8 August: Roffey 244 for 6; Priory 201 for 7

HUGH SULLIVAN

August has proved a more than satisfactory month so far for the cricketers of Hastings & St Leonards Priory, achieving an outstanding victory and then an honourable draw on successive Saturdays against the two leading teams in the Sussex Premier League, Middleton and Roffey. Priory remain eighth in the table, only ten points above the relegation places. But with their bowling attack revving at a higher gear than earlier in the season, and their batsmen showing resilience in depth, they should approach the final four games with confidence – to be played under limited-over format, each to be won or lost (no draws).

At Middleton on 1 August, Priory batted first and were indebted to opener Alfie Hunter, who made 86 while his top order partners came and went. When he departed, with the score at 159 for six in the 47th over, a more brittle side might have folded. But Ryan Hoadley, playing his first game of the season, hit a bright 34 off 33 balls and, with help from Eddie Finch (18) and Freddie Hulbert (21 not out), boosted the 58-over innings total to 231 for 8.

A similar Priory score had been chased down the week before by opponents Haywards Heath for the loss of only three wickets. But on this occasion the Hastings side bowled and fielded superbly, Shawn Johnson leading the way by running out Middleton’s opener Toby Barton in the first over before he had received a ball. Adam Barton (no relation), sharing Priory’s seam attack with Hulbert, injured himself in his third over and could not continue. But Johnson was a lively replacement, taking two wickets apiece with Hulbert so as to reduce the home side to 86 for five.

Spinners Adam Page and Hunter were introduced, and at first struggled to contain a potential batting recovery. But Page had the dangerous Sean Heather caught by Johnson for 52, and wickets continued to fall. Credit to the Middleton tail for attempting to keep up their faltering chase, but Page nailed the final batsman lbw to close out a 47-run victory.

Last Saturday Roffey, who had taken advantage of that result to overtake Middleton as league leaders, came to Horntye. Winning the toss and opting to bat, they started cautiously against the seam bowling of Hulbert and Johnson, then found themselves unable to accelerate as they would have liked against the Priory spinners Hunter, Page and Barton (recovered sufficiently to bowl off his shortened run). But a final spurt over the last seven overs, which yielded 57 runs, eventually secured a challenging total of 244.

In reply, Priory also batted cautiously. Hunter (22) and Joe Billings (56) gave them a solid start, and Scowen (53) held the middle order together, but they were always behind the required run rate, and when Scowen was sixth out with 69 still needed and less than six overs left, the remaining batsmen chose to see them out judiciously rather than go down with all guns blazing.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Priory host bottom-of-the-league Bognor Regis at Horntye. Another win would hugely improve their chances of Premier League survival.

Sussex Cricket League – PREMIER TABLE (bottom 4) as at 9 August 2026

7 August: Kingstonian 4; Hastings Utd 1

8 August: Bexhill Utd 0; East Grinstead Town 3

New player-manager of Hastings United Ronnie Dolan tasted defeat in his first competitive match for the club last Friday, as the ‘U’s were knocked out of the FA Cup in a preliminary round. Next day Bexhill United suffered the same fate.

The Hastings team had a long trip to south-west London to face traditional opponents Kingstonian, who play these days at the same tier level in the South Central Division of the Isthmian League. Of last season’s regulars at the Pilot Field, only four – Harry Haines in goal, Joe Clifford, Freddie Legg and Max Walsh – were included in the starting line-up. However, Ollie Black and Tom Chalmers, who led the ‘U’s out as captain, made welcome returns.

Legg scored in the 21st minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area after intercepting a misplaced pass from the home team.

But they equalised 12 minutes later, went 2-1 ahead shortly afterwards, and scored twice more within 18 minutes of the second half, their 30-year-old striker Eddie Simons bagging a hat-trick. The three-goal lead was rarely challenged over the last half hour as Dolan himself made way for Fin Chapman and the two sides traded other substitutions.

Bexhill’s tie in the same round was a home game against East Grinstead Town, relegated out of the Isthmian League last season and about to re-start at Bexhill’s level in the Southern Combination League (SCL). The West Sussex side proved too good for their hosts on the day, winning comfortably 3-0.

Both the Isthmian League and SCL campaigns start tomorrow (Saturday). Hastings will entertain last season’s runners-up, AFC Croydon, who are again expected to be among the strongest in the division, then have two away fixtures against local rivals, Eastbourne Town (next Tuesday evening, 18 August) and Ashford United (the following Tuesday, 25 August). These are early days, but Dolan will certainly be hoping for better from his team.

HUGH SULLIVAN

After their encouraging win against Cuckfield on 11 July the cricketers of Hastings & St Leonards Priory will have hoped for a continuation of good form and favourable results. That’s not how it has turned out.

A week later, they lost a match that seemed theirs for the taking against West Chiltington & Thakeham, and last Saturday their bowling attack – usually so effective on their home ground at Horntye – was dismantled by a confident Haywards Heath top order. Next game they’ll need all the resilience they can muster: it’s at Middleton, current league leaders.

At West Chiltington, the Priory team arrived with Freddie Hulbert fallen ill en route and unable to take active part. In his absence Shawn Johnson opened the bowling with Adam Barton. Both performed splendidly, and within an hour the home side, who had elected to bat first, were reduced to 33 for five.

A middle order recovery led by home captain Reuben Taylor was held in check by Priory spinners Troy Henry and Alfie Hunter, and when Taylor departed in the 35th over with the score at 111 for eight, a quick end to the innings was assumed.

Instead, no. 9 batsman Ben Lucking launched a monstrous counter-attack, hitting 97 runs off 102 balls with eight fours and five sixes, and sharing a ninth wicket partnership with Benjamin Van Noort (40 not out) which more than doubled the total.

When Priory replied, Hunter and captain Harry Scowen started well enough. But against the penetrating bowling of Oliver Whitehead and Lucking, wickets fell in a heap, and at 90 for seven the game seemed lost. Henry (top scorer with 48), Noah James (37) and Barton batted determinedly to try to salvage a draw, but even that proved beyond them.

At home to Haywards Heath, Priory’s batsmen struggled in the first hour on an uneven pitch. Johnson (40) and Iden McCleave (51) steadied the innings, and with useful contributions all down the order, the final total of 237 looked defensible.

But, after an opening seam attack from Hulbert and Barton which netted one wicket, Scowen rotated his spinners in vain against batsmen who used their feet, ran hard between the wickets, and increasingly peppered the boundary. Barton, off his shortened run, took a couple more wickets, but Hunter and Adam Page both proved innocuous, and eventually Heath captain Jonny Phelps (69 not out off 49 balls including two huge sixes) used his bat like a high-lofting six-iron to power his team to their seven-wicket victory.

With preparations for the new season underway, Hastings United will be hoping to banish memories of the previous two, one of which ended in relegation and the other an uncomfortably narrow escape. Some stability would be a welcome start: five managers have come and gone in that period, with the sixth, former Folkestone stalwart Ronnie Dolan, taking the reins this summer for his first managerial role. More than 60 players were also used during the last campaign, a statistic reflected in disjointed performances on the pitch and a sense of disconnection from supporters off it.

This time around, the target is to be competing for a playoff place when next April comes around. With only one automatic promotion spot up for grabs, often claimed by a club with much deeper pockets than everyone else, that seems a realistic ambition. Most fans would probably settle for a season spent looking hopefully upwards rather than nervously downwards, especially if it involved more vibrant entertainment than the frequently grim offerings of recent times. While complete redevelopment of the ground remains the aim, additional work has been done over the summer on the Pilot Field pitch with the aim of providing a less agricultural playing surface in the meantime. It’s not easy to put on a show when the ball is leaping around like an over-caffeinated Jack Russell.

One announcement will have particularly delighted fans: the return of Tom Chalmers as club captain. Before his career was severely disrupted by a succession of long-term injuries, Chalmers was the brightest prospect to come out of the youth development programme for several years, making his first-team debut at just 16 and seeming certain to leave United behind to play at a higher level when the time was right. His last competitive appearance was way back in April 2024, and that only a brief respite from an injury which halted his progress at the start of 2023; so the road back to fitness has been an extremely long and arduous one. A very likeable character, Chalmers is held in great affection by many. Fingers will be firmly crossed.

Another graduate of the youth system making a return is Ollie Black. A willowy full-back as a youngster, Black has matured into a competitive, robust central defender, and his famed long throw will add a direct element to the side’s attacking threat. He’s joined by other familiar faces in Freddie Legg, whose conversion to industrious full-back from winger was one of last season’s few success stories, and mercurial forward Fin Chapman.

A less celebrated place in the club’s history awaits recent signing, Sonny Walsh. The young striker was brought in from Eastbourne Town in June, declaring himself “really excited to be here”. His departure was announced within the month, before he’d made an appearance, and he re-signed for Eastbourne Town a couple of days later. A social media post wishing him “all the best playing for a club closer to home” may, perhaps, have had a slightly sardonic edge to it. That leaves striking options looking a little thin, with every other club also looking for a 20-plus goalscorer who can double as an effective target man; pre-season friendlies to date have seen former Fisher forward Kesna Clarke in the role.

Of the new signings who’ve stuck around, the standout looks to be Archie Cassidy, an imposing defender brought in from Bromley in the face of competition from other clubs. He’s joined by experienced, combative midfielder Sam King, whose partnership with Dolan, in a playing capacity, will surely be key if this side is to compete in the higher reaches of the division. Tellingly, the first pre-season friendly, in which two different experimental line-ups were fielded in withering heat against Haywards Heath, brought criticism of work-rate from the management team. Clearly, this is expected to be a team that puts in the hard yards.

For all that recent seasons have been calamitous, the intention appears to be to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Thus, keeper Harry Haines, defender Sam Pidgeon and forward-thinking midfielder Max Walsh have all been retained from last term. A change of personnel is perhaps less vital than a complete change of culture.

All of this will be put to the test when the season kicks off in anger. After an FA Cup tie away at Kingstonian on Friday 7 August, the league campaign begins at home against Croydon Athletic on Saturday 15 August. Given that Croydon finished as runners-up last time around, with backing from co-owners Stormzy and Wilfred Zaha, that’ll be a tough opening assignment. Supporters will be hoping that this team can rise to the challenge.

11 July: Cuckfield 152 all out; Hastings & St Leonards Priory 156 for 5

HUGH SULLIVAN

The cricketers of Hastings & St Leonards Priory started this month at the foot of the Sussex Premier League table, without a win since 16 May. But in two successive home games against top-half opposition they have emerged with the best of a draw against Preston Nomads followed by a comfortable win over Cuckfield. Only 21 points now separate fifth from tenth, and the stage is set for a tight contest between all the league sides over the second half of the season.

On 4 July, hosting the Nomads, captain Harry Scowen won the toss, opted to bat first, and made hay under sunny skies. Hitting a masterful 117 off 136 balls, he shared an opening century partnership with the more circumspect Alfie Hunter (26), then enjoyed another rampant pairing with Joe Billings (50). From a score of 206 for one after 43 overs, a total of over 300 looked on the cards. The last 15 overs produced only 61 more runs for the loss of all nine remaining wickets, however.

