HUFC vs Haywards Heath Town FC - ILSE

Billy Wood Welcome

A warm welcome to the bumper crowd here at The Continental Pilot Field as we have our first opportunity to get over the line and be crowned Men’s champions for the first time in 20 years.

When I joined the club in 2019 the main goal was always to re-attach the club to the fabric of this great town, embody the Hastings mentality and who we are. I knew with success on the pitch we could also give the town something to be proud of and when I look at the competitive record of both Men’s, Women’s and our Development teams you can’t argue it’s up there with the best.

Today we go into this game off the back of an unbelievable run since losing at Haywards Heath Town back in November, a day many likely believed the wheels had fallen off Hastings United and we at best would be trying to squeeze into the playoffs. The truth is the belief never left us and I am delighted today to welcome the committee, staff, players and supporters of Haywards Heath Town for today’s game.

Club CEO/Chairman

The job isn’t done, today needs to go right and with our group of players I always have full confidence we will do whatever it takes to get where we need to be.

To the supporters old and new, thank you for trusting us with our club, we will continue to push forward, no matter who tries to stop us in our way. Hastings United isn’t a political party but it for sure is a force to be reckoned with now not just locally but across Non League Football … the sleeping giant is awake, let’s get what this TOWN DESERVES!

OUR CLUB, OUR TOWN, OUR SUCCESS … TOGETHER!

COYU ...

Billy Billy Wood HUFC Chairman / Chief Executive Officer

Photo: Scott White Photography

A warm welcome to both sets of supporters and also our visitors today, Haywards Heath Town.

Haywards Heath Town have been going well of late, and find themselves within a playoff position. I feel like their new management are probably starting to get the team playing for them now within their style and having watched them a few times I know this will be a tough game.

I’m delighted how my team has responded to pressure, and to have won the last nine games is quite remarkable. I will stress to our lads to remain humble and although close, nothing has been achieved yet. With a big crowd and a local derby we must remain focused on the task in hand.

Let’s hope we can make history today. It would be a very proud moment, one I would love to achieve for all you supporters and also just as important this group of players. They are very special to me.

Onwards and upwards!

The Gaffer

Gary Elphick

Gary Elphick HUFC First Team Manager MATCH MASCOTS

Fletcher

Favourite

Favourite

Jacob

-

Favourite

Favourite

Gary

Liam McManus

Photo: Scott White Photography

DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT

CLUB DETAILS

Co Name: Hastings United Football Club Limited

Continental 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

DIRECTORS & SECRETARY

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

CLUB PRESIDENT

Dave Ormerod

Telephone 01424 444635 Email club@hastingsunited.com Website www.hastingsunited.com

MEMBERS OF

Pitching In Isthmian Football League

Sussex County Football Association

LIFE MEMBERS

Les BrittonPeter EastmanDavid Harding David NesslingDave OrmerodCharles Pilbeam Tony Cosens

VICE PRESIDENTS

C BarrowJ DowntonA Keen

OFFICIALS

Club Secretary Dane Martin

Commercial Director Hayley Clout

Programme Editor Paul Hoggard

Press Officer Billy Wood

Public Address/Matchday Media Team: Eddie DenyerPat McCrossan Nick Clarke Adam Smith (Twitter) Adam Carder (Radio)

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

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

Director of Football

FIRST TEAM MANAGEMENT & STAFF

Dean White

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

U23 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD MANAGEMENT U23 Manager Andrew Brown

U18 SQUAD MANAGEMENT U18 Manager Ben Cornelius

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

Good afternoon everyone.

Welcome back to the Continental Pilot Field and what a day it could be! After winning away to East Grinstead last Saturday a win today is all we need to be crowned Champions with 4 games to go. Today could be the first time in 20 years this great Club is promoted up to the Premier Division and after 2 years of hurt it’s much deserved for everyone connected to the Club both past and present on and off the pitch. It's a time to enjoy and make memories with our amazing football family and everyone involved with the Club.

I would like to welcome and thank our Match Sponsor to today's game Triangle Fire Systems who are based in Hastings and are one of our top Business Partners.

One of the UK’s leading specialists in Residential and Domestic Fire Sprinkler Systems, they also design, supply and install dry rising and wet rising mains and Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems.

Established in 2006 by three brothers, the family owned business has experienced significant growth. In 2020 a turnover of £21.4m was achieved and Triangle now has a dedicated workforce of 100 and a handpicked team of in-house trained subcontractors.

They are approved contractors of the British Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), the Residential Sprinkler Association (RSA), the Fire Protection Association (FPA), and one of only a few fire sprinkler contractors to hold third party certification with the Warrington Fire Certification scheme (FIRAS).

Also CHAS, CQMS, SMAS, and Constructionline accredited and silver members of the Supply Chain Sustainability School. All Triangle Fire Systems

Commercial Director

Hayley Clout

supervising managers are qualified to SSSTS and SMTS and all engineers are:

Qualified in the installation of Fire Sprinkler Systems CSCS card holders

First Aid qualified Trained in health and safety

They have BS EN ISO 9001 certification, which assures their clients that they have procedures in place across all areas and departments to ensure they deliver a quality service in line with client requests, current standards and specifications.

If you would like more information, please visit their website www.trianglesprinklersystems.co.uk

We thank Colin, Steve and the team for their continued support and we hope they enjoy their day with us.

I would also like to welcome and continually thank Bob H who is our Matchball Sponsor for every league 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 Mascots to today's game, Jacob, Fletcher and Liam.

We hope you all enjoy your day with us and the complete matchday experience.

