By Terry Spencer
Rye and district footballers have had a fair share of success this season, some achieving the pinnacle, others having hopes dashed on the brink. The outstanding teams have been EAST GULDEFORD and UNION. both divisional champions and cup winners. RYE ATHLETIC finished runners-up in Division II and Semi. finalists in two cup competitions whilst their 2nd team ended in the top half of Division V behind champions TRANCO. As the League’s newest club TRANCO led all season and also reached the semi-final of the lower division cup.
Despite a patchy year RYE UNITED came near to a major final losing the replayed semifinal to the eventual winners. The UNITED’s 2nd and 3rd teams have struggled, and a rebuilding programme is expected.
IDEN, 5th in the Premier Division, also lost a replayed semi-final in the supplementary cup, and their 2nd XI did less well, suffering constantly from team changes.
The story of iiear misses continues with THE CROWN who were also semi-finalists in the Observer cup and could still be runners-up in Division III.
Although ICKLESHAM CASUALS, carrying a number of younger players, haven’t any medals to show for their season’s efforts they were runners-up in the sporting team award and to their credit, and they have provided football for three teams throughout.
PEASMARSH have chased the Division II leaders all season and the quality of their game has improved steadily. The club’s 2nd XI managed to keep going despite team problems and heavy defeats.
The youth players have also set the pace in 1973, THE RYE BOYS’ CLUB teams both lost in cup finals, but there was some consolation for the U. 15 XI when they won the league by beating SANDHURST 5—2.
As Eastern league champions the THOMAS PEACOCKE U. 15 XI qualified to play the champions of the other county areas and reached the final to lose narrowly to TIDEWAY NEWHAVEN.
One might wonder what Bobby Charlton and Jim Hollands have in common. Both retired from playing recently, are about the same age, and leave behind them in their respective spheres a fine example of sportsmanship and fair play.
Rye Athletic beat Icklesham 5—1 Alan Fuggle, Peter Barnett, Jim Hollands, Kevin Miller, Terry Spencer, Alan Cato, Fred Clark, Terry Capps , Julian Glenn, David Gasson, Dave Stoodley.
“Rye’s Own” June 1973
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