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Anniversary Souvenir THE STORY OF HASTINGS UNITED F.C. By Philip Elms

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HASTINGS 51351• HASTINGS 52811 Woods House, Telford Road, St.Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex. TN 38 9LZ

THE STORY OF HASTINGS UNITED F.C. By Philip Elms

LUmD NEWSPAPERS PUBLICATION

PHILIP Elms regrets that he missed Hastings United's opening match at Tonbridge in August, 1948, but argues that he was only six days old at the time. In later years, as a sports journalist, he covered the on and off-the-field exploits of an always-newsy club. He managed to reach his 40th birthday and compiled Claret and Blue as an anniversary tribute to a club that came close to a similar achievement. Philip Elms is currently Deputy Editor of the Hastings and St Leonards Observer. December 1988.

Acknowledgements THE author, Philip Elms, and the publishers, 1066 Newspapers Ltd, warmly acknowledge the vital contribution made by a succession of sports writers and photographers, whose stories, match reports, recollections and pictures helped to form the basis of Claret and Blue. Special thanks to Francis Cornwall, Ken Simpson and Ken McEwan. Thanks, also, to Tony Cosens, the last secretary of Hastings United, for patiently answering a barrage of questions from the author, and to Harry Veness for recollections and loan of precious photographs. Special appreciation to the players and officials of Hastings United who made local sporting life all the more colourful for 37 seasons. Cover design by 1066 Newspapers Studio. Published by 1066 Newspapers Ltd, Woods House, Telford Road, St Leonards-on-Sea. Origination 路 by Southern Origination Services Ltd, 76 Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings. Produced by Cinque Port Press Ltd, Block 1, Unit 7, Castleham Road, St Leonards-on-Sea.

EARLY differences between Hastings and St Leonards and the newly-formed Hastings United were discussed at the town hall.

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OINING the queue for the fleet of South Terrace buses was the first move in a regular ritual for hundreds of dedicated football supporters in the pre-hooligan days. The up-hill journey to the Pilot Field was filled with eager anticipation for the match ahead . They came in their thousands in claret and blue scarves and carrying brightly painted rattles to cheer on their team. Ration cards were still part of everyday life, the National Health Service had just come into existence.,and the forthcoming London Olympics were a major talking point as Hastings United Football Club was born during the hot summer of 1948. There was heated debate in the town as United did battle with present incumbents Hastings and St Leonards FC for use of the Pilot Field, the prestigious council-owned stadium in Elphinstone Road. United's higher offer of rent proved all-persuasive in the council chamber. From uncertain beginnings, Hastings United quickly gained a reputation to match that of any non-League club in the country. Astonishing FA Cup performances in the 1950s under manager Jack Tresadern assured the club of their place in football folklore. The Southern League provided the staple diet and four managers- Ted Ballard, Dave Underwood, Bobby Drake and Peter Sillett - had the distinction of lifting their teams into the Premier Division. Other managers to occupy the Hastings United hot seat included George Skinner, Bill Spencer, Bill Corkill, Tim Kelly, Syd Bishop, John Ripley, Keith Rutter, Reg Flewin, Cyril Jeans, Micky Angel (temporarily), John Meredith and Gerry Boon. Money was seldom off the agenda in the boardroom and lack of it finally caused the club's downfall in 1985. Claret and Blue does not purport to be the definitive club history; rather, it sets out to capture the changing fortunes of a sporting institution, recall some of the colourful personalities involved and re-live some of the most memorable league and cup matches . The publication of Claret and Blue marks the 40th anniversary of Hastings United, a club loved by many, loathed by some and ignored by few. 5

United p ioneers, photographed during their first season, 1948-49. The over-coated pair in the front row are directors John Carter and Jack Humphries. Chairman George Steel is the dark-suited figure on the righ t.

Front row play ers are Crowther, Skinner (play er-manager), Moore, Milton and Horne. Back: Matheson, Riddell, Walker, Workman, Risden, Hammond, Rogers and club secretary Frank Oak.

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E at Hastings United was never dull throughout the club's 37 years of existence. Heated debates took place in the town during the spring and summer of 1948 as plans to reintroduce professional football unfolded. Just three years after the Second World War, the word "war" was now being employed in a football context to describe the antagonism between supporters of Hastings and St Leonards FC, the premier amateur club, and those who favoured a professional club. Both clubs wanted use of the lower pitch at the Pilot Field, the leading football venue in the '.town since 1923. Ground sharing had been considered but this was soon dismissed as impractical. Hastings United, their name taken from the Southern League professional club that had occupied the Central Ground in the early years of the century, took their battle into the council chamber. United offered £600 rent for winter use of the lower pitch and further offered to relieve the council, as landlords, of maintenance costs . The dual offer was rejected. The Amateurs had offered £300, the same sum that had applied in the 1947-48 season. Significantly in a week when temperatures were close to 90 degrees F, a hotly disputed decision was eventually reached by the borough council. The Hastings Observer reported on its front page: "After another lively, but briefer, debate, the Town Council on Tuesday decided by the narrow majority of 18 votes to 17 to grant the use of the lower pitch at the Pilot Field during the coming season on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons, at a rental of £750 a year, inclusive of rates and maintenance, to Hastings United, the semi-professional football club who have entered the Southern League. · "The council rejected by 18 votes to 16 an amendment to grant the use of the pitch to the Hastings amateur football club for £600 for one year." On August 6, 1948, it was announced that Councillor Frank Oak had been appointed full-time paid secretary-manager of Hastings United after many years as a player, referee and administrator in local football. 6

Another councillor, George Steel, became the

1 club's first chairman and the management corn- ~ mittee was completed by C. Swatland, D. Mastin, J. Carter, J. Humphries, F. Richards and Major t Harold Pycock (manager of the Bathing Pool) who ' would act as hon secretary and Councillor Oak's

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deputy. I , •;:::;~-~~~..;::..:.::..:.J So two weeks away from the start of the I e . season, Hastings United were in business. The f only missing ingredient was a team. I i "'IV ot The good news was that 14 applications from I Tt>n ion in 1 professionals had been received and at least I s_occer " "ar " _tl•e local ~~~dn::t .~rr!.~t:r~or...i.naJ <lub j . · f 1$ mount.,•...,•. Why not rlthlotbowi(ng another ten were expected . A ppIICations rom ; Jng. or muntCIPliJ A••n~U<renuer whole . _Borl. sides J••,.~ ··. e lte}d 'Yndtc-atu'!' t:rvrae totheprfvsttt amateUr playerS Were alSO expected. , t!Jis Week, and ture• WOUld not all~o-~~ratlon, dx· I tmheetJng · " aatr George Skinner, the former Tottenham I M.e' "d.Ohkrver'' has reIf thlo :..~~~HER QltOUNO" • . -...J\ e numerou3 J tu~ fn u. .. u ifit venture wa. J t Hotspur player, was drafted m as player- 1 on the o·uh·JCCf, a k]ecetter f~·~uU<aro '" tll!''~~/r: f!"'r~o~i 1, to Jln&oq a ...,_. ~ ba v manager and the make-up of his first team was , rioo from which ia . · =::.-·•· Let Uwn /.';'~g:,.a~;: 8 completed with the signing of George Milton below. gneo !~l~ ~':,~,.~=:.'l."" that . . . , t T the H CIII'Uin 01 the ..,.. tlor aad m had ffitnUteS before the ktck-Off Of their debut ~"1. Mr P. ,tt~~if'C( · meetlna luue." a~,t>:..lla•e ovor tl:.ra:~,: ' nld: .. The ·m Preoldent) lncluato1 th • Witb a POJ>ulatlon matCh away tO another newly-formed club, / r.i.~~~ hand omenior~y~lOt-t ~·~,.;t,J, DUt:a.l<t~ ~~tt abog£ 1.8 th o a tJ:r b a football Dlv Wn t om of Tonbridge, at the Angel Ground on August /we .gafie~"v" ~ c~~ ~· ,_ wou1a ,!\r ·~.ypo0nf; . Cor In thlan L om the : lA e oountey •••1...,.1 toot· 21 • f I le~~tt1_1 and d other &ud~n..Th · b<r ot th · · }y In · sueh rus h e d cucum· ling a ;:so~~fl meet' • .,.,•• , toot by t tb! N o t surpnstng advent or a tne !~~~ Jll"? ~~ ..,.. stances, the quality of the football left some- / i~l.~W club. t~rr,tnt •ud~i.... ':,.ld~~~h·~-~~~~><r ., u•• · d b ut no U rute · d fo llower # ' ~j'<'tiltl~rdn'3 1,~1~~;'~ cR:~~jl :J;:~..::"rh.~o.~w.,E~f:.'io,":bo~~ . th tng to b e d esue v~ • ht ata ~ llev17~~~·r., s.turd~r•. 1>00> bl• to could argue with the result, a 2-1 win. ··· the d•ba~• eo u!•• A new football era was thereby underway with the first of 555 Southern League victories to be recorded in those famous colours of claret and blue. The first Hastings United line-up read: Workman, Brine, Walker, Hammond, Risden, Rogers, Crowther, Skinner, Riddell, Milton, Liddell. Reserve: Matheson. Players were on low wages but many supplemented their inPROFESSIONAL come by working for club director John Carter, the well-known SOCCER AT local haulage contractor. Also on the board were farmer Matt Catt PILOT FIELD ? and son Cecil, Dennis Schofield (himself a prolific goal scorer with the Amate.u rs of the 1930s) and son-in-law of John Carter, and Dr James McNally, of Battle. Further league success eluded United until October of that year and the player to add sparkle to the attack was Bernard Moore from Brighton. His skills helped to keep gates healthy and both he and the supporters were deflated two years later when he was transferred to Luton Town for a much-needed £4,000. The stark reality was that Hastings had been over-ambitious in calculating over-heads. Rent debts began to mount and the tax man was taking a close interest in their affairs, a two-edged sword they could not defeat for the remainder of their days. Pl~ying standards fell; United twice finished bottom of the single-division league. Over 500 league goals were conceded in the first four seasons. If the club had folded there and then, few would have been surprised, especially in the wake of the resignations in quick succession of managers George Skinner and Bill Spencer. What happened in December 1951 without a doubt changed the course of football history locally. For on the day of a 7-0 defeat at Kettering, Hastings United appointed Jack Tresadern as manager ... and the glory years were ready to roll.

