New football season set for kick-off

The new football season kicks-off today (Saturday) with all of the area’s five senior clubs in action.
Hastings United and Westfield, pictured here facing each other in a pre-season friendly, will begin their respective league campaigns todayHastings United and Westfield, pictured here facing each other in a pre-season friendly, will begin their respective league campaigns today
Hastings United and Westfield, pictured here facing each other in a pre-season friendly, will begin their respective league campaigns today

Hastings United will begin their Ryman League Division One South campaign with a trip to Chipstead. Mark Stapley and Terry White will take charge of the side following the resignation of Sean Ray on Wednesday.

United were relegated from the Premier Division last term after finishing bottom of the table (although they were later nudged up a place to second-bottom after a points deduction for Thurrock), while Chipstead came third-from-bottom in Division One South with 42 points from as many matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Elsewhere, Rye United will start their Sussex County League Division One campaign away to St Francis Rangers. Rye’s squad has undergone a number of changes over the summer, but they have a good record against the Saints.

In Sussex Division Two, Bexhill United go to Mile Oak, Little Common are away to Oakwood and Westfield are at home to the newly-named Wick & Barnham United. All five matches will kick-off at 3pm.

Bexhill possess a completely different squad this term following the close season arrival of manager Kenny McCreadie, who has brought with him much of the side which got Hailsham Town promoted from Division Two a couple of seasons back.

Little Common - who finished third in 2012/13 but were denied promotion for ground grading reasons - have gained a few players and lost a few over the summer, although player-manager Russell Eldridge belives they now possess a more rounded squad.

Westfield have retained almost all of the squad which came fifth last time out, as well as bringing in several new faces so hopes are high for another successful season.