Joint Player’s Player of the Season staying will delight the Maurice Boxall Stand regulars
The Maurice Boxall Stand regulars will be happy with this news – Jack Troak is staying with Hassocks for a fifth season in 2023-24.
Troak has 122 games and 31 goals for the Robins to his name. He never gives less than 100 percent up and down the left and that has made him a firm fan favourite. Toak even turned up to the club’s AGM last season, which is unheard of for a player.
Such is his popularity that his kit has already been sponsored for the coming campaign, long-standing supporter Ken Finn getting in as early as possible.
Troak was signed for Hassocks by Mark Dalgleish in 2019 having previously played for Eastbourne United, Lewes and Ringmer.
He was one of the few bright lights in the 2019-20 season, spending most of the campaign at left back and contributing five goals in 32 appearances before lockdown brought the campaign to an early conclusion in March.
Dave John pushed Troak further forward for 2020-21. From this more advanced role on the wing, he finished second top scorer behind Charlie Pitcher with eight goals from 21 matches in another season shortened by Covid.
Troak missed most of the first half of the 2021-22 season with injury. This spell on the side lines highlighted just how important Troak had become to Hassocks as without him, the Robins found themselves in deep relegation trouble.
His return in November saw him handed the captain’s armband and led to the Robins pulling away from trouble, eventually finishing nine points clear of the bottom two and reaching the semi finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
Troak scored both goals as Hassocks defeated Crawley Down Gatwick in the third round and followed up with another brace in the 2-0 win at Seaford Town in the quarter finals.
He ended the campaign with 10 goals from 23 appearances, join top scorer with Josh Short and voted into second in Supporters’ Player of the Season after Dan Turner.
James Westlake took full advantage of Troak’s versatility in 2022-23, using him as both a left back and left winger. Troak played more times than any other player, missing just one game.
He passed a century of appearances in December and ended the campaign as joint Player’s Player of the Season along with Phil Johnson.