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Southern League, August 21, 1948 TONBRIDGE 1 -

have been done by the wingers fell to the lot of the halves, and the united were fortunate in having a stalwart at left half in Rogers, who gave Hammond some nicely placed centres from which to score. As the score showed, the teams were well matched and the United's narrow margin win was well deserved. With Ton bridge having most of the play in the first half and Robson and Anderson frequently testing Workman, half time arrived with no score, but Tonbridge netted within a few minutes of the restart, when the United defenders allowed a pass from Griffiths to go by . Three Ton bridge forwards were waiting in front of the goal and at close range Robson easily beat Workman. Hastings got their equalizer soon after. Rogers put in a nice shot on the slant and Hammond who was on the spot tapped the ball past Lucas. Tonbridge rallied and initiated a number of dangerous movements which looked like resulting in goals, but the United after nineteen minutes got the winning goal, again thanks to a Rogers-Hammonds combination . The United supporters were certainly not disappointed with their team on their first showing, and with some readjustment and no absentees today hopes will run high for the match against Worcester on the Pilot Field.

HASTINGS UNITED 2

HASTINGS United, the newly formed semiprofessional club, made a good start to their career on Saturday when they defeated Tonbridge by 2-1 in the Southern League before a crowd stated to number 5,800. More than 200 people from Hastings were at the match, most of them having travelled in five motor coaches provided by the supporters club. With a stiff breeze blowing down the field, the United were on the defensive for a good part of the first half, but the backs, Brine and Walker, proved sound and reliable and F. Workman was reliable in goal. Tonbridge had some good material, but relied too much on individual tactics, whereas the United were a well co-ordinated team, and Skinner held them together. Owing to Sargent and Crowther falling out through injury, the United team had to be reshuffled at the last moment, with a consequent weakening of the forward line. Liddell did not seem at home on the left wing, and Milton, former Fulham and Gillingham player, was far too slow to support Skinner on the right. The effect was that much of the work which should

KICK-OFF 3.30 p.m.

SATURDAY, 21st ACGUST, 1948 .

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Duffield 4

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DtlSTINGS UNITEit 8

Jack Tresadern (front left) with his famous squad of 1953-54. W ith him in the front row are Parks, Ritchie, Thompson, Don Barr, Peacock, Hazell, Girling, Newman and Harry Ha slam (chief scout). Middle row:

Sammy Booth (trainer) with Phoenix, Addison, Crapper, Rawson, Fletcher, Stroud, Pope, Asher and Syd Torrance (assistant trainer). Back row: Hay nes, Ross, Elliott, Ward, Ray Barr, Boon, Griffiths.

ACK Tresadern was no miracle worker but he was the next best thing. He came as a Christmas gift to Hastings United with an enviable reputation for lifting football clubs that had fallen from grace. 路 Tresadern's football career had started during the Great War. He played some games for West Ham while back in England training for his commission and began his professional career with them as a left-half in 1919. He was in the West Ham team beaten 2-0 by Bolton Wanderers in Wembley's first FA Cup Final in 1923 and, that year, played for England in draws away to Scotland and Sweden. Tresadern became player-manager of Northampton Town in 1925. His playing career was ended by a broken leg but this only redoubled his efforts to be a successful manager. Such was his influence that the club steadily climbed the table and attendances increased from 7,000 to 16,000. He took over Crystal Palace in 1931, taking the club from the brink of bankruptcy to a sounder financial footing. He landed the plum managership of Tottenham Hotspur in 1935 and would often bring his team to Hastings for seaside training before an FA Cup tie. In 1938 he moved on to Plymouth Argyle. This time the Second World War intervened. He was called up in 1939 and the task awaiting him six years later was immense . The ground had been devastated by bombing but he restored it to a splendid amphitheatre and discovered young players who were eventually transferred for around 拢20,000 . 9

He resigned in 1947 to concentrate on farming and then spent 12 months as manager of Chelmsford City in the Southern league. Meanwhile Hastings United were still stuttering in their efforts to make a go of professional football. They finished bottom of the single division Southern League in 1950-51 with 28 points and Tresadern took over four months into a season that was to prove United's worst ever ... bottom again and with just 11 points to their name. By the time the new manager took charge United had scraped one win in 21league matches, culminating in that 7-0 hiding at Kettering. Tresadern' s arrival had an immediate impact for in their next match United beat sixth-placed Yeovil 3-0 at the Pilot Field with goals by McStay, Lancelotte and Rudkin. In no time at all events on the field were overtaken by events off. United were now into one of their many cash crises. Tresadern wondered where the money was coming from to get his players to a match at Exeter. Out of the blue, a cheque for £45 arrived from West Ham fan Maurice Littlestone. "I will never forget," he wrote, "the team of which you were a member and which fought its way to the first Wembley Cup Final." Shortly £4 arrived from a supporter living in Western Australia. Another fan donated a fiver. Tresadern launched his famous "Tanner Fund" with the sheet being carried around the ground at half-time. A collection of £30 was a godsend. This was the turning point for United. New players renewed public support. The shilling-aweek lottery was launched - quite illegal in those days - and the money flowed in. The gamble was taken to employ full-time professional players and some of the greats to join the club were Dickie Girling, Albert Parks, Sammy Booth, George Peacock and the exciting centre-forward Bernard Moore. Team captain throughout the glory years of the 1950s was the stylish centre-half Bill Griffiths, signed for a four-figure sum after 13 seasons with Bury. Cecil Catt, who ran a garage business at Rye, managed to acquire a clapped-out coach to transport United around the country. Ex-Brighton and Hove Albion player Sammy Booth would drive it and, perhaps after an hour's break, put in 90 minutes of sterling effort on the field. Luxury it was not but the club saved on hire bills. Yet though league positions were respectable at last - finishing 12th, lOth and 3rd in successive seasons - it was the FA Cup runs that brought a stunning revival to club fortunes. It all started on September 12, 1953, when United won 3-0 away to Shoreham in a preliminary round tie watched by a crowd of 936. Asher, Parks and Phoenix were the scorers. Then came four successful qualifying rounds: Horsham, 4-1, home, Phoenix (2), Asher, ·Girling; Eastbourne, 7-2, away, Parks (4), Phoenix, Asher (penalty), Girling; Ashford, 2-1, home, Payne, Asher (penalty); Hounslow, 2-1, away, Asher, Phoenix. Into the first round proper and United broke new ground when Hillman's goal was enough to beat Guildford City at the Pilot Field. By now Hastings United were the talk of the town and Jack Tresadern was being hailed as a local hero. A diet of sherry and oysters was to play its part in the greatest month in the club's history. Tresadern chose the menu as his players prepared to face Swindon Town from the Third Division South in the second round. The date was December 12, 1953, and the crowd of 9,917 set a Pilot Field record . Even more astonishing than the size of the crowd was the performance of the team who were in the lower half of the table with just six wins from 18 starts. United took the lead after two minutes, were 3-0 up in 18 minutes and secured an historic 4-1 victory. A flood of independent reports of the day insisted the result was no fluke. It was the first time Swindon had lost to a non-league side since the war. Fleet street was agog and the Hastings Observer published front page action photographs. The 10