Enjoy the game and hopefully 3 points! Hayley

Hastings United Football Club can confirm they have received confirmation from Hastings Borough Council that they no longer want to proceed with the redevelopment of Tilekiln Playing Fields for a multipurpose sporting facility complex, which would include a brand-new stadium.

Sadly, there seems to have been a change in mindset from the council on the project which disappointingly has led to the club wasting the last two years of planning at considerable cost.

The full statement released by the council publicly and published on Hastings Borough Council website is shown below:

Tilekiln Development plans scrapped by Hastings Borough Council

Hastings Borough Council Statement

Hastings Borough Council has decided not to proceed with the sale of Tilekiln Playing Fields (the 'Helipad') for a new football stadium, as proposed by Hastings United FC.

The plan was discussed at a Cabinet meeting in 2018 when it was agreed to look into the plans in detail, and to ensure they met certain criteria before a sale could be agreed. Since then both the club and the Council have spent a lot of time considering how this might work. The club meanwhile submitted planning applications for both Tilekiln and a housing scheme at Pilot Field in 2020, even though there were outstanding issues to be agreed before Hastings Borough Council could commit to the sale of Tilekiln.

Since these discussions started, the Council has declared a Climate Emergency and has also had to rethink priori ties after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it has been decided that protecting our green spaces for open and free community access is vital, and that the needs of the local community in Hollington who currently use the fields year round for recreation, dog walking and sports is paramount.

It is hoped that the new partnership with the Football Foundation will secure investment in the three grass pitches at Tilekiln, and that further detailed work can be done to examine what is needed to support Hastings United remaining at Pilot Field. The existing ground is owned by Hastings Borough Council, and the council is keen to demonstrate support for the club by seeking external funding to improve facilities there.

Cllr Paul Barnett, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “The world has moved on since we started talking about this four years ago, and our priority now has to be to protect and invest in our green spaces, and wherever possible reuse existing buildings rather than build new ones. This means ensuring that Tilekiln, a well-used and popular community facility, is preserved for the people of Hollington.

“We realise how disappointing this will be for Hastings United, and those of their supporters who are keen to see a better ground. We admire the work they have done on the pitch over the last two or three years, including starting an excellent women's team, and expanding their community coaching. So we hope to find other ways of supporting the club, and will be seeking an early

meeting with them to look in detail at what is needed to improve Pilot Field so that their growing attendances can attend matches in comfort.

“Sport is an important element in improving people's health, and post pandemic, we want to see improved facilities in the centre of our town that are easily accessible to all. So we are in discussion with a rang e of partners about how best to do this, and will be announcing new plans for investment soon.”

END - Council Website 18/03/2022

Formal Response by Hastings United Football Club to Hastings Borough Council’s Statement

On behalf of Hastings United Football Club, Daren Burney and Peter Sherlock (co-owners) wish to put on record a formal response to the statement issued by Hastings Borough Council regarding the Tilekiln Stadium on Friday 15th March 2022 as follows :-

As most will know the Club submitted an outline Planning Application to relocate to Tilekiln back in October 2020. This followed a formal Cabinet decision at a meeting on 5th November 2018 wherein the Council agreed to the sale of the Pilot Field and the grant of a lease on Tilekiln. The Club was encouraged to work up plans and specifications as well as a comprehensive business case, which was subsequently approved by the Council’s own auditors. The club was also asked to fund legal fees to work up a formal agreement.

This was all positive as the Club had a failed attempt at relocation to Bulverhythe due to the joint venture house-builder withdrawing from the project. This was subsequently followed by Horntye Park. The latter was dropped at the request of the Council and the option of Tilekiln then became the preferred location as set out in the above Cabinet report.

The basis of the relocation would be the development of the Pilot Field for badly needed housing, both for private sales and a fully compliant element of social housing.

The revenue from this would go towards funding the Tilekiln new stadium and improved sporting & education facility. Available grant funding and gap funding shortfalls were being provided by the club owners to make such a scheme deliverable and a success.

The club totally refute any suggestion that there were certain criteria which had not been met to allow a sale of Pilot Field and lease grant on Tilekiln. The club had agreed to enter a 125-year lease with the Council at a commercial rate equivalent to the commercial rent the club currently pays for the Pilot Field. This was to ensure no financial disadvantage would be incurred.

The club were encouraged t o submit planning applications for both the Pilot Field and Tilekiln, whilst the legal mechanics were worked out between the Council and the club.

To date, in excess of, £200,000 has been expended by the club owners to fund such applications.

The planning process has been running for more than 17 months and during this time, the club were repeatedly asked to provide more and more reports and information, at our expense. Our planning team commented on several occasions that they had never experienced an outline application like this regarding the level of information being sought. Consistently, the Local Authority waited until the eleventh-hour before each application was due to go before the Planning Committee to request further reports.

It was conspicuous to the club that council politics were at play here to frustrate and postpone our applications going to the Committee for a vote.

The latest promise, as validated by a number of emails from the Planning Department was a committee date of the 23rd March 2022, only to be notified that the Council required yet a reptile report, thus deferring to a new and still later committee date of the 20th April 2022; this is despite being in receipt of the ecology repor t for many months.

There upon, the club issued the statement on the Hastings United Football Club website and relevant media channels to justly notify our supporters of the position we found ourselves in.

Undoubtedly had we not made a public statement, the 20th April 2022 would have expired unceremoniously, again, without the applications ever being heard.

In our collective experience working for both public and private schemes, we simply have no doubt in

our minds that the Council conspired to circumvent and defer the process to beyond the May elections, to suit their own agenda.

