It’s an early start at the Beacon on Boxing Day as Hassocks host Lancing in an 11am kick off in the Southern Combination League Premier Division.
With Haywards Heath Town now in the Bostik League, it falls to the Lancers to provide the opposition for this season’s festive derby game.
On the surface, that might seem like a strange choice given that both clubs have other sides in the division that are geographically closer.
But given the familiarity that has existed between the two teams over the past eight years or so, there has been a bit of an edge to meetings between the Robins and the Lancers since their promotion to the Premier Division in 2011.
Lancing are probably the one club outside of Mid Sussex duo Haywards Heath and St Francis Rangers who Hassocks have shared the most players with down the years.
Lining up in red today against their former side could be Josh Green, Bradley Tighe, Liam Benson and Alex Spinks while in opposition comes former Hassocks reserve team player Alex Bygraves.
A whole host of other big names such as Joel Harding, Bradley Bant, Jonno Melia, Lewis Westlake, Jack Rowe-Hurst and Charlie Pitcher have also represented both.
The latter of those two began the season at Culver Road but have since moved on, which is the story of their season so far really.
In the summer, the Lancers reappointed Ash Bailey as manager following Ringmer folding and his summer recruitment was impressive with a number of high-class signings including the ex-Robins contingent and free scoring Jack Langford all arriving.
The Lancers began the campaign well and embarked on an impressive run in the FA Cup, knocking out Haywards Heath Town on their way to the second qualifying round.
By that time though, Bailey had stepped down and new boss Mark Pulling was unable to stop several of the new signings leaving.
Pulling has done well to steady the ship since September however and Lancing sit in a comfortable mid table spot at the time of writing with seven wins, three draws and nine defeats to their name and their eyes fixed firmly up the table given the squad has more than enough quality to avoid the scrap at the bottom.
Their recent record against the Robins should give them confidence coming into this one. Only once in the past nine meetings have Hassocks tasted victory in the fixture, an incredible game towards the end of the 2016-17 season at the Beacon in which the hosts eventually triumphed 5-3 despite having to hand a debut to 16-year-old goalkeeper Ben John just 30 minutes before kick off after James Broadbent got injured in the warm up.
That success aside, it has been Lancing who have dominated proceedings with six wins from the past 10 meetings including a league double last season when they won 3-1 at Culver Road and then hammered the Robins 4-0 at the Beacon.
Kick off is at 11am and the T Bar will be serving hot food and drinks and the Robins Bar will be open after the game for anybody wanting a festive beer.
Entrance is priced at £6 adults and £3 concessions with under 16s going free and any Brighton supporters who wish to catch some non-league football before the Albion take on Arsenal at the Amex at 5.30pm can watch for half price on production of their match ticket.