Freddie Hulbert took a couple of early wickets when the Nomads replied, and the visitors remained well behind the required run rate as Adam Barton and Troy Henry, bowling with accuracy on a pitch that favoured spin, kept tight control. Scowen maintained an attacking field with close catchers around the bat, inviting the batsmen to accelerate towards their target with some cheap boundaries. But Nomads were not tempted, seeming to decide rather early that this was beyond them, and the game petered to a draw with seven wickets down and over 50 runs still to get.

A week later against Cuckfield, Hulbert again struck early, clean-bowling first Joe Cambridge, then Omair Yousuf with only 16 on the board. As this pair had hit 244 runs between them in the corresponding fixture between the sides when they played at Cuckfield in May, these dismissals naturally stoked Priory into the belief that this should be their day. Barton and Henry again bowled with admirable control, while Hunter took five wickets. The West Sussex side subsided to 26 for four, recovered somewhat to reach 102 for five, but never managed to collar the home bowling, and were eventually dismissed for 152 in the 55th over.

Batting conditions remained tricky for Priory’s batsmen and, despite a fluent 26 from Scowen, Priory lost half their wickets in reaching 87. However, Caleb Laloo found his best form of the season and, with confident assistance from Henry, helped himself to 11 fours, including some fine drives and a delicious reverse sweep in an unbeaten knock of 67. The pair guided Priory to victory without further loss and with plenty of time to spare.

Next up is an away trip tomorrow (Saturday) to Pulborough to face West Chiltington & Thakeham, followed by a home game against Haywards Heath.

Sussex Cricket League – Division 2 table 

Ramblers Making Tracks

Down in Division 2, Little Common Ramblers are promising a second successive promotion season. They achieved a fourth successive victory (in completed matches) last Saturday, winning by just eight runs in a thrilling finish at the local Recreation Ground against potential promotion rivals Brighton & Hove.

Kaleb Auld top-scored with 43 runs in a total of 201, then took three wickets, including a caught-and-bowled to dismiss the last opposing batsman. Ramblers have profited all season from his consistent all-round performances – 320 runs so far, plus 28 wickets at an average of under 13. 

Hastings Pirates baseball club continued their blistering form last Sunday (5 July), with two impressive on-the-road triumphs over the Brighton Jets. The wins gave the Pirates a record of 12 victories and only two defeats for the season, stretching their lead at the top of British Baseball Federation Division 5 South to two games.

The victories showcased many of the strengths of this year’s Pirates. In the first game, a 17-3 drubbing, eight early runs came with two outs (in baseball, three outs ends an inning), demonstrating both discipline and patience at the plate. Pitcher Robert Uduak Victor once again dominated on the mound, giving up only six hits and three ‘walks’ (a free pass to first base awarded when a pitcher misses the strike zone four times), and striking out five – sparkling statistics at any level of baseball.

The Pirates, meanwhile, rattled out eleven hits against the Brighton pitchers, who also coughed up fourteen walks. Such impressive hitting meant there was only minor disappointment when slugger Marhil Romano’s thumping hit to left field was spectacularly caught in the third inning, robbing him of a fourth home run of the season.

Although the second game was closer, with the Pirates only narrowly ahead late on, four unanswered runs in the fifth and final inning brought a comfortable 11-5 win. Once again a balance of timely hitting and strong pitching was key, the latter courtesy of Romano and veteran Frank Cooper, who between them held Brighton to seven hits and five walks. The win stretched the Pirates’ unbeaten run to seven games.

Such form means the thoughts of Pirates’ players and staff are naturally turning to the possibility of qualification for the post-season play-offs for the first time in the club’s nine-year history, which would put the team well ahead of its aims for the year.

“As a club we set out a goal of achieving post-season games in 2027, with the primary target for this year to build on last season,” says general manager Clive Raines. “To find ourselves top of the table and with talk of the play-offs on the players’ lips is testament to the hard work put in by the entire squad.”

To make the play-offs – and ultimately reach September’s Division 5 semi-finals and finals weekend at the National Baseball & Softball Complex at Farnham Park – the Pirates will have to fend off stiff competition from within their division, with a pair of crunch fixtures away to Tonbridge looming this Sunday, 19 July.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” says Raines. “Our opponents have all experienced this situation before, and are more than capable of catching us. But whatever happens between now and the end of August we’re going from strength to strength, and looking towards the future.”

The Hastings Pirates play their home games at Claremont Prep School on Sunday afternoons. First pitch is at 12noon; attendance is free. For more info follow instagram.com/hastingspiratesbaseball

This year’s Amherst club tournament involved around 60 players playing across five formats – mens and ladies singles, mens and ladies doubles, and mixed doubles. With a main draw and ‘consolation’ contests for first round losers, that resulted in 97 matches over 12 days, including ten on finals day, Saturday 20 June.

Surprise winner of the men’s singles, with a career best performance, was Stefan Le Breuilly. He is son of former club chair Trevor Le Breuilly and became acting chair in his own right earlier this year. After clinching the first set against defending champion Quentin Soucek, Stefan trailed in the second, but saved two set points at 4-5 and another two at 5-6, and eventually triumphed in the tie-break.

In the men’s doubles, Stefan teamed up with Jack Watson to play teenager Toby H—- and Pete Farthing, veteran coach. Pete put on a master-class of serve and volley, but also employed the SABR, sneaking forward on service returns to be first to the net. He and Toby stormed to a first set advantage. Stefan and Jack turned the tide, their angles getting sharper, and they took the second. In a full third set, Toby held service bravely at 2-1, the momentum shifted again, and the age-contrast duo saw out the match.

The other three finals in the main draw all featured perennial finalists Nikki Crowhurst on one side of the net and Pearl Hare on the other.

In the mixed doubles, Nikki partnered Dylan Preece to play top seeds Pearl and Josh Craig. The match couldn’t have been tighter, with each pair each taking a set, the decider a Championship tiebreak, nicked 11-9. 

Straight back on court in the women’s doubles, Pearl paired with Karen Cunnington, while Nikki teamed with Debi Ani. The former pairing enjoyed a straightforward win.

In the ladies singles Pearl and Nikki went head to head in a rematch of last year’s final. The first set was even, only sealed by a late break of serve in Nikki’s favour. In the second, Pearl got off to a flying start and equalised. In the Championship tiebreak – a full third set was an option, unsurprisingly declined by the players after six full sets – Pearl hit some gems but it was Nikki who swooped in to take back her crown. Both have vowed never to play the singles again – but rival club members shouldn’t count on it.

Final results

• Mens singles: S Le Breuilly bt Q Soucek 6-4, 7-6
• Ladies singles: N Crowhurst bt P Hare 7-5, 2-6, 10-5
• Mens doubles: P Farthing and TH bt S Le Breuilly and J Watson 6-3,1-6, 6-1
• Ladies doubles: P Hare and K Cunnington bt N Crowhurst and D Ani 6-3, 6-0
• Mixed doubles: D Preece and N Crowhurst bt J Craig and P Hare 4-6, 6-4, 11-9

IAN GRANT

Hastings United fans have begun the process of forming a new Independent Supporters’ Club with a combination of aims: representing their views, organising social events, and promoting the club within the town.

Despite two gruelling seasons, in which United have come perilously close to consecutive relegations, attendances at the Pilot Field have remained comparatively high. However, at an initial meeting on 1 June, many supporters voiced concerns that the connection between the club’s loyal fan-base and its players and owners has been lost. In particular, it was felt that there was a lack of communication from the boardroom on the progress of plans for redeveloping the ground.

In response, an open forum was held with Ben White, the club’s General Manager, on 6 June. Lasting nearly two hours, and very well attended despite an early morning start, a constructive and positive meeting covered matters both on and off the field in considerable depth.

White confirmed that the plan remains to rotate the pitch in order to create space for a range of additional facilities, with the aim of turning the Pilot Field and the neighbouring Firs site into a ‘sporting hub’ for the benefit of the local community. The existing grass surface will be replaced by a 3G pitch.

One new suggestion is that the new pitch will be located further south on the site, to lessen the considerable costs of excavating the grass bank that runs along the other side. The new pitch location would require the demolition of the main stand. It’s a century-old structure much admired for its architecture but increasingly dilapidated and accommodating a diminishing number of spectators for safety reasons.

At an estimated cost of over £4million, the project is certainly ambitious. However, White was bullish about the prospects of delivering it, indicating that the club aims to submit a planning application in the near future and raise funding thereafter. The hope is to begin preparatory work during the coming season, with the new pitch being laid next summer; a clear desire was expressed to avoid any long-term ground-share elsewhere.

More immediately, the club will be trialling the opening of car parking facilities on the Firs site, accessible via Ochiltree Road, at the start of the new season. It’s hoped that the car park will reduce on-road parking in the local area on match days, benefitting local residents.

On the pitch, new manager Ronnie Dolan has appointed backroom staff, including club legend Sam Adams as one of two assistants, and begun assembling his squad with a number of new signings. One notable comment from White was that “the manner in which we stayed up last season wasn’t good enough.” Supporters will be hoping for better next time around.

At a further meeting, the management committee of the Supporters’ Club was appointed, with Chris Laverick heading it as chair. Members will be able to sign up from the start of the new season. In the meantime, ideas and assistance are very welcome.

The Supporters’ Club can be contacted at HastingsUnitedSC@gmail.com.

27 June: Priory 303 for 9; Three Bridges 304 for 2

A magnificent innings of 152 not out scored by Joe Billings last Saturday wasn’t enough to save Hastings & St Leonards Priory from defeat at the hands of high-flying Three Bridges. Priory’s total of 303 looked defensible, particularly when Freddie Hulbert was bowling a tidy opening spell, but the rest of their attack was taken apart by the home batsmen. Sussex squad player George Thomas made an unbeaten 159, and his team cruised to an eight-wicket victory with more than seven overs to spare.

After wins for both Horsham and Haywards Heath, the sides below them at the start of the day, Priory now prop up the Premier League table.

The previous Saturday Priory hosted Horsham at Horntye. Spin duo Adam Page and Alfie Hunter took four wickets apiece as the West Sussex side were limited to 220 for nine off 58 overs. Priory lost two early wickets in reply, recovered through a partnership of 67 between Hunter (43) and Scowen (39) but slumped again to 130 for seven, with the later order having to battle hard to save a draw. 

This year’s British Open Jiu Jitsu Championships took place last month in Coventry. I was competing as a fighter with the Freestyle Combat Academy (FCA) of Bexhill-on-Sea in 70kg featherweight brackets, both for the Masters category (30 to 35 year-olds) and Adult (18 to 30s).

I would usually have a team with me – a coach in my corner, or one of my training partners, just in case anything goes wrong. But this time all the coaches of FCA have other appointments, and the friend who is supposed to be with me on the day is told at the last minute that he is to have his two small children with him all weekend. I am on my own.

I leave Sussex at 11pm on the Saturday evening, arriving at my Holiday Inn room in Coventry at 2.30am. It’s a restful night before competition day, but I wake up knowing that to make the weight (which I’ve been cutting back all the week before), I can’t allow myself much for breakfast, or even much water. I sip enough to avoid dehydration and take my supplements (vitamins, collagen, ashwagandha and amino acids), then I’m off to the venue to check in.

I’m confident that I have half an hour to spare before my first bracket is set to start. But at the check-in desk I hear the speakers: LAST CALL SONNY SOUDAIN-VALTON! LAST CALL! That’s me! I’m ushered through, running down the stairs and dropping my bags by the weigh-in, to look for the man on the microphone. “Go, get weighed in and come straight through!” he tells me. I change into my ‘Gi’ (Jiu Jitsu kimono). My weight is exactly 69.9kg.