Councillor Paul Barnett’s statement released last Friday18th March is factually incorrect and misleading. Our proposals for the Tilekiln site include local community free access and pitch use conjointly with the significant number of local football teams committed to the project and currently playing at Tilekiln – Rock-A-Nore FC, Peche Hill Select FC and St. Leonards Social FC.

Much discussion and collaboration was also had with Hollington United to 3G ground share as well as branding and naming but they chose not to commit despite offering at our cost to provide a suitable grade 3G pitch for their use, it must be put on record in the last year both clubs have opened the door and discussed again the possibility of Hollington United using as above. Sedlescombe Rangers FC were also negotiated with regarding a 3G pitch ground share.

The main thrust of what seems to be Councillor Barnett’s solo decision to scrap Tilekiln was to maintain free access and preserve open space; this is in itself most interesting given the Council has just granted itself planning consent for 140 houses and the sale of Harrow Playing fields being the largest open space in the North of the Borough.

In addition, Hastings United agreed to take on the full cost of managing the facility and therefore reducing a considerable contingent liability for the council in terms of the annual cost of maintaining such a site.

We currently run 29 teams at Hastings United Academy including, Boys and Girls Youth Programme, Women and Men and disability groups who will all now lose out due to, what appears to be a single ward member decision.

In the seven years of our ownership of the club, we have seen little investment actually delivered in Hastings Borough, nor any comprehensive strategic plan for regeneration.

Unless there is a real change in attitude and in the decision making of the local council, we struggle to see any kind of positive transformation.

The Club are now considering legal action and a judicial review against Hastings Borough Council for the recovery of their costs of both Planning Applications should either scheme not progress.

However, we will reserve our position in the short term to see what Counsellor Paul Barnett and Hastings Borough Council propose as to how they can assist the Club to remain at the Pilot Field within a redeveloped Stadium. This does not change the fact that the Club are in desperate need for not just the one football pitch but more, to accommodate all of their other teams run under their Community Reach programme.

It is still the intention to progress with the current planning applications and relocation to Tilekiln.

Consequently, Hastings United will now explore all options going forward for the stadium relocation site both in Hastings and neighbouring boroughs.

Our preference is of course to stay within the Borough, but the club must not, and will not let anything deter the fruition of their medium and long-term objectives and plans.

Our continued success will make the Town proud!

The main objectives are to climb the non-league pyramid to the Football League, to develop a new stadium and sport community facility, thus producing revenue streams to match our ambition as well as underwriting our Community Reach programme.

The Local Authority must decide whether they want to assist the Club in its mighty ascent and match the imbued ambition.

We feel that to suppress and impede Hastings United Football Club, is detrimental to improving Hastings itself.

END - Published 25/03/2022

Hastings United will update supporters in due course.

26 March Round Up by: Ian Townsend

Hastings have one hand on the title ...

Hastings United are fourteen points ahead at the top of the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division with only fifteen left to play for, after they walloped East Grinstead Town whilst nearest rivals Ashford United were held.

Hastings were three up on the Wasps after just twenty minutes, with Sam Adams, Danny Parish and Sam Hasler getting the goals. They then coasted until Parish added a fourth twenty minutes from time, and could win the title against Haywards Heath Town on Saturday - although Heath will be no pushovers!

The second place Nuts and Bolts were two up and coasting at the break as they welcomed Chichester City, and then conceded two late goals as the visitors roared back to take a point. Gary Lockyer and Thomas Fagg were the architects of Ashford’s first half superiority, but they couldn’t finish off their opponents and were made to sweat when Ethan Pritchard got one back with twenty minutes left. Right at the end Emmett Dunn grabbed an equaliser - and a point - for City.

Cray Valley PM travelled to Herne Bay in a play-off battle, knowing that defeat could have seen them drop out of the top five. Instead the Millers are up to third, first half goals from Marcel Barrington and Ian Gayle putting them in the driving seat despite the fact they’d been down to ten men since the thirteenth minute, when Connor Dymond was dismissed. Bay saw Mobalaji Dawodu get one back with twelve minutes left, but they couldn’t find an equaliser and remain in sixth place, two points behind the top five.

Haywards Heath Town are fourth, deepening the Whitstable Town relegation woes with a two-nil win at Hanbury Park. Davigildo Cravid gave them the lead just after the hour, and although Sinn

Christie saw red the ten men then got a second, Harry Lafflin scoring on his debut just before the end, to open up a four point gap over Herne Bay in sixth. The Oysters have an entirely different problem, nine points from safety.

Ramsgate have hit a wobbly spell at just the wrong time, and made it three defeats in a row in front of a crowd of eight hundred and thirty-five as Sittingbourne came to call. Th e only goal of the game came eight minutes from time, and it went to Daniel Taylor for the Brickies, who are seventh. The Rams slip to fifth, two points clear of local rivals Herne Bay.

Burgess Hill Town got back to winning ways at Corinthian, Charlie Kelly getting the only goal of the game ten minutes before the break. The Hillians are eight points behind the top five, their hosts three points further back.

VCD Athletic, in tenth, travelled to Lancing. After a goalless first half Kevin Lisbie, now aged forty-three but still having no problem remembering where the goal is, put Vickers ahead - but Matt Daniel hit back twelve minutes from time to earn a valuable point for the hosts, who are fourth from bottom.

Faversham Town eased any relegation worries by winning for the second time this week, this time recording a three-one win over a Three Bridges, who ended the match with ten men. Marcus Elliott opened the scoring for the Lilywhites after twentysix minutes, and three minutes later it was two-nil, Charlie Dickens meeting the great expectations of the home support. Noel Leighton got one back for Bridges four minutes before the break, but Harry Harding made sure of three points with goal number three for Town just after the hour. Dan Perry saw red late on for the visitors.

