social Media & Press Officer Charmaine Ridgers Recruitment Andrew Brown, Sean Ray U16 Manager Bernie Walker U15 Manager Tony Field U13 Manager Guiseppe Lombardelli U11 Manager Russell Small U10 Manager Neil Cornwell U9 Manager Sean Ray U8 Manager Shane Ridgers U7 Manager Jake Daniels
DONE DEAL | Gary Elphick is the new Men’s First Team Manager
New Men’s First Team Manager, Gary Elphick (centre) is flanked on the left, as viewed, by Assistant Manager, Andrew Brown and on the right by new First Team Coach, Jon Meeney.
Photo: Scott White Photography
Hastings United Football Club are proud to announce the appointment of Gary Elphick as the new Men’s First Team Manager. Elphick, the much-loved Hastings United centre-back takes the role having previously led Worthing to promotion to the Isthmian League Premier in 2015-16. Elphick will remain playing and therefore is assisted by Assistant Manager, Andrew Brown and First Team Coach, Jon Meeney who was joint Manager with Elphick at Worthing. Gary Elphick: “I’ve become very fond of Hastings United from my time as a player and I am looking forward to this opportunity of management again. I wish to continue from the good work Chris Agutter has done at the club in recent seasons, the foundations have been laid and it’s up to myself and the staff to get the best out of the players for progression to resume. Andrew Brown and the rest of the club staff will continue with their current roles, which is testament to them and shows the belief I have in them continue with the success we’ve had in recent seasons. I will continue playing this season, so I have brought Jon Meeney to the club to help assist Andrew Brown with training and matchday duties. Jon will be key and I’ve also experienced success with him at Worthing in a similar situation. He will add energy, knowledge and I look forward to working alongside him again. I like to thank Billy, Daren, and Peter for the opportunity, and I will do my upmost for the club. Lastly, I wish to mention the fans, my fondness for the club is mainly down to the rapport I have with the supporters. You’ve been first class with me, and I really hope I can achieve something special for you. Onwards and upwards! COYU” Billy Wood (CEO/Chairman): “I am delighted to appoint Gary Elphick as the new manager of Hastings United. Gaz knows the club, knows what we are about on and off the pitch and with the addition of Jon Meeney it feels exciting and fresh. Gaz made it very clear how important Andrew Brown is to his vision and it’s something the club wholeheartedly agree with. We thank Browny for taking the team in the interim and whilst full faith was installed in him at this time continuing in the role of Assistant Manager suits both the individual and the club perfectly. I urge the ‘U’s supporters to get behind the new management team. We all have a job to do, and I have full faith that we will get it done this season. Let’s pack the place on Saturday and get back to what we know best!”
Gut Feeling Simon Stoddart My waffle and opinions, I don't speak for Hastings United. Personal observations on the world of semi-pro football and sport in general.
action will be taken with points deductions the ultimate sanction. Points are deducted for off pitch shenanigans, high time it happened for what goes on, on the pitch too. Once the message gets through, this behaviour will stop and the benefits will work their way through all levels. Ultimately to the most important level of all, where our kids start playing the game. The media can do it's bit too. Gary Neville and Roy Keane - give them a half hour slot every weekend, repeated through the week - going through the televised con artistry. Show the cheats up for what they are.
CHEATING Football is tainted with dishonesty, cheating and con artistry. I was going to say it's riddled with it but, no, that's unfair on the vast majority of players - who don't resort to the tactics we saw at Corinthian last Saturday. The home 5 with two episodes of drama queen face clutching and a knee clasping exhibition successfully dragged the game into disrepute with his colleague in goal doing his bit right at the end with his feigned head injury as Corinthian ran the clock down. Don't know if he was carrying a knock but Ben Pope was subbed when United really needed his contribution - the chat amongst supporters was that he was taken off before the wind ups saw him sent off.
We all get wound up by antics like this, we get embarrassed when our players resort to it. When will it stop?
Let's be clear, Corinthian deserved to win. United never got going, it was, on the football front, one of those days. We've all seen it before. But the cheating was inexcusable. Football administrators have sat on their hands for ever when it comes to behaviour like this. Top level football is covered from all angles yet players continue to con referees with feigned injury and continue to do so because they know that even though it's all there for everyone to see, they know that nothing will be done about it. And the disease moves on through football and here at step 4, semi pro level, we see it too. The behaviour is inexcusable, as is the lack of action taken by those who run the game at the highest level. It could be stopped overnight. The administrators tell the clubs to put their houses in order, make it clear that where it can be seen that a player has conned the ref and gotten away with it on the day, retrospective
Joe Knight with two ex U's at Long Mead Jamie Fielding (Left) and Adam Lovatt playing National South football for Tonbridge Angels. Not my picture, Joe happy for it to appear here.
INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM A highlight on an otherwise grim afternoon at Corinthian was our very own Billy Wood joining in from his corner seat with the Hastings Barmy Army rendition of 'Whoooooo we are', at half-time. Priceless.
