Fan favourite stays at Hassocks for 2024-25
Hassocks fan favourite Jack Troak has signed for a sixth season with the Robins ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
The versatile Troak has made 142 appearances for Hassocks, scoring 35 goals. He has turned out at left back and left wing before being asked to play up front in the second half of last season following Liam Benson’s departure to Haywards Heath Town.
Having missed most of the opening five months of the campaign with a shoulder injury, Troak subsequently helped the Robins to a record-breaking Southern Combination Premier Division points haul and playoff place.
Troak joined Hassocks in the summer of 2019 having previously played for Lewes, Eastbourne United and Ringmer.
He was one of the few bright lights in a disappointing 2019-20 season, scoring five times in 32 outings from left back as the Robins struggled until the campaign was brought to an early close by Covid-19.
Troak was pushed further forward for 2020-21. From his 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.
Injury ruled Troak out for the first half of 2021-22, a spell on the side lines which highlighted just how important he had become to Hassocks.
Without Troak, the Robins were in deep relegation trouble. His return in November saw him handed the captain’s armband as Hassocks pulled away from the drop zone, finishing nine points clear of the bottom two and reaching the semi finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
Despite missing four months of action, Troak finished joint top scorer with Josh Short on 10 goals and was voted into second in Supporters’ Player of the Season after Dan Turner.
Troak made more appearances than any other player under James Westlake in 2022-23, missing only one match.
He passed a century of Hassocks games and shared the Players’ Player of the Season award with Phil Johnson.
Four goals in 20 matches followed last season, including a rare right footed volley in the 5-1 win over Newhaven on the final day as Hassocks secured their playoff spot.
