The pre-season fixtures are coming thick and fast now for Hassocks as 48 hours after hosting Burgess Hill Town in the Ann John Memorial Trophy, the Robins welcome Haywards Heath Town to the Beacon.
Shaun Saunders brings his Isthmian League South East side on the short journey south on Thursday 25th July with kick off at 7.45pm.
Heath had an excellent first ever campaign at Isthmian level last season. They reached the promotion play offs before falling to eventual winners Horsham in the semi finals.
They also reached the last four of the Sussex Senior Cup and the final of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup, where they went down to Hassocks’ fellow Southern Combination League Premier Division club Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Heath’s route to the Culver Road final included a 3-0 win over the Robins in the quarter finals just before Christmas – the last time the two sides met.
Saunders named a strong line up but a disciplined Hassocks performance kept the visitors frustrated for the majority of the game until a three goal blitz in the last 20 minutes sent Heath through.
Byron Napper, Melford Simpson and Max Miller were the scorers as Heath continued their recent domination of the fixture. Their record now reads five wins from the past five games with 18 scored and two conceded, not including a 3-1 friendly success last pre-season.
There could be plenty of familiar faces on show for fans of both clubs given the number of players who have moved between the Beacon and Hanbury Park over the last five years or so.
Heath captain Nathan Cooper came through the youth ranks with Hassocks while The Wizard Jamie Weston played over 100 times for the Robins between 2010 and 2013.
Saunders’ assistant manager Roy Staughton is also a man with strong Hassocks connections having managed the Robins’ reserves to their historic treble of Reserve Premier title, Reserve Section Cup and Mid Sussex Senior Cup in the 2012-13 campaign.
For Hassocks, Phil Johnson, Will Broomfield and Jamie Hillwood have all enjoyed brief spells with Heath.
Entrance for the game is priced at £5 adults and £2 concessions and kick off is at 7.45pm.
The bar will be open for spectators to enjoy a beer in the sunshine. Please note that roadworks are being carried out on Stonepound Crossroads, so allow extra time for your journey if coming from the north.
