Luke Marshall has torn up the record books by becoming the youngest ever winner of a Hassocks Player of the Month Award.
The 16-year-old defender saw off the challenges of Harvey Enticknap, Charlie Pugh and Dan Stokes to be voted as November’s best performer, writing himself a little bit of Hassocks history.
Jake Lindsey was the last player under the age of 18 to win the accolade, his run of goal scoring form in February 2018 being the precursor to a successful 18 months as a first team regular before his summer departure to Horsham YMCA.
Marshall is a year younger than Lindsey was when he burst onto the scene, not that you can tell following a run of excellent games across the back line.
He started three of the month’s five games, playing in defeats against AFC Uckfield Town, Newhaven and Peacehaven & Telscombe.
It was those games with the two ‘havens in which Marshall made his most telling contributions, being voted Man-of-the-Match in the defeat against Newhaven before playing a crucial role in a memorable rear-guard performance as the title chasing Tye squeaked away from the Beacon with a 1-0 win.
Marshall has also played his part for the Under 23s and Under 18s, who enjoyed mixed Novembers. The Under 23s went through the month with a 100% record with Marshall involved in their biggest win of the season, coming off the bench to pick up further experience in the 6-1 win at home to Lancing.
The Under 18s meanwhile only had one fixture and it was a difficult one at that as they went down 3-0 against Burgess Hill Town in the Sussex Dennis Probee Youth Cup.
Marshall equipped himself well though against a Hillians side who look well placed to go one better than their runners up finish in the competition last season.
Enticknap was last month’s winner but he had to settle for second place this time around, finishing just six percent behind Marshall in the voting.
The midfielder has formed an improving partnership with Alex Spinks over the past few weeks with their honest work against Peacehaven helping to frustrate the Tye.
Nothing could separate Pugh and Stokes in third, who both earned 12.8% of the vote to share third place. Their breakings into the top three were impressive for different reasons.
Stokes has made it despite not really having a settle position this month having been used as a full back, a holding midfielder and even as a number 10.
The vote recognises his versatility however and it’s fair to say this has been his best month in a Hassocks shirt so far this season.
As for Pugh, it’s been his first month in a Hassocks shirt having only made his debut in the defeat away at Crawley Down Gatwick.
A string of fine performances between the posts so far though suggest that Mark Dalgleish has made quite the signing.
