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Following on from having had to apply for planning permission to install new floodlights, the Club has recently received further professional advice on the ongoing problem at the Pilot Field. It had initially been hoped that new lights could be installed prior to the next inspection, which is due to take place in October, however this will not now be possible. The process of applying for planning permission, along with the grant application to the Football Foundation, and ordering and installing the lights themselves, will take too long, and not be completed by the October deadline. As well as this, the fundraising initiatives have, understandably, slowed considerably during the close season.
The latest advice that the Club received included the findings of a 'lux test', undertaken to ascertain whether or not the lights would likely pass October's inspection in their present condition. As expected, the lights did not pass this test, although guidance has been provided as to how the Club can sufficiently upgrade them to ensure that football at the Pilot Field can continue in the immediate future. This advice is now being considered, and there are a few options available, so the Club feels reasonably reassured that the problem can be overcome one way or another.
Providing the necessary work is successful, it is important not to then get complacent, as the basic problem of the age of the current floodlights will not go away. Planning permission will hopefully be granted in the fullness of time, and the fundraising effort really needs to continue in the meantime, as a grant of only 40% of the total cost will be available at best.
Fundraising initiatives in the pipeline include the Hastings Legends v Arsenal Ex-Pro/Celebrity match on July 26th. The game will be preceded by a challenge match between United's Supporters' Club XI and a side from Arsenal's own South East Supporters' Club.
A golf day has also been arranged for September in aid of the appeal. This will be held at Cooden Golf Club and will include coffee and bacon rolls, eighteen holes of golf, and a three course evening meal, along with entertainment provided by comedian Adjer Brown, an auction, and a raffle, for a total cost of £75 per person. Tickets for the evening only are also available for £30 per person.
If you would like to enter a team of four, or as an individual to make up a bespoke team on the day, please contact the Club on 01424 444635 or club@hastingsunitedfc.co.uk
United Chairman, Dave Walters, has issued the following statement today, after belatedly receiving some unwelcome news from Hastings Borough Council, with respect to the Club's decision to replace its ageing floodlights this year.
"It was concluded, upon receipt of professional advice at the beginning of this year, that the Club could no longer continue patching up its existing floodlight system, and would have to ‘bite the bullet’ and have new floodlights installed.
A formal announcement was made at the beginning of February, with the Club asking its supporters to assist with a concerted fundraising effort, whilst also confirming that a grant would be sought from the Football Foundation. The grant application process subsequently commenced, with the Club obtaining three independent quotes, as required. At this stage, the Club was also verbally informed that planning permission would not be required, as the existing floodlight system was simply being replaced by a new one.
The Club also received an email from a Hastings Borough Council (HBC) official, who advised that ‘As far as support for the Floodlight campaign is concerned, the Council is not in a position to provide this kind of support. As you know, we provide rate relief under discretionary powers, and as the pitch is not available to community schemes, it does not fit into any of our funding streams, which are primarily for community based activity. However, I hope that the campaign is successful, and that you are able to provide the new lights at the earliest opportunity. I recall an earlier exchange in which the Estates Manager made it clear that the Council would consider favourably any request for improvements to the ground’.
Whilst it was obviously disappointing to learn that HBC was not prepared to assist the Club financially in any way, the wording at least suggested that no obstacles would be put in the Club's way. On March 23rd, the Club wrote to the Council's Planning Department, requesting written confirmation that planning permission would not be required, following the previous verbal communication to that effect. By early May, no response had been forthcoming, so a further letter was sent.
This morning, May 6th, HBC confirmed that a letter had apparently been sent to the Club on April 27th, advising that planning permission was in fact required after all. The letter did not arrive at the Club, and upon further investigation, it transpired that, not only had it never been sent by HBC, but that the reply which they had intended to send in fact related to the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) situated at The Firs, a completely unrelated topic that had nothing remotely to do with Hastings United Football Club. When HBC were asked to explain this chain of events, the Club was told that it was an understandable error, as the MUGA is situated close by, and is ‘sports related’. HBC also advised that the reason for the delay in preparing their letter was that they were ‘short staffed’.
The result of all this is that the Club is now faced with having to apply for full planning permission, which could take as long as eight weeks, and probably longer, given HBC's self-confessed staffing problems. Only when planning permission has been granted, assuming it is of course, will the Football Foundation consider the Club's grant application, despite all other aspects having already been completed. Once underway, the application process could take a further month, after which the company that wins the bid for the business would be instructed, and an installation process of up to eight weeks would begin.