Observer's report ......., ..............."" utterly and completely. "This was not a typical cup tie game where robust methods put a better football machine out of gear. It was by clever football that the United won. "They were faster on the ball, made better use of it, were more determined in their tackling, their defence was steadier and their attack more pointed and more skilful than Swindon' s." Ironically Hastings took that early lead with an own goal, Girling' s centre being diverted by Hunt. Huckstepp swept in the second goal after 13 minutes. · Then Huckstepp took a pass from Girling and forced the ball through to Asher to strike number three. Sampson scored for Swindon in a busy period during the second half. Then came the clincher. "Girling slipped a good ball down the left wing and Hillman was there to run on to it and hit it with great decision past Burton." The Observer saluted "the skill and speed of Girling matched with more limited opportunities by Hillman and between them by Parks and Asher, neither of whom the Swindon defence could subdue. "Big-hearted Huckstepp whose weight and drive disturbed the visitors, the tenacity of Peacock, the icy coolness of Barr, the generalship of Griffiths, the calmness of Crapper and Thompson and in that vital spell in the second half the steadiness of Ball." Club and crowd were ecstatic and the excitement was no less subdued in the boardroom the following Monday for a gathering to hear the third round draw on the w ireless. Twenty-six games had been drawn before Raymond Glendenning mentioned "Hastings United." Smiles all round at the prospect of another home tie ... against Third Division South leaders Norwich City. Manager Tresadern's comment: "I hope we knock the feathers out of the Canaries." The clubs agreed on admission prices for the January 9 showdown: 1s.9d to the ground, Ss for TODAY'S flUTED JACK the wing stand, 6s for the centre stand. Come the day of the match and a new SAYS ... liNE-Of Wt..,....,. attendance record was set as 12,727 past through u... ,. u.. ,..,... MIthe turnstyles, a record that still stands. ~.,;.~~ -11Mitwo 11 »• ~~np United took the field to the strains of Sussex by •t~il"'!'" G <tjl<lf•td the Sea. When Norwich appeared they heard Who N<~<" ... Killed Cock Robin? to remind them that Hastings ''~ had dispatched the Swindon Robins. The result was 3-3 with Peacock hitting the crossbar and coming so close to a storybook finish. But two goals by Parks and one by Girling kept United in the Cup, despite an Asher penalty miss, and extracts of the match were shown on television the following Monday. The dream ended 3-0 two d ays later in front of a 17,027 crowd at the Carrow Road replay. Total cup run attendances that season : 71,543. The biggest crowd Hastings United ever played before was 25, 965, achieved against Sheffield Wednesd ay at Hillsborough in the 1954-55 season .

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Another Cup run had begun amid high expectations with a 1-0 victory over Guildford City, Hillman scoring the goal in the fourth qualifying round tie. That was to be United's only home tie of the competition although the winning sequence continued at Hounslow (4-2, Burgess 2, Parks, Asher) and Selby Town (2-0, Girling, Parks). Re.w ard was that trip to Hillsborough to face a Wednesday side in the First Division basement. This time the pre-match menu included prime beefsteak. A special trainload of supporters travelled to Yorkshire and the game was under way before the train pulled in close to the ground. Asher silenced the home crowd when he magnificently converted a Parks pass to enable United to lead at half-time. Shaw equalised and Greensmith was credited with the winning goal three minutes from time, despite protestations that Chadwick had chested the ball clear. Veteran reporter Francis Cornwall recalls: "In the Press box with the score 1-1 and time running out, we were making arrangements for a replay at the Pilot Field on the following Wednesday afternoon when Sheffield made a last-ditch, desperate attack. "They scrambled a hotly disputed goal which led to the referee producing his notebook and saying ominously to George Peacock 'What's your name?' 'George,' he replied. 'What's yours'? "The ref laughed, put his notebook away and a disappointed team trooped off." United's team in their only match against First Division opposition was: Ball, Crapper, Chadwick, Peacock, Griffiths, Girling, Hillman, Burgess, Asher, Parks, Robinson. As the introduction to this chapter said, Jack Tresadern was no miracle worker. League and cup results could never compete with those of the glory years . . . and the man who had combined vast tactical knowledge with charm and public spirit learned at the end of 1957 that his Hastings United contract was not to be renewed. Bill Corkill was appointed. 12

FA Cup, second round, December 12, 1953 HASTINGS UNITED 4 - SWINDON TOWN 1 THE scene at the Pilot Field on Saturday as the final whistle blew and Hastings entered the third round of the FA Cup will remain in my memory for a long time (writes the Observer Association football reporter). A deliriously happy crowd, who had nearly yelled themselves hoarse, surged on to the pitch and mobbed the smiling United team. Squibs were thrown , crackers were set off, shoulders were patted, "Sussex by the Sea" was played on the amplifying system, and the cheers roared to a crescendo as the pl~yers walked into the dressing room. A worthy tribute to a grand team which had given us something much better than the most optimistic could have hoped for. Let there be no mincing of words. Swindon were outplayed, utterly and completely. This was not a typical cup tie game where robust methods put a better football machine out of gear. It was by clever football that the United won . They were faster on the ball; made better use of it; were more determined in their tackling; their defence was steadier and their attack more pointed and more skilful than Swindon's. I have complained before, with others, that the United would not shoot enough. They would not stop shooting on Saturday! And what shots! I don 't know whether it was the sherry, oysters and other choice things which did it, but there was rocket-like force in many of their drives. There had been enough excitement before the game began. Rattles, bells, the Hastings mascot running around the ground, the traditional Wiltshire " moonrakers" being cheered lustily as they walked in front of the crowd - all combined to produce an electric atmosphere, and as the opening whistle blew there was an expectant roar. The fun soon started. There was a dazzling run down the left wing immediately, and then, two minutes after the start, came the United's first goal. Girling crossed a high centre and right back Hunt, trying to head away, altered the flight of the ball and put it high into his own net. It was now up to the United to ram home this advantage, and how well they did it. After thirteen minutes Girling passed right over to Hillman. Closing in, he centred low, and Huckstepp, magnificently in position, swept the ball majestically into the net in his stride . Better still was to come. Huckstepp took a pass

from Girling and forced it through to Asher, and the United were three up with only eighteen minutes gone. This could not go on and Swindon began to come into the game a little more. But they could make no impression at all on a tight Hastings defence, and thirty-four minutes had gone before Ball had a shot to save! And so to the second half, with Hastings tearing away, and Parks fairly cracking in a shot that Burton did well to save. Then Asher nearly had a goal , but Batchelor put the ball out for a corner. It was now Swindon's turn for the first and last time in the game. Onslow slipped the ball through and Sampson beat both Crapper and Ball (who might well have stayed in his goal) to shoot into an empty net. I say quite frankly that for a few minutes I was worried. The Hastings hold on the game perceptively slackened, Swindon improved and another goal could have swung things completely round. But, after twenty-five minutes, came the goal which virtually settled the issue. Girling slipped a good ball down the left wing and Hillman was there to run on to it and hit it with great decision past Burton . I quote from manager Jack Tresadern's programme notes of December 5: "He (Burton) is suspect with low shots, so keep 'em down boys." Two of the goals scored by Hastings players were all along the ground and looked winners all the way. And there we are. The match was really over twenty minutes from time, and a header from Huckstepp only fell by a small margin to make the result even more decisive. Bouquets to the whole team . The skill and speed of Girling, l)latched, with more limited opportunities, by Hillman; and between them, by Parks and Ash er, neither of whom the Swindon defence could subdue; big hearted Huckstepp, whose weight and drive disturbed the visitors; the tenacity of Peacock, the icy coolness of Barr, the generalship of Griffiths, the calmness of Crapper and Thompson and , in that vital spell in the second half, the steadiness of Ball. Yes, it was a team win . But we must really hand the biggest bouquet of all to an inspired Dickie Girling. Opposing him he had Hunt. Poor Hunt. He could never catch his quarry. While we hand out bouquets, one for Swindon. They took their heavy defeat very sportingly. And now for Norwich City. 13