LEAGUE LEADERS CALL IN TODAY Cray Valley PM continue to make their mark on Step 4 after promotion recently from County League level. And they currently lead the division after an afternoon off last weekend which they doubtless enjoyed when seeing Haywards Heath had lost at Faversham. No goals conceded in their last 5 league games, scoring plenty - yea, we have our work cut out as we try to make up for that defeat at Corinthian and eat into that 10 point gap. I recall years ago, 30 plus years, Buckingham Town coming into Southern League South when Hastings Town had promotion ambitions of their own, Buckingham rocked the boat and won the division. Ground grading rules'n regs - that must be obeyed at all times - dictated they didn't go up. There's always someone who rocks the boat, Cray Valley remind me of Buckingham Town.
DONALDSON STAT UPDATE 258 away grounds following United, Town and United again. And on the subject of programmes, Phil has 3000 Hastings editions. Had an interesting yak with Vernon Couchman at Corinthian re programmes, he reckons he has at least 600 Hastings ones plus plenty of others.
AND FINALLY Just never saw that coming. Chris Agutter moving on after 4 years at the helm. A huge shame with the under lying theme being one of incomplete business - as in getting United up into the Isthmian Premier. The team had cried out for continuity of management - new season, new boss - one season after the other. We needed stability and continuity and we must all have thought we had that with Aggy. It was looking promising two seasons ago till Covid reared it's head. 3 points clear with two games in hand, it looked good. Well, it's all change again and there will doubtless be plenty going on behind the scenes. As I tap this out, I have no idea where Chris is going but wish him all the very best wherever it is. He is a young ambitious manager and just like young ambitious players he will want to test himself at higher levels. I recall seeing his video interview back when he started, after a 4-3 defeat at Molesey, thinking "Yea, he's a good un" as he stepped up after the short reign of Adam Hinshelwood who, in turn, had stepped up to take on the job at Worthing who currently look good for National South. This is where you become a victim of your own success. Sport being what it is, you want to go up through the levels and the frustrating knock on effect of seeing talented young players step up into the first team here in the semi pro game is that once they establish themselves - Rodari, Lovatt, Fielding, Ajakaiye to name 4 - they're going to be looking onwards and upwards and be on their way. You can't expect anything else. Daniel didn't come up through the Academy but the same principle applies, he established himself and just as we were all really getting into his electric contributions, he was away. And now scoring regularly at Kingstonian. Same applies to coaches and managers as we've seen, out of the blue, with Chris. As with those players who've moved on to higher levels, Chris goes with our very best wishes.
How about one of these incorporated into the Cole Warren end? 60 seat covered accommodation at Corinthian.
HUFC vs WHITSTABLE TOWN - MAN OF THE MATCH - BEN POPE
Ben Pope was awarded ‘Man Of The Match’ on behalf of Match Sponsor 180 Sports Bar. Ben was presented with his award on behalf of the match sponsor by Pre-Academy Lead Coach Jake Daniels and mascot Ellis Suggitt.
Photo: Scott White Photography
LEAGUE NEWS From: Ian Townsend
South East Division
SMITH FOR SITTINGBOURNE
STRIKER FOR ASHFORD UNITED
Leatherhead have announced that midfielder Jedd Smith, who has made a dozen appearances this season, has departed Fetcham Grove to join Sittingbourne.
Ashford United have signed striker Gary Lockyer from neighbours Kennington, for whom he has scored eighteen SCEFL goals already this season. The Nuts and Bolts, in third place in the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division, perhaps don't like the idea that five clubs have scored more goals, and have decided to do something about it!
Jed played in the Pitching In South East Division briefly last season, as he spent time at East Grinstead Town, making three appearances without finishing on the losing side before covid hit once more and ended the campaign. He came through the youth ranks at National League South Dartford before joining the Tanners.
Gary isn't entirely new to the Isthmian League, as he previously played for Ramsgate. He started out with Gravesend and Northfleet, had trials at Charlton Athletic and Aldershot Town, and spent many years playing for Lydd Town in the shadow of the nuclear power station. he won back-to-back promotions with Kennington.
