Robins welcome Salts for the first time since 2014
The first chance to watch new-look Hassocks under head coach James Westlake takes place at the Beacon this Saturday when the Robins host Epsom & Ewell in their opening pre-season friendly fixture.
To say it has been a busy summer would be a slight understatement. Westlake has announced no less than 10 new signings since his appointment at the beginning of May, consisting of an intriguing mix of returning favourites and fresh faces.
The excitement amongst Hassocks fans over seeing the likes of Pat Harding, Phil Johnson and Harvey Blake back at the Beacon has been palpable.
So too the captures of experienced non league performers like Mike Williamson and Alex Bygraves, who have been thorns in the Robins’ sides in years gone by but will now sport a red shirt.
It has been all change at Epsom as well. Former Horley Town manager Anthony Jupp has taken over following his departure from The New Defence after nearly 20 years with the Clarets as a player, manager and fulfilling various other roles.
A number of Horley players have followed Jupp to Epsom as the Salts look to improve on last season’s sixth place finish in Division One, which secured them a playoff spot.
Unfortunately, they were eliminated by Midhurst & Easebourne in the semi finals. The Stags went onto win promotion to the Premier Division, as well as beating Epsom in the Division One Cup final.
A lofty position in the table and finishing runners up in the cup represented a good first season in the Southern Combination League for Epsom, following a sideways move from the Combined Counties instigated by the FA last summer.
That means meetings between Hassocks and the Salts have been rare. The last time the clubs faced each other in a competitive game came in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup in the 2014-15 season.
It was a good afternoon for Epsom as they ran out 3-1 against a Robins side who were not really at the races. Dale Marvell scored twice for the Salts alongside Sam Robinson. Anthony Hibbert got the Hassocks consolation with the penultimate of his 124 goals for the club.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and admission is by pay what you can afford donation. Both the Robins Bar and the T Bar wil be open serving alcohol and hot food. Dogs are welcome.
Unfortunately, no matchday programmes will be available until the competitive action gets underway at the end of July.
