Defender Andy passes 100 appearances for the Robins
The latest member of the Hassocks 100 Club is new captain Andy Whittingham, who passed a century of appearances for the Robins in the 2-1 defeat to Eastbourne Town.
Whittingham has achieved the landmark over two spells at the Beacon, the first of which began in 2010 when he became one of Mickey Jewell’s first signings as Hassocks manager.
The then-19-year-old defender followed Mark Dalgleish from the Shooting Field, after Dalgleish stood down as Barrowman manager to become Jewell’s number two.
Despite being one of the youngest players at Hassocks, Whittingham soon established himself as first choice left back. He took to top flight football like a duck to water, making 39 starts and being used once from the bench as the Robins equalled their highest-ever finish of seventh in the Southern Combination League Premier Division.
The attacking threat offered by Whittingham on the left and fellow new arrival Rob South on the right was a big part of that success, with both full backs equally adept at defending.
Whittingham was not afraid to put the boot in either, one memorable moment within 10 games of his debut seeing him slightly mistime a tackle to kung-fu kick a Blackfield & Langney player in the chest during a 3-2 FA Vase defeat.
Chris Maynard’s conversion to a left back upon his return from a broken leg meant that Whittingham found first team opportunities limited in 2011-12 and he departed for Seaford Town after adding 11 more appearances to his Hassocks total.
As well as Seaford, Whittingham went onto represent Hailsham Town and AFC Uckfield Town before Dalgleish brought him back to the Beacon in December 2018, seven years after his departure.
Whittingham was soon back into the swing of things, picking up a yellow card within 25 minutes of his second debut as Hassocks lost at Eastbourne Town.
He followed that up with a another booking in his first game in front of a Hassocks home crowd as Haywards Heath Town eliminated the Robins from the Sussex RUR Charity Cup at the quarter final stage.
Both of those cards were met with great delight from Maynard, Ashley Marsh and other players who turned out alongside Whittingham in his first spell as they reminisced about his aforementioned judo exploits down in Hampshire.
Whittingham has since gone onto play 50 times so far since returning to Hassocks and following Bradley Bant’s departure to AFC Varndeanians, Brad Sweetman has named him club captain for the 2021-22 season.
Congratulations Andy on passing the milestone and here is to another 100 games (and a couple more Karate Kid moments).
