Rangy Wilkes marked his century with opening goal against Eastbourne United
Tall striker Jamie Wilkes has joined the Hassocks 100 Club after passing a century of appearances in the Robins’ 3-1 win over Eastbourne United.
And the rangy Wilkes marked the occasion in style by opening the scoring after only five minutes with a finish befitting the absolute fox in the box that he is.
Josh Mundy sent in a free kick and when United were unable to convincingly clear, Wilkes reacted quickest to smash into the roof of the net from a matter of yards.
It was his 15th goal in Hassocks colours with the tall striker’s 100 appearances coming between two spells spread over three-and-a-bit seasons.
Wilkes joined the Robins in the summer of 2020 having impressed in Southern Combination Division Two with St Francis Rangers and the Mid Sussex Premier at hometown club Lindfield.
He made four first team appearances from the bench in 2020-21 and played seven times for the Under 23s before the campaign was brought to an early end by Covid-19.
Wilkes spent the 2021-22 season with AFC Uckfield Town, becoming a firm fan favourite with whoever ran the Oakmen Twitter account at the time.
He scored twice in 34 appearances for Town before James Westlake lured him back to the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground in the summer of 2022.
After waiting patiently for a starting opportunity, Wilkes notched his first Hassocks goal in an August Bank Holiday Monday hammering of Roffey.
There has been no looking back since then. He ended 2022-23 with four goals from 36 appearances, before going onto notch eight times in 46 outings in 2023-24.
That was enough to see Wilkes named joint Manager’s Player of the Season by Westlake, alongside Matt Gunn. Wilkes also picked up two Player of the Month awards across the campaign.
His strike against United made it three in 13 for the current season and he has played a leading role in the Robins flying start.
Wilkes has already surpassed the achievements of father-in-law Steve Spies in a Hassocks shirt; no mean feat seeing as Spies once scored two own goals, gave away a penalty and got sent off all in the same game playing for Hassocks IIIs at Wisdom Sports in 2007.
Here is to the next 100 games for the Robins tall striker.
