AFC Varndeanians winger becomes the first new signing of the summer
Hassocks have completed their first new signing of the summer, securing the services of winger Kyle Woolven from AFC Varndeanians.
Woolven will be a familiar name to Robins fans having done his fair share of tormenting of Hassocks over the past seven or so years since coming through the ranks at Newhaven.
A member of the Dockers’ incredibly successful Under 18s side in 2014-15, Woolven scored six goals and assisted 17 as Newhaven went the season unbeaten to win the Southern Combination League Under 18 East Division title by 12 points from AFC Uckfield Town.
Once established in the senior setup at the Trafalgar Ground, Woolven’s form earned him a move to Isthmian League side East Grinstead Town at the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
Woolven made 13 appearances for the Wasps before joining Lancing in November 2019, where he was a teammate of current Hassocks favourite Alex Bygraves.
Two goals in 16 appearances followed for a Lancers side who topped the Southern Combination Premier Division table and looked destined for promotion before Covid-19 led the season to be declared null and void in March.
The summer of 2020 saw Woolven join another Isthmian League outfit in Three Bridges. He then returned to Newhaven midway through the 2020-21 campaign, playing 16 times and scoring twice for the Dockers before another lockdown.
Woolven remained with Newhaven for the start of the 2021-22 season, playing 16 times before switching to AFC Varndeanians. From the moment he arrived at Withdean Stadium, he has been one of the first names on the team sheet when available.
22 appearances in the second half of 2021-22 yielded six goals. Woolven then played 32 times for Varndeanians in the last campaign, contributing two goals and four assists.
Welcome to the Beacon, Kyle. It will be nice to have you scoring and assisting for the Robins rather than against.
