Pagham make their second visit of the season to the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground
The Robins will take to the field for the first time as Southern Combination League champions to face a Pagham side who have already won when visiting the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground this season.
That previous meeting came in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup back in September. The Lions washed Hassocks out of the competition in monsoon weather via a Carl Brown brace in a 2-0 victory.
Fast forward seven months and the Robins have wrapped up the title with five games to spare. Despite this, head coach James Westlake told the Mid Sussex Times earlier in the week that there would be no let up.
“We want to finish as consistently as we have been up to this point and we also have the Peter Bentley League Cup final to play in May,” said Westlake. All to play for against Pagham then.
Pagham this season
This is Pagham’s second season back in the Southern Combination after a difficult one-year spell in the Wessex League for 2022-23.
The Lions are continuing to rebuild following the issues caused by the FA forcing that sideways move upon them and currently sit in a respectable 13th position.
Recent form has been particularly impressive with wins over Roffey, Eastbourne United and draws against Haywards Heath and Peacehaven.
Investments are also being made off the pitch at Nyetimber Lane with a total refurbishment of the clubhouse bar.
Hassocks v Pagham head-to-head
The Lions have been one of Hassocks’ most frequent opponents through the Robins’ 42 years as a Southern Combination club.
62 games have taken place. Pagham have won 29 of those, Hassocks sit on 24 victories with only nine matches ending level.
The 2010s were a particular graveyard for the Robins in the fixture, losing 12 times out of 16 between 2012 and 2019.
Last time Hassocks played Pagham
Storm Bert was battering Sussex when Hassocks made the trip to Nyetimber Lane in November with howling wind and driving rain across the island.
The conditions made for a poor game of football – not that any of the travelling Robins support minded as the visitors came away with a 3-0 victory.
Big Alex Fair was at his mercurial best as he scored twice and forced Lions captain Darryl Woolers into an unfortunate own goal.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3pm and admission is £8 adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles and in the Clubhouse.
Advance tickets can be purchased online from the Hassocks ticketing website. These are downloaded onto a phone and will speed up entry at the turnstiles.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink and Jodie’s Food Wagon will also be operational. The Dave John Lounge has a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries along with other alcohol. Dogs are welcome and a printed programme will be on sale for £1.
If using Google Maps to walk from Hassocks Station or the village, please do not take the footpath into Butcher’s Wood. There is no crossing point over the railway line or way of entering the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground.
Instead, follow Keymer Road towards Hurstpierpoint, turn left at Stonepound crossroads and walk down London Road towards the ground.
The match is being sponsored by We Want Your Car Sussex. Thank you to Sean and the team for their support.