Sevenoaks Town dragged themselves out of the bottom three with their third win in four matches. They didn’t do Whitehawk’s survival chances any favours when scoring the only goal of the game at The Enclosed Ground, Yahaya Bamba scoring his third goal from four games twelve minutes after the break. Six hundred and thirteen watched on. The Hawks are now only one point above their visitors.

Finally, Phoenix Sports and Hythe Town couldn’t manage a goal, a point which leaves Sports five points from safety and the Cannons two points above the relegation play-off place.

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.

WELL HOW ABOUT THAT

Last Saturday's emphatic win at East Grinstead had me thinking back 20 years to another memorable season, 2001-02, Hastings Town's Southern League East championship. And how about this for a coincidence - United win 4-0 away and have 5 games to play. 1st April 2002, Town win 4-0 just next door at St Leonards (away-ish) and have 5 games to go. United and Town both oh so close to winning their respective leagues.

No play-offs then. Promotion was decided properly, 1st and 2nd went up without the lottery we now have. Let's take a look at who we were battling it out with 20 years ago........

not bad all the same. The difficult one to call was between Grantham and Dorchester who were separated by goal difference.

Town, of course, held their nerve and other than a wobble away to Dartford a week or two later, lost 3-1, went on to win the title at Wisbech (another 350 mile round trip).

The travelling those days - this was at a standard probably a little higher than Isthmian SE - aka Step 4. The Dr Martens Southern League East was Step 3, this was a few years prior to the formation of Conference South and North. Yes, the travelling was something else in those days - and we thought nothing of it.

Grantham and Stamford - 300+ mile round trips into Lincolnshire, Histon in Cambridgeshire - 250 mile round trip and Dorchester in Dorset - 300 miles there and back. (Gruntham, you eagle eyed ones will've spotted that mis-spelling - just my reference to the Cro Magnon element up there at the t ime)

Anyway, the crucial points advantage was between Town and 3rd placed Dorchester. 7 points with 5 games to play - not as good as 14 with 5 to play - but

(Town's 1st goal - almost 20 years ago to the day - in that 4-0 win up the road. 915 there to see Paul Jones give them the lead)

So, back in the present - we have it in our hands to win the Isthmian SE title today in front of what will be a massive crowd. Haywards Heath will have plenty to say about that as they go about securing a play-off place. They've been top 6 all season, they're a decent side - our last away league defeat (27 November!) was at their place. That was in times of upheaval as United adjusted after the departure of Chris Agutter. We lost 2-0 on what was a frustrating afternoon but things have, er, improved somewhat since and here's hoping we put that one right as we did with Corinthian and Cray Valley.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Yea, those clubs Town were scrapping with 20 years ago. Grantham are rock bottom of the Northern Premier - well adrift. Only an FA reprieve can stop them going down. Dorchester are in Southern Premier South - way down the league but safe. Histon - an up and down club if ever there was. All the way up to the top tier, The Conference as it was known, an FA Cup win over Leeds (sorry Pat) thrown in - and then a spiral back down to the Eastern Counties League. Back up to Isthmian North and now near the wrong end of the Northern Premier League's Midland Division. Wisbech, incidentally, are there too - bottom. Stamford are going well in the same division - play-offs look likely.

Semi-pro football - ups and downs, Histon a great example. Played in seven different leagues since that memorable season back in 01-02.

DIGITAL

East Grinstead are another club to go digital with their programme. And a very respectable one it is too. This was the first time I'd actually made an effort to find an online programme. Easy to find, well laid out and free.

ASHFORD GET BATTERED

Hilarious. Not sure where it all started - certainly heard the Barmy Army in fine fettle at Homelands back in January - and Ben Pope who got everyone going after that great win with his own rendition. Social media being what it is, people are up to date in no time and sure enough, as the final whistle got close at East Grinstead, up they all went with that ditty as Chichester's 90th minute equaliser came out on Footballwebpages.com.

YOU SEE HIM HERE, YOU SEE HIM THERE, YOU SEE HIM EVERYWHERE ......

More clubs than Nick Faldo - that used to be an expression to describe players who were continually on the move. Andrew Sesay - who disappeared after the game at Sittingbourne - he'd come to us after a few games for Hythe, he had a few games for us (and was getting progressively better) then off he went to Merstham for even fewer games before dropping onto Tommy Warrilow's conveyor belt into Ashford. Soooooo, that's at least four clubs this season!

SO .......

PLAY-OFFS

The division has been riddled with inconsistent results - no more so than in the scramble to get a play-off place. 5 clubs are after 4 places, divided by just 6 points. Ramsgate - is there a worse time to lose two on the trot with Cray Valley away, Haywards Heath home and Ashford away their next 3 games?

I am no fan of play-offs. The way they are arranged is bizzare. We won't use league placings to decide who goes up with the automatically promoted championswe'll have play-offs which are arranged based on, er, league placings. 2nd at home to 5th, 3rd at home to 4th.

Play-offs are knock-out football. It's a lottery and with the massive prize at stake it should be two leg semifinals and a final at a neutral venue. If there are to be play-offs then do the job properly.

And on the subject of semi-finals - Littlehampton are at home to Loughborough Students today in a last four, FA Vase game. Always was a two leg affair - final at Wembley. Huge. But now just a single leg, luck of the draw. Who dreamt that one up?

Win today - job done. A draw will be enough if Ashford get battered, they can go top if they win all 5 games and we lose all our 5. Cray Valley can go level if they win all 5 etc etc. Whatever, the turn around to where we are now is remarkable when you look at the league table at 3pm on 27 November - away to Haywards Heath ......

