Robins confirm that Sweetman has been relieved of first team duties
After relieving head coach Brad Sweetman of his first team duties, Hassocks would like to pay tribute to the hard work he has put in over his five years at the club – but especially in the 2021-22 campaign.
Sweetman and his assistant Jordan Wilson combined securing Premier Division safety with leading the Robins to their first Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup semi final in a decade.
The duo faced a tough job with many challenges along the way. They began the season with a very young squad, the majority of whom Sweetman himself had helped develop in four seasons as Under 18s manager.
Results were had to come by and approaching the midway point of the season, the Robins had just three wins on the board and looked in danger of relegation.
A much improved second half of the campaign saw Hassocks win six, draw seven and lose six of their games to end the season in 16th spot, nine points clear of the bottom two.
Victories over Montpelier Villa, Crawley Down Gatwick and Seaford Town took the Robins all the way to the final four in the RUR Cup.
Unfortunately, the draw paired Hassocks with Southern Combination League champions Littlehampton Town.
The Robins gave it a good go in their attempts to reach a first ever final in senior football, but found the Marigolds a little too good as the visitors won 2-0 to continue their bid for an historic quadruple.
As well as their first team duties, Sweetman and Wilson managed the Under 23s through the current campaign to runners up spot in the North Division and the semi finals of the League Cup.
Sweetman arrived at the Beacon as assistant manager of the Under 18s for the 2017-18 campaign. Working alongside Dave John, the duo helped to deliver a treble of Southern Combination Under 18 League Overall Champions, Central Division title and League Cup.
Sweetman took over as manager of the Under 18s for 2018-19 and led Hassocks to a second placed finish.
In 2019-20, the young Robins were one point off the top when the season was curtailed and in 2020-21, Hassocks led the way having won six and drawn one of seven matches. Hassocks also reached the semi final of the Supplementary Shield that year.
Those achievements meant that in his four seasons with the Under 18s, Sweetman helped deliver one of the longest periods of sustained success that the Robins’ youth setup has enjoyed in its 30 year history.
Sweetman first began working with the first team in 2019 under Mark Dalgleish and served as John’s assistant in 2020-21 before being appointed head coach last summer.
A Hassocks spokesman said: “We would like to thank Brad for all his efforts over the past five years, from the success he delivered for the Under 18s and the players he has brought through to his recent work with the Under 23s and senior side.
“He will always be welcome at the Beacon and we wish him the best of luck for whatever he decides to do next in football.”
Hassocks will make a further announcement in due course with regards to their managerial setup for the 2021-22 season.