At the bull pen my Gi is checked to fit the regulations. Then I’m straight to the mats for my first match, my opponent there already, thinking I won’t show up. I realise I’ve forgotten my gum shield and water. But I’ve got my phone and seeing another competitor sat waiting near the edge, I ask him if he would kindly film my match for me.

Within seconds I am called onto the mats. As my feet touch, my focus kicks in.

First win of the day is achieved by submission in 4 minutes 40 seconds.

That’s followed by a ten minute break, then a succession of further victories by submission in the Masters 70kg, then the same in the Masters ‘Absolute’ (open weight bracket). I have two Golds!

On to the Adult bracket, where I win a first bout on points instead of submission. My winning streak is stopped by Christian Timmis. He is ranked ninth in the world with the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation), and goes on to win both the Adult bracket and the Adult open weight on the day. But being beaten in the semi-final has put me on the third step of the Adult featherweight podium, a very pleasing outcome. And I haven’t even sustained any new injury!

I feel blessed indeed, living to fight another day.

After last week’s fixture was washed out by dreadful weather, Hastings and St Leonards Priory travelled to The Regis Oval in search of their first away win of the season against Bognor Regis. Under far brighter skies, Priory won the toss and chose to field, but that decision quickly looked a difficult one as Ryan Maskell and Theo Beynon-Ayers took full advantage of the batting-friendly conditions. The opening pair put on 125 for the first wicket in just 21.4 overs, giving Bognor Regis the ideal platform.

A total well beyond 300 looked firmly on the cards at that stage, but Priory responded with determination to pull Bognor Regis back to 285 for 9 from 57.4 overs. Taylor Jaycocks played an important hand with 59 from 77 balls, while Charlie Maginnis added a brisk 41 from 43 deliveries to maintain the hosts’ momentum.

The fightback was driven by a superb spell from Alfie Hunter, who claimed 8 for 88 from 20.4 overs in a remarkable individual performance. The only other wicket fell to Freddie Hulbert, who finished with 1 for 44 from his 8 overs.

Priory would have hoped for a similarly solid start with the bat, but their reply unravelled almost immediately. The first wicket fell with only seven runs on the board, and with three wickets then lost for the addition of just a single run, they slumped to 42 for 5 inside the opening exchanges.

From that precarious position, Harry Scowen and Troy Henry produced a magnificent recovery, adding 125 for the sixth wicket to revive the innings. Scowen made a composed 65 from 100 balls before departing, while Henry carried the resistance with an excellent 92 from 126 deliveries before he was bowled by Maginnis. That wicket effectively ended Priory’s hopes of chasing down the target, and they closed on 204 for 8 from their 52 overs. For Bognor Regis, Michael Reynolds returned 2 for 48 from 12 overs.

Though the game ended in a draw, Priory could still take encouragement from the way they battled back after being in deep trouble at 42 for 5. Hunter’s outstanding spell with the ball and the defiant batting of Scowen and Henry were the major positives, while Maginnis’ all-round contribution also proved crucial for Bognor Regis. There was enough quality on show from Priory to suggest they have the ability to compete strongly in this division.

Hastings United have appointed their eighth manager (not counting temporary in-betweens) in the last three years. He is Ronnie Dolan, a 34-year-old who played briefly at the Pilot Field in 2013-14 but has spent most of his footballing career as a midfielder with Folkestone Invicta.

The seventh, David Altendorff – following in succession to Gary Elphick, Paul Barnes, Chris Agutter, Danny Bloor, Danny Searle and Lee Carey – was appointed in October last year with the primary aim of saving the team from an ignominious demotion from the Isthmian League. When that objective was accomplished just a few weeks ago, Altendorff spoke enthusiastically about building his team for the following season, with no hint that he might not stay to lead it. But last week the club announced that he had gone.

The version posted by the club on its Facebook page is that they “accepted the resignation” of Altendorff, with thanks for his “efforts and commitment” – and those of Assistant Manager Alex Marr and first team coach Mark Wright – and a wish of “all the very best for the future”. There was no expression, however, of disappointment. Reading between the lines, the club statement is perhaps noteworthy for drawing attention to the small margin by which relegation was avoided “with just one game remaining in the season”. From the board’s point of view, that was a closer call than they would have hoped for.

For his part, Altendorff was quoted as deciding to step down “after a great deal of thought and with a heavy heart”. He gave particular thanks to the players, staff, volunteers and fans, and said he was leaving “with nothing but respect and appreciation for the club and its supporters”. He did not suggest, however, that the board had tried to keep him from leaving. So what’s it really about?

MONEY AND FACILITIES

Money is always a potential factor. Issues over the state of the pitch, the lack of training facilities, the dilapidation of the main stand and other key infrastructure deficiencies clearly limit the amount of investment the board can fund on the playing side. But trips to rival clubs for away fixtures constantly reveal how many of them are buying into their futures, often with support from local councils which the Hastings club has not received.

Geographical isolation is another perennial resource-sapper. It’s not ideal to manage a team in Hastings while living in Haywards Heath (a 90-mile off-motorway round trip) and having to organise team training in Brighton. Altendorff is likely to be receiving other offers, literally closer to home.

There was just a two day interval between the news of his departure, with the club stating that it would “now begin an internal review process regarding the appointment [of a replacement]”, and the announcement of Dolan’s arrival. The juxtaposition suggests that a first approach to the latter must have been made some time before.

The new man, who will be taking his first managerial role, is no doubt seen both as a potential winner and as someone who may stay longer than most of his predecessors. After leaving Hastings as a 22-year-old in 2014, he spent the next nine years playing for Folkestone Invicta, making 315 appearances over that period. After a couple of years with Lydd Town, he returned to Invicta in 2025 and played 29 more games for the first team as it won the Isthmian Premier League last season by a margin of 12 points.

In a first statement aired by the Hastings club, Dolan says: “Living in the area, and having previously played for the club, I understand what Hastings United means to people… My experiences winning titles with Folkestone Invicta showed the standards, togetherness and culture needed to be successful, and those are values I want to bring here”.

The United board also announced last week that former CEO and women’s team manager Billy Wood has been brought back in a new role, Head of Football Operations. He will oversee both the men’s and women’s teams, working closely with respective managers, and strengthen the pathway for young players from the under 16s, under 18s and under 23s. He will also work closely with volunteer Adam Smith to enhance communications between the club and its supporters.

Hastings Pirates baseball club are off to a flying start in 2026, winning five of their first six games of the season.

An impressive 9-2 demolition of Brighton Jets in the team’s opening game on Sunday 10 May showcased the all-round strength of the Pirates’ early season play – slick fielding, notably from sure-handed third baseman Liam Drane, a crisp, confident pitching performance from Uduak Victor Robert, and swaggering hitting from shortstop Marhil Romano, who swatted two towering home runs. Romano is the first player in Pirates history to hit two ‘dingers’ in the same game, a feat which led to him being intentionally walked – where the opposition effectively gives a batter a free pass to first base to avoid pitching to them – for the rest of the afternoon.

But the Pirates’ win in their second game against Brighton was arguably even more notable. The team showed terrific determination in rallying from a six-run deficit to win 9-8, the winning run coming when outfielder Chris Cooper scored all the way from second base on a double by Colin Hubbock, who was playing in his first competitive baseball game. It was the kind of game that might easily have slipped away from the Pirates in recent seasons, when victories could be counted on the fingers of one hand, and sometimes fewer than that – the team won a total of eight games from 2022 to 2024, and perennially finished bottom of its division.

The wins over Brighton were followed by another victory and a narrow defeat away to Kent Mariners the following week – the latter coming on the very last play of the game, when a throw escaped the normally immaculate handling of first baseman Rory Dearlove, allowing the winning runs to score. And two more ‘W’s’ came on the road this Sunday, as hosts Hildenborough Hurricanes failed to field a full team, forfeiting both contests and giving the Pirates a sparkling five and one record, good for second place in BBF (British Baseball Federation) Division 5 South division.

According to experienced head coach Neil O’Warne, hard work and continuity are a major reason for the Pirates’ improved fortunes. “Most of the team have played together for a couple of seasons now,” he says, citing the benefits of combining experienced players like Robert and Romano with those still learning the game. “They’re starting to trust each other, to know where their teammates are going to be on the field. And we have a lot of players who want to get better. As a coach, it’s really satisfying when players take on board what you’re saying and build it into their game.”

Such a conducive environment is no coincidence, explains O’Warne, previously head coach and director of the London Mets, which he built from a local youth programme into one of UK baseball’s biggest and most successful clubs. After moving to Hastings with the plan of retiring from coaching, he describes the experience of getting back into the game with the Pirates as “a real joy”.

“We try to create a positive atmosphere of encouraging and helping each other,” he says. “Winning is great, but it’s not the only thing. Previously we’d lose week after week but still enjoy it, and that took us through the difficult times. And if you’re not afraid to make mistakes, it means you’re willing to try something new.”

The Pirates will need to overcome stiff opposition from their divisional rivals if they’re to make the post-season playoffs. This weekend’s forfeits notwithstanding, the Hurricanes organisation are the defending national champions at the Division 5 level, while Brighton and Tonbridge Bobcats are two of the longest-running clubs in the country. Bognor Cobras, meanwhile, were the subject of a recent BBC News feature celebrating the international make-up of the club’s squad, which boasts players from baseball hotbeds such as Taiwan, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

But the Pirates’ bright early season form means the team is suddenly aiming high. Irrespective of wins and losses, though, they will continue to play the game in a positive, supportive spirit. “Getting into the playoffs would be really enjoyable,” says O’Warne. “We’ve got the self-belief. But doing it the right way is just as important.”

HUGH SULLIVAN

It’s early Saturday morning and there’s just one car parked outside the Knight & Davey Community Stadium in Westfield. Must be the groundsman – there he is, on a tractor mowing the pitch. He waves and drives across, a young man (to me) in his 30s.

“Hi, I’m from the Hastings Independent newspaper, come to interview your chairman, Jack Stapley,” I say. “Ah,” he says, “that’s me.”

Stapley is co-owner of Westfield FC along with local accountant Graham Knight and Steve Cooke, former Premier League defender with Bournemouth. Cooke still plays elite football with Queens Park Rangers in the Championship, but grew up in Hastings and was persuaded by Stapley, a friend from boyhood, to put a little of his hefty on-pitch earnings into the remarkable community project that the club represents.

GROUND DEVELOPMENT

The ground that Stapley’s been mowing is on the east side of the main A28 road through the village. It has been there as a playable football pitch only since January 2024, though its development was in the offing more than a decade before.

The club, founded in 1911, has for several decades harboured ambitions to offer more than a standard village amenity. But the team was barred from promotion to the higher divisions of the Sussex County League (SCL) by the lack of floodlighting. Its long-existing ground, Parish Field on the west side of the A28 main road, was too cramped and too close to neighbouring housing to be upgraded. Access from the road was difficult, with poor parking availability. In 2009 the clubhouse was burnt down in a fire. And when the SCL was re-structured as the Southern Combination Football League (SCFL) in 2015, the team found itself effectively demoted into the Mid-Sussex League (MSL).