Those of you at Hanbury Park on November 27 as we dropped to 7th, 13 points adrift of Ashford who went top - did you seriously think something like today could be happening 4 months later? Unreal, eh.

HUFC vs THREE BRIDGES FC - MAN OF THE MATCH - SAM HASLER

Sam Hasler was awarded ‘Man Of The Match’ by Match Sponsor CB Electrical Contractors SE Ltd which was presented by Ollie Barrow.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ‘SUPER’ SAMMY ADAMS UPON SCORING HIS 150TH GOAL FOR UNITED

Sammy netted for the 150th time for the Club last Saturday in United’s 4-0 away victory over East Grinstead Town. Scored in the 10th minute of his 605th appearance!

Photo: Scott White Photography

SOUTH EAST DIVISION TABLE 2021/22

#Team PHWHDHLAWADALWDLFA+/-PtsHome Away

1HASTINGS UNITED3312131313252675304577

2Ashford United3310439251968683929631-3L1303 2-1W 1134

3Cray Valley PM3384410431887644024621-2L1003 2-1W 286

4Haywards Heath T331025853187849311861 0-2L412

5Ramsgate 339359251851069422759 2-0W 10732-3L648

6Herne Bay 33102574517610553421571-1D949 2-0 W 420

7Sittingbourne33934638156124639751 2-1W 734 2-1W 349

8Burgess Hill Town338447281561248435512-3L1502 3-2W 325

9Corinthian 33665736139114238448 3-0W 13291-2L127

10VCD Athletic337456471381258441447 2-2D201

11Chichester City329254661381145331247 2-0W 733 2-0W 318

12Three Bridges335565661011125363-1041 2-0W 1416 2-1W 189

13Faversham Town339262410116163651-1539 4-0W 901

14Whitehawk 33467457811143646-1035 2-0W 1214 1-0 W 479

15Hythe Town33331064797173667-3134 3-0W 1102 3-0W 225

16Sevenoaks Town336194211103204164-2333 4-1W 206

17Lancing 3354834988173159-2832 1-0W 2017

18East Grinstead Town33656231188173063-3332 5-0W 801 4-0W 451

19Phoenix Sports33331143976203156-2527 3-1W 734 4-2W 174

20Whitstable Town32249411265213364-3123 4-1W 790 1-0W 455

U23 ISTHMIAN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOUTH

Team PWDL

CHASTINGS UTD U23S1410 04 2430

2Cray Valley PM13 7154 22

3VCD Athletic13 6255 20

4Tooting & Mitcham14 536 -118

5Carshalton Athletic11 524 1017

6Phoenix Sports14 437 -1015

7Margate 12 435 -1115

8East Grinstead T13 409 -2112

YOUTH LEAGUE SOUTH

Team PWDL GDPTS

1Worthing 1714 21 5844

2Lewes 17 962 2133

3Eastbourne Boro1711 065 33

4Three Bridges17 926 1529

5Hastings Utd16 727 -123

6Horsham 18 567 -521

7Horsham YMCA17 629 -1720

8Bognor Regis Town16 42 10-2214

9Burgess Hill Town17 33 11-2412

LEAGUE SE

Ajayi, Joshua AdebayoRamsgate20 Barrington, Marcel OmarCray Valley PM19

Perry, Daniel FrederickThree Bridges19 Ansah, Zak AndyHerne Bay18 Bamba, YoussufVCD Athletic16

Pope, Benjamin JosephHASTINGS UNITED16

Splatt, Javaun DelMarcoWhitehawk13

Lockyer, Gay DavidAshford United12 Adesite, AnthonyVCD Athletic11

Caney-Bryan, JohanSittingbourne10

Overton, CallumChichester City10

Taylor, Lewis JohnBurgess Hill Town10

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...

Club Chairman & CEO

Billy Wood for 27th March

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...

Club Secretary, Bar Manager & Physio

Dane Martin for 31st March

Sam Adams

Photo: Scott White Photography

Scenes from last Saturday’s 4-0 win over East Gri

Substitutes used A,B,C,D,E replaced in brackets Goalscorers in bold

nstead Town

Photos: Scott White Photography

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN

Club: Haywards Heath Town Football Club Club Formed: 1888

Nickname: The Blues

The first match to be played by a team representing Haywards Heath was in March 1888, which provided the impetus for the formation of ‘Haywards Heath Juniors’. After a brief change of name to ‘Excelsior’ in 1894, the club adopted the name ‘Haywards Heath FC’ in 1895.

Without a home ground, the club led a somewhat nomadic existence in its early days, playing most of its games away until 1895 when it was offered the use of the field in South Road which was later to become Victoria Park and the club’s home venue until 1952.

Haywards Heath FC lifted its first silverware in 1900 when it won the Sussex Junior Cup and played in the Mid-Sussex League of which it was a founding member. 1901-1906 saw the club finish as runners up in the senior division in four of its first five seasons, then division 2 winners in 1911-12 after relegation in 1908.

In 1919-20 Haywards Heath were Mid-Sussex League champions without losing a game. They won the title again in 1922-23 and went on to retain it for the next two seasons, losing only one match in each season.

Chairman: Steve Isherwood

Manager: Martin Dynan Ground: Hanbury Park, Haywards Heath

In 1926, the club transferred to the Brighton, Hove & District League and, after winning the league title at the very first attempt, joined the Sussex County League the following year. The first five seasons in the County League (1926-1932) saw the club finish in the top four but they were sadly to finish bottom of the league in the 1932-33 season.

In 1941-42, the club were winners of the Sussex Senior Cup and, after the war, were the league’s Eastern Division winners of 1945-46. A single division league was re-introduced the following year which the club won in both 1949-50 and again in 1950-51.

