First round of the competition sees Hassocks host AFC Varndeanians
Hassocks will enter the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup at the first round stage this weekend when hosting AFC Varndeanians at the Beacon.
The game has been hastily arranged with the Sussex FA wanting to avoid the problems caused by the competition last season.
In 2022-23, the second round was played in October but the third round not organised until the end of March.
That left a mad rush to completion, leading several clubs to withdraw as the quarters, semis and final were all crammed into a couple of weeks in May after the Southern Combination League campaign had finished.
Hassocks went all the way to the last eight, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Peacehaven & Telscombe.
That maintained the Robins’ good record in the RUR Cup since it returned after a two year hiatus caused by Covid-19.
In 2021-22, Hassocks reached the semi finals. The biggest crowd seen at the Beacon for many years turned out to see the Robins go down to a battling 2-0 defeat against all-conquering FA Vase runners up Littlehampton Town.
AFC Varndeanians last season
2022-23 represented a much less dramatic campaign that Varndeanians enjoyed (or endured) on their return to the Premier Division after a 60 year absence the previous season.
The Vs did not win a game in any competition until December, finding themselves someway adrift at the bottom of the table.
Ryan Gayler’s return as manager sparked a huge improvement. Varndeanians ended up overhauling both East Preston and Loxwood to clamber out of the bottom two by the end of the season, completing a great escape from relegation.
Gayler stood down in October 2022 with his replacement Justin Jones consolidating Vs as a Premier Division club.
They spent most of last season safely tucked into mid table before a bad run of form saw them drop to an eventual finishing position of 17th.
That could be excused, however, as Varndeanians had little to play for from the start of March onwards, being miles clear of relegation but too far off 10th to push for a top half placing.
Hassocks v AFC Varndeanians head-to-head
2021-22 was the first time the clubs met in a competitive game at senior football. There have since been five clashes, returning three Robins victories and two for Vs.
Hassocks won both Premier Division encounters last season, 2-0 at the Beacon and 3-0 at Withdean Stadium. Those six points came after Vs had been victorious in the Peter Bentley League Cup in September.
The previous campaign saw one win apiece, Varndeanians by a solitary goal when hosting in February. The Robins won the October clash 4-1 in Mid Sussex thanks to a first senior hat-trick from Alfie Loversidge.
Last time Hassocks played AFC Varndeanians
Hassocks made it four wins and five clean sheets in a row with a 3-0 success from their short hop over Clayton Hill in March.
The outstanding Leon Turner opened the scoring before two goals from Phil Johnson rounded off a comfortable success and moved That Man onto 99 for the Robins in the process.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3:00pm 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.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink and the Robins Bar 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 Beacon.
Instead, follow Keymer Road towards Hurstpierpoint, turn left at Stonepound crossroads and walk down London Road towards the ground.
