Hassocks play their second game of pre-season this Saturday with Southern Combination League champions Haywards Heath Town visiting the Beacon.
Shaun Saunders side are preparing for their first ever season in the Bostik League after winning promotion and the Southern Combination title last season.
Blues took six points off Hassocks on their way to claiming the championship, defeating the Robins 4-1 at the Beacon on Boxing Day and triumphing 5-0 in the return match at Hanbury Park on Easter Monday.
Heath also won both encounters between the two in the 2016-17. Those were the first competitive meetings since 1992-93 when Hassocks last tasted victory in the fixture, a 2-0 win in the Robins first season at the Beacon.
Heath are slightly further along in their pre-season plans than Hassocks having played twice already. Goals from Melford Simpson and Lewis Finney secured an eye catching 2-1 victory at Whitehawk on Tuesday night.
That followed up on last Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southern Counties East side Crowborough Athletic. New signing Dan Perry marked his first appearance for Heath with the opener with Callum Saunders scoring the second from the spot.
Hassocks have only one game under their belt so far, Thursday night’s 4-0 defeat to Burgess Hill Town in the Ann John Memorial Trophy.
Saunders could bring several familiar faces in his squad to the Beacon. Former Hassocks favourite Jamie Weston has remained at Heath for a first crack at Bostik League football. The Blues also include Nathan Cooper among their number, who left the Beacon in 2014 for Hanbury Park.
Among Saunders’ coaching team is Roy Staughton who managed Hassocks Reserves to an historic treble in the 2012-13 season. Staughton then assisted Mickey Jewell with the Robins first team the following season before moving to Hanbury.
The links don’t stop there – Hassocks have two former Heath players among their ranks. Spencer Slaughter and Phil Johnson both had brief spells with the Blues at different points in the 2005-06 season.
Kick off is 3pm with entry priced at £5 adults and £2 concessions