In 1952 the club finally moved from Victoria Park to the newly finished Hanbury Stadium which enabled it to join the Metropolitan League which included the reserve sides of professional clubs such as West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal. After a promising first season finishing in fifth place, the club struggled against the professional opposition and, finishing bottom in 1960-61, elected to re-join the Sussex County League.

The Division One title was won in 1969-70 and the League Cup in 1972-73. The club was also runners-up in 1974-75 but were relegated at the end of the 1979-80 season. The Division Two Cup was won in 1983-84 and, as runners-up in

Hanbury Park Stadium has been home to Haywards Heath Town since 1952. The stadium was opened by Stanley Rous ahead of its inaugural match against Horsham. The main stand is an original building with Hanbury having undergone extensive work in recent years to bring it up to Isthmian League standard.

1985-86, the club again gained promotion back into the senior division.

In 1988, our centennial year, the present name of Haywards Heath Town Football Club was adopted in to reflect the ‘town’ status of Haywards Heath itself.

Two successive relegations in 1992 and 1993 saw the club drop into the third division where they won the Division Three Cup in 2000-01. The following year as Division Three runners-up, HHTFC were promoted back to Division Two but were again relegated after only one season. Heath won the Division Three Cup in 2008-09 and after finishing as runners-up in 2012-13 gained promotion back into Division Two.

On the rebranding of the Sussex County League to the Southern Combination Football League in 2015, the second division was renamed Division One and the title was won that first season, earning Haywards Heath Town FC promotion to the Premier Division. The club finished top of the Premier division the following season (2016-17)

and were due to be promoted to the Isthmian League.

Unfortunately, promotion was denied following a nine-point deduction, due to an inadvertent off-field administrative error, which saw the championship awarded elsewhere. The club however, responded in style by winning the Premier Division again in the 2017-18 season, this time adding the Peter Bentley League Challenge Cup.

Heath enjoyed a successful 2018-19 debut in the Isthmian League, finishing in a very respectable fifth position which qualified them for the play-offs at the first attempt. They were eliminated by Horsham, who went on to win promotion to the Premier Division.

As well as achieving the club’s highest ever finishing position in the non-league football pyramid, Shaun Saunders’ squad also reached the final of the Sussex RUR Cup and the semi-finals of the Sussex County Senior Cup. Our Senior Cup run included a famous away win at Crawley Town.

Sussex County League/Southern Combination Champions 1949–50, 1950–51, 1969–70, 2017–18

Eastern Division Champions 1945–46

Division One Champions 2015–16

League Cup Winners 1972–73

Division Two Cup Winners 1983–84

Division Three Cup Winners 2000–01, 2008–09, 2012–13

Sussex Senior Cup Winners 1941–42, 1957–58

Sussex RUR Cup Winners 1943–44, 1966–67, 1974–75, 1975–76

Sussex Intermediate Cup Winners 2012–13

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN

The first meeting between the sides dates back to our very early years as Rock-A-Nore FC when the Rocks visited Haywards Heath on Saturday, 25th November, 1905 in the first round of the Sussex Senior Cup when we won 2-0 with a brace from Fred Martin.

Twenty-six years then elapsed until our next meeting on Saturday, 7th November, 1931 when we as, Hastings & St. Leonards FC, again visited Haywards Heath in an FA Amateur Cup third qualifying round tie which we lost 2-3 after extra time. That tie was the first of eight matches to be played between the two clubs in various senior cup competitions and included us defeating them 4-1 in the Final of the 1938 Sussex Senior Cup.

Pre 1945 our previous league meetings took place in season 1939/40 when we met in the East Division of the Sussex War Emergency League, matches we won 3-0 away and 5-1 at home.

Post WWII we have been drawn together in seven ties in cup competitions, the last being in season 1990/91 when we met at home (won 3-0) and away (drew 1-1) in the first round of the Southern Counties Combination Floodlight Cup.

Saturday 18 January 2020 LEAGUE

Hastings United 1 – 0 Haywards Heath T Att 759

U’s Line-up

Rogers, Black, Elphick, Elliott, Beale, Ajakaiye, Adams, Pope, Azeez, Worrall, Dixon (1) Subs used: Pogue, Pool

Tuesday 6 October 2020 LEAGUE

Haywards Heath T 1 – 5 Hastings United Att 159

U’s Line-up

Rogers, Black, Worrall, Elphick, Stone, Elliott, Pope, Adams (2), Chalmers, Goldsmith, Capon Subs used: Greig, Pogue (3)

Saturday 27 November 2021 LEAGUE

Haywards Heath T 2 – 0 Hastings United Att 412

U’s Line-up

Rogers, Black, Worrall, O’Mara, Stone, Chalmers, Dixon, Pope, Bates, Sesay, Scott Subs used: Dawes, Adams, Pogue

MARTIN DYNAN

Martin Dynan replaced Shaun Saunders as manager in January 2022.

Dynan, the former Three Bridges head coach, joined Haywards Heath Town FC from Isthmian South Central side South Park FC.

He has also worked as an assistant manager at Whyteleafe and Guildford City.

Billy is a former Brighton and Hove Albion youth player who is as talented with his feet as he is with his gloves. He joined the club from SCFL County Premier side Saltdean United. He has won the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division Golden Gloves Award twice!

Former United player, ‘Sinnks’ joined the club from Tooting and Mitcham FC last summer and has struck up a good partnership with Nathan Cooper. He has been a mainstay in the Blues’ league games this season as part of the second best defensive record in the league behind United.