FA Cup, third round, January 9, 1954

towards Ball, and Brennan, as fast as he was wily, nipped first and shot from an acute angle. Crapper tried to stop the ball but could only help it on its way HASTINGS UNITED 3 - NORWICH CITY 3 into the net. WHEN Hastings drew Norwich City in the third Nine minutes before half-time Norwich were round of the FA Cup we all hoped for , but felt we . ahead, Hansell scoring after a beautifully controlled could hardly expect, as rousing a game as the Swindon run in which he left three Hastings defenders flatepic five weeks ago. Our hopes were more than realfooted. Hastings retaliated but this was Norwich's ised on Saturday, when a record crowd of 12,527 saw time, and they led 2-0, at half-time. as thrilling a game as could be wished for. It could have been 2-2 for almost as the referee was George Peacock nearly provided a story book finabout to blow for half-time, Parks was brought down ish, his terrific drive hitting the crossbar with everyin the area, but Oxford got well down to Asher's shot one beaten, and with the score at 3-3. and saved it. The Hastings and St Leonards Band provided a The United were quickly after the equaliser when jaunty preliminary to the kick-off, for after "Sussex the second-half started. They forced corners all but by the Sea" as the United took the field, the strains of scored after a thrilling goal mouth scramble, and "Who Killed Cock Robin?" reminded the Canaries then, just when it seemed that the ball was not desthat the Swindon Robins had already fallen at the tined to enter the Norwich net again, there was Pilot Field. another corner. A short pass, a quick centre, the head Could Hastings again sweep away with that tremenof Parks and it was level pegging again. dous surge which carried them three-quarters of the This was the signal for all out, devastating attack, way to victory against Swindon in the first eighteen and it was at once countered by rugged, unyielding minutes? It looked like it, for after only four minutes defence. The Norwich attack was out of the picture. came a glorious move which finished with Parks hookThey scarcely ever had a sight of the ball. ing the ball beautifully past Oxford, who later was to prove a big obstacle to the United's endeavours to win Unfortunately after thirty-three minutes they got in the second half. too much of a site of it and following a brilliant breakThis was good going, but soon things were unaway, Gavin put them in the lead . pleasant from the Hastings point of view - glimpses Then five minutes from time, came one of the best of the craft and ability latent in the Norwich team. goals the match. Parks got ~the ball from a throw in, Quick, knife-like thrusts began to find weaknesses . centred and- there is only one phrase, an old one, to Neither Griffiths nor Crapper were looking comfortdescribe the situation - like a bolt from the blue, able at this stage -.later it was a different story Dickie Girling hurled himself forward , headed the and the odds began to swing in favour of Norwich. ball into the net and followed it in himself. And, after twenty-three minutes came what had It had been a grand game . After some shakiness in appeared inevitable for some time. the first half, Hastings rallied furiously and all but ran Ray Barr, curiously indecisive at this stage of the Norwich off their feet. game, passed back, Griffiths allowed the ball to go on

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FA Cup, third round, January 8, 1955 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2 - HASTINGS UNITED 1 HASTINGS United's visit to the Hillsborough ground in the 3rd round FA Cup-tie on Saturday will not be forgotten by the Sheffield crowd- and what a sporting crowd they were, too- for many a long day (writes "Observer" Association Football reporter). Leading 1-0 at the interval, and deservedly so, the United kept their First Division opponents at bay for an hour, when the Wednesday equalised. Then it was not until about three minutes from the end that they could snatch the goal which put a gallant team out of the Cup. If those of you who were unable to make the journey -several hundred were there to cheer the United oncould only have heard the comments of the Wednesday supporters it would have warmed your hearts. Phrases such as, "the better team lost," "Hastings earned a replay at the very least" were streaming from the lips of a crowd which gave United a great Yorkshire welcome as they came on to the field and gave them, when they scored, a cheer which was only a little less fervant than those which greeted the home team 's goals. This was in my opinion, the best performance the United have ever put up. In the first half they were playing the better and more-direct football and thoroughly deserved their interval lead. In the second half the Wednesday's speed began to tell, but still a defence that never showed the slightest semblance of panic held out well enough to have been entitled to a replay. The hero of the game? Big - in every sense of the word - Bill Griffiths. He ruled his area of the field, intercepted beautifully, headed surely, and looked a player of class. As if this was not enough, he started the move which led to United's goal. It was a real captain's display. I only saw him make one actual mistake during the whole game, and that had no unfortunate consequences. The defence as a whole held the Wednesday's attack magnificently. Jack Ball yet again rose to the occasion. Quick thinking and sure, he like Griffiths, really looked the part. So did Crapper, who showed the coolness and touch of a veteran . He had an easier task in the second half, when centre-forward Shaw was limping on the left wing . Chadwick_had the nastiest job in the game in having to watch Marnott , a fast , aggressive and accurate winger who is, according to the Wednesday programme , at the top of his form . Chadwick did his best, but the winger could not be held in check . Both the Wednesday's goals came following his centres and it was he more than anyone who put the United out. Peacock was always in the thick of things, and he earned admiring comments. He nearly gave us a heartattack when he headed a very fast ball back to Ball - A foot either side and it would have been an "own goal"but he redeemed this dangerous manoeuvre when he saved a ball on the line when a goal looked certain. Dickie Girling showed some lovely touches, particularly in the first half. The second half saw a gradually increasing cohesion between Quixall and Marriott, and every time the ball was on the swing there was danger in the air. The attack, for a large part of the first half, and in

snatches in the second half made the Wednesday defence work for its living. But there is no doubt that the usual forward line, with Girling on the left wing, might well have tipped the scales in the United's favour. Not that I quarrel with Jack Tresadern's team selection. I feel, with due respect, that if Tomlinson had been at left back he would have been given a fearful runaround by Marriott. But Robinson did have the distinction of sharing in the United's goal. I was more disappointed than I have ever been before in Hillman's display . He held up movements, and made little use of the skill and speed he possesses. The effectiveness of Parks was reduced by his not having his usual partner, but he got through some nice work . Asher was generally well policed by McEvoy, but he completely eluded the centre-half when he scored the United's goal. The punch in the attack came from Alan Burgess. He was ever ready to have a go, and nearly won the match a few minutes from time. The United made a good start, a neat move putting them in the right humour. They showed no trace of nerves, settled down immediately, and, without doubt, were looking the better team. Some of the Wednesday's passing was poor, and their defence was not happy. A good header by Burgess from Parks' pass was the first real effort of the game, and soon after the inside right got in a shot which Mclntosh saved well. It was the United who looked the more dangerous, and they took the lead deservedly after twenty-five minutes with a great goal. Griffiths intercepted, beautifully, took the ball down and swung it out to the one unmarked man, Robinson. A delicate push to Parks saw the inside left racing towards the line . A centre - and Asher capped a perfect move by heading it in to the accompaniment of an unselfish roar of applause from the crowd. This really brought the Wednesday to their heels with a jerk, and their quick retaliation enabled Jack Ball to bring off two wonderful saves. But Burgess was there again, with a fine drive which just cleared the bar. And then came the miss of the match. McAnearney was put right through, shot wide with only Ball to beat, and hid his face in his hands. The second half belonged to Sheffield, and after fifteen minutes Shaw headed in very neatly from Marriott's centre. The United held on and their supporters held their breaths. The United rode the storm, began to counter-attack and ten minutes from time all but scored when, from Asher's cross, Burgess and Mclntosh got to the ball together. It went wide for a corner. And then came the unkindest cut of all. With a little over two minutes to go and everyone talking of the replay which the United had so richly earned, Wednesday made their final thrust . There was a fusillade of shots and Greensmith scored. What a pity it was. But well done, United: very well done indeed. Your supporters are proud of you. The attendance was 25 ,965 and receipts totalled 拢2 ,810. Sheffield Wednesday: Mclntosh, Con well , Curt is, Gannon, McEvoy, Turley, Marriott, Quixall , Shaw, McAnearney, J. Greensmith. Hastings United: Ball, Crapper, Chadwick, Peacock, Griffiths, Girling, Hillman, Burgess, Asher, Parks, 路 Robinson. 15

