Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

United played in the Eastern Floodlight League between 1977-78 and 1984-85 apart from 1982-83 when they didn't enter. Although the league was a first team competiton United rarely fielded a full first team and used a mixture of first and reserve team players and on occasions even fielded a full reserve side. The only season they topped their group was 1978-79. They then lost 2-1 to Dartford on aggregate in the two legged semi final which was held over until the following season.

Hastings Town entered the competition for one season only in 1985-86 and topped their group before losing 2-1 on aggregate to Barking in the semi-Final.

United's opponents in 1980-81 were Chatham Town,Maidstone United and Sheppey United and in 1981-82 were
Chatham Town,Sheppey United and Welling United

Seem to remember about this time, we also ran a reserve team in the Kent league Division 2, with opposition including Dover, Maidstone , Gravesend , Tonbridge and Margate. Not a bad standard either.

Yes, much the same principle, although the Kent Messenger Trophy tended to have larger groups and proceeded straight to the final.

On that subject, am I correct to think that Hastings last competed in that competition in 1974/75 ?

United competed in the Kent Messenger Trophy in both 1973-74 and 1974-75 although they had played in the Kent Floodlight League for several seasons previously. The 1973-74 competition was suspended half way through due to the power crisis and ban on use of floodlights.

After leaving the Kent Messenger Trophy United entered the Southern Counties Combination Floodlight League for the next two seasons and they won the league in both seasons.

The Sussex Professional Cup ran from 1960-61 to 1974-75. In the 1960's only Brighton,Crawley and Hastings were professionals so the competition consisted of one semi-final and one final usually won by Brighton. The best United ever did was to draw the two legged final with Brighton in 1961 and 1968 and share the trophy for 6 months. The Competition was replaced by the Sussex Floodlight Cup which United entered for three seasons. United won in 1975-76 beating Brighton 3-1 at the Pilot Field in the Final

Could I ask a bit more about the 78/79 competition?

Would you know the two Hastings results versus Folkestone & Shepway?
(I have the two results versus Maidstone Utd)

Many thanks

-- Edited by MarkB on Saturday 20th of February 2021 11:56:49 AM

That's brilliant, thank you.

It was straight to the semi-final against Dartford which was played the following season.