Another former United player, scoring 12 goals in 25 appearances in Claret & Blue during 2013/14. Trev joined the Blues’ from SCFL County Premier side Saltdean United and is the club’s top ever scorer. Was at Bristol City as a schoolboy. He is a busy and bustling striker.

MATCH REPORT

By Bob Quinn @BobJQuinn

United leave Haywards Heath TOWN

Heath goal and United trailed at half-time. The second-half began in the same fashion before the ‘U’s conceded a second after a defensive mix-up left Sam Remfry with an open goal. Sam Adams flashed a shot wide, and Lloyd Dawes headed straight at the goalkeeper but those efforts aside it was a frustrating afternoon as United failed to score in a game for the first time this season.

Saturday 27th November, a cold, damp afternoon with a brutal wind dropping the temperature below zero. The ‘U’s put new signing Andrew Sesay straight into the starting line-up. United are in a strip made up of claret shirts, shorts, and socks. Heath’s kit is white shirts with a blue stripe and blue shorts and socks. There are gloves for some, long sleeves for others and short sleeve shirts for those who somehow don’t feel the cold.

side onto his left foot, finds a yard of space and curls a shot into the top corner giving Louis Rogers no chance. For the third consecutive game a positive United start ends with the opposition taking the lead. The visitors continue where they left off before conceding. Ryan Worrall’s pass out wide toward Sesay is initially won by the fullback but Sesay wins the ball back and delivers an enticing cross toward Pope who gets a touch but diverts the ball wide of the far post.

As the half ticks by United are still having the bulk of the ball while Heath seem quite happy to sit, defend and spring on the break when the chance arises. The wind is also playing havoc with any pass knocked in the air, however accurate the pass ma y be the wind is doing whatever it likes.

For the fourth time this season

Hastings United suffered defeat against one of their promotion challengers, this time going down 2 – 0 to a well organised Haywards Heath Town. Despite a high percentage of possession the ‘U’s struggled to create any chances of note and were twice undone by opportunistic breaks by the home side. Ben Pope had an early shot cleared off the line before Heath scored with their first attack through Josh Clack’s excellent finish. With their noses in front Heath sat back and though Pope and Jack Dixon went close neither effort troubled Billy Collings in the

United have the honour of starting the game and they control possession for the opening period which ultimately leads to an early chance on seven minutes. From midway inside the Heath half Bates swings a freekick into the area, the wind plays its part, and Collings fails to gather. Finn O’Mara’s challenge gives Pope a chance 10 yards out and though his shot is on target and beats the goalkeeper the ball is blocked on the line by a defender and the rebound falls back into the grateful hands of Collings.

This early let-off for the home side is compounded minutes later with an opening goal out of nothing. There looks to be little danger when the Blues Jerson Dos Santos finds Clack on the right but the winger cuts in-

A case in point. A Heath long goal kick holds up in the wind and Craig Stone and O’Mara both go toward the ball, yet it breaks into the path of Dos Santos who is faced by an onrushing Rogers and can only loft a shot wide.

United come again through Pope and Knory Scott who set up Dixon to send in a 25-yard shot which flies a few feet wide. Despite 55 minutes of the game remaining Collings delays taking the goal kick and is warned for time-wasting.

The final 10 minutes of the first half sees the ‘U’s fire crosses into the area from Worrall, Scott and Sesay. All are repelled by a well marshalled defence and the game reaches halftime with neither side having troubled the goalkeepers further.

Haywards Heath restart the game and it’s a big second half coming up for United. A half which begins with disaster. Heath play an aimless ball forward from right back to a central area which is covered by both Stone and O’Mara, yet the ball bypasses them both and gives Dos Santos a free run into the area. Rogers again rushes out, but this time Dos Santos squares the ball to his left and Remfry has an empty goal to fire into. Seemingly the wind caused the misjudgement, but either way a tough task just got a whole lot harder.

The pattern of the game though remains unchanged. United with the ball, Heath content to defend. A Sesay cross is punched clear by Collings and a Pope cross just evades Sam Adams as the ‘U’s keep plugging away.

A long Ollie Black throw-in then presents Stone with a chance to head goalward and it takes a combination of the crossbar and Collings’ to gloves clear the ball, but only to Tom Chalmers whose shot is blocked and then cleared properly. A few minutes later Worrall’s cross is halfcleared to Adams who hits a difficult half-volley cleanly but wide.

United change personnel with Kenny Pogue and Lloyd Dawes joining Sesay and Pope as attackers. It makes little difference to Heath who keep on defending what’s in front of them and forcing United to cross from an angle which offers the least threat. Adams twice and then Worrall punt crosses into the area but there’s no way through.

Collings is then booked for timewasting having been warned twice before. Even so, there is no denying Heath have defended well and United are frustrated at being una ble to break through their rearguard. Then when another Adams cross finally finds a United player, Dawes’ header is straight at Collings. There are four minutes of added time, which seems insufficient given we’ve had six second-half substitutions and repeated delays for goal kicks and throw-ins. Though, it makes little difference today as there’s to be no late recovery or lastminute heroics. The home side deservedly take the three points and United can have no complaints.

On the positive side Sesay showed positive glimpses of what he can offer, especially in the first half, and there was the welcome return of Dawes.