AGUE matches are bread and butter to any football club and the 1960s brought the most turbulant times in Hastings United' s 37-year unbroken link with the Southern League. During the course of eight seasons that decade United were promoted twice and relegated three times. One of the most extraordinary transformations for the better occurred in the 1962-63 season. Manager Tim Kelly had slaved away in vain the previous season. Many S\lpporters felt he had been let down by his players who dumped the club in bottom position in the first division table. Kelly's contract was not due to expire until the end of June, 1962, but the appointment of the proven Ted Ballard from Ashford Town in March hastened the departure of Kelly ... "victim of the economy axe" and his "reputation untarnished" the Observer announced. Now rash promises made by football managers can usually be taken with a pinch of salt but a confident Ballard told supporters: "I promise you that next season we will be at least more like a football club club than we are at the moment and every endeavour will be made to give you the football you and the town deserve." Certainly United had been at a low ebb: results were going badly, attendances slumped to around 780 ("a shocking figure" and a "dilemma" for the board said the Observer) and the development fund which had raised ÂŁ116,000 over the years, had been suspended.

A new improvement scheme was introduced and manager Ballard swung a mighty axe across his team. Three professionals were retained: Agate, Cull and Ashen; nine were discarded: Taylor, Murray, Edwards, Kenny, Walker, Daly, Bennett, Dougan and Mulroe. Ashen was subsequently released. A new team was wanted to do a big job and Ballard set about his task with great relish, every new signing being greeted with a wave of new enthusiasm by a previously disenchanted public. First to sign was 24-year-old full-back or wing half Keith Tucker from Cheshire League club Wigan . Then came inside-forward Boyd Nisbet, 24 (ex-Chelsea and Swindon) from Ramsgate. Equipped with a plentiful supply of signing-on forms, Ballard - within the space of a few short weeks - went on to secure the services of: Peter Vine, former youth international inside-forward from Southampton. Ivan Green, wing-half or forward, back for a second stint with United via Sittingbourne. Bob Charles, 16-stone former youth international goalkeeper, once with Southampton; aged 20. John Page, centre half, 250 appearances with Southampton, transferred for 拢1,500, aged 28. Bill Cockburn (ex-Burnley), wing-half signed from Gillingham; aged 25. Eddie Stone, wing-half, signed from Crystal Palace; aged 21. Alan Brown, centre-forward from Brighton, on loan to Exeter previous season; aged 23. Alan Back, utility forward from Tunbridge Wells; aged 22. Jack Gregory (ex-Leyton Orient's Third Division championship side) signed from Ashford. Carlo Nastry (ex-Crystal Palace), forward signed from Ashford; aged 24. Bob Humphries (ex-Millwall, Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday), wing-half or insideforward, signed from Cambridge United; aged 26. Terry Marshall (ex-Newcastle), inside-forward from Wisbech; aged 26. Bela Olah (ex-Northampton), former Hungarian youth international, right winger from Wisbech . Denis Foreman, Sussex county cricketer, signed for Ballard路 during the Kent match at the Central Ground. Olah, who went on to become a great favourite with supporters, already had two links with United. He had played in the Northampton side that put United out of the FA Cup back in November, 1960, and he had played for Bedford under ex-Hastings manager Tim Kelly. A challenging new season was now fastapproaching and Ballard declared: "I am looking for endeavour and loyalty. I shall never excuse less than 100 per cent effort." At last Ballard was able to name his team for the long-awaited first Southern League match of the season. His choice: Agate, Cull, Tucker, Cockburn, Page, Stone, Olah, Marshall, Brown, Nisbet, Ba~k . Ballard was never a man to stand still in his quest to get the balance right and other players he went on to recruit included Dai Davies (ex-Leyton Orient), Joe White (former top scorer at Ashford), Gordon Burden (ex-Doncaster Rovers and Ashford wing forward) and Gerry Boon, the staunch centre-half back at the Pilot Field after a spell at Tunbridge Wells . All made their mark on an astonishing season which had started so quietly, yet built to a thunderous crescendo. United enjoyed a modest run in the League Cup and suffered early eclipse from the FA Cup, beaten 4-2 away to Isthmian League leaders Maidstone United after being held 0-0 at home. So the decks were effectively cleared for a major assault on the league . . . and promotion to the premier division . A crowd of 2,542 saw United lose their opening match 2-1 at home to Dover although the consensus view was that there was no need for pessimism. Indeed, although they drew their next three games, they suffered only one further defeat in a 17-match sequence. That Dover defeat was reversed in sensational fashion in the return fixture that December. Four goals by White steered United to an astonishing 8-1 victory . . Between Boxing Day and early March no football was played due to the severe winter but United remained well-placed for promotion despite the serious challenge of seven other clubs . Tension was electric in the United camp as a rousing season drew to an exciting climax . Agonisingly, Hastings lost their last match of the season and could only pray that Dover did not 17

win at Nuneaton. Dover drew 2-2 and dropped out of promotion contention. So United, having successfully applied for league re-election the previous summer, had achieved promotion by the slenderest of margins. The four clubs to go up were Margate (55 points), Hinckley (53), Hastings (52) and Nuneaton (52). Tonbridge also finished on 52 points but inferior goal average kept them down in the first division. Crowds fluctuated enormously from 1,066 against Canterbury in March to 3,189 for Margate's visit on Easter Monday. Interest in the club had been at its highest since Jack Tresadern and the cup runs. Reaching the Sussex Professional Cup Final (losing 3-1 at home to Brighton) was anti-climactic, while the Reserves excelled, finishing high in the Seanglian League and winning the League Cup. Ted Ballard inspired United to an all-time high final placing of sixth in the premier division in the 1963-64 season before retiring from the game to run a pub. The following season, under the wing of Syd Bishop, United were relegated. Further promotion and relegation followed in the next three years. These, indeed, were the yoyo years. Ballard was a hard act to follow. Here, for the record, are the statistics behind that remarkable season: Dover (h) lost 2-1 (Marshall) Nuneaton Borough (a) drew 1-1 (Marshall) Trowbridge (a) drew 0-0 Ashford (h) drew 1-1 (Back) Tunbridge Wells (h) \\<un 8-0 (Humphries 2, Back, Olah, Stone, Page, Davies, Foreman) Canterbury (a) won 2-0 (Marshall, Stone) Yiewsley (h) won 3-2 (Turner, Marshall 2) Ramsgate (h) lost 2-1 (Foreman) Folkestone (a) won 1-0 (Olah) Corby (h) won 2-1 (Davies 2) Burton (h) won 2-1 (Marshall 2) Tonbridge (a) drew 2-2 (Marshall 2) Barry Town (a) won 3-2 (Burden 2, Lloyd) Gloucester (h) won 3-0 (Marshall penalty, Burden, White) Dover (a) won 8-1 (White 4, Marshall 2 including a penalty, Lloyd, Olah) Trowbridge (h) won 5-1 (Burden 2, White, Lloyd, Marshall) Sitfingbourne (a) won 3-1 (Stone, White 2) Kings Lynn (h) won 4-0 (Marshall 2, White, Lloyd) LANDMARKS Gloucester (a) lost 2-1 (Burden) WHEN Johnny Ashen tucked away a Hinckley (h) lost 3-1 (Lloyd) penalty at home to Margate on April Cheltenham (a) lost 2-1 (Brown) 11, 1962, it is doubtful whether anyBurton (a) won 7-1 (Davies 3, Lloyd, Marshall 2, Back) one was aware that a landmark had Tonbridge (h) won 1-0 (own goal) been reached. Canterbury (h) won 4-0 (Back, Davies, Lloyd, Marshall) It was, in fact, Hastings United's Ramsgate (a) lost 2-0 lOOOth goal in Southern League footAshford (a) won 3-1 (Boon penalty, White 2) ball, scored towards the end of their Barry Town (h) won 3-1 (Lloyd, White 2) 14th season. Margate (a) drew 1-1 (White) United lost that match 3-2 and it Kings Lynn (a) lost 1-0 was another home defeat that Margate (h) drew 1-1 (White) produced the 2000th league goal on Folkestone (h) won 1-0 (Stone) May 1, 1979, scored by Hinckley (a) won 1-0 (White) Steve Gill (pictured) Nuneaton Borough (h) won 3-0 (Marshall2, Lloyd) against Weymouth, Sittingbourne (h) won 3-1 (White, Olah, own goal) who won 2-1. The Tunbridge Wells (a) won 3-0 (Burden 2, Page penalty) second thousand was Cheltenham (h) drew 0-0 achieved in the club's Yiewsley (a) drew 2-2 (Stone, Marshall) 31st season. Corby (a) lost 1-0 18

