Highest moment:
Personally: Although I couldn’t join you, being able to field a side for 2 consecutive fixtures away in Kent after the season had finished. I was prouder of the team and those who stepped up than I think was conveyed.

Club-wise: watching the Lions vs Horsham at the end of the season. Although they didn’t win I was encouraged by the way they played.

Lowest moment:
Personally: losing 8-4 away at Eastbourne on the 1st day of the season.
Team: Poor turnout for end of season dinner.

Outstanding performances:
Obviously Matt Hickman. He alone won us matches we were not really in. 38 league goals and more in cup. Outstanding. Notable others: Harvey and Cally, even though we had him for ½ a season.

Special thanks must go to:
Theo – for guiding us through the season and leading us at training and on match days whilst dealing with his surgery. We couldn’t have done it without him and I look forward to kicking forwards strongly next season.

Besty – my No.2 this season. Thanks for helping me find my feet whilst managing the group. I thought I struggled at first, but he helped take some of the pressure off my shoulders by taking responsibility for certain tasks.

Tom – the team would be at a loss without you…in fact it is – the matches we lost in the 1st half of the season were without you. Your organisation of transport and logistics never fails unless Jonny Rea is involved. Your steady head and calming influence is invaluable to my slightly more heated temperament – particularly when emotions are running high on match days. Your perspective issues within the club have opened my eyes to a bigger picture, which hopefully I can take into next year.

The team – whilst we didn’t achieve what we set out to, it has been a challenge, and largely a pleasure to lead them this year. I think we all know where we can improve to come back and challenge next year.
Rob H – for supporting us as much as he could throughout the season. Next season I hope we can repay his faith!

Chewy – for understanding our needs and allowing players to move up when we needed them, even if it was at the expense of the 2’s and their title push.

2nd Team – Seb Daniels and Simon Bullmore
For the men’s 2s this season’s results do most of the talking:

• 18 wins,
• 1 draw
• just 4 losses in all competitions.
• 107 league goals scored
• Just 27 conceded

The best goal difference in all of the South Leagues. A spectacular cup run. And, in Seb Daniels, the club’s highest goal scorer.

What the stats don’t tell you is how hard the lads worked to achieve the goals the group set themselves in a pre-season meeting; to bounce straight back up to Division 1 and to get to the cup final.

Both of those goals seemed a tough ask. Especially when you remember that more than half of the team are under 21. Five of them are under 16.

Despite losing key players to South America trips, ski seasons and other less glamourous callings, like playing for the men's 1s, the core team that emerged showed a real determination to do what was necessary to get where they wanted to go.

The team played some sensational hockey along the way - spectacular goals and tight defending became part and parcel of most matches. But what made the real difference was their commitment to the basics - playing every week for example. 7 players played over 20 of the 27 games. Along with a commitment to regular training, playing proper passing hockey, on-the-pitch discipline and mildly obscene post-match vote nominations.

Not everything went to plan. But the team always bounced back from setbacks - like being outplayed by the 3s in El Classico Part 1. And the club can be proud of the discipline and application the players displayed in adversity - in particular, the younger contingent.

The 2s Season finished with a knife-edge 3-2 cup final loss to Chichester 2s. A team that plays in Hants-Surrey division 1 - the equivalent league to our Mens 1s team. It was a great performance, made even more special by the fact that four of the team had played in the game immediately before for the under 16s cup final. The medals were a fitting finale to a successful season.

Tough challenges await in Sussex Division One. This team is ready for them.

3rd Team – Tom Casselden
Finished 8th, could have been higher. Player availability or support from other teams in the club lacking. Cup showing was poor and unfortunately had to take players from the 5's to play a strong Chi side.
Highlights included beating the 2's! But most of the season has been a challenge. Losing to Southwick was probably rock bottom, but strangely they did load their team to try to stay up…and didn't.
Thanks to John Colban & Bendy for umpiring. Dave Mansell and Malcolm for always supporting when needed (a role model captain) and PT for the coaching.

