Troak commits to the Robins for the 2022-23 season
Whilst a lot of attention has been given to new signings in what has already been a very busy summer, new Hassocks head coach James Westlake has also been working hard to keep last season’s squad at the Beacon.
Top scorer and captain Jack Troak is first to commit, taking him into a fourth season as a Hassocks player. The popular forward joined from Eastbourne United in the summer of 2019, having previously played for Lewes and Ringmer.
Troak was one of the few bright lights for the Robins in the 2019-20 campaign. He scored five times from 32 appearances primarily at left back prior to the season being curtailed due to lockdown when Hassocks sat in the relegation zone.
Dave John deployed Troak in a more advanced position in 2020-21 to good effect. He plundered eight goals in 21 games to finish another shortened campaign as second top scorer behind Charlie Pitcher.
Troak was appointed club captain by Brad Sweetman last summer, although he had to wait several months to wear the armband on the pitch due to injury.
Despite missing most of the opening four months of the season with a hernia problem, Troak still managed to lead the scoring charts with 10 goals from 24 appearances.
Prior to his return in mid-November, Hassocks had looked deep in relegation trouble. That the Robins enjoyed enough of an upturn to finish nine points clear of the bottom two and reach the semi finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup with him back in the side was no coincidence.
Troak is a firm fan favourite not just for his scoring record but his work rate and attitude. Those attributes saw him voted into second place for Supporters’ Player of the Season behind Dan Turner.
Captain Jack’s overall Hassocks career record now stands at 23 goals from 77 matches. That leaves him 24th in the Robins’ senior football all-time scorers list.
The Beacon faithful will be very much looking forward to seeing Troak add to those numbers in 2022-23.
