Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

I know this is Whaddon Road, home of Cheltenham Town and am pretty sure it was the 95/96 season when we had a rare win there, 2-1 with a gate of 608. Cheltenham, of course, have gone onwards and onwards into pro football. Here we have Steve Cuggy, our own south coast Geordie, who got one of the goals, Stuart Playford to his left who got the other and in the background is Simon Beard making sure his boots are clean.....

1998-99, THAT season when a local Lottery winner (not Mick Maplesden) lost interest in a matter of weeks, the season we got relegated by rule book. This was a tough FA Cup game at Eastern Counties Newmarket Town where Simon Fox got our goal in a 1-1 draw watched by 320 punters. We got out of jail big time that afternoon. No 10, ElTel, 7 Lee McRobert and on the touchline one Paul Tuppenny who I always seem to bump into at Morrisons. We won the replay 2-0 and got Yeovil in the next round and got stuffed 0-3 with a couple of disallowed goals and a Yeovil keeper lucky not to be red carded for an out of the box foul helping them just a tad......

And mentioning Crawley - here is a reminder of our Broadfield encounters with our good friends (gag, splutter, choke) from West Sussex - 97/98 I think this was, a 0-0 draw in front of 1573 punters. That looks like Phil Henderson taking the throw and Keiran O'Shaugnessy up front? Looks like our coach on the side line itching to get on......

DM Premier, 1997-98, I drove the minibus to the Victoria Ground, 360 odd mile round trip and I still recall Dean White laughing his whatsits off in the bar after we secured an injury time equaliser from Stafford Browne to get a
1-1 draw that did Rovers no good as they battled relegation - Deano had noticed me and other Town supporters behind the goal getting more and more up tight as that goal would not NOT come - that is till Staff's deflected 95th minute effort which Town thoroughly deserved. Rovers went belly up a few years ago and have I believe, started again in local football.

Fantastic pictures ....its so refreshing having a decent thread on the forum for a change ....welcome back Simon ...you have been missed...oh for a fanzine like "The Ghost of MG5YP" again !!!!!

I still go back to this every now and again too http://www.ghostof.co.uk/   ...

Hi Phil. Yes - Vanker Vosper as he was called in the fanzine. Tommy Killick who played for Wimborne that infamous night now manages Poole Town and he was reminiscing recently about that season and did concede that his lot got the rub of the green that evening. I will certainly never forget it. It all sums up the people that run football for the useless, out of touch tick box driven dorks they all are that Vosper ended up being promoted. Another particularly inept official was Chrome Dome Barry Knight who managed to make major errors every time we had him. One of his more memorable Football League afternoons was at Bournemouth I think, where he had them down to nine men and Crewe won 4-0, something like that - and he drove out of the carpark with a home supporter on the roof of his car wanting to go over some of his decisions.

As for Bec being ill all over me - how could I forget that afternoon we went to Rothwell Town? Did we get stuffed 5-1 that day??

Anyway - another pic - Mile Oak at home in the FA Cup in 2003-2004 and Chris Honey gets stuck in with Karl Rook hovering - we must've won because a fortnight later we had that big win at Carshalton - more to follow.....

Re request for Bath City away - FA Trophy, 97-98, and we hammered them 0-0, lost the replay 0-1 and Mark Gardiner, on a "gut feeling", sacked Garry Wilson who went onto great things at Langney Sports where a more patient approach was taken - and he duly led Eastbourne Borough as they are now known into the top tier of the Conference. To this day I don't know he we didn't beat Bath that afternoon at topsy turvy Twerton Park!

And this is Hastings Town up in Cambridgeshire taking on Histon Town who have since gone through various ups and downs on and off the pitch. I guess this is the 2000-01 season because I videoed the game the following season. Was this the one we won 5-2 with Aussie David James getting 3? Whatever, that's Duncan McArthur getting stuck in, Steve Yates on the right and far left I reckon is Matt Ball......

That famous 3-1 win at Carshalton Athletic who, at the time, a Conference South side, were two divisions higher than United - played their hearts out that afternoon. Must admit those were the early days of struggling to maintain the passion for various reasons that I won't go into here - so players' identities and match details aren't recalled like games were 10-15 years earlier! But Jimmy Elford definitely features in this shot at Colston Avenue!

I will keep looking through various albums etc etc - and I am sure I have old hard drives with football stuff on them too. And I know I have some stuff relating the 91-92 promotion game at the Pilot Field with Weymouth - but here's a peek at their superb Wessex Stadium - late 90s I seem to recall, 98-99 maybe, when we won 2-1 with both goals from Steve Yates - who on his day was electric. 803 attendance. Weymouth have always been an up and down club with off pitch hassles but are currently doing ok in the Southern Prem. How many of you remember that fantastic 2-1 win there in 91-92, 1538 attendance and the place heaving as Steve Willard and Paul Giles got two great goals...

Tim revives memories of Town avenging that 0-6 drubbing at Cheltenham a matter of a few weeks later. Most enjoyabe. Nothing quite like putting matters right.

Leon wrote:

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Any other forum members in that pic? I've spotted Si Avery - unless I'm going loopy...

