Peacehaven & Telscombe were crowned as Sussex County League champions for the first time in 1978-79. Further league titles followed in 1981-82 before the team retained their top spot the following season.
A seventh place for the team managed by Mark Shutt, who had been appointed in May 2016, was a decent return in the 2017-18 season. The performance was backed up with tenth twelve months later, while the aborted 2019-20 campaign saw the Tye end in fifth.
My visits
Not for the first time I awoke on a free Saturday morning undecided where to head off to for my football entertainment. While I ached after finishing a six day walking marathon the evening before, I was still keen to get out and about.
Several options were on offer, many to previous unseen venues. I was wary of time beat me and ending up with slim pickings as had happened in the past. I am also keen of returning to places I’d only visited to take photos.
Then out of nowhere the near perfect solution raised its head as I saw a 1pm kick off close to one kicking off a couple of hours later. Even better on what looked a lovely bright day, was it would take me somewhere photogenic and pretty.
To get to Peacehaven in good time I needed to get a wriggle on and head to Victoria for the 10.45am train to Newhaven. This would allow me to see their friendly with near neighbours, Whitehawk before returning by bus to see the FA Vase game where I got out against Binfield.
My trains connected perfectly at Lewes to arrive on time meaning I had just a few minutes to wait before the number 12 bus heading towards Brighton arrived. Although it looked a sunny day, the temperature was cold and wind blowing hard on the East Sussex coast.
After the slight panic of seeing fans, mainly visiting Hawks gathering outside and fearing a postponement, we were soon allowed in to pay by donation. I thought a fiver was fair enough. The club announced they were serving beers on Twitter, so some immediately headed to the serving portacabin.
It was too cold for me. I went for a lap of the ground taking photos before trying to find a place with sensible social distancing. It was a tad too crowded near the entrance under the cover for me and although it was fantastic to see ‘The Tye’ attracting lots of youngsters, they were naturally unconcerned by C19.
Hawks, cheered on by an excellent following, went ahead after ten minutes when Lucas Rodrigues slotted past home keeper Harry Cracknell after being teed up by Ronald Sobowale after a sustained spell of early pressure.
I’d seen Peacehaven in action earlier in the season when they were well beaten away to Walton & Hersham in the FA Vase despite showing sparks of invention up front. The early goal on this occasion seemed to spark them into action.
On eighteen minutes they drew level when Liam Benson was played in on the left before lifting his shot over keeper James Broadbent. I was happy as it set the game up nicely, celebrating by trying to warm up with a cheeseburger and lovely strong Bovril for £4.60.
Rodrigues
came close to regaining the lead for Whitehawk, whose manager Ross Standen was
in charge of only his second game. Debutant Omarr Lawson dragged his shot wide
as the visitors in a snazzy all clue kit with rainbow trim smelled blood.
It then started pouring down, with the freezing rain blowing across the pitch from the east as I quickly realised that a pair of gloves would have been a wise addition to my kit for the day. It really was cold up on top of the cliffs.
Hawks went 2-1 up with a goal deserving of a grander setting than a friendly match. Henry Muggeridge doggedly won the ball, feeding the jinking Lawson who weaved past defenders before setting up Sobowale to score with a beautiful curling shot into the top corner.
Rodrigues created the third goal with a long powerful run before he passed to Luke Emberson who controlled and powered his shot past Cracknell. At the interval I did my best to warm up with another walk and then hide behind a floodlight pole out of the wind.
Both sides agreed to rolling subs to get everyone into the action. This seemed a wise arrangement as teams were lacking match practice after lockdown disruptions. Sobowale was denied by Cracknell soon after the restart before the forward hit the rebound wide.
Leon Redwood then fed Rodrigues, whose effort came back off the post, as it looked like being a case of how many the Hawks would rack up. Unfortunately, I would have to find out if they did via Twitter as I had to leave with just over twenty minutes left on the clock.
As it transpired, I missed further goals from Muggeridge fifteen minutes from the end and then Rodrigues finally adding his second and Hawks fifth.
It had been very cold, but a welcome bonus to catch some action at The Sports Park, which I left with a positive impression of a welcoming community club. I headed back the few miles east for the main event of the afternoon.
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