However, by this time an imaginative deal had been struck between prospective housing developers and Westfield Parish Council. Planning permission was granted to build 39 houses east of the main road, conditional on a section 106 Agreement that involved transfer of land beyond the estate for a new football ground to be shared between the club and the local community.

Building eventually started in 2019, with substantial sponsorship funding offered by St Leonards plumbing and heating firm Knight & Davey (no relation to co-owner Graham Knight), whose name the stadium now bears. Floodlights have been installed, and a modest stand erected in the name of club president Graham Drinkwater, who has served it for over 50 years as former player (record goalscorer and appearance holder), manager, secretary and chairman. He and his wife still serve behind the bar, wash kit, litter pick and support the team home and away.

The club is hoping to obtain a grant from the Football Foundation to upgrade the pitch to an all-weather 4G surface, capable of accommodating more intensive use.

SEASON OF VICTORIES

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the facilities springing up around them, the current footballers enjoyed a remarkable season in 2025/26.

The first team, managed by Harry Stapley, Jack’s brother, won the MSL Premier League and will be promoted either to the SCFL or to the Southern Counties East League (formerly Kent League) next season. They have a settled squad and some excellent individual players – notably their Solomon Islander centre forward Rooney Riugaemai, centreback Joe Dicken and ex-Hastings United midfielder, Bradley Pritchard.

The second team, having remained unbeaten all season, won the East Sussex League by a wide margin and, come the autumn, will take the first team’s place in the MSL.

The trophy shelf in the new club office will also have to accommodate the winning of this season’s Sussex Intermediate Cup, the Hastings Intermediate Cup and the East Sussex Premier Cup.

Altogether, Westfield FC run five adult teams for men – first, second, third, Under 23s and Veterans. There’s also an under 18s team; 12 youth teams ranging between under 7s and under 14s; and a new adult women’s team is hoped to start next season.

Most of these teams still play on the old Parish Field ground. Jack Stapley says that, once a 4G pitch is installed on the new ground, more of the teams could play matches there, and it could also be used for squad training (last season they had to hire 3G facilities in Eastbourne). In the meantime it’s back to the mowing.

16 May: Hastings & St Leonards Priory  220 all out, West Chiltington & Thakeham 169 all out

HUGH SULLIVAN

The month of May showed its full range of effects over the first two Saturdays of the Sussex Premier League cricket season, producing contrasting conditions and scores to match.

On 9 May, in warm and sunny weather, the Hastings Priory team travelled to Cuckfield in Mid Sussex, and – sent in to bat after losing the toss – rattled up a score of 308 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. Harry Finch, released from his commitments to the Kent county team, scored 86 off 87 balls. Caleb Laloo made 44; new recruits on their league debuts, Alfie Hunter and Troy Henry, weighed in with 39 and 31 respectively; old hands Harry Scowen (28), Joe Billings (30) and Greg Devlin (22 not out) each made useful contributions.

All fine and dandy, except that the host batsmen enjoyed the friendly conditions even more. In the absence of Freddie Hulbert, who has a side strain that means he is likely to be unavailable for several matches, Priory’s opening bowlers were John Morgan and Adam Barton. Morgan claimed an early wicket, but the arrival at the crease of Pakistan international batter Omair Yousuf heralded an onslaught. Barton’s fourth over went for 28 runs (two sixes, three fours and four no balls). Yousuf went on to reach 145 not out, his second wicket partnership with opener Joe Cambridge (99) amassing 181 runs, and Priory’s score was overhauled with only three wickets down and more than seven overs left. None of Priory’s bowlers were spared, spinners Hunter and Sean Johnson coming in for particularly brutal treatment.

Last Saturday, after a series of rain and hail showers during the intervening week, the pitch at Horntye was damp and heavy for Priory’s first home fixture – any darling buds well and truly roughed up by a cold and blustery wind. Captain Harry Scowen, unfazed by the experience of the previous weekend, opted to bat first, judging that conditions wouldn’t improve over the day.

Visitors West Chiltington & Thakeham, newly promoted to the Premier League along with their Hastings hosts, bowled tightly for most of the innings, and after 30 overs had restricted the batting side to only 92 runs with three dismissed, including top scorer Scowen (a painstaking 41).

But Johnson raised the tempo with a breezy 40 off 36 balls, and after his dismissal Henry (23, made in elegant fashion) and Morgan (29, with some trademark biffs to the boundary) enjoyed a seventh wicket partnership of 58 that raised Priory’s eventual total to 220.

That looked a stiff target, and under grey clouds that threatened  rain (which fortunately didn’t materialise until the game was over) the Priory attack quickly gained a stranglehold. Spinner Adam Page, omitted from the side at Cuckfield, opened the bowling with Barton; Henry’s left-arm spin was also introduced early and, at 61 for five in the 28th over, West Chiltington were far in the rear view mirror. A sixth wicket stand of 75 between captain Reuben Taylor (50) and Richard Wilson (48 off 45 balls) opened the possibility of catch-up, but they had started far behind the clock, and both eventually succumbed to catches in the deep as the scoreboard pressure mounted. The tail flailed and ran out of wickets to lose in the 47th over, 51 runs short.

Team Priory celebrated raucously, as is their habit, and now move on to an away game at Haywards Heath tomorrow (Saturday), followed by hosting of Middleton on 30 May.

The two-year funding programme offers three tiers of grant support: Small Grants (£2,000–£10,000), Medium Grants (£10,000–£75,000) and Major Grants (£75,000–£150,000) for transformative projects.

The grant funding can be used for capital improvements including building repairs, sports area upgrades, accessibility enhancements and permanent equipment. Applications for essential specialist equipment may also be considered.

Council leader Cllr Glenn Haffenden said: “I know from speaking to many groups that funding has been very tight. There are huge benefits to being active, not only physically but also for mental health and making community links. I’m passionate about making sure the whole borough has access to these opportunities.”

The first round of funding closes on Sunday 12 July. However, with multiple funding rounds planned over the two-year programme, organisations will have ample time to develop strong proposals and apply when they are ready.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.hastings.gov.uk/sport_play/leisure-grants-programme/

For the fourth time in the last six years, the cricketers of Hastings and St Leonards Priory are preparing for a summer season among the ten elite teams of the Sussex Premier League.

In 2021 they survived relegation from the Premier by a miraculous turn-around of form in the final month. In 2022 a very young team, short of experience and suffering injuries to key players, finished bottom. In 2024, having squeezed back from Division 2 the previous summer, they exited painfully again after a one-wicket loss to Horsham in the last over of the final match, when victory would have saved them.

Well, here they are again in 2026, after marching to a convincing Division 2 championship title last summer. But the attitude struck by winning captain Harry Scowen is different. “In previous seasons, the objective has been to stay up – and twice we’ve come short of that,” he says. “This time we really want to compete.” While not under-estimating the quality of opposition, he believes that the team is capable, at minimum, of a top five finish, perhaps better.

To that end, there has been an ambitious recruitment drive over the winter to add both quality and depth to the playing squad.

Young all-rounder Seaver Cowley has gone to Australia, and his middle-order batting and seam bowling will both be missed. Like last year, there will be no overseas player. But Alfie Hunter, who scored 538 runs and took 41 wickets with his off-spin for Buxted Park in Division 2 last season, has transferred his allegiance to Priory. So have a Mayfield pair, batsman Noah James and 18-year-old all-rounder Felix Holt.

Troy Henry, a 22-year-old left-arm spinner from Hornsey in Middlesex, has also signed up, subject to a ‘rookie’ contract with the full Sussex squad which has been renewed for the current season. He made his professional county debut for them in a one-day match last year.

BILLINGS’ RETURN

Best signing may, however, turn out to be the return of Joe Billings, wicketkeeper batsman who has scored prolifically for Priory in the past as an opener but has spent recent seasons in Wakefield, batting at no.3. That’s a position in the Priory line-up which has been problematic over the past couple of years, and which it’s hoped his boots could fill with distinction.

Last season’s bowlers should all be available again, with the exception of Cowley. Freddie Hulbert, Adam Barton and Shawn Johnson shared the new ball then, and are likely to do so again. Priory’s strength, though, was in their spin attack, particularly on the home pitch at Horntye, where helpful conditions throughout last summer persuaded both Barton and Johnson to bowl spinners more often than seam. With Adam Page offering reliable spells in support, and new recruits Hunter and Henry also in the frame, there could be tough competition for selection in that department.

Scowen maintains, however, that the club has a good culture of mutual support, with 2nd XI captain Brad Smith and director of cricket Jason Finch helping to ensure that all squad players stay keen and motivated. “Everyone wants to play at the highest level they can,” he says. “There’ll be opportunities for all.”

New local sponsors, Brewing Brothers, are providing some welcome financial support, and time and money has been spent over the winter on firming up the Horntye pitch. Scowen suggests that the aim is to give it more pace and bounce – though Priory supporters may hope that won’t militate against their cohort of spinners.

Priory’s first league fixture will be contested tomorrow (Saturday) away at Cuckfield. The following Saturday they host West Chiltington & Thakeham, who were promoted with them last September.

H&B RFC ended a long silverware drought last weekend with a dramatic victory over Ditchling in the Sussex Shield final, securing their first cup trophy since 2017. A tense and physical contest swung repeatedly before a late surge brought home the win.

In dry, firm conditions over at Eastbourne, Ditchling, who play in the Counties 2 Sussex League, made the sharper start. Off the first kick-off, errors from H & B led to a penalty and a 0-3 deficit. At this point, strong runners and fast reactive play from Ditchling looked likely to make it a hard day at the office. However, after ten minutes of struggle, Hastings responded with a penalty of their own, the ever-faithful boot of Bruce Steadman levelling the score from the tee (3-3).

The boys in blue & white then began to settle into their shape, moving the ball with more confidence. The increased pressure told midway through the half when Quinn McManus crossed to put Hastings 8-3 ahead.

The advantage was brief. Ditchling hit back almost immediately (8-8), before adding a further converted score to take an 8-15 lead. With a contest on their hands and early injuries setting in, Hastings made their changes early, George Feeley and Laurence Maynard being replaced by Lewis Sealy (to 10) and Max Mowbray onto the flank.

DOUBLE SIN-BIN

With the second half under way, things were yet to pick up for Hastings. Quinn McManus was shown a yellow card shortly after the restart, and Ditchling quickly made the extra man count, a converted try extending their lead to 8–22. At this point the heavens also opened, turning the playing surface into a slip-and-slide, and the ball into a bar of soap.

The situation worsened when, in true house style, older brother Frazer McManus was also sin-binned. Reduced to 13 men and trailing by 14 points, H & B were at a mental crossroads.

The chosen path was evident in their response. With heads up and fire in their hearts, the blue-&-white army now entered a period of direct, high-intensity rugby featuring a barrage of attacks. Shortly into the final quarter, these efforts culminated in a converted try, centre Vinnie Harrison breaking through from the back of a ruck to close the gap to 15-22.

Back to full force, Hastings were now dominating their opponents at scrum time, and consistently disrupting the Ditchling lineout. Persistence paid off late on, when well-worked hands put Steadman over, and he converted his own try to level the scores (22-22).

FITNESS AND DESIRE

Momentum was now firmly with H&B. Aided by superior fitness and desire for victory, they pressed for a decisive score. It arrived in the 78th minute, when scrum half Isaac Wales made a signature break to provide a 27-22 lead.