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION TABLE 2021/22 WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2021 # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Team Cray Valley PM Haywards Heath T Ashford United Ramsgate Herne Bay VCD Athletic HASTINGS UNITED Sittingbourne Corinthian Whitehawk Faversham Town Hythe Town Chichester City Three Bridges Sevenoaks Town Burgess Hill Town Lancing East Grinstead Town Whitstable Town Phoenix Sports
P 12 12 12 12 11 13 10 11 12 11 12 11 11 12 13 11 12 12 12 12
HW HD 4 2 5 0 5 1 3 1 5 0 4 1 2 1 5 0 2 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 0 1
HL AW AD 0 5 0 1 4 1 0 3 1 2 4 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 4 0 1 1 1 2 3 0 2 2 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 0 2 2 0 5 4 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 2 0 1 3 0 0 5 1 0
AL 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 4 3 3 5 6 5
W 9 9 8 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 2 4 3 3 2 1 1
D 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 4 7 1 3 3 3 2 1
L 1 2 2 3 2 4 3 4 5 5 6 5 4 3 8 5 6 7 9 10
F 32 26 24 30 20 25 25 19 15 13 13 11 17 12 16 14 11 12 13 10
A 12 11 8 16 8 16 15 17 16 18 20 22 13 23 29 18 23 21 25 27
+/20 15 16 14 12 9 10 2 -1 -5 -7 -11 4 -11 -13 -4 -12 -9 -12 -17
Pts 29 28 26 23 23 21 19 19 17 14 14 14 13 13 13 12 12 9 5 4
Home
Away
1-3 L 1303 2-3 L 648 1-1 D
949
1-2 L 127 2-0 W 1214 3-0 W 225
4-1 W 206 3-2 W 325
4-1 W 790 4-2 W 174
2020/21 APPEARANCES & GOALSCORERS 2021/22 APPEARANCES & GOALSCORERS STARTS PLAYER
Sam Adams Ollie Black Aaron Capon Tom Chalmers Sam Cruttwell Lloyd Dawes Jack Dixon Jake Elliott Gary Elphick Marcus Goldsmith Harvey Greig Kenny Pogue Ben Pope Davide Rodari Louis Rogers (GK) Knory Scott R Sterling-Parker Craig Stone Benn Ward Ryan Worrall
10 10 2 13 3 4 11 11 7 0 8 11 1 13 1 2 13 10 13
SEASON CAREER SUB TOTAL GOALS APPS GOALS
1 7 1 6 2 1 3 2 5 3 1 -
11 10 9 13 3 1 10 11 11 9 1 11 13 6 13 4 3 13 10 13
4 2 1 1 5 4 1 2
569 143 84 9 0 25 6 262 18 1 246 34 50 4 53 5 9 1 204 54 50 29 87 44 65 4 3 48 5 10 43 4
STARTS PLAYER
Sam Adams Lanre Azeez Jack Bates Ollie Black Tom Chalmers Lloyd Dawes Jack Dixon Gary Elphick Marcus Goldsmith Harvey Greig Sam Hasler James Hull Nathan Jenkins Freddie Legg Dave Martin Kane Penn Kenny Pogue Ben Pope Louis Rogers (GK) Knory Scott Craig Stone Ryan Worrall
14 6 18 15 2 18 13 12 18 1 4 12 3 7 14 18 17 6
SEASON CAREER SUB TOTAL GOALS APPS GOALS
2 7 3 1 2 2 5 1 5 2 2 8 2 4
16 13 3 18 16 4 18 13 12 2 18 6 5 5 14 5 15 14 18 2 17 10
1 2 2 2 3 9 1 1 2 8 10 1 1
585 144 73 4 3 102 2 41 8 5 264 34 66 8 21 3 18 9 7 1 5 5 1 14 2 5 219 62 64 39 83 6 1 65 5 53 5
LEAGUE NEWS From: Ian Townsend
South East Division
LAST WEEKEND’S ROUND UP Cray Valley PM managed to stay top without actually playing, as Haywards Heath Town fell to a three-one defeat at Faversham Town. Emmanuel Oluwasemo and Charlie Dickens gave the Lilywhites a two goal lead, and whilst Luke Robinson gave Heath hope eighteen minutes from time Kelvin Ogboe ended their resistance five minutes from time. Heath are second, Faversham up to eleventh. Ashford Town are three points off the top after a four-nil thrashing of Hythe Town. Daniel Hull put them ahead in the first half, and Josh Wisson, Mamadou Diallo and Johan Ter Horst made quite sure of three points with three second half goals. The Cannons are twelfth. Ramsgate are fourth, a goal in each half from Callum Peck and Ashley Miller giving them all three points at East Grinstead Town, whilst Herne Bay also scored two, coming from behind to defeat Sevenoaks Town two-one. Freeman Rogers gave Oaks the lead three minutes before the break, Aaron Millbank equalised three minutes later, and Bode Anidugbe got the winner on sixty seven, to leave the hosts in fifth. VCD Athletic are down to sixth, falling to defeat against Sittingbourne- the Brickies getting the only goal of the game. Kane Rowland opened the scoring on the half hour, and although Tyler Christian-Law saw red fourteen minutes from time the hosts held on. Sittingbourne are eighth.
Corinthian are up to ninth as Hastings United’s difficulties continued. Ryan Worrall put United ahead on the stroke of half-time, only for Becka-Kah Dembele and Frankie Morgan to turn the game on its head in the second-half. United are seventh, Corinthian ninth. Whitehawk are up to tenth, defeating Phoenix Sports by the odd goal in five. An own goal and the customary goal from Javaun Splatt put the Hawks two up, before a Jeff Duah-Kessie penalty just before the break halved the arrears. Omarr Lawson restored the two goal cushion for the Hawks nine minutes after the restart, only for Alfie Evans to get another for the hosts on the hour. Whitehawk held out for thirty minutes to take victory and go tenth. Chichester City are thirteenth, two-one winners over Whitstable Town. They had to come from behind to do it, after Muhammed Cham gave the Oysterboys the lead on the half hour. Chi turned it around in the last twenty minutes; first Tyrone Madhani equalising and then Kaleem Haitham securing three points. A late, late goal saw ten man Burgess Hill Town equalise at home to Lancing. Michael Uwezu gave the hosts the lead eighteen minutes from time, even though by that point they’d been a man light for an hour after keeper Taylor Seymour saw red. Matt Daniel quickly equalised for Lancing, and Ismaila Diallo then gave the visitors the lead, only for former Lancing man Lewis Finney to equalise in added time.