Full-time: Haywards Heath Town 2 UNITED 0

Hastings Utd : Rogers, Black, Worrall, O’Mara (Dawes 70’), Stone, Chalmers, Dixon, Pope, Bates (Adams 46’), Sesay, Scott (Pogue 51’)

United Discipline: Dixon - Yellow 87’

Haywards Heath Town : Collings, Morrison, Gilbert, Rowe, Cooper, Christie, Clack, Ndozid (Carvalho 85’), Remfry (Robinson 80’), Dos Santos (Briggs 68’), Cadman

Haywards Heath Town Goals: Clack 10’, Remfry 47’

Haywards Heath Town Discipline: Collings - Yellow 77’

Super Sub Kenny Pogue was unable to repeat the hat-trick feat against Haywards Heath Town from the previous meeting

The ‘U’s coming away with no points and the only match of the season for United not to record a goal

Photo: Scott White Photography

LEAGUE NEWS

THREE FOR HEATH

Haywards Heath Town were very busy on transfer deadline day, making three signings.

Adonai Dacruz is a young full-back who made seven appearances for South Park earlier this season. He previously turned out for Merstham at Under-23 level.

Reece Deakin is a forward who played for Cray Wanderers in the middle of the last decade, and has also had an injury hit professional spell with Morecambe. He spent some time at Leatherhead, and at Greenwich Borough, and more recently he has turned out for Guildford City.

Harry Laflin is another forward who also plays in attacking midfield, prolific for Ascot United over a number of seasons - and indeed has scored twenty-nine goals for them this season.

He left the club for Guildford City in mid February, and now steps up a level. He has also previously spent a little time with Leatherhead, one of eighty-five players who has appeared for the Tanners this season. He played twice for the Fetcham Grove side.

From: Ian Townsend

Photo: Scott White Photography

Captain Jack Dixon

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.”

(The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162 )

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.”

Groun d Regu lati ons an d Customer Charter

Full details of our Ground Regulations and Customer Charter are available to read at our website: www.hastingsunited.com.

These include our policy on ticket and pricing, abandoned matches and our involvement in the Hastings Community.

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.

We expect our staff and volunteers to treat every customer as they would like to be treated themselves.

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.

The Club Believes

LONDON

DateOppositionCompH/AResultWDLAtt Scorers

AUGUST

22Meridian LeagueH10-0W193Hill

4, Heather 2, Tibble 2, Corrigan 2, Williams

29Herne BayLeagueH3-1W153Heather 2, Johnson

SEPTEMBER

5AFC AcornsLeagueH1-0WTBABaitup

12Regents ParkWFACupH9-0WTBAHeather 4, Johnson 3, Williams 3

19Parkwood RangLeagueA2-0WTBAJohnson 2

26Ashford LadiesLeagueA1-1DTBARelf

OCTOBER

3Islington BoroWFACupA2-1WTBAHill 2

10Maidstone UnitedLeagueH5-0 W155Sheppard, Johnson, Critchfield, Fletcher, Relf

17Bexhill UnitedLeagueH1-0W221Hyland

24Bromley WFA CupA0-2L536NOVEMBER

7Ashford LadiesLSE CupH4-0W122Heather 2, Hill, Carter

21NewhavenSxChCup QFH3-0WTBAJohnson, Hill, Corrigan

28NewhavenLeagueH2-0WTBAHill, Johnson

DECEMBER

12Brighton & HA SxChCup SFH2-4LTBACorrigan, Johnson

19AFC AcornsLSE CupH5-2WTBAJohnson, Baitup, Tibbs, 2OGs

JANUARY 2022

9Walton CasualsLSE CupA5-0WTBAHill 2, Heather 2, Tibble

Welling UnitedLeagueH7-0WTBACorrigan, Tibble 2, Heather 2, Baitup, Reed

FEBRUARY 2022

UnitedLeagueA12-1WTBATibble 4, Heather 3, Baitup 3, Reed, Corrigan

6Hackney LSE CupA4-1WTBAHeather 2, Hill, Tibble

MARCH 2022

LadiesLeagueH1-2LTBABurt

AcornsLeagueA 4-2WTBAOG, Tibble, Johnson,

Photo: Scott White Photography

HASTINGS UNITED

KIT: CLARET & WHITE

Gary ELPHICK Manager

(GK) Louis ROGERS 1

Ollie BLACK 2

Ryan WORRALL 3

Finn O’MARA 4

Craig STONE 5

Tom CHALMERS 6

Lloyd DAWES 7

Jack DIXON 8

Ben POPE 9

Sam ADAMS 10

Sam HASLER 11

Marcus GOLDSMITH 12

Kenny POGUE 14

Harvey GREIG 16

Freddie LEGG 17

Knory SCOTT 18

Dave MARTIN 19

Kane PENN 19

James HULL 19

Tommy COONEY 19

Danny PARISH 19

SQUADS

3PM SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2022

HAYWARDS HEATH TOWNvs

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST

KIT: BLUE-WHITE STRIPE SHIRTS BLUE SHORTS & SOCKS

Martin DYNAN Manager

Oliver ALLEN

REFEREE

KANE DEMPSTER ASSISTANTS

RYAN CHANTRILL-SMITH

RICHARD JOSS

MATCH SPONSOR

Adam AZIZ

Tom CADMAN

Sinn CHRISTIE Kesna CLARKE

Billy COLLINGS (GK)

Davigildo CRAVID Adonai DACRUZ

Reece DEAKIN

Jersen DOS SANTOS

Tom GILBERT

Thomas GRAVES

Benjamin HOLDEN Alahady JALLOH

Harry LAFLIN

Trevor McCREADIE

Hamish MORRISON

MATCHBALL SPONSOR BOB H

MATCH MASCOTS

LIAM McMANUS (13)

JACOB SANDS (9)

FLETCHER PEACOCK (7)

THE CONTINENTAL PILOT FIELD HASTINGS TN34 2AX

Byron NAPPER Jordy NDOZID

Samuel REMFRY

Kieran ROWE