IT'S August 29, 1965 and the stars of yesteryear are back to honour the memory of Bill Griffiths, United's gifted centrehalf and captain of the Jack Tresadern era, who had died in 1964. A Pilot Field crowd of 4,000 saw a United Veterans XI beat a ShowBiz team 9-6. Danny Blanchflower turned out for the Show Biz side, while his team-mate Harry Fowler gatecrashed the Veterans' photocall. How many faces do you recognise? On parade are: Sammy Booth, Ray Barr, Johnny Jones, George Griffiths, Sid Asher, Bill Rummery, Sid Torrance, Dickie Girling, Jimmy Hemon, foe Thompson, Harry Haslam, Alby Parks, Jasper Yeuell, George Peacock and, of course, club mascot Gus Hunneman.

ARMS and legs get plenty of exercise in this sequence of Pilot Field pictures from the '60s. Among those hurdling to fitness at the top are Bobby Nash and Peter Harris. Left, Brian Coates, supported by Roger Wedge, takes on Deal. Above right: Chris Clarke on the attack against Cheltenham

CYRIL Jeans, once with Portsmouth, served as player, coach and manager (twice) with Hastings United and is seen above delivering one of his renowned left wing crosses. Inset: Jeans with former Fulham player Bobby Drake who took over the managerial role. Right: It 's 1979 and Micky Westburgh holds aloft the Sussex Senior C up, the one occasion on which United won the competition. They beat Horsham 1-0 in the final at the Goldstone Ground, Ho ve.

ONE of Hastings United's most audacious moves was the signing of Bobby Smith, just two years after he had played for England . The former Tottenham centre-forward had fallen out with Brighton and Hove Albion and shortly before lOpm on October 14, 1965, Hastings manager Syd Bishop and chairman Cecil Catt looked on as Smith signed a two-year contract, promising a "substantial" wage, reputed to be ÂŁ65 a week. Although not match fit after a five-week injury absence, Smith went straight into United's midweek team for a league match at Ashford. His header clinched a 3-1 United win but, more interestingly, his presence had boosted Ashford's average gate of 650 to 2,875. The Observer noted an attitude of near-reverence towards Smith on the part of the 3,000-plus crowd when he made his Pilot Field debut in the 4-0 defeat of Dover. Smith netted twice. But Bobby Smith's United career was dogged by controversy . He was suspended three times, once by the club and twice by the FA. The club once gave him notice for an alleged breach of discipline, only for the Southern League to uphold his appeal. Finally, under chairman Jim Humphreys and manager Dave Underwood, Smith's contract was terminated after 17 months for failing to report for training . A league commission, sitting in London, turned down Smith's appeal in March, 1967 . . . and another colourful chapter in United's history was ended. 22

IN training for great things to come ... some of the legendary figures of Hastings United pound the Pilot Field speedway track. Among those following trainer Emie Shepherd in the early '50s are Bill Griffiths (extreme right), Sid Asher, Dickie Girling, Derek Chadwick, Jack Ball, Bill TWO decades Farnfield, George Taylor, /van later, the uniform Green, Tommy Hucktracksuits may have gone stepp and Alan but the need to keep on running Burgess. is paramount. Below, Bobby Drake chooses a country route for his players. In the centre of the picture are two of the longest serving players United had on their books, Peter Petkovic and Malcolm Streeter. Extreme left is Kevin Barry, formerly in the England Schools Under-18 team.

BobbyMoore

calls in

BOBBY Moore, England's World Cup winning captain of 1966, graced the Pilot Field with his skills in the '70s in a testimonial match for Bobby Drake. Pictured are Bobby Moore, referee Howard Withers, mascot Gus Hunneman and United skipper John Jefferson.

1J®®LP cfl®@®cfl®~ ®i1 @®~DD ~®ilfu

SEVEN days before United played their first Southern League match, a crowd of 2,000 turned up at the Pilot Field to watch a club trial game between the Blues and the Red and Yellows.

D HOUNSLOW

v United in the FA Cup (first round) on November 20, 1954, was televised live. United won 4-2 and the clubs shared the ÂŁ150 fee from the BBC.

JIM Ryan had been a male model, a London policeman and a Welsh Under-23 international before transferring from Millwall to United in 1965.

POPULAR player of the late '60s, Willie Smith collects player-of-the-year awards from the equally popular and highly regarded Cordon Burden.

UNITED reached the first round of the FA Cup eight times: On five occasions they made no further progress, falling to Gillingham (1949), Ipswich (1956), Notts County (1959), Northampton (1960) and Enfield (1981). Hastings lost a second round tie at Northampton (1955) and survived until the third round against Norwich (1954), and Sheffield Wednesday (1955) .

D UNITED

players who later climbed into the Football League were Bernard Moore (Luton 1950), Syd Asher (Northampton 1956), Jim Ryan (Exeter 1967) and Kevin Ball (Portsmouth 1983).

HASTINGS reached the Southern League Cup semi-finals in 1966, falling to Yeovil, and 1980, going down to Dartford. Latter day glory runs were enjoyed in 1980 and 1981 as they reached the third round of the FA Trophy.

D UNITED's 37-year Southern League 'record was: Played 1514, Won 555, Drew 365, Lost 594, Goals for 2394, Goals against 2530, Points 1512.

GERRY Armstrong, one of a distinguished line of United goalkeepers, receives player-of-the-year recognition in the late '70s. Kevin Barry makes the presentation.

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速f1f1 IT'S February 2, 1974 and United manager John Ripley has caused a sensation at Wealdstone by calling his players off the field in a protest action. The Wealdstone walk-off was sparked by the controversial award of a third penalty to the home side and the dismissal of "quiet man" John Jefferson, the Hastings captain for dissent. Managing director Keith Wratten tries to cool things down Jefferson is about to join the 1,200 crowd. Order was eventually restored and United lost the match 5-2.

PETER Sillett, brought in as Hastings United's manager in 1979, revived the club's on-the-field fortunes with a run of successes in the Southern League and FA Trophy. His team also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 21 years. Not surprisingly, Sillett became a regular recipient of the Mackenzie manager-of-the-month award, a gallon bottle of whisky, although he once confided: "I never touch the stuff."

Peter Sillett's league and FA Trophy battlers celebrate Chris Hamshare's player-of-the-year award. Front row: Emie Batten, Andy Woon, Micky Crowe, Kevin

Wallis, fan Cook. Back: Gerry Armstrong, Matt Stock, Peter Petkovic, Bob Glozier, Chris Hamshare, Chris Keys and Wayne Peacock.