New Fixture Sussex Senior Cup Round 2 Tues 16 November Away Burgess Hill Town
NEW MANAG GARY ELPHIC
ER CK
Substitutes used A,B,C,D,E replaced in brackets Goalscorers in bold
Photo: Scott White Photography
OUR VISITORS CRAY VALLEY PM FC Club: Cray Valley (PM) FC Limited Nickname: The Millers Founded: 1919 Director/President: Cemil Tumkaya Chairman: Frank May Manager: Kevin Watson Assistant manager: Tommy Osborne RECENT FIRST TEAM HONOURS 2018/19: SCEFL Champions FA Vase Runners-Up 2017/18: London Senior Cup Runners-Up 2016/17: London Senior Cup Winners
Ground: Badgers Sport Ground Eltham Capacity: 1,000 Team colours: Home: Green shirts, Black/Green shorts and Black/Green socks. Away: Blue shirts, Blue shorts and Blue socks.
KEVIN WATSON (MANAGER) Kevin took over the reins at the Club during the 2017-18 season after spending 4 years in charge of Chatham Town (2011-15). Having previously played for Charlton Athletic Youth team, Team Bath, Chelmsford City, Welling United, Folkestone Invicta, Maidstone United and Chatham Town, Kev recalls his most memorable playing moment as being captain of Team Bath when they became the first University team in 100 years to reach the FA Cup First Round Proper in 2002 - suffering a 4-2 defeat to Mansfield Town. As Manager of The Millers, he guided the Club to the FA Vase Final at Wembley and the SCEFL Championship in the Club’s centenary season 2018-19, before reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time in the Club’s history last season.
Kevin Watson Cray Valley PM FC First Team Manager
CRAY VALLEY PM FC HISTORY Records held by Kent FA show that Cray Valley Paper Mills FC (CVPM) was founded in 1919 the team originally playing in green and white, matching the livery of the paper mills vehicles and company banner - and was supported by the Nash family who owned the paper mills until its closure in 1981. Playing in the newly formed Sidcup and Kent League Division 2, the Club’s first match was a 1-0 victory against Hamilton House FC on September 20th 1919, followed by a 7-0 victory in our first away match at Sidcup Invicta. CVPM went on to win the division in their first season - gaining promotion to the Bromley & District League Division 1. The following season they were again champions - also winning the Kent County Junior Cup, defeating Sittingbourne Paper Mills 3-0 in the Final. Their next success came as members of the Kent Amateur League Western Section in 1932/33 - winning the Divisional title that season before finishing runners-up in 1936/37. Records between the late-fifties and the early-seventies are scarce, until 1975 when CVPM joined the South London Alliance League, winning Division 1 in 1979/80 and the Premier Division in 1980/81 - their final season playing at the sports ground of the mills at St Pauls Cray in Kent. Following a “nomadic existence” CVPM arrived at their present home at Badgers
Sports Ground in Middle Park Avenue, Eltham for the season 1998/99, when “Paper Mills” was abbreviated to “(PM)” in the Club’s name. The Club continued to enjoy success in the South London Alliance - winning Division 1 in 1983/84 and finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division in 1988/89 - before joining the Spartan League, gaining promotion to Division 1 in 1990/91 by finishing as runners up, only missing out on the title on goal difference. They moved to the re-structured Spartan Midland League in 1997/98, - finishing as runners up in their first season – and became founder members of the London Intermediate League – reaching the Final of the League Cup in 1998/99 – before, under the management of Mark Edwards, being elected to Division One of the Kent County League in 2001/02. During Edwards’ reign, CVPM enjoyed regular success – winning Division 1 West in 2002/03 before winning the Premier Division by 11 points in 2004/05. They were also victorious in the London Intermediate Cup in 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2011. Willie O’Sullivan became manager in season 2009/10, before leaving in January of the following season 2010/11, at the end of which the Club effectively gained two “promotions”– moving from the “Step 7” Kent County League to the “Step 5” Kent League. With Steve Chapman having taken over at the helm, their first season at that level saw them finish in a highly creditable 11th position -
CRAY VALLEY PM FC HISTORY
Continued ...