Kick-off response was crucial here, Hastings knowing the pain of defeat in the dying moments of a game. But the gather was good, the clearance long, and a short passage of play led ultimately to a penalty inside the Ditchling 22 in front of the posts. Using every second of the final period of play, Steadman slotted the kick to take the score to 30–22 and end the game. The music of that final whistle rang in blue-&-white ears, confirming victory and bringing Sussex silverware back to Hastings for the first time in a decade.

It was a hard-earned, well-fought victory built on discipline, persistence and an ability to respond under pressure. After a nine-year wait, Hastings & Bexhill are Sussex Shield champions once again.

10 April: Broadbridge Heath 2, Hastings Utd 4

17 April: Hastings Utd 1, Herne Bay 1

HUGH SULLIVAN

On a sunny spring afternoon, before their biggest Saturday gate of the season – nearly 1,000 spectators – Hastings United came off the Pilot Field knowing that Isthmian League football will return there next season.

To make certain, they needed either a win against visitors Herne Bay or else failures on the part of their relegation rivals. By half-time the ‘U’s held a 1-0 lead, whilst news filtered in that Hassocks, Sheppey United and Erith Town were all losing. By full-time the home score had been pegged back to 1-1 by a late penalty, but none of the other threatened sides had rescued a point between them: Hastings have survived.

The groundwork for this relief was laid the previous Saturday when the team travelled to Broadbridge Heath. Having scored a total of only three goals in their previous five matches, they went two up within 20 minutes. Damien Theodore ran through after good build-up play by Lukas Franzen-Jones and Ezekiel Williams; then Jordan Mase latched onto a ball over the top of the defence and picked his spot past the home goalkeeper.

The lead was halved before halftime but renewed shortly after when Theodore scored again at the far post from a cross by Franzen-Jones. The ‘U’s conceded a second in added time to a powerful strike, but replied with their own fourth goal, scored by substitute Max Walsh, to come off 4-2 winners.

A week later, they started brightly again: Jack Saunders, Jordan Mase and George Taggart pulled the strings in midfield; captain Freddie Legg, leading by example in a fully committed performance from right back, was prominent in both attack and defence.

Herne Bay, though they had nothing to play for in terms of league position, showed their own mettle, with a quick and physically imposing forward line that on several occasions had the Hastings back line at full stretch. Williams came off worse in a full-blooded tangle of legs with central striker Rushaar Samuel-Smikle and had to limp off out of the fray. Then the same forward burst through and was taken out at the edge of the penalty area by a flying challenge from United goalkeeper Harry Haines.

A red card offence? Many referees might have adjudged it so. This one, Nicholas Bone, who was authoritative throughout, decided that there had been a covering defender and brandished a yellow instead.

United steadied themselves and went ahead with a coolly taken goal by Walsh.

The second half was played at a reduced pace, and the ‘U’s seemed mostly in control until, somewhat against the run of play, Legg tripped the visitors’ left winger in his own penalty area. A spotkick was awarded and dispatched. But the news from Hassocks and elsewhere remained satisfactory, and manager David Altendorff was clearly in no mood to risk his team’s defeat by any reckless attacking drive in the final minutes.

Both team and supporters greeted the final whistle with relief, if not unalloyed joy. They know that next season will need to be better.

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION
(bottom Seven as at 19 April 2026)

17 April: Tunbridge Wells II 36, Hastings & Bexhill 35

H & B have just one game left in the Kent 3 Counties league season after two contrasting matches this month confirmed they will finish in third place (out of eleven).

In a comprehensive home victory over Gravesend 2nd XV, H & B ran in six tries – two from winger Matt Shephard, two from no. 8 Frazer McManus, and one each from prop Kaleb Wiggan and Bruce Steadman, who also converted four of them. The clean sheet in defence was a pleasing bonus.

A week later, with third place now guaranteed, H & B travelled to Tunbridge Wells, who had suffered only one league defeat all season.

The home side roared into a 22-point lead with four tries in the first quarter. But H&B hit back. Captain Harry Walker and Isaac Wales scored first half tries themselves, Steadman added a couple of penalties, and when Walker (again) and Calvin-Crosby Clarke went over in the second half, they led 30-29.

Although Wells regained the lead with their sixth try, Max Mowbray scored for H & B in a late scramble. Conversion would have secured a one-point victory. Steadman’s attempt hit the right hand post, and bounced away. 

In contrast to their senior club-mates, Hastings United’s Under-23s team showed no anxiety or nerves in storming to victory over Horsham YMCA in the Sussex Under-23s Cup final played at Lancing last week.

The academy side conceded an early goal, but hit back within five minutes with a deft finish from captain Archie Baker after a fine run and perfectly weighted pass by Charlie Scarles. Horsham had chances to regain the lead either side of the half time interval, but two excellent strikes from winger Ayo Olasimbo gave Hastings a clear advantage, and it was rammed home in the closing minutes with further goals from Elijah Shute and Seb Kane to make the final score 5-1.

Although the competition was billed as for under-23s, United went through it with a squad averaging several years younger, including several 16-year-olds. They had won 5-2 against Little Common and 6-0 over Horsham Crusaders in early rounds, beat reigning cup holders Hassocks on penalties in the quarterfinal (with six of the squad still under 17), and trounced East Preston 8-0 in the semifinal.

Of the team that played in the final, only Joe Clifford has had regular games for the ‘U’s first team in the Isthmian League.

Team manager Jon Gardner said after the final: “I couldn’t be prouder of this young squad. To win the County Cup – and in such emphatic fashion over a strong Horsham side – speaks volumes about their character, talent and togetherness.

“Every one of them has shown maturity beyond their years, not just in the way they played, but in how they prepared, supported each other, and handled the big occasion. This group represents the future of Hastings United, and today they showed exactly why we believe in them so much.”  

HUGH SULLIVAN

The basic elements of speedway have changed little in a hundred years. Contestants race motorcycles up to 500cc around a flat oval circuit. They have only one gear and no brakes, and run on methanol. The track consists of dirt and loosely packed shale, enabling riders to slide their machines into and around the bends.

In Britain there have been various speedway league and cup competitions over the years. There was a boom after World War II, led by riders from Australia and New Zealand, and during the 1970s and 80s the South East led the way in producing riders, having training schools at Hailsham and Iwade (outside Sittingbourne). In 1996 Malcolm Smith opened a 210-metre track at Belgar Farm on Romney Marsh.

These days the National League has three divisions, its tracks located mainly in Scotland and northern England. Nearest Premier League venues are in Ipswich and Oxford. The Arlington circuit at Hailsham still hosts stock car racing, but no speedway. However, Smith’s creation, Lydd Speedway, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in September this year as a thriving hub of the sport.

Smith’s object has always been to offer training opportunities to budding speedway riders rather than to maintain a competition venue, though amateur race meetings are held monthly.

Most riders have their own machines, generally an Italian GM engine with single cylinder and four-valve overhead camshaft (OHC). Leading frame manufacturer is Czech company Jawa (JRM), but other companies make bikes with smaller engines, frames and wheels to suit junior riders. Second hand bikes can be bought from £1,500 to £5,000 depending on age and condition; junior bikes can be cheaper.

Anyone interested, from five years old upwards, both sexes and all abilities, can have a go, hiring a bike and all necessary clothing.

Initial tuition is offered by Tony Gaul under the banner try speedway. More expert guidance is on hand from former British champions Paul Hurry and Scott Nichols. Riders with talent and ambition can progress into the National League.

Vinnie Ford, from Hailsham, trained and practised at Lydd during formative years: he now rides for Edinburgh in the National Development League and for Workington in the Championship. Nathan Abilitt, from Battle, another Lydd trainee, will be riding this year for Middlesborough in the NDL and Scunthorpe in the Championship.

“Our ambition”, says Smith, “is to find a world champion.”

He is hopeful that another south- eastern track might step up as a National League venue to bring speedway back nearer home. “The Arlington stadium is the obvious first choice, but it needs someone with money…Unfortunately I’m not a millionaire!”

A Try Speedway training school will be held at Lydd next Saturday 18 April, with open practices on Sundays 26 April and 17 May. Further dates will be confirmed once the Iwade track releases its schedule so as to avoid clashes.

To contact Lydd Speedway, email lyddspeedway@gmail.com or find it on Facebook.

3 April: Hassocks 2, Hastings Utd 1

6 April: Hastings Utd 1, Ashford Utd 2

HUGH SULLIVAN

With just three games left in the Isthmian League season, Hastings United hang precariously above the drop zone in the south-east division. One team below them, East Grinstead Town, has been doomed for several weeks. The fates of two more, Beckenham Town and VCD Athletic, remain mathematically alive but no more. The fourth relegation place remains between four clubs: Hassocks, Erith Town, Hastings and Sheppey United.

At home to VCD on 28 March and away to Hassocks on Good Friday, Hastings had the opportunity to clear their path to safety against moderate opposition.

In the first of these matches they laboured to turn possession and territory into goal chances; when they did, their forwards flunked them. Lukas Franzen Jones contrived to put the ball over the bar from less than a yard out. Midway through the second half the ‘U’s were awarded a penalty for hand ball; Jordan Mase hit his shot too near the visitors’ goalkeeper and saw it saved. Only six minutes remained of the 90 when a long throw from the left looped off a defender’s head, and Eugene Asike, up from the back, nodded in at the far post.

On Good Friday, buoyed by the earlier win, the ‘U’s travelled to Hassocks. They again spurned chances, and fell behind when keeper Harry Haines touched a fierce shot onto the bar but couldn’t save the follow-up. Old guard defenders Tom Vickers and Brad Barry each hobbled out before half time with renewal of injuries that have plagued their respective seasons.

In the second half United attacked in waves, and James Stone seemed to have secured a deserved point when he bundled in a cross from Fin Chapman. But, five minutes into added time, the referee saw a hand ball in the penalty area, and the spot kick was dispatched to make Hassocks unlikely 2-1 winners.

Three days later, on Easter Monday, the ‘U’s entertained local rivals Ashford United before the first four-figure crowd of the season at the Pilot Field: over 1,300, the vast majority there as home supporters. Ashford provided a rather different calibre of opposition, quick and incisive in attack and exposing few gaps in defence.

The Kent side went ahead in the 26th minute from a sharp initial strike and rifled rebound. That lead was doubled just after half time from a flowing move involving Ashford’s star left-winger Louis Collins. His pinpoint cross was headed back across goal for their skipper Gary Lockyer to convert at close range. United keeper Harry Haines kept his team in the contest with a couple of smart stops, and Max Walsh pulled a goal back with a well-placed header from a cross by Jordan Mase, but an equaliser never looked probable.

Stone was red-carded in the last minute of added time along with former Hastings midfielder Sam Hasler. That will presumably result in suspension from some, perhaps all, of Hastings’ last three games – a loss that manager David Altendorff won’t have been happy with. Of those games, the one at home to Herne Bay on 18 April looks most winnable. Any points gained in the other two, away to Broadbridge Heath tomorrow (Saturday) and to Jersey Bulls on 25 April, would be a bonus.

The only small comfort of the Easter Monday afternoon was that Hassocks, Erith and Sheppey all lost as well. Hassocks, with a significantly worse goal average than Hastings, need a minimum of five points to overtake them, and face three top-half opponents, including Ashford on the final day. 