4th Team – Chris Sharpe
We are the Legends. So many high points, winning the league by 5 points, unbeaten for the majority of the season until the fateful second half away fixture at South Saxons (a low). I would never suggest that the umpires were biased or that they loaded their side. We’ve overcome both of these difficulties a number of times throughout the season. Unfortunately I missed the round robin cup tournament as I was needed elsewhere, however I’m told it was a fine performance, thanks to Tom Casselden who continued to play after having his metatarsals broken by George Martin during the warm up. This put us in the final against Brighton, Sussex div 1. A fantastic performance throughout the game with Brighton scoring a heart wrenching equaliser late in the second half leading to a penalty shoot out which ended 5-4 to Brighton on the final flick. This was both a high and a low, gutting as we were so close but at the same time such a great performance from all. Big thanks to Mike Wood for his management skills on the day.
A massive thanks to each and every player, so much dedication from all. Heinzl, without whom I wouldn’t have had umpires or got in match sheets. The fines would have been much higher, and we would have been docked 2 points. Stillo vice captain, sorting various team sheets, positions, tosses and running his ass off every week. Lloydy switched his shifts various times to enable him to play, landing himself with Lewes bonfire night (he’s a fireman), and missing the dinner as a result. Simon Forster playing on his wife’s due date, then straight back after very little absence for the cup games. Danny P pushing through gout or bursitis or tendon strain. My solid left and right backs. Mark T was very apologetic about having to miss a game to go to his daughter’s graduation. Ed Cade always there in one of his many cars, with a quick word for the umps about the rules followed by at least one card. Copplestone continued to play with an ankle injury, meaning I had to gaffa tape him up before each game. Apples and Ryan Moore always ready to step in and run for 10 minutes at a time. Legendary lefty Mike Fuller coming across from left wing to take the ball because everyone was looking right. Ben Godwin, solid, literally bouncing people away and surprisingly fast. Champness always willing to come and chuck a few aerials when umpiring allowed. Bill Short who has since returned to his native land (SA not vikingland). Billy Smart returning from a nasty hand injury. Liam Russell (I think he’s got a Porsche) coming back from making too much bloody money. George Martin, worried about Stonley scoring too many goals and not getting enough in the 3’s. Stonley, well what can I say, and everyone else who came to help us out.

Another big thanks to our umpires, not an easy task. Howard, Max, Malcolm (I think every team will be thanking him) Steve F, Eddie C, Bendy, PB to name a few.

It’s been a fantastic season in a fantastic club and it has been my honour to be a part of it.

5th Team – Malcolm Wain
League Standings
• Finished in 2nd and Promotion confirmed.
• Played 18. Won 14. Drew 3. Lost 1 to the League Winners, South Saxons.
• Finished only 2 points behind Saxons BUT 17 ahead of Brighton.
• No cup games BUT top goal scorer was tight: Dax 9 / Malc 8 / Fuller 7 / Forster 6.

Highest Moment
• When Crawley 4s turned up with their 2s Captain, 4 regular 2s players, falsified the match sheet and we still beat them 3-1.

Lowest moment
• Just mention ‘Crowbourough Away’ to the 5s!
• Let’s just say the 1-1 draw at Crowborough was not a good day and we will NEVER visit Crowborough again without our own umpire!

Outstanding Performances / Players to Note
• Game of season must be the 0-0 draw Away at Saxons who still fielded 2nd and 3rd team ringers but couldn’t break our defence or put one past Charlie Palmer.
• 8 Clean Sheets and conceded only 11 goals tells you the 5s defence is ‘Hard To Beat’ SO special mention to THE MEANEST DEFENCE IN SUSSEX, POSSIBLY THE WORLD.
• Such a nice bunch of guys so it’s hard to pick out players BUT have to mention:
Toby ‘The Rock’ Rolph at the core of our defence
Phil Brown has been an excellent addition to our Midfield this season
Jon Cornish, a ‘proper’ club member with great values, good luck at Uni Jon.
Stan Hughes, solid in goal and great to see him moving up club
Alan Forster - 2nd season running has played EVERY game

Special Thanks
• To all the players who set their availability on Pitchero every week which makes this side so easy to manage.
• To Peter & Jo Cornish who have always looked after the clock when Jon is playing and made match notes – we’ll miss them next year.
• To everyone that has stepped in to umpire 5s instead of us using one of the Level 1 umpires.

Anything Else
• Did I mention we only conceded 11 goals all season!!!