also reaching the semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy. The following two seasons saw further progress, with 8th and 7th placed finishes, while reaching the semi-final of the London Senior Cup - narrowly losing to eventual winners AFC Wimbledon. 2012/13 saw The Millers make their debut in the FA Vase, before their first appearance in the FA Cup the following season - beating Lancing away in a replay, before losing to Redhill in the Preliminary round. After Paul Gross took over from Chapman for the 2014/15 season, CVPM finished 7th in the newly named Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) - a late season slump resulting in a disappointing 10th place finish the following season. James Collins then took over the reins, enjoying considerable success on the field. The 2016/17 campaign saw The Millers finish in a very creditable 4th place in the league, and reach the Final of the Kent Senior Trophy losing 2-1 to League Champions Ashford Town. They also became the lowest ranked team ever to win the London Senior Cup when, on a memorable night at Dulwich Hamlet, The Millers beat Ryman Premier Division opponents Metropolitan Police 2-1. It was also a successful season for the Club’s youngsters - the Reserves under Mark Dobson winning the Suburban League South Division and narrowly missing out on doing the double, losing to Metropolitan Police Reserves in the League Cup Final.
Early in the 2017/18 campaign, current manager Kevin Watson was appointed. A very successful second half of the season saw The Millers finish in 6th place, while again reaching the final of the London Senior Cup – on this occasion being beaten by Balham. The Club’s centenary season 2018/19 saw The Millers again scale new heights – winning the SCEFL title by a single point, accruing 91 points from 38 matches while scoring 108 goals with a goal difference of +72, and securing promotion to the Isthmian League. CVPM also made their first appearance at Wembley – Combined Counties League side Chertsey Town beating them 3-1 after extra time in the FA Vase Final in front of a crowd of 42,962. When the Club’s first season in the Isthmian League South East Division (Step 4) came to a premature end due to the Covid-19 outbreak, The Millers were placed in 3rd position off the back of a run of eight consecutive victories and looking set to challenge for further promotion. While the 2020/21 season was also curtailed in December 2020 due to Covid-19, there was still time for The Millers to embark on a record breaking run in the FA Cup. Progress to the First Round Proper will live long in the memory – in particular a famous 3-2 victory at National League side Maidenhead United in the Fourth Round Qualifying. Season 2021/22 sees the Club continue to expand it’s Youth section and will field 17 teams across the various age groups, plus a Ladies side, in addition to the First and U23 Development teams.
PLAYER PROFILES PAUL SEMAKULA (4) CHRIS LEWINGTON (1) Goalkeeper Chris joined The Millers after spending the last two seasons with National League South side Maidstone United. Coming through the junior ranks at Charlton Athletic, Chris featured for Dulwich Hamlet, Beckenham Town, Fisher Athletic and Leatherhead before making 143 Football League appearances for Dagenham and Redbridge. A move to Colchester United followed before he joined Margate in 2015.
Central midfielder Paul played an instrumental part in The Millers SCEFL Championship success during the 2018/19 season, making 39 appearances – including the FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium. He has previously played for St Albans City, Tonbridge Angels, Billericay Town, Maidenhead United and Leatherhead. After taking a year or so away from the game, Paul will be looking to add to the one goal scored in 74 appearances for the Club.
CONNOR DYMOND (2)
NATHANIEL BLANKS (5)
Joining Crystal Palace as a 14 year old, Connor went on to captain the Under 21 team while making one appearance on the bench for the Eagles first team. After loan spells at Barnet and Newport County, he joined Bromley in 2016, making 36 appearances for the National League side. After 40 appearances for Welling United in 2017/18, he represented Hemel Hempstead Town, Kingstonian and Margate in 2018/19 before returning to Welling United. Connor joined The Millers in the summer of 2020 and netted four times in his 10 appearances last season.
Nat joined us on loan from Folkestone Invicta at the end of February 2020 – making just 2 appearances before the season’s premature end. He then made his move permanent the following summer. He had been with the Stripes since 2012, and was part of their Isthmian League South Division title winning squad in 2016. He previously played for Gillingham, Marlow and Chalfont St Peter. Nat missed the 2020/21 season due to an achilles injury suffered early in pre-season.
ALI (CEM) TUMKAYA (6) NATHAN GREEN (3) Nathan joined the Club during the summer of 2021 from Welling United, after a distinguished career in the higher echelons of Non-League football – including spells at Tonbridge Angels, Margate and Dartford -, in addition to seven Football League appearances for Dagenham and Redbridge. A first team regular in the Dulwich Hamlet side that won promotion to the National League South in 2017/18, Nathan went on to make 131 appearances for The Hamlet – scoring 18 goals – before joining Welling United in 2019.
Cem made his Millers debut as a 16 year old, playing in centre defence alongside current assistant manager Tommy Osborne. After appearing for the Club in the 2016 Suburban Under 21’s plate final, he went on to play for London Under 18’s before playing a key role in the Millers’ 2018/19 SCEFL Championship win and appearing in the FA Vase Final against Chertsey Town at Wembley Stadium. Cem has scored 8 times in 149 first team appearances prior to this season.
PLAYER PROFILES Continued ...