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION (bottom Seven as at 7 April 2026)

14 March: Hastings Utd 0, Margate 1
21 March: Sevenoaks Town 2, Hastings Utd 0

HUGH SULLIVAN

After back-to-back wins had seemed to lift Hastings United out of relegation trouble in the Isthmian League’s South-East Division, a pair of defeats over the past fortnight has pitched them back in it.

At home to Margate on 14 March, the ‘U’s arguably had the better of the game, but conceded a goal on the break 20 minutes from time, which manager David Altendorff felt was poorly defended (as well as “clearly offside”). Chances to equalise were not taken.

A week later, they fought another close match away at Sevenoaks, going down this time to two goals scored in the last quarter. It’s the story of their season: they seem to need a first half lead if they’re to come out on top.

League results over the next ten days are now critical. Tomorrow (Saturday), the visitors to the Pilot Field, VCD Athletic, are among the bottom three teams looking odds-on to be relegated. On Good Friday, 3 April, United travel to Hassocks, who are fifth from bottom, one place above the drop zone.

Two victories against these fellow strugglers, and United may consider themselves relatively safe. Anything less, and nerves will remain frazzled. The side currently in the fourth relegation spot is Erith Town, but they have two home games this week, including one against already doomed East Grinstead Town; then another on Easter Monday against second bottom Beckenham Town, while the ‘U’s host near-neighbours Ashford United.

Off the field, the club has confirmed that its academic partnership with East Sussex College, in operation since 2017, has been extended until July 2027. The club offers young footballers, both male and female, elite-level coaching and competitive match experience at under-19 level or above.

As education partner, the College delivers an academic curriculum, student support and pastoral care so that they can at the same time pursue accredited academic qualifications. The aim is to balance sporting ambitions with strong educational foundations.

Over the past nine years, numerous students have progressed both on and off the pitch, several advancing to professional clubs as players and/or coaches. Community outreach initiatives, work experience placements and special events have brought both club and college closer to the local community.

Neither party has mentioned the unthinkable – the possibility of another relegation next month that would tip the club out of the Isthmian League into a lower tier of football. It can’t happen. Or could it?

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION (bottom six as at 22 March 2026)

The hotel’s owners now require the land for their own use and are preparing to submit a planning application for a small residential development there. A number of surveys and site investigations, including excavation works, are to be undertaken. Southern Water are also proposing to divert a main sewer through the site.

Club director Roger Hyder has told members that “other options” will be looked at for a similar facility in the future.

However, Roger’s main immediate concern is to supervise the conversion of the former clubhouse on the right hand side of the existing club entrance into 14 two-storey apartments for stay-and-play golfers.

A new entrance will be constructed from the top car park above the practice putting green, and a container toilet block substituted for the existing toilets. The main building work is aimed to start in mid- to late summer, subject to final planning approval.

The main course was shut for virtually two months from early January because of saturating rainfall – measured as nearly double the average amount over this period. The front nine holes were eventually reopened on 6 March and, after a full-scale programme of hollow-coring, top-dressing and overseeding in recent weeks, Roger believes that the greens are already back to their best condition of two years ago.

The pitch-and-putt facility, bookable at the current reception counter, will close as of next Tuesday 31 March. 

South Saxons veteran goalkeeper Richard Harvey, aged 56, will be playing for the Wales over-55s indoor hockey team at Nottingham this weekend in a tournament billed as the 2026 World Masters Hockey Indoor World Cup. There will be 13 teams competing, mostly from Europe, including two from Wales. His team, Wales Dragons, were due to start qualifying matches from yesterday (Thursday) in a group comprising the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and England.

Harvey has a Welsh mother and has been proud to represent the principality in previous senior tournaments at both over-45s and over-50s levels. But this tournament is special to him, being contested at Nottingham University where he studied physics nearly 40 years ago.

Known universally in local hockey circles as ‘Billy Whizz’ after the rapid-running cartoon character, Harvey played for Hastings team South Saxons between 1993 and 2010 as an outfield player, only taking up goalkeeping at the age of 40 when he moved to Sevenoaks. But he rapidly gained a reputation at the National Premier League club, playing regularly for the 2nd XI and being picked to make his international debut in the over-45s Masters World Cup played in Rotterdam 12 years ago.

The indoor game is faster and more furious than its outdoor equivalent. Harvey has suffered a series of contact injuries and knee twists and has undergone three back operations. He has also incurred two heart attacks and prostate cancer. He returned to the Hastings area six years ago and credits “amazing” local physio Cat Gibbons with getting him fit to play again.

His training for the forthcoming World Cup tournament has been intensive – “It’s by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done in hockey,” he says – “it hurts so much!” But he remains dedicated to the sport. “I found my wife playing in veterans hockey – she won five championship titles before retiring – and it’s a big part of my life.”

First home was London Heathside runner Seyfu Jamaal, winner in 2024 but bettering his time on that occasion by almost a minute and half to finish in 1 hour 5 minutes 17 seconds. Runner-up, more than five minutes adrift, was Wegahta Zerom of Ashford. Best Hastings positions were achieved by David Ervine (HY Athletic Club), Rhys Boorman and Ben McCallion (Hastings Athletics Club) and Louis Dargan (Hastings Runners).

Female winner was Charlotte Clarke in 1:17:57. Grace Baker of Hastings AC came second, after winning in 2024 and finishing second last October, but she improved her time on both previous performances to record 1:20:40.

24 February: Hastings Utd 0, Three Bridges 3
28 February: Hastings Utd 3, East Grinstead Town 0
7 March: Beckenham Town 1, Hastings Utd 3

Hastings United went down 3-0 in a midweek home encounter with Isthmian League leaders Three Bridges on 24 February. However, they have bounced back with victories against the bottom two sides on two subsequent Saturdays, opening up a healthy ten-point gap between them and the nearest side in the relegation zone. Only a total collapse in their last eight games would bring doom upon them, and there’s no reason on current form to fear that.

The game against East Grinstead, contested on a heavy but playable surface at the Pilot Field, was in truth somewhat frustrating for both players and supporters. The visitors had won only one league game all season (back in September) and had shipped 22 goals in their last three. The ‘U’s duly scored three goals in a nine-minute period midway through the first half through Fin Chapman, new recruit Max Walsh and Lukas Franzen-Jones, and should have scored a hatful more in the second half, with Franzen-Jones and Jordan Mase both contriving to miss in front of a gaping net. At the other end they gave away a needless penalty and had loanee keeper Harry Haines for keeping the defensive sheet clean with a superb save, diving full length to his right.

Away at Beckenham seven days later, Hastings went two up within 14 minutes, Franzen-Jones atoning for his profligacy of the previous Saturday by scoring both. A penalty was then conceded, this time tucked away, and the ‘U’s held their precarious 2-1 lead for the rest of the afternoon, until the 90th minute when Mase also made amends for previous misses with a sumptuous finish to spark joyous celebration.

The club, which will mark its 24th anniversary later this year, offers both match participation and coaching to children (from age 5 upwards) and adults with special needs, mental health challenges, and physical disabilities.

Paul Anderson has stepped down after serving six years as Specials Chairman (with nine years of volunteer contributions before that). The new chair is Duncan Nolan, who has also served 15 years with the club, revitalising operations and ensuring robust membership. He comes to the principal role after a notably successful career in club management – both in mainstream and disability football.

The Specials have, in the past, had 90+ players (counting both children and adults) on their books, with 65 or more attending sessions every weekend. Many former youngsters, now in their 20s and 30s, have gone on to play and thrive in mainstream football.

The club used to run teams competing in (and sometimes winning) local disability leagues centred in Maidstone and in West Sussex, but funding to cover the travel and other costs of this was lost after the Covid-19 pandemic. Save for one-off events, which include a charity day out at Hollington, matches are now only played at the home pitch in Bexhill.

Here, Specials teams for ages 12 to 50+ play friendlies through the season against local walking football teams, including the Old Bexhillians (OBs), Monday Night Walkers, and the Walking Wednesdays. Robert Carey of the OBs, comments: “The Specials are, by their very name, special, and a series of matches have taken place where the emphasis has been fun and great spirit between the two sets of players. The results have been somewhat irrelevant – the sessions have been enjoyed by many OB men and women players.”

The Specials also run a team for 6-12 year-olds, while the OBs have a senior side of over

MAX MOWBRAY

It’s been a fortnight of strong results for Hastings & Bexhill, with two commanding performances in the Kent Counties League.

At home against Old Williamsonians, H & B ran in six tries while keeping a clean defensive sheet.

Dominating the set pieces, the first score came from a line-out and rolling maul which allowed flanker Laurence Maynard to edge over for a proper forwards’ try, 5–0. Then the backs linked well, enabling centre George Feeley to power over for the second. Tom Hirst added the conversion, 12–0.

Gaining confidence and momentum, the third score came from sharp defensive awareness, courtesy of Quinn McManus on the other flank. Charging down a clearance kick and gathering the loose ball, this was a flashy finish against the run of play. The boot of Hirst stretched the lead further, 19–0 at halftime.

The second half began much like the first, with Maynard and Feeley each adding to the tally to bring the score to 33-0. As the game entered its final quarter, the physical toll began to tell. The visitors were now dominant in the scrums, despite several players requiring treatment. However, Hastings maintained control and counter-attacked well, and there was a team try, finished by clean hands from the backs, to finish the scoring. A miss pass from Feeley put Whitehill-James in on the outside, sealing the 38-0 victory.

Last Saturday, away to New Ash Green, H&B made a shaky start, as veteran fullback Jake Stinson went down in the warm-up, then Hirst was forced to retire after only seven minutes of play.

But, bolstered by youngster Ashton Pola and old hand Bruce Steadman, Hastings eased into the game. Scrum half Isaac Wales was first to cross the try line, darting over from the back of a ruck. Additions now came courtesy of Steadman, who slotted the conversion and, shortly after, a penalty to make the score 10-0.

Two more scores preceded half time. Hooker Theo Walker bowled over from the back of a rolling maul, shortly followed by prop Kaleb Wiggan on a thunderous line.

Feedback from coach Ben Petty at half time was to play the systems and get the bonus point. This was achieved just three minutes into the second half, Walker providing the goods with his second score, converted by Steadman (27-0).

Gallant captain Harry Walker then crossed (34-0) before Wales also got his second (39-0), followed by galloping second row Dom Sewell (46-0).

Tempers flared as the home side seemed to slip into desperation. In an unfortunate turn of events, the referee missed the first of these tussles as Wales was busy scoring his hat-trick. Turning around only to see the retaliatory shove by Frazer McManus, the visitors were awarded the try and a yellow card, going into the last 10 minutes 51-0 up but with 14 men on the field.

Further admonitions followed, as a cynical headbutt by the New Ash Green lock attracted a rare red card. Feeley responded with decorum and style, cutting through the home side’s defence to score a minute later (58-0).

Hastings didn’t let off the gas until the final whistle, achieving yet another score in the dying minutes, again courtesy of Walker. Steadman added the extras to finish the game 65-0.

With the 2nd XV also scoring two big wins without reply over the past fortnight and topping their league, these are good times for everyone in blue & white.

HS: How did you rate the performance today?

