Four matches on the road and three at the Beacon in pre-season 2024
Hassocks will play seven pre-season friendly matches across July ahead of the 2024-25 Southern Combination Premier Division campaign.
As always, the highlight will be the Ann John Trophy against Burgess Hill Town taking place this year on Saturday 20th July, kick off at 3pm.
It will be the 11th time that Robins and Hillians have faced off in support of St Peter & St James Hospice – and the first on a Saturday for many seasons.
Hassocks will be hoping to stop Hill taking home the trophy for the seventh consecutive campaign. Last year saw goals from Rob O’Toole, Reggie Ward and Lewis Finney secure a comfortable 3-0 success for the visitors.
More importantly, a record-breaking £1600 was raised for the Hospice. Entry this year is once again by donation with everything going to St Peter & St James’ in memory of Ann.
Hassocks will face two other Isthmian League sides in pre-season. The Robins’ first friendly takes them to Lancing on Tuesday 2nd July for a 7:45pm kick off at Culver Road.
The 2023-24 campaign saw the Lancers secure their highest ever finish of sixth in the Isthmian South East Division.
Hassocks last faced Lancing in the 2020-21 Southern Combination Premier season. Goals from Charlie Pitcher, Raging Joe Bull and Jack Troak gave the Robins a superb 3-2 win against an outfit who were promoted to step four at the end of the campaign.
The Robins next travel to Whitehawk on Saturday 6th July for their toughest test of pre-season. The Hawks finished ninth in the Isthmian Premier Division last season, although it will be a different-looking side who Hassocks face on this occasion under new boss Ross McNeilly.
Whitehawk visited the Beacon in pre-season a year ago, running out 2-0 winners through second half goals from Luke Robinson and Dom Johnson-Fisher. Kick off is 3pm at the Enclosed Ground.
Tuesday 9th July sees the Robins head to Southern Combination Division One outfit Alfold for a 7:45pm kick off. Fold also have a new manager with former Brighton forward Simon Funnell now in charge at the Recreation Ground.
The Robins made most recently faced Alfold in February 2023, winning 2-0 at the Beacon thanks to an own goal and a Josh Bradley effort.
Hassocks then face another Division One outfit on Saturday 13th July, taking on Forest Row in a 1pm start at Worth School.
The Robins have played Frow only once before at first team level. Phil Johnson scored four first half goals in a 5-0 Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup in the 2022-23 season. Danny Reid was the other Hassocks goal-getter.
Montpelier Villa provide the first opposition at the Beacon on Tuesday 16th July. Then comes the Ann John Trophy before old friends Arundel visit Mid Sussex on Tuesday 23rd for the final game of pre-season.
The Southern Combination League campaign gets underway on Saturday 27th July with the full fixture list expected to be released within the next couple of weeks.