ETER Sillett's arrival at the Pilot Field in February, 1979, ushered in a welcome new era for Hastings United. He fired new interest among supporters and brought them the sort of excitement and success many thought had long since been despatched to history. The club had, after all, suffered more than its fair share of turmoil in the run-up to the Sillett years. There had been much jubilation back in the spring of '77 as manager Bobby Drake brought the club promotion for the first time in eight seasons. Working closely with personnel director Derek Southouse, Drake produced better results than expected in the higher division. But the partnership was severely tested in the 1977-78 season when United were disqualified from the prestigious FA Trophy for fielding an ineligible goalkeeper. The Hastings board, angry and embarrassed, fined Drake a month's wages and severely reprimanded Southouse. Results took a turn for the worse with the departure of star player Barry Salvage for Norway. By now the manager-director liaison was under such strain that chairman Keith Wratten and his eo-directors decided that a new manager was required and that he should stand or fall by his own efforts. Coach Micky Angel was placed in charge of the team until an appointment. 28

A new fund-raising scheme was announced, designed to bring in £1,000 per week. This in turn would attract better players to the club with a view to getting into the new Alliance Premier League. Yet there was no sign of a new managerial appointment until November 1978. On a split vote, the board decided to restore Cyril Jeans for a second term. Kevin Barry, team captain and a club player for the best part of a decade, announced he would never play for them again. A players' meeting was held over a possible strike, but after some straight talking between players and board a walk-out was averted. Results remained poor and after three months in charge Jeans resigned. The board went into emergency session, decided who they wanted as their fourth manager that season and, within days, chairman Wratten was welcoming Peter Sillett to the Pilot Field. Peter Sillett had started his playing career as a 16-year-old with Southampton, turned professional at 17 and gone on to become captain of England Under-23s. In 1953 Chelsea manager Ted Drake (Bobby's father) signed him for £20,000, a record fee for a defender. The £13-a-week player helped Chelsea to the First Division championship and made three appearances for the England senior team. A broken leg finished his Football League career. He joined Guildford City, went on to become player-manager and later manager of Ashford for nine years. He gained Southern League promotion for Ashford and inspired them to the FA Trophy semi-finals. Sillett later managed Folkestone before becoming chief scout at Hereford where his brother, John, was manager. An eight-month break from the game ended when Keith Wratten contacted him. If ever a football club needed stability it was Hastings United and Sillett was the man to provide it. Sillett, then 46, retained a keen appetite for the game; man management was a strong point, players respected him and his network of contacts was the envy of every other club in the league. When defeat came, he was a firm believer in laughing it off in the boardroom afterwards lest the opposition's directors should see he was hurt. But, like Jack Tresadern and Ted Ballard before him, he had no magic wand and could not prevent his team finishing second from bottom in the premier division. Sillett had at least upped the workrate among his players and started to sign newcomers. Among the first was Ernie Batten, who proved a great Pilot Field favourite by scoring more than 120 goals over the next four seasons. Players like Gerry Armstrong, Malcolm Streeter, Peter Petkovic and Wayne Peacock flourished under Sillett while others such as Bob Gozier, Micky Crowe and Matt Stock helped to produce a highly successful formula . Victories were the order of the day and home defeats practically unheard of. Sillett' s first three full seasons in charge led to final placings of tenth, third and second in the newly created Southern division. In 1981-82 Wealdstone pipped them to promotion by one point and both clubs were elevated to the reformed Premier division. But if league results were going well, it was in the two major competitions that United rose to prominance and lifted spectator-interest to a modern-day high. Hastings were the only Southern League club to reach the third round of the FA Trophy in 1979-80. They had come in at the third qualifying round stage with a 3-0 home victory over Margate (Batten 2, Sparks). 29

Then they were off to Somerset in a picture postcard frost to beat Frome 2-1 (Batten 2) in the first round proper. A home tie against Oswestry attracted a 689 crowd - double the league average - as United won 2-0 (Stock, Keys). On February 23, 1980, United undertook their longest ever journey to Barrow-in-Furness for a third round tie. Barrow won 4-0 with the help of two penalties and in front of a 1,223 crowd. A small group of United supporters were singing to keep their spirits up on the return train journey. Sillett showed his appreciation of their presence by giving them a fiver to help drown their sorrows. Three days later United played the first leg of a Southern League Cup semi-final tie at Dartford. They lost 2-0 and although they took the second leg 2-1 (Peacock 2) the goal aggregate was insufficient for a first appearance in the final. Sillett' s team scaled greater heights in the trophy the following season with public interest in the club higher than at any time since the '50s. The run began quietly enough with a 2-1 home win (Peacock, Batten) against Basingstoke before 360 spectators. The crowd was up to 1,013 for Maidstone's first round visit but the 1-1 draw - Maidstone's Andy Woon netted for both sides - did not bode well for a replay away to the Alliance Premier League side. Yet those of little faith were ecstatic four days later when United pulled off a surprise 2-1 win (Stock, Batten). Gate: 949. United were now flying high and a second round trip to Yeovil produced a dramatic 1-1 draw (Crush) against another Alliance club. Gate: 1,928. The town was buzzing for the replay, especially as it meant an unwanted journey to Sussex for Yeovil's star manager Malcolm Allison. A Pilot Field crowd of 1,977 saluted their heroes as United won an epic match 2-1 (Petkovic, Batten). Into the third round for the second successive season and Worcester applied the brake with a goalless draw at the Pilot Field. Gate: 1828. Even so, the replay was no formality as United lost 2-1 (Peacock) to an injury time goal in front of 1,725 fans. In 1981-82, United's Trophy interest was ended early by long-suffering Maidstone who took revenge with a 2-0 first round replay success at the Pilot Field. But it was still to prove an historic season as Hastings earned their first appearance in the FA Cup's first round proper for 21 years. The build-up from the preliminary round was: Chatham, 4-1, away (Cook 2, Peacock 2); Faversham, S-0, home (Keys 2, Batten 2, Hamshare); Canterbury, 4-1, home (Batten, Peacock, Keys 2); Epsom and Ewell, 4-2, away (Hamshare, Streeter, Batten 2); Wembley, 2-0, home (Streeter, Cook). The .gate was up to 1,138 for the Wembley tie as supporters hungered for that first round appearance. 路November 21, 1981 was the date as United set off to take another Alliance Premier League scalp at Enfield . It wasn't to be. Batten missed a penalty and Hastings went on to lose 2-0 after a ro~sing tie in front of 1,505 fans. It was a particularly memorable day for a group of United supporters. Their coach broke down as it was about to start the return journey and they were royally entertained by the Enfield directors for several hours before they could finally get home. Success, however, had its price. The players' wage bill reflected the standard of football to which supporters had now become accustomed and Sillett was enjoying the fruits of a new contract offered by new chairman Bernard Sealy. Tension in the boardroom stemming from low income and high out-goings sparked the ousting of Sealy and the appointment of Mick Piper as chairman. In November 1983, Sillett's employment was terminated with 19 months of his contract remaining and no prospect of being paid off. A letter informing Sillett of the board's decision was delivered by hand in the small hours of the morning. Gerry Boon, centre-half of the early 1960s, was promoted from the reserve team to run the Southern League side, guiding them to tenth place in what was to prove their penultimate season. 30

Ernie Batten, a key figure in Peter Sillett's success formula, and scorer of more than 120 goals in four seasons with United.

FA Trophy, second round replay, February 3, 1981 HASTINGS UNITED 2 - YEOVIL 1 AMAZING scenes from an age past were recreated on Tuesday night when the Pilot Field's biggest crowd for 14 years saw Hastings United into the last 16 of the FA Trophy at the expense of fancied Yeovil. The gate of 1,977, boosted no doubt by the presence of Malcolm Allison, generated a fantastic atmosp)Jere and turned a football match into a real sporting occasion. Allison, the sacked Crystal Palace manager, looked tired and dejected after just four days as Yeovil's temporary coaching consultant . He spent Tuesday evening bellowing at his players from the touchline, but all to no avail. Yeovil's best chance to ditch Hastings had been lost in the first half of Saturday's tie , back on Somerset soil. Having forced a replay, Hastings needed no second bidding. They attacked the Yeovil defence relentlessly and their secret weapon remained a secret for just a matter of minutes. That was Wayne Peacock, a flu victim on Saturday but restored to his favourite right wing position for the replay . United took full advantage of this renewed dimension. Seven times the fast-striding Peacock was sent clear off his marker. His exploits set up the opening goal and elevated goalkeeper Brian Parker to the role of the second most significant player on the field.

Micky Westburgh , his tenacity momentarily replaced by excellent vision, released Peacock at the halfway line in an astute move which led to the first goal. Peacock lost and regained possession before centring to Matt Stock . Stock performed a little dance and squeezed the ball through a gap for versatile defender Peter Petkovic to slide past the England nonLeague international 'keeper. Fourteen minutes gone and United had made a dream start. Five minutes later Yeovil replied with a simple goal by the classy Dave Green . Gerry Armstrong could only palm away Steve Hayward's header and the former Portsmouth striker drilled a low shot inside the near post. The deciding goal came as early as the 30th minute . Terry Cottle completely misjudged Kevin Wallis' upfield header and Ernie Batten burst through, keeping close control, and putting away his 33rd goal of the season. Yeovil began the second half like men possessed . Perhaps the Allison potion would work after all? They had United pinned back for a quarter of an hour, during which time the dissenting Stock joined Bob Glozier on the booking list. As Yeovil's efforts went unrewarded- Armstrong was in immaculate form- Dave Platt was booked for a crunching challenge on Dave Crush . Full credit to Micky Crowe, United's centre half, who concealed a neck injury until after the game and to Chris Hamshare, whose midfield skills were so important.