DA: I was really happy. It’s a shame we didn’t score early on when we were right on top. In the second half it could have gone either way. Our keeper made some good saves, but we had chances too. I agreed at the end with the Merstham manager Jamie Decruz, who I get on well with, that a draw was probably fair.

HS: How about the season as a whole?

DA: Obviously the first task is to avoid relegation. But I think we’re much better than our league position suggests, and I’m sure the points will come. There are 12 games left. We probably need four wins – I’m confident we’ll get them.

HS: Do you now have the players you want?

DA: When a new manager arrives, there are bound to be changes in the squad. Some players want to leave with the outgoing manager, some players for whatever reason don’t fit with the new regime. We [I and my assistant Alex Marr] have brought in new players who’ve enjoyed playing with me with before, and if there’s a chance of getting in some on loan for short term benefit, we’ll do it – particularly in our league position, we need to get as many points as we can. It wasn’t my intention to make as many changes as we’ve done. But overall, I think the squad is in much better shape now than when we first came in.

HS: You’ve put another couple of new players in today.

DA: Yes, keeper Harry Haines and number 10 Jedd Hobbs have come to us on loan from Bromley Under-21s for the rest of the season. We’ve watched Harry for quite a time, and Jedd at 17 is a real prospect – sharp and energetic. They’re good quality footballers and they’ll help us.

HS: How did George Taggart feel about being left out today?

DA: I’m sure he’s very disappointed. But I’ve worked with George before, he knows I rate him highly, and he has a lot to contribute – very much part of our future. I try to be transparent with the players, giving them a clear set of criteria. If they do everything they’re asked to, they’ll be in the team.

HS: You live in Haywards Heath, and you’ve set up training in Brighton. How does having to train there affect the squad?

DA: We’re not in Brighton for my own benefit, it’s because there are no 3G pitches in Hastings, nor were there any available in Eastbourne. It was okay training on the Pilot Field pitch at the beginning of the season, but in winter – particularly with the weather we’ve been having – that’s not feasible. We were lucky to find training facilities both at Varndean School [in Brighton] and at Sussex University. We go there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. To be honest, it probably suits the majority of players to be training at a central location in Sussex rather than in Hastings. And they’re all ambitious and professional – they understand they may need to spend an hour in the car getting to a place that’s suitable to train at.

HS: How would you describe the type of football you’re aiming for?

DA: I like football to be possession-based, playing through midfield. But we have to be pragmatic and adapt to the surfaces we play on. About a third of the teams in our division play on 3G, but the majority play on grass like us, which at this time of year means uneven ground where the ball’s going to bobble and deviate.

HS: Has the team played better on the 3G pitches?

DA: In terms of results, there’s been no correlation. We’ve won on grass, lost on grass; won on 3G, lost on 3G. Overall, the team has struggled for consistency, but I don’t think it’s to do with that.

HS: In all the league games which the team has won this season, it has already been leading at halftime. Why do you think second halves have been such a struggle?

DA: I don’t really know, but I don’t think it’s fitness. Not everyone can run forever like Jordan Mase, but every player wears a GPS tracker, so we can monitor their physical performance. I think it’s more of a mental thing. When you’re down at the bottom end of the league, winning isn’t something you’re used to and, towards the end of a game, it feels harder to get there.

HS: How about next season?

DA: Assuming we stay up, I’m optimistic that we can make a serious promotion push next year. I believe in this group of players. They’re always very confident going into every game – there’s good morale in the dressing-room. And, behind them, owners who’ve given me and Alex a warm welcome, a good set of volunteers, and great supporters. I’m genuinely super-excited about next season.

14 February: Sittingbourne 33, Hastings & Bexhill 18

MAX MOWBRAY

A depleted Hastings & Bexhill team travelled to Kent League leaders Sittingbourne on 14 February      and suffered defeat after a fierce encounter.

Despite a textbook start from H & B, it was the home side that struck first. Within five minutes Sittingbourne had crossed for a converted try to take a 7–0 lead. Playing a structured game which capitalised on their opponent’s mistakes, the Kent side scored twice more before Hastings could respond. Then utility winger Sam Surridge took the visitors’ first points with a well-struck penalty (19-3), and, after half an hour of play, another. At the break H & B trailed 19-6.

The second half began with real intent from the boys in blue & white. The forwards were dominant against the home side’s beefy pack, controlling many of the set pieces. Hooker Chris Pillow linked well with flanker Quinn McManus to win a majority of line-out ball, and youngster Theo Walker put in a solid performance on his 1st XV debut at prop.

MOMENTUM SHIFT

Strong carrying and improved breakdown work paid off when Joe Whitehill James crossed the line for Hastings’ first try (19-11). Although the conversion drifted wide, momentum had clearly shifted.

Sittingbourne responded with a converted try of their own (26–11), but H&B refused to fade. Centre George Feeley powered over the line following sustained pressure, Surridge adding the extras to close the scoreline to 26–18 and set up a tense final quarter.

With both sides attacking hard, it was one-up tackles that ultimately proved Hastings’ downfall. Strong Sittingbourne runners cut through the blue & white defensive line repeatedly, and with 20 minutes to go, the league leaders took another converted score.

With their lead stretched to 33–18, the home side dug in and managed to keep the visitors out for the remainder of the match.

Despite the score, Hastings will take positives from their set piece and link play, which kept them in contention against the top side in the league.

There was no game last Saturday, but a busy end to the season now awaits, with seven league games in the next nine weeks. The top two sides, Sittingbourne and Tunbridge Wells II – each suffering only one defeat all season to date – are unlikely to be overhauled. But H & B will aim to win against the rest in order to secure a third place finish. Tomorrow (Saturday) they host Old Williamsonians.

Micky made his name as a no-nonsense top quality goalkeeper, outfield player and a senior respected umpire and official. He has been and continues to be a great hockey ambassador, serving as President of Sussex Hockey and holding positions with England Hockey.

A good crowd were entertained at the Bexhill Academy pitch to a very competitive friendly game where an arch of honour was provided as a mark of respect. He was deservedly named ‘Man of the Match’.

The current Saxons men’s first team suffered heavy defeat at Bexhill last Saturday, conceding six goals to a superior Guildford M3 side before Joshua Sheffield scored an eventual consolation goal.  However, three successive wins in January have put them well above the relegation zone in Division 1 West of the South-East Hockey League. 

No such triumphs for the women’s team, who have now lost all 17 of their league matches this season, the latest reverse a 6-0 drubbing by Old Georgians 3 at Bexhill last Saturday.  Best chance to avoid a season’s whitewash may come on 7 March when they host second-bottom Horsham 2. 

21 February: Deal Town 3, Hastings Utd 0

HUGH SULLIVAN

Hastings United remain perilously close to the relegation zone of the Isthmian League’s South-East Division after two goalless outings over the past fortnight. And with a home game on Tuesday this week (after this column has gone to press) against free-scoring league leaders Three Bridges – 94 goals scored in 30 games, more than double Hastings’ tally – their position may have deteriorated even further.

However, weather permitting, the ‘U’s are due to host bottom-of-the table East Grinstead tomorrow (Saturday), followed by an away match against second-bottom Beckenham Town the following Saturday, 7 March. Manager David Altendorff has said – see the interview below – that four wins over the rest of the season should be sufficient to ensure his team’s league survival. These two matches are surely prime opportunities to reach towards that target. East Grinstead have won only one match all season. Beckenham are without a win in their last five games, though four of these were drawn.

To win, however, Hastings have to score, and that has proved increasingly problematic in recent weeks. Since a 3-0 win over other relegation strugglers VCD Athletic on 10 January, Hastings have netted only three goals in six games. Apart from a home defeat by Crowborough Athletic on 20 January, these have all been games against promotion-chasing teams, with two 0-0 draws at home and three heavy defeats away. Even in those defeats, the ‘U’s have tended to match their opponents in midfield for long stretches, but failed to convert goal-scoring chances and found themselves punished at the wrong end by more clinical finishing.

At the Pilot Field on 14 January, a heavy pitch made it difficult for both Hastings and visitors Merstham to work openings at either end. United got the ball in the net in the first half, but Jordan Mase was adjudged to have dribbled the ball marginally over the goal-line before pulling it back, and the goal was disallowed. Merstham’s tricky left winger gave the ‘U’s right back Ezekiel Williams a tough afternoon. Central defenders Sam Pidgeon and Eugene Asike were generally able to keep the rest of the opposing attack at bay, but new keeper Harry Haines, on loan from Bromley, had to make a couple of sharp stops, and the underside of the cross-bar came to his aid when beaten by a powerful shot late on. The draw was probably a fair result, all things considered.

A week later, United travelled in hope to Deal and again carved out some good chances throughout the first half without taking them. But their hosts, having scored on the half-hour mark, added two more early in the second, and there was no way back.

31 January: Faversham Town 5, Hastings Utd 1

7 February: Hastings, Three Bridges Utd match postponed

HUGH SULLIVAN

Heavy defeat at Faversham followed by heavy rain at the Pilot Field, which washed out last Saturday’s scheduled match against Three Bridges, made the last fortnight one to forget for followers of Hastings United. However, rather than getting stuck immobile in the muddy terrain or casting anxious looks once more at the Isthmian league table, the club has been addressing its future by offering new contracts to key players.

Midfielder Jordan Mase and defender Sam Pidgeon are reported to have signed contracts to stay with the club until at least the end of the 2026/27 season.

Both were brought in by manager David Altendorff when he arrived at the club in late October. Mase found the net in each of his first three games, and is not only the team’s top scorer but has been its most consistent performer – the fulcrum on which most attacks are mounted, equally busy and determined in the tackle when opponents try to play through midfield. Pidgeon has been physically strong, calm and reliable in defence, both in the air and on the ground, and whether as centre back or full back. He has also weighed in with a couple of goals.

The team’s current league position – two places and six points above the drop – remains concerning, and form – no wins in the last four games – needs a boost. But the commitment which these outstanding players have shown to stay with the club should encourage others, not least Altendorff himself, to stick around. The aim this season must be to work back to a respectable mid-table place, which is the best they can now hope for. Next season will, if the club’s board have their way, be different.

At Faversham on 31 January, the ‘U’s scored first, Fin Chapman breaking down the right and Lukas Franzen-Jones running across the front of a defender to finish his cross. But the home side equalised midway through the half, took a 2-1 lead on the stroke of halftime, and within ten minutes of the second half scored two more. While Hastings were creating chances but missing them (including a penalty), Faversham enjoyed an afternoon of fabulous strikes – two goals smashed into the top corner of Harry Howes’ net, and a bicycle kick from 15 yards, before they converted a late penalty to make the final score a 5-1 rout.

The pattern of second half struggle has been repeated time and again over the season. In 37 league and cup games, United have won just once after conceding the first goal. (That was against Sheppey United in December, and by halftime in that match they had already turned the score round to be 2-1 ahead). It’s also the fact that all nine of the team’s league victories have been achieved after coming in ahead at halftime.

Is the set-up of the team unsuited to breaking down opposing defences when they are protecting a lead? Do heads drop when goals are conceded? Is fitness a problem? Do the substitutes available on the bench lack the quality of those they replace? These are the questions that supporters ask and Altendorff has to find answers for – when Hastings next play.

