Hassocks will meet Alford for the first time ever this weekend as the Robins travel to the Southern Combination League Premier Division’s newest club.
As recently as the 2014-15 season, the Fold were plying their trade in the West Sussex League. Three promotions in the subsequent four seasons have taken them from Division Two to top flight in what has been a whirlwind last few years for the Surrey-based club.
Last season was their debut in senior football and they took to it like a duck to water, breezing through Division One at the first time of asking.
They ended the campaign as champions, showing remarkable consistency over the course of the year to beat Steyning Town to the title.
There were big strides forward taken off the pitch as well. Their Alford Recreation Ground on Dunsfold Road in the village had a new stand and LED floodlights installed as well as perimeter pathways and fencing.
Work that should have taken around two years to complete was done in around six months, highlighting the extraordinary dedication of those behind the scenes at Alford to achieving their dream of Premier Division football.
They’ve made a good impression so far, sitting ninth in the table with five wins, three draws and four defeats from 12 games. Much of that is down to their home form and they are yet to lose a league game at Alford Rec as opposition teams find the long trip north a challenging one.
Kelvin Lucas leads the Alford scoring charts having plundered 12 goals in 13 games and given the trouble that Hassocks have had keeping them out at the wrong end recently, he may be expecting a profitable afternoon.
Alford also have their own Jacquesy in Clyde Jacques, but it’s doubtful as he is as enigmatic as our very own Dan who is one of the Robins’ long-term absentees as he awaits news on what can be done about a troublesome hernia.
Kick off at Alford Recreation Ground is at 3pm.
