Robins face trips to last season’s Premier Division second and third in October
How good this season might end up being for Hassocks will become clear in October as the Robins face some stern tests in four different competitions.
The month begins with a trip to last year’s Southern Combination League runners up Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday 7th October.
Down did the double over Hassocks last season on their way to securing a playoff spot, winning 1-0 at the Haven and by the same scoreline at the Beacon.
Tuesday 10th will see the Robins play their first home game in nearly four weeks. Horsham YMCA are the visitors in a 7:45pm kick off.
That is followed by another Premier Division fixture at the Beacon on Saturday 14th against AFC Uckfield Town.
Hassocks have already faced Uckfield this season, winning 2-1 at the Oaks in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup last month. Alex Bygraves and Alfie Loversidge provided the goals.
Speaking of the Sussex Senior Cup, the Robins travel to Isthmian League outfit East Grinstead Town in the second round of the competition on Tuesday 17th at 7:30pm.
It will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since the Wasps won promotion out of the Southern Combination League in the 2013-14 season.
Hassocks drew 1-1 at East Court thanks to a Mark Price goal in that campaign. The other clash ended 2-2 at the Beacon, Phil Johnson scoring twice in injury time to rescue an unlikely point for the Robins.
Saturday 21st will see Hassocks play in the first round proper of the FA Vase for the first time in nine years.
The Robins make the trip to Combined Counties Premier North outfit Bedfont Sports, whose ground is situated at the end of Heathrow’s south runway. One for groundhoppers and plane spotters alike.
Hassocks end October away at Newhaven on Saturday 28th. The Robins have only ever won once at the Trafalgar Ground, a shock 1-0 victory in February 2019 featuring a Spencer Slaughter goal and a George Brown red card.
The Ladies play four times through October as they look to secure their first win since promotion to the London & South East Regional League Division One South.
Herne Bay are the visitors to the Beacon on Sunday 8th. The Robins then face a quick-fire double against Dartford Reserves, travelling to Princes Park Stadium on Sunday 15th before hosting the reverse fixture a week later.
Just like the men’s first team, October finishes with a trip to Newhaven on Sunday 29th. All those fixtures kick off at 2pm, except for the Dartford away game which is a 3pm start.
The Under 23s begin their month with a Mid Sussex Derby at St Francis Rangers on Thursday 5th. Kick off at Colwell Road is 7:30pm.
Hassocks will then hope to extract revenge on Lingfield for the 6-1 defeat they suffered at the New Defence earlier in the campaign. The Lingers visit the Beacon on Thursday 12th.
Attention then switches to the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup and a long trip east to face Bexhill United at the Polegrove. That one is on Thursday 19th at 7:30pm.
Thursday 26th then sees the Robins head to Oakwood, whom they edged a 12-goal thriller against 7-5 at the Beacon towards the end of September.
The Under 18s kick off their October at Saltdean United on Sunday 8th before hosting AFC Varndeanians on Sunday 15th.
Hassocks then go to Roffey in the League Cup on Sunday 22nd with the month rounded off back in Central Division action against Montpelier Villa at the Beacon on Sunday 29th.
The Veterans will play one game in October. They head to Maresfield Village on Sunday 15th in Mid Sussex Veterans East Division action with a 2pm start.