DENZEL GAYLE (7) Jamaican born Denzel joined the Millers in 2017 from Erith & Belvedere and at the start of this season had made 162 appearances for the Club, netting 41 times. A pacy right sided raider, Denzel previously served Erith Town, Corinthian, and had a short spell at Leatherhead before joining the ‘Deres’. He went on to contribute 17 goals in our SECFL championship winning side in 2018/19 and appeared at Wembley in the FA Vase final.
JACK SAMMOUTIS (8) Former Cyprus Under 19 international Jack began his playing career in the Millwall academy at the age of 15, going on to represent the Lions at Under 18 and Under 21 level. Since being released by Millwall in March 2013, “Dino” has gone on to represent a number of Clubs at non-league level – his longest tenure being at Walton Casuals from 2015-2017, scoring 17 goals in his 64 appearances and winning the Isthmian League South Play-Off Final in a penalty shoot-out against Corinthian-Casuals. Jack suffered a serious knee injury late in 2019 but is now happily returning to full fitness and eager to add to his 10 appearances for The Millers.
MARCEL BARRINGTON (9) Marcel joined The Millers during the summer of 2021 after scoring twice in last season’s delayed London Senior Cup ties. Guyana international Marcel featured in the Leicester City Under 21 set-up in the 2014/15 season before being released and joining Walton Casuals in November 2015. He then went on to win promotion with
Braintree Town - where he was a member of the National League South Play Off winning team in 2017/18, - before joining Welling United from Dartford in 2020. Since making his international debut in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2015, Marcel has netted twice in 5 appearances for his country.
ADE ADEYEMO (10) Versatile striker “Toks” spent 2 years at Millwall Development College before playing for Fisher at the age of 18. After playing for Beckenham Town in the SCEFL for 2 months, Ade went to University for 4 years before joining The Millers in the summer of 2020. Ade made an immediate impact, scoring 4 goals in his 12 appearances last season.
FRANCIS BABALOLA (11) Hard working “strongman” Babs includes Charlton Athletic, Fulham and Tilbury among his previous Clubs. Equally at home out wide or leading the attack, “Babs” has an impressive strike rate, - netting 37 times in his 96 Millers appearances before the start of this season, including the dramatic last minute winner at Maidenhead United in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tie in 2020. Francis played for the Millers in the 2018/19 FA Vase Final against Chertsey at Wembley as well being a valuable member of the SCEFL Championship winning side, and was awarded the Player’s and Supporter’s Player of the Year in 2019/20.
ALEX BREFO (12) Alex Brefo 20 recently joined from Phoenix Sports and made his debut at Sittingbourne immediately making an impact as a strong central defender. Alex started with Bromley Academy and previously played at South Park before joining Phoenix Sports.
MATT ATTENBOROUGH-WARREN (14)
HASSAN IBRAHIYM (18)
Local PE teacher Matt joined The Millers in the summer of 2019 after 3 years sterling service with Chipstead. Matt quickly established himself in The Millers’ midfield, earning the “Management Player of the Year” award in 2019/20 with a string of consistent performances. Able to cover in defence when required, Matt had contributed 6 goals in his 47 appearances up to the start of this season.
Former Barnet youngster Hassan joined The Millers from Ashford United in November 2019. The London born midfield powerhouse - who also played for Kingstonian, before moving to Hastings United – had scored five times in 23 appearances for The Millers prior to this season. Photo: Scott White Photography
DAVID OMPREON (15)
Hassan Ibrahiym in action during his time with the ‘U’s
A left sided defender who joined the Millers towards the end of September 2021. He had already played at the Artic Stadium the previous month having appeared for Leatherhead in a pre-season friendly. David now 23 years of age started as a schoolboy at Fulham before joining AFC Wimbledon and appearing in their U18 youth side that reached the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup in 2015/16. Other clubs include Sutton United before joining Leatherhead.
RORY HILL (16) Taxi Driver Rory returned to The Millers in the summer of 2020 following 2 years out of the game, having previously been leading scorer for the Club in season 2015/16. A previous winner of the Isthmian League Premier Division with Maidstone United (2014/15), Rory also won the South Division with Croydon Athletic in 2009/10 as well as the SCEFL Championship with Ashford United in 2016/17. A former Millwall and Gillingham youngster (playing in the Reserve team while at Priestfield), Rory has played at National League level for Salisbury, as well as in the National League South with Bishops Stortford, Welling United, Bromley, and Tonbridge Angels. Rory started this season with 18 goals in his 44 appearances for the Club.
GAVIN TOMLIN (20) Striker Gavin scored on his Millers debut against Lordswood on 23 January 2019, before going on to score 17 goals in 22 games - including a goal in the FA Vase Final at Wembley – as the Club went on to win the SCEFL Championship. After coming through the Gillingham youth set-up, Gavin has had a distinguished career, playing in the Football League for Brentford, Yeovil Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Gillingham, Southend United, Port Vale and Crawley Town. He latterly moved on to Dulwich Hamlet, helping the Club secure promotion to the National League South in 2017/18. Gavin had scored 23 goals in 36 games for The Millers prior to this season.