It was no surprise that last Saturday’s game against league leaders Three Bridges was called off. After weeks of rain, the Pilot Field pitch is well and truly saturated, and only three out of 11 fixtures survived across the Isthmian South-East Division (one of those was in Jersey). Tomorrow’s fixture (Saturday), another home match against Surrey team Merstham, must also be in doubt. There will probably be a pitch inspection in the morning, with the outcome shown on the club’s Facebook page.

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION
(bottom six as at  8 February 2026)

Local boy Kaleb Wiggan earned international honours last Saturday with his second cap for national side Jamaica UK. Kaleb, who plays for Hastings & Bexhill RFC, travelled to Port Talbot for a friendly against Wales Deaf on their home ground at Aberavon Harlequins RFC.

The heavy, waterlogged pitch could not have been less Caribbean, and the Jamaican team took some take time to warm into the game. But having been kept under the cosh in the first half, and failing to string together phases, they produced a committed and spirited performance in the second. Some big carries soon led to their first try.

Keeping the contest alive into the latter stages, with the roaring support of the Jamaican fans in the stands, the visitors maintained their forward momentum and scored a second. But Wales’ effective game management kept them from further scoring, the game finishing 22-12.

Kaleb played with fierce determination as always, bringing physicality and energy to the contest from his position at tighthead prop. His selection is a testament to his hard work at club level and a credit to his teammates and coaches at H&B.

Hastings Head Coach Ben Petty said: “It’s fantastic for a Hastings player to get international recognition, and well deserved. We’re very proud of Kaleb, he’s made a real impact to the senior squad and it’s great to see the progress he’s made after two excellent seasons with us.”

Organisers are Active Hastings, the borough’s sports promoters. Children will be divided into two age groups – 7-9 and 10-14 – with activities running concurrently between 1.45pm and 5pm. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Terry Cooper, Active Hastings Youth Development Officer said: “This year’s programme has been designed to give all children the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of sports, whatever their ability: everyone is very welcome. We are delighted to be working with local sports clubs to offer this bumper timetable of activities, and would like to thank Play Sport, Funk Fusion Fitness, Siam Boxing Camp, Sussex Cricket and Hastings and Bexhill Rugby Club. This event has been made possible with thanks to the Active Sussex Children and Young People Investment Funding.” 

Places are limited and should be booked in advance as soon as practicable through booking website eequ.org. 

20 January: Hastings Utd 1, Crowborough Athletic 2

24 January: Hastings Utd 0, Whyteleafe 0

HUGH SULLIVAN

Hastings United scraped one point from a draw and two defeats over eight days of Isthmian League competition last week. They again sit precariously only two places above the drop zone.

However, although his team were ultimately well beaten by second-placed Croydon on 17 January and subsided to another disappointing home defeat by Crowborough three days later, manager David Altendorff shouldn’t be feeling too despondent. The match at the Pilot Field last Saturday against Whyteleafe, another team with promotion aspirations, saw the ‘U’s perform creditably for long periods, failing to score on no less than three occasions by the intervention of post or cross-bar, and showing no lack of energy or fight.

At Croydon, the ‘U’s had scored early through Damien Theodore and, although the home team equalised ten minutes into the second half through an own goal, the score remained at 1-1 until less than 20 minutes from full time.

The replacement of George Taggart by Brad Barry and Theodore by Walter Figuera had kept the ‘U’s refreshed, and a draw looked on the cards. Then former ‘U’s forward Reece Grant put Croydon ahead, and they rattled in two more goals to give the final score-line a deceptive margin.

That was James Stone’s last game for Hastings – he signed within a couple of days for Isthmian Premier side Burgess Hill Town. Altendorff immediately recruited a replacement forward, Lukas Franzen-Jones, who has scored hatfuls of goals for him in previous campaigns at Newhaven and Lancing.

Whether he can do the business for Hastings remains to be seen. He wasn’t given much service in midweek against Crowborough: in blustery conditions at the Pilot Field, the ‘U’s went two goals down before a late penalty was tucked away by Jordan Mase – too little, two late in the 2-1 defeat.

After further sweeping rainfall over the next couple of days, the home pitch last Saturday was predictably heavy – a throwback to past eras of muddy goalmouths and clogging tackles. Visitors Whyteleafe played from an old-style training manual too, launching the ball long at every opportunity for swift-running forwards to chase.

The Hastings defence withstood the aerial barrage well: Barry starting in the centre alongside deserved man-of-the-match Eugene Asike while Freddie Legg and Sam Pidgeon secured the flanks.

In goal, Harry Howes, deputising for the injured Harley Earle, had some trouble with his kicking but otherwise suffered few alarms – though a series of well-delivered corners led to a couple of goalmouth scrambles. When Barry limped off injured shortly before halftime, his replacement Tito Salaam added extra height and pace to the defence.

Further forward, the composed Mase and his hard-running lieutenants Jack Saunders and George Taggart sweated for the cause, playing neat football at times despite the conditions. Up front, Theodore and Fin Chapman had their moments, and Franzen-Jones had one twisted header tipped over the bar.

Nearest to a goal, though, was a shot by Mase onto the base of a post, and later a towering Pidgeon header from a Mase corner that cannoned back off the bar.

Although a goalless home draw in the mud on a near-freezing January afternoon sounds less than entertaining, few of the near-800 crowd seemed to see it that way, and the team’s efforts were well applauded at the end. On another day United will perform worse and win.

Tomorrow (Saturday) they travel to Faversham, another side currently in the divisional play-off zone. It’s the fourth meeting between the two this season. Back in August the ‘U’s drew there 2-2 in the FA Cup, then suffered a 0-3 defeat in the home replay before losing 1-2 in a league match in early October. But there won’t be much familiarity between the players. Only three of Altendorff’s men likely to start this time – Legg, Chapman and Earle (if he’s fit) – featured in any of the previous games. 

MAX MOWBRAY

Hastings & Bexhill’s finest travelled northwards on Saturday for a chilly but bright afternoon at Dartford. This was a great display of community rugby and a strong performance for the boys in blue & white.

H&B’s main training during the week was on speed and intent from kick-off, and the coaching staff will be pleased with the day’s work. Leading the dominant charge from the first whistle, captain Harry Walker opened the scoring after just five minutes of play. His try was calmly converted by winger Sam Surridge: 0-7.

Maintaining this momentum, Hastings quickly scored another, courtesy of George Feeley on the other wing: 0-14.

As the home side struggled to gain a foothold, penalties started to mount up. A well-struck shot at goal from Surridge pushed the score to 0-17 before a spectacular display of hands in motion from the Hastings back line resulted in a try in the corner for centre Joe Field: 0-22 at the break.

MORE OF THE SAME

The second half began much like the first, with H&B firmly on the front foot. Field grabbed his second try, bringing the score to 0-29 and also pulling firmly ahead in the locally coveted Flash v Wriggly Cup. The visitors’ spirits were up but, with the sun setting, the first cracks began to appear.

Emotions were now running high on both sides, and several changes were made. Fly half Bruce Steadman was replaced by Lewis Sealy after acting as a very efficient speed bump on several occasions. Scrum half Ashton Pola was forced to leave the field early with a head injury, giving back row Laurence Maynard a go in his second favourite position on the wing, whilst the capable Surridge took over at 9.

Dartford were then reduced to 14 men following multiple high tackle offences, but managed from the depths of despair to produce their only score of the afternoon: a darting run took Hastings by surprise and rewarded them with a consoling 7 points.

NO COMEBACK

Into the last quarter, veteran hooker Chris Pillow replaced Max Mowbray in the front row and made a quick impact. Any brief dreams of a Dartford comeback were extinguished as Pillow, by name but not by nature, powered over for H&B’s next try: 7-34.

Hastings were now confidently back in control, capitalising clinically on another Dartford sin-bin. A hungry Steadman subbed himself back on to bump and dive his way over the whitewash: 7-41. Then, in the dying minutes, Suphanat Cramp, returning from time off with a broken hand to bolster the Hastings pack, rounded off an excellent team performance by skipping over for a final score of 7-46.

H&B will take confidence from this result – a commanding away victory, built on clean handling and vicious intent. They now go into a two-week break before returning to start their cup campaign against Pulborough in early February.

Citius altius fortius – faster, higher, stronger – is the Olympic motto, and the blueprint for most sporting contests of our youth. But as we age, our bodies become naturally slower, less agile, less athletic: those who once excelled at football or ski-jumping or gymnastics need to find alternative arenas for their competitive instincts.

Credit, then, to Active Hastings, whose Get Moving campaign targets opportunities for physical sport and fitness amongst the whole local population, and to the Royal Voluntary Service, which runs a community health and wellbeing initiative for the over-55s, First Time For Everything. They combined last Thursday to offer to this age group three introductory sessions of indoor curling at St John’s Church Hall in Brittany Road, St Leonards, funded with sponsorship from Japanese probiotic milk supplier Yakult.

As far as the English armchair public is concerned, curling is a sport that’s unwrapped from its mothballs every four years to give Britain its best chance of appearing in the Winter Olympics medal table. (At Beijing in 2022 our skiers, skaters and snowboarders couldn’t muster a medal between them but the women’s and men’s curling teams won, respectively, gold and silver.)

It’s essentially bowls or boules on ice, the woods/balls replaced by granite stones. Two competing teams “throw”, in effect slide, the stones in turn across a sheet of ice to a circular target, with the aim of bringing them to rest closest to its centre. Once at rest they are displaceable by subsequent throws from either team. Points are scored on the basis of final placements.

SMOOTH TILED FLOOR

The sport originated in Scotland and has gained keen adherents in other countries such as Canada where ice is a regular feature of winter climate. Not so much, therefore, in mild and sunny Hastings (recent weather notwithstanding). But substitute the smooth tiled floor of a church hall for a surface of ice, and a round, flattish, weighted disc mounted on ball bearings for the granite stones, and you have the conditions for an equivalent sport playable indoors in all weathers and temperatures.

There are differences here from the outdoor Olympic variant. Missing from the indoor version is the assistance of two members of the thrower’s team armed with brooms, who by sweeping the ice alongside the sliding stone are able to adjust the pace or trajectory of its route to a final resting place. On the other hand, the indoor thrower has the option of using a cue-stick from a standing position to impel the disc forward across the floor rather than bowling it out of hand – a blessing to those of us whose limbs don’t readily bend to or from a kneeling position.

Participants in last week’s sessions in St Leonards divided in roughly equal proportions between those who used a cue-stick and those who didn’t. Human beings are natural tool-users, and the former seemed on average more successful in controlling both the degree of impulsion and the accuracy of direction. What golfer would opt to roll a golf-ball across a green into the hole rather than putting it?

Active Hastings organised three separate sessions of an hour each last Thursday for groups of 12 to be taught the basic skills and receive an introduction to competitive tactics. We aimed to land our discs on or around the target area – a thin mat marked with concentric circles and a bullseye. We also learnt that leaving them short could block a future throw, while a stronger delivery could be used to shove a well-placed rival out of contention.

First efforts were tentative and erratic, but once we were divided into two opposing teams (six players each – in my session, five women and one man on either side) and lined up to take alternate throws, our natural competitive instincts came to the fore, and the team bonded. Accurate placements were clapped, displacements of opposing discs cheered and, as the scores mounted over six rounds, social inhibitions relaxed into a party atmosphere. It’s a great game, we decided, once the ice has broken.