CHRISTMAS time in the early '80s . . . above, party night at the new squash and social complex with chairman Bernard Sealy, skipper Bob Glozier and eo. Among those living it up are Micky Crowe, Nicky Sparks, Chris Hamshare, Chris Emary, Chris Keys, Kevin Wallis, Peter Petkovic and Micky Westburgh. Right: United's Ernie Batten faces Coventry City goalkeeper Jim Blyth in a Christmas friendly at the Pilot Field. A crowd of 806 saw a strong Coventry reserve team beat United 2-1 in a mudbath match marking the switching on of the club's new ÂŁ7,000 floodlights. Among the spectators was 59-year-old Dickie Girling (far right), the legendary United player of the '50s. Dickie recalled: ""We played Norwich in the Cup in conditions quite as bad as that. I remember getting the ball smack in the face." 33

IT'S 1985 and the whole future of senior football in Hastings is under review. Would Hastings United go under? Would Hastings Town take over the Pilot Field. Would the two Elphinstone Road clubs get together in a neighbourly fashion, possibly under a new name? There was plenty to talk about. The Hastings Observer followed the story closely and quoted chairman Mick Piper: HJ would like to see a successful Southern League side on the park however it is achieved."

NTENSE financial problems stalked Hastings United during their last 15 years. Managers such as Cyril Jeans, Bobby Drake and Gerry Boon all felt the squeeze on players' budgets. The only respite came in the Peter Sillett era (1979-83) but even then there were stories of late payments to players, broken board promises and the refusal of the odd player to turn out. Much of the club's latter day success, of which the FA Trophy runs were the highs pots, was bought with borrowed money at a time when gate receipts were virtually the only form of income . Soon Bernard Sealy - named by proud parents after United's '50s star Bernard Moore and a lifelong United fan - was to be ousted from the chairmanship by fellow directors. Mick Piper took over the hottest of hot seats, bristling with confidence for the future but ultimately doomed to historic failure . The controversial dismissal of manager Peter Sillett - without compensation for the remaining 19 months of his contract - ushered in a quietly successful final season with Gerry Boon in charge of a cash-restricted team. Boon was ever-conscious of the credibility factor and this underwent the severest of examinations on Saturday, September 15, 1984. Here lay a potential trap that not even George Orwell could have predicted. Hastings United had been drawn at home to Sussex County League Hastings Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. Far more than a place in the next round was at stake. As Boon was to remark later: "This game was so important to the club. We had everything to lose . .. and I mean everything. If we had lost it would have meant we didn't have the best players in the area." A crowd of 764 saw Town take an early lead through Richard Bexhell, only for Peter Petkovic to level the scores and Wayne Peacock score a brilliant individual goal to seal victory. Battling United went on to avoid relegation from the Southern League' s Premier Division and, in their lastever match, win a cup final ... a 3-1 extra time victory over Banstead in the Gilbert Rice Floodlight Cup. Peacock had scored in normal time and the privilege of scoring the final goals fell to player-of-the-year John Daubney. He netted twice in extra time. Off the field disaster was simmering. Twice United survived winding up threats from the Inland Revenue while Hastings Borough Council, denied sight of club accounts since 1982, took steps to withdraw the Pilot Field lease unless commitments totalling ÂŁ5,000 were honoured. Reports before the council early in 1985 said United needed ÂŁ95,000 to wipe the slate clean. 35

The latter figure was said to include £52,000 in respect of a bank loan on the five-year-old squash complex, built within the Pilot Field compound to herald a new and successful era for the club . A desperate attempt to raise £30,000 was launched by directors and supporters. Mid-April brought fresh optimism. Mr Piper announced £5,000 had been raised to pay off the council and there were plans to sell the squash complex to a consortium of members for £75,000. Mr Piper was quoted: "As a debt-free club, probably one of the few, we should be able to attract new directors and we can grow in stature from there." Yet clearing debts did not generate income for the future and the alarm bells continued to ring. Secret talks were held by United directors and officials of County League club Hastings Town, their Elphinstone Road neighbours. Talk emerged of forming "a single club" but this possibility was quickly dismissed by Town chairman Peter Eastman himself a former United player - as "absolute rubbish." He said Town were more interested in taking over the Pilot Field. Effectively, that was the signal for United's directors to throw in the towel. Even with the squash complex sold, outstanding debts totalled £8,000 and the prospect of a future income looked grim. On June 6, 1985, at an historic town hall meeting, the directors agreed to surrender the Pilot Field lease . Although the company remained in existence, Hastings United Football Club had effectively drawn its last breath. The rapid emergence of Hastings Town as a powerful force in local football was a significant factor in the demise of Hastings United . Town had the ideas and the money; United golden memories and debts. Winding up United was no longer a serious consideration. Rather, in the words of chairman Piper, the club would be allowed to go quietly to sleep. Hastings Town - the modern name for the old Hastings and St Leonards club booted off the Pilot Field so unceremoniously back in 1948 - were suddenly back where they always wanted to be. But that's another story . ..

A jubilant Peter Petkovic, one of United's longest serving players, levels the scores against Hastings Town. United went on to win 2-1.

FA Cup, first qualifying round, September 15, 1984 HASTINGS UNITED 2 - HASTINGS TOWN 1 IT was Captain's Day after all for Wayne Peacock . . . even though the circumstances were not those originally planned. The United skipper was persuaded to abandon a major golfing engagement to lead his side into the FA Cup campaign. His decision proved thoroughly worthwhile . Not only did he score the winning goal as thoughts of a replay were starting to emerge, but he engineered it with a brilliant solo move which had the whole of the 764 crowd applauding in admiration . In a devastating exhibition of close control and single mindedness , Peacock took on the Town defence , evaded four challengers, stumbled, regained his balance, took a rebound, left keeper Barry Duck stranded and tucked the ball inside the far post. Since five minutes before the interval the teams had been deadlocked at 1-1 but Peacock brought to a fitting climax a true blood and guts cup tie which proved worthy of the occasion . There was plenty of nervous tension in a match both sides badly wanted to win. On chances created United deserved the result although the commitment of every player on the field ensured a close, pulsating confrontation . Town were conscious of John Daubney's scoring ability and , while they managed to stop him scoring, he was still a major influence .

Peacock and the bustling Kevin Burgess were thorns in Town's flesh while Duck confirmed his prowess with remarkable saves from a Daubney snap shot and an AI an Hodd volley. Alan Ramsay was the pick of a busy Town defence and he set up their goal after 12 minutes. His longrange free kick pierced a motionless back four and Richard Bexhell turned superbly beyond the reach of Mick Green. As United roared back Daubney and Burgess were denied and it took a defender to level the scores on 40 minutes. Daubney flicked on a throw from Tommy Bristow-Diamond and secret weapon Peter Petkovic was on hand to thrash home from short range. Town thought they had quickly restored their lead when Bexhell headed past Green in first half stoppage time but Worthing referee Norman Leslie responded to a linesman's flag and offside by another player ruled out the goal. Town were overrun for much of the second half with Peacock and Daubney creating space for themselves. It meant Peter Heritage was fully occupied in defence and his heading ability in attack was not put to the test. Peacock's fine goal 17 minutes from time led to a flurry of activity at either end. Bexhell and John Lambert threatened in Town's desperate effort to force a replay but by then United were in no mood to compromise. A trip to Sheppey in the second qualifying round follows on Saturday week .

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C~ RET anU u ue HASTINGS United Football Club was born in highly controversial circumstances during the hot summer of 1948. The Second World War had been over just three years but already the word war was being used to describe the antagonism between those who wanted professional football at the Pilot Field and those who supported present incumbents, the Hastings and St Leonards Amateurs. United won the day and went on to experience 37 seasons of varying fortunes both on and off the pitch before financial ruin halted play in 1985. CLARET AND BLUE, marking the 40th . anniversary of the club's formation, sets out to capture the flavour of a sporting era : glorious FA Cup success, Southern League promotion and relegation, players and managers never to be forgotten, together with memory- jogging photographs and re-runs of the famous match reports as they appeared in the Hastings Observer at the time.

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