LAST MEETING By Bob Quinn @BobJQuinn
00 Saturday 19 September 2020 Hastings United overcame the dismissal of captain Jack Dixon to secure an important point against expected title rivals Cray Valley PM in the opening league game of the season. A scoreless draw at the TGS Pilot Field matched the score in the reverse fixture at the start of last season. United had the better of the opening half-hour before Dixon’s transgression on thirty minutes changed the complexion of the game. Both sides struck the crossbar in the second-half but neither goal was breached, and an end-to-end game finished with a point a piece. Saturday 19th September, another warm day with a gentle breeze. United are wearing their first team strip of claret shirts, white shorts and socks. Cray Valley themselves look tidy in an all sky-blue ensemble. In the lead-up to the game United unveiled their newly named ‘Steve Smith Stand’ in remembrance of a former favourite. And, immediately before the game the ground held an emotional minute’s applause for young United fan Denny Cornelius who tragically lost his battle with Leukemia recently. Cray Valley get us underway and create a good chance in the opening minutes. Francis Babalola makes space on the edge of the United area and tees up a colleague to shoot, forcing Louis Rogers into a smart save. Strong arms deflecting the ball clear. United then put together two neat passages of play down the right which come to nothing but with pos-
session it gives them a foothold in the game. Their first chance of note comes on ten minutes. A robust Dixon challenge in midfield wins the ball for Ryan Worrall to slide a pass into Raheem Sterling-Parker, he takes a touch and hits a low shot past the goalkeeper, but which rolls inches wide of the far post. The next chances also fall to the ‘U’s. After switching play from left to right Dixon gives Sterling-Parker a run into the area and his low cross causes a mad scramble with first Tom Chalmers and then Ben Pope having shots blocked. The clearance falls to Dixon who this time frees Jake Elliott to cross from the right and again Chalmers sees his shot on target blocked. With almost half an hour played the games pivotal moment occurs. Sterling-Parker receives a pass close to the touchline, three Cray players converge on him and there’s determination from both sides to win the ball. Players end up on the turf and Dixon joins the throng in an attempt to pick up the loose ball. The referee spots a wrongdoing and the upshot is a straight red for Dixon, presumably for an errant boot. There’s no immediate change in the game’s impetus. Chalmers frees Sterling-Parker for a run at goal which looks promising until he overruns, and the opportunity is lost. Soon after Ryan Worrall drives in a free kick which the goalkeeper punches clear. The Miller’s only effort in the remainder of the half is when Hassan Ibrahiym shoots so high and wide the ball leaves the ground and heads up the A21. Cray Valley are out early, or United keep them waiting a few minutes, either way it is the ‘U’s who restart. There’s no change in United personnel and early signs they are not going to sit back. Seven minutes in and United come close to opening the scoring. Worrall
forces the goalkeeper to tip over a 30-yard free kick and from the resulting corner Gary Elphick thunders a header against the underside of the bar. There are halfhearted appeals for the ball dropping over the line,but play continues. At the other end Cray’s Kieron McCann brings a good save out of Rogers, pushing a low shot around the post. This was the start of a period of pressure with the Miller’s building up a head of steam, trying to make their extra man count for something. Twice Rogers’ clearances strike onrushing forwards with the ball bouncing wide on both occasions. Then he tipped a header over the bar as Cray’s second half corner count increased. The impressive Denzel Gayle on the right wing was seeing a lot of the ball and him going toe to toe with United’s Ollie Black was a battle to behold. The Miller’s best chance came from corner number seven after 70 mins. A powerful header smacked flush against the bar with the follow-up header landing wide. From this United took heart and Cray perhaps had the wind taken out of their sails. In the remaining 20 mins there is little drama, until Cray forced their eleventh corner in the closing minutes and a final chance is headed well over. Man of the match: Gary Elphick. Hastings Utd : Rogers, Black, Worrall, Elphick, Stone, Elliott, Dixon, Pope, Chalmers, SterlingParker (70’ Capon), Ward (Unused subs: Rodari, Goldsmith, Pogue, Greig) Cray Valley PM : Walker, Dymond, Smith, Hickey, Tumkaya, Gayle, Babalola (70’ Adeyemo), MorathGibbs, Attenborough-Warren (46’ McCann), Ibrahiym (82’ Flack), Yusuff (Unused subs: Sains, KingElliot)
HASTINGS UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB POLICIES Ground Regulations and Customer Charter Full details of our Ground Regulations and Customer Charter are available to read at our website:
www.hastingsunited.com.
Health & Safety Hastings United Football Club takes seriously your health and safety during your visit to the TGS Pilot Field. Please note that the officers and stewards of Hastings United Football Club will enforce Ground Regulations. A copy of these regulations is posted at the entrance to each turnstile and within the ground on the wall next to the food bar. Please note that the following are offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991, as amended: the throwing of any object within the ground without lawful authority or excuse, the chanting of anything of an indecent or racist nature: the entry onto the playing area or any adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse. Under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985, the following are offences for which a person can be arrested by a police officer: attempting to enter the ground or being inside the ground whilst drunk: being in possession of any intoxicating liquor, or bottle, can or other portable container which could cause damage or personal injury when entering the ground.
