Robins enjoyed their highest average attendance since records began
Hassocks enjoyed a 26 percent rise in attendances at the Beacon during the 2022-23, resulting in the Robins posting their highest average crowd since records began in the 2004-05 season.
The increase is based on the 2021-22 campaign when Hassocks averaged 130. That in itself was a 17 percent rise on 2018-19 when the Southern Combination League Premier Division had last been played to a finish before two Covid-19 interrupted campaigns.
Hassocks played plenty of entertaining, free flowing football through the season just finished with James Westlake leading to the Robins to their first top 10 finish in nine years.
Two games attracted crowds in excess of 300, the first time such a number had been reached for a league game since Burgess Hill Town were in the Southern Combination League and the Mid Sussex Derby was one of the must-see matches in Sussex non league football.
The visit of Steyning Town on Boxing Day pulled in 305. That high was then topped by the 310 who attended the Robins game against Newhaven.
A collection held that afternoon for the Hassocks Community Food Bank resulted in more than 300 donations in response to the Robins offering half-price entry to anyone who came armed with a tin.
Three further matches exceeded the 200 mark and all resulted in big wins with Hassocks beating Roffey 7-0, Saltdean United 5-1 and Eastbourne Town 4-1. There were no attendances below three figures, again for the first time since records began.
The Robins’ 26 percent rise was the third biggest in the Premier Division after Newhaven and Lingfield. The Dockers saw their crowds jump by a staggering 98 percent as they topped the average attendance table.
Hassocks found themselves sixth. Also ahead of the Robins were Peacehaven & Telscombe, Crowborough Athletic, Eastbourne Town and Bexhill United.
Attendances on the whole were up across the entire Premier Division. 13 of the 20 clubs reported a rise, including Lingfield whose 36 percent eclipsed Hassocks and saw them climb away from the bottom position they occupied in 2021-22.
With two well-supported clubs in Haywards Heath Town and Shoreham coming into the Premier Division for next season after relegation from the Isthmian League and promotion from Division One respectively, crowds should increase again across the league.
Hassocks will hope to again play a part in that by continuing to grow their fanbase, attract even more people to the Beacon and post further record-breaking figures in 2023-24.
Thank you to everyone who attended a game at the Beacon last season for your fantastic support. We hope to see you back again when the new campaign gets underway in July.