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Yep that's me Leon. I'm also 99% sure that's also me far right of shot(leaning on the barrier) in the Trowbridge/Salisbury game from 90-91 season too.

Yep, great to see them old photos . You were saying about Mo Mundun being great for banter got me thinking about Chris Hampshire , although an out field player he always found time to come out with a few gems, he just loved playing to the crowd. I really missed his wit when he packed up.  The other thing i missed was the all action games against crawly town , I believe there was one game with them where twenty one players  out of the twenty two were at each others throats.

timbjones wrote:

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Great pictures Simon. Were you at that fantastic game at Ashford (4-3 to Hastings) the season we got promoted along with Weymouth. Peter Sillett manager with Dean White in the side. Have you any pictures from this game?

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 Can't help with pictures Tim, but I'm sure that game was filmed by some guy possibly from Ashford, think he filmed a couple more games over the years. Bob Keen I think?

Anyone recall the old Salisbury Ground at Victoria Park? I think you may have been a **** if you paid to get in there - it was all pretty wide open. This, I seem to recall, will be mid 90s when City had just been promoted to the old Beazer Homes Premier and Town won 4-3 after a truly end to end game in which I am sure, Peter Carman saved a late penalty. Dave on the left - Dave Moore - started up the Ghost fanzine way back in January 91 with Steve Weekes who is now in Sweden I think. Next to Dave is Steve who used to steward at Hastings, behind him is Mark (?) who I said a quick hallo to at Faversham on Saturday, then we have Wendy and er..... can't remember your name! I do remember a demented old lady at Salisbury who used to abuse away teams......

That League Cup Final at Leek Town again - remember Steve Powell? He came to Town from Crawley in the early mid 90s and was a very useful left back. Can't remember where he went - well, this was 18 years ago after all. Leek have ended up in the Evo Stick Northern League's Division One South which they currently lead......

Early 90s and a friendly against a Tottenham outfit - and to finish my latest offering on a poignant note - Richard Callaway on the right, centre is Andy Blondrage and on the left - one of the biggest characters of Hastings Town/United, Steve Smudger Smith who was killed in a motorbike accident several years ago. Those who were at Spalding United , 99-00 maybe, will recall Smudger being carted off to have his head stitched up after a big clash left him leaking badly. We diverted to Peterborough in the coach to pick him up afterwards and he climbed on to a huge cheer and then had us rocking as he announced "They gave me some pills for my head" and waved a bottle (Pils)..... Only you Smudger - never forgotten, mate, never forgotten.....

Oh go on then - one more - the old Elphinstone Road end stand pretty chocka for a 91/92 encounter with Salisbury City who Town beat 2-1 in front of 730 punters - goals from Sticky Willard and Keith Miles. We were battling it out with Weymouth and Havant Town and that was a crucial late season haul of three points on our way to the Southern League South's title. Recognise yourself at all?

Thanks Phil, will look out for you on Saturday and might get the match transferred onto DVD.

Cheer up fellas - forget the Guernsey blues - here's another one from the 91-92 championship season as Hastings Town sealed promotion to the Beazer Homes Premier as it was then known. On the left - Mickey Crowe, then Keith Miles being held up by that great centre half David Scott, John Sillet in civvies, Tony Burt, Peter Carman and finally, Peter Petcovic. Scotty came from Christ knows where, I just cannot remember, but once he got in the side he was a tremendous defender and it was a huge loss when Dover snapped him the following season as Town struggled to cope with the tough demands of Premier football. He was badly injured playing for Dover against Kettering I think it was  a few seasons later - double leg break. A real shame - great player, good bloke.

I remember this game well Simon. I was standing on the bank when an endless stream of Weymouth fans poured in through the top gate ...I think they had been drinking in the fort fun bar or something....good atmosphere that game. Its good to see the old stand (the one that no longer exists) ...I cant remember the year but it must have been about the same time as the Weymouth game, when Crawley fans virtually filled that old stand up. I know Tery White scored a peach of a free kick right in front of them Oh happy days !!!!!

This is Norton Road, once home of Baldock Town who's claim to fame is producing one Kevin Phillips who, at 73, continues to grace Premiership pitches. All the action seems to be down the far end where home support is conspicuous by it's low numbers. Very respectable ground actually where things were to go wrong for Baldock and they folded in the early thousands I think. This would've been possibly 91-92 and a rare Town defeat, 2-1 in front of 287 punters with Paul Giles getting the goal.   

17 August 1991 and Town kick off that memorable championship season with a 4-0 win at Dunstable with goals from Messrs Blondrage 2, Willard and Giles. 159 attendance on a hot afternoon as Town made the perfect start. We'd lost there 2-1 the previous season - one of those games where we did everything but score.  That was put right with a vengeance the following season - and here we see the Dunstable keeper deal with a free kick.....

Second photo - 11 Jan 92 and plenty behind the open Wood End see Terry slot home a penalty against Gosport Borough in another 4-0 win. 518 attendance with Tel getting a couple and Carlton Wynter and Paul Giles the other two. Both Gosport and Dunstable ended up dropping into county league football but are on the way back up - Gosport in particular who are now acclimatising to life in Conference South.