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE RESPECT STATEMENT “The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.”
These include our policy on ticket and pricing, abandoned matches and our involvement in the Hastings Community.
The Club Believes Customer care starts on the inside, with a good team of staff and work ethic. Most of our staff are volunteers but the Club expect our staff to always do their best. Our staff should remain courteous even in difficult situations. The Club and its staff know they are offering a service and that they would like every customer to return. We believe that people come first when offering a service. We expect our staff to be friendly and helpful and to know their job or be able to call upon someone who is able to respond to the needs of our customers. We expect our staff to give their full attention to a customer in any situation that arises.
In Addition We expect our staff and volunteers to care about their job as this will ensure they care about our customers.
(The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162 )
We expect our staff and volunteers to treat every customer as they would like to be treated themselves.
The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”
We in return expect our customers to treat our volunteers and staff with respect and the Club will not tolerate any physical or verbal abused aimed at them.
HASTINGS UNITED WOMEN’S TEAM
Lauren Sharp in action
LONDON SE WOMEN’S FL DIVISION 1 SOUTH Team
P W D
L GD PTS
A.F.C. Acorns Women
8
7
0
1 22 21
2
HASTINGS UNITED Women 7
6
1
0 21 19
3
Herne Bay FC Women
6
0
2 29 18
4
Ashford
7
5
1
1 17 16
5
Newhaven
8
4
0
4 -2 12
6
Welling United FC Womens 6
3
0
3 12
9
7
Bexhill United
9
2
1
6 -29
7
8
Parkwood Rangers
7
1
1
5 -11
4
9
Meridian
6
1
0
5 -25
3
10
Maidstone United Women
8
0
0
8 -34
0
1
8
Photo: Scott White Photography
HASTINGS UNITED WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS & FIXTURES Date Opposition Comp RESULTS AUGUST 22 Meridian League 29 Herne Bay League SEPTEMBER 5 AFC Acorns League 12 Regents Park WFACup 19 Parkwood Rg League 26 Ashford United League OCTOBER 3 Islington Boro WFACup 10 Maidstone Utd League 17 Bexhill United League 24 Bromley WFA Cup NOVEMBER 7 Ashford Ladies LSE Cup FIXTURES 14 AFC Acorns League 21 Newhaven Sx Ch Cup 28 Newhaven League DECEMBER 5 AFC Acorns LSE Cup 12 Welling United League
H/A Result W/D/L Attd
Scorers
H H
10-0 3-1
W W
193 153
Hill 4, Heather 2, Tibble 2, Corrigan 2, Williams Heather 2, Johnson
H H A A
1-0 9-0 2-0 1-1
W W W D
TBA TBA TBA TBA
Baitup Heather 4, Johnson 3, Williams 3 Johnson 2 Relf
A H H A
2-1 5-0 1-0 0-2
W W W L
TBA 155 221 TBA
Hill 2 Sheppard, Johnson, Critchfield, Fletcher, Relf Hyland
H
4-0
W
122
Heather 2, Hill, Carter
A H H H A
-
SQUADS 3PM SATURDAY
13 NOVEMBER 2021
HASTINGS UNITED KIT: CLARET & WHITE
vs ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST
Gary ELPHICK Manager
CRAY VALLEY (PM) FC KIT: BLUE Kevin WATSON Manager
(GK) Louis ROGERS
1
REFEREE
SCOTT RUDD
1 Chris LEWINGTON (GK)
Ollie BLACK
2
Ryan WORRALL
3
Gary ELPHICK
4
Craig STONE
5
Tom CHALMERS
6
Lloyd DAWES
7
7 Denzel GAYLE
Jack DIXON
8
8 Jack SAMMOUTIS
Ben POPE
9
9 Marcel BARRINGTON
3 Nathan GREEN 4 Paul SEMAKULA ASSISTANTS
NIK GARSIDE EDWARD SMITH
(Capt) Sam ADAMS 10
5 Nathaniel BLANKS (Capt) 6 Cem TUMKAYA
10 Ade ADEYOMO
Sam HASLER 11
11 Francis BABALOLA
Marcus GOLDSMITH 12 Kenny POGUE 14
2 Connor DYMOND
12 Alex BREFO MATCH SPONSOR
Lanre AZEEZ 15
14 Mattew WARREN 15 David OMPREON
Harvey GREIG 16
16 Rory HILL
Freddie LEGG 17
17 Jude SALMON
Knory SCOTT 18 Dave MARTIN 19
MATCHBALL SPONSOR
BOB H
18 Hassan IBRAHIYM 19 Joe N’GUESSAN 20 Gavin TOMLIN
MATCH MASCOT
GEORGE CRISPE (7) THE TGS PILOT FIELD HASTINGS TN34 2AX