Ladies start life in a new division after winning the Sussex County League title last season
Having been crowned Sussex County Women’s League Premier Division champions last season, Hassocks Ladies find themselves taking on the London & South East Regional League Division One for 2023-24.
The Robins promotion moves them up to the sixth tier in the English women’s pyramid. More travelling, tougher opponents but a welcome challenge having won the title by six clear points from runners up Bognor Regis Town.
Hassocks picked up 11 victories, two draws and just a solitary defeat from their 14 matches in 2022-23. That record suggests they had it easy; but this was a far from straightforward campaign.
The weather wiped out large chunks of the season, leaving Hassocks going up to six weeks without playing.
Rain and freezing temperatures were not the only problems. Two teams dropped out with records expunged or points awarded and other games were declared null and void.
Despite the somewhat haphazard nature of the fixture list and never quite knowing what would happen next, the Robins kept putting win after win on their board.
They confirmed their place as the best side in the Sussex League by beating nearest rivals Bognor 5-2 to secure the championship in the penultimate game of the campaign.
Hassocks had to show fight and determination to recover from 2-1 down. Emily Spooner hit a hat-trick along with goals from Mia Pordage and Jemma Lindfield.
Spooner proved quite the signing after joining from Burgess Hill Town in February, scoring four times in three appearances, contributing two assists and being Player of the Match in the win over Bognor.
Goals were in plentiful supply. Katherine Chappell finished as the league’s top scorer with 22 from just 11 matches.
Jess Craig was runner up in the golden boot stakes with 12 and Kirstin Mair contributed a highly important seven.
Hassocks are expecting a much more organised campaign this time around in the London & South East Regional League.
They will face 11 opponents, six of whom are from Sussex: Bexhill United, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne United, Hastings United, Montpelier Villa, Newhaven and Steyning Town.
Steyning will provide the shortest journey of the season. The five other clubs are Bromley, Dartford Reserves, Herne Bay and Welling United.
Fixtures through to the end of October have been published. The Robins will kick off their season away at Bromley on Sunday 20th August in a 3pm kick off on the 3G pitch at Hayes Lane used by the Ravens’ men in the National League.
Hassocks host their first game at the Beacon on Sunday 10th September against Welling, kick off at 2pm. All home matches take place at 2pm on Sunday afternoons and admission is free, so please do come along and support the Robins if you can this season.