Yeah that sounds about right mate...I just loved the way Terry rubbed it in the Crawley fans faces ....I believe it was around bonfire night because there were alot of fireworks being chucked around by Crawley fans that day...and they were the ones who ending up getting the rocket oh sweeeeeeeeeeeet !!!!

And what of the encounter at Kingsmeadow earlier that season? United gave a decent account of themselves in an entertaining game which finished 3-1 to AFCW. Kingsmeadow, which they still share with Kingstonian, was well full that September the 25th afternoon - 2873 punters with a big shout from the U's support when Sean Ray reduced an AFCW lead to 2-1 on 74 minutes.   I'm hearing that they are after a return to Wimbledon which is understandable for the obvious "going home" reason plus that Kingsmeadow has a capacity of around 4000 which might be a bit tight for AFCW's ambitions - even if last season saw those ambitions limited to just staying up in League 2!  Anyway - remember Ryan Peters? Bit of a flawed diamond I seem to recall.....

2001-2002, what a season and the  one when I started videoing - badly - Hastings Town games. Luckily the timing was impeccably fitted in with a great promotion season and those who were there that August evening at Long Mead cannot have forgotten Town's 5-1 win to follow on from the opening day 2-1 win at home to Wisbech. This picture - while not the best quality - is of the Boswell Barmy Army enjoying Chris Honey's 44th minute equaliser - poorish quality is because it's a still from the video - but it adequately conveys the enjoyment of what was a superb goal created by Duncan McArthur.....

SS wrote:

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Those of you familiar with the online fanzine that Karl Horton and I put together will have sussed the picture above is in there too - and there is of course the relevant link on the club website - www.ghostof.co.uk/

It is tempting to maybe revive the old Ghost within this forum - sooooo if reaction is favourabe etc etc - then watch this space

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 Please do Simon as this forum is desperate for some humour ,,,,oh how I loved those fanzines  

That's it ...Marcus Sawyyer (2ys in his name I remember that ) he only played a few games but scored this goal direct from a free kick ...looked like a young Ade

Great picture, Windy. You should have that reproduced in a programme. Somewhere, SOMEWHERE, I have a photo of Steve Cuggy rounding the Cheltenham keeper at Whaddon Road to put Town 1-0 up, and can I find it!!!! 

Dan wrote:

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SI have you got any photos from the Forest friendly in what I assume was 1997ish? My first match at the PF

Also can anyone put into context the Paul Smith transfer that led to the match? 50k must have been huge at the time? How good a player was he at our level then? Was it a big deal for the club as in were they reluctant to sell for less and was there any interest from other clubs?

-- Edited by Dan on Saturday 5th of October 2013 10:33:42 PM

-- Edited by Dan on Saturday 5th of October 2013 10:34:36 PM

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 Dan - I think I may have a picture or two but will have to look for them. I do recall taking one of the embankment thronging with people - we had 4888 in that night I seem to remember.

Paul Smith was only about 19 and never played more than a handful of games for Town before Dean White carried out a great bit of business by getting £50,000 from Forest which was colossal money in those days - not that we'd sneeze at it today! And Deano also negotiated the friendly - more top business as Forest sent their top side  with just the one absentee who everyone EVERYONE wanted to see - Stuart Pearce! But it was still a great evening and did the game end 0-0??

Paul never really made it at Forest and ended up at Lincoln City.

Pete from Hurstgreen wrote:

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SS re Danny er could it possilbly be Danny Simmonds ?

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 Hi Pete - re that Ashford game and the unknown Danny - his name was on the tip of my tongue and a quick flick back through Ghost  22 reveals that it is, in fact, Danny Chapman who I seem to recall we got from Dover or was it Gravesend........ Anyway - Danny Chapman it was!  

And to that memorable 01-02 season - Banbury away on the 22nd of September, 2-2 going into the final stages and then Chris Honey latched onto a huge throw out from Dave King and fired home a great winning goal which we probably didn't deserve - not that we were complaining! Picture quality isn't special I know - it's a still from the video I shot that afternoon. I keep meaning to get those videos onto a disc and then onto the pc - I have a dvd recorder/player sooooo must be able to copy tape to disc - can't I? Must be a devillish combo of scart leads etc etc...... 

More reminiscing back to 1996 and that Sussex Senior Cup Final against the old enemy Crawley Town. Sadly I work just a mile or two from Broadfield and get constant reminders from "mates" at work about  the 28 league difference in status between them and us - but this still brings back good memories. Top pic is Danny Simmonds about to launch one - on the bench in the background are visible Tupps and Matt Ball. Group pic - from L, Matt Ball, Stuart Playford, Phil Henderson, Sticky Willard (?), Terry White who appears to have grown an extra pair of arms, Tony Burt, James Creed behind him (?), Keiran O'Shaugnessy, Liam Barham, Garry Wilson and Richard Callaway extreme R. Lower pic is Stuart Playford firing in a cross field pass.

MrLiamWillis wrote:

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Does anyone have any information about Keith Miles? He's soon to be family and he wants to know his personal records!

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 Sean maybe able to help you Liam.