The Club must have its new lights in place by the time of its next ground inspection in October. Failing this, it would be necessary to consider patching up the existing floodlights yet again, which now looks like being the most sensible option, unless HBC fast-track the planning application. The task facing the Club was difficult enough, in terms of raising the necessary finance, but it is fair to say that it has now been made that much harder still."
The Club is pleased to announce that Paul Stuart will be running the Hastings Half Marathon to raise funds for United’s Floodlight Appeal.
Paul, aged 40, from St Leonards, is a Retail Manager for Spar in Kings Road. He is a keen runner, and this will be his nineteenth Hastings Half Marathon. He has supported Hastings United since the 1980s, and played in the same United Youth Team as Kevin Ball. He is of course keen to raise as much money as possible for the Floodlight Appeal.
Club Chairman Dave Walters said, "We are indebted to Paul for this generous gesture in helping to raise funds for this vital appeal, and would encourage anyone who has any interest in the Club to sponsor Paul."
Please contact club@hastingsunitedfc.co.uk, or Supporters' Club Chairman Pat McCrossan on 07596 729795 to make pledges.
Back on Wednesday 3 December, the final business lunch club of the year took place at Azur at Marina Pavilion, with presentations by Mina O’Brien from East Sussex County Council, Sean Dennis from 1066 Enterprise and main speaker Mark Collings from Amazon Events.
Launched in August of this year, the lunch club has quickly established itself on the Hastings business calendar, and has a wide range of speakers lined up for the New Year, including Hastings Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell on 4 February, Alan Grieve from Jerwood Gallery on 6 May, Councillor Jeremy Birch on 1 July and Sir Dexter Hutt on 7 October.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 7 January, when local singer songwriter Jonathan Martin will perform the song which recently reached the semi-final of a national songwriting competition, and Beaula Page will highlight the value of hypnotherapy to help overcome a variety of problems. The main speaker will be Shaine Gravett, who is manager of both Arrow FM in Hastings and Sovereign Radio in Eastbourne.
Meetings will be held at Azur on the first Wednesday in every month and further details are available from Dave Walters on 07970 165102.
The Club is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Charter Standard status by the Football Association.
Hastings United was originally formed in 1894 and currently plies its trade in the Ryman League Premier Division, at level three of the non-league footballing pyramid. The Club has two full time employees, as well as a number of occasional staff and volunteers. It also has a youth section, made up of fifteen teams, including one girls team. The senior section comprises First Team, Reserves and Under 18s sides.
We, the Sussex County Football Association, congratulate Hastings United Football Club on achieving the Charter Standard Award, as it is an excellent way of promoting the club to potential players, volunteers, parents and sponsors. It also demonstrates to players, schools and the public that the club is well organised and safe, and is adhering to Football Association guidelines. The award is designed to raise standards, quality and safety, from grassroots football through to the adult game.
To achieve Charter Standard status, the Club has met the criteria set by the Football Association in abiding by its Constitution and rules, its Codes of Conduct for players, managers, coaches, spectators and parents, and its Child Protection Policies. The award also demonstrates that those volunteers in a position of trust within the Club are suitably qualified, be they Club administrators, Club welfare officers who sit on the committee, or coaches and managers who have completed their Level 1 Football Coaching Certificate, Emergency Aid Certificates and Safeguarding Children Certificates, and who have been through the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) process.
The Sussex County Football Association wish Hastings United Football Club all the best in their future endeavours, and once again congratulate the Club on its achievement.
Hastings United have appointed John Lambert as their third First Team Manager in the space of less than five months, taking over from Tony Dolby, who recently stepped down from the role after successfully leading the Club to Ryman League Premier Division safety in a fifteen week stint at the helm.
John spent the 2007/08 season managing United’s youthful Reserve side, guiding his young team to a fifth place finish in the Sussex County Reserve League Premier Division table, the semi-finals of the Sussex Intermediate Cup, and to a well deserved victory in the final of the Hastings Intermediate Cup. At the age of forty-nine, he even rolled back the years by turning out in defence on ten occasions during the season, scoring one goal in the process.
It marked an unlikely return to Pilot Field action for John, who first played for United in the mid-1970s, making his First Team debut in 1977, before moving to Hastings Town in 1980, only to find himself back at the Pilot Field when United went out of business five years later, and Town were promoted to the Southern League in their place. Having finally decided to quit the Club in 1987, he continued playing in local football for several years, and enjoyed spells in management for County League sides Westfield and Bexhill.
Just after Christmas 2007, with United on a dreadful run of form, John found himself thrust into the role of Caretaker First Team Manager, after promotion winning boss Nigel Kane parted company with the Club. His three matches in temporary charge yielded only two points, although one was secured in arguably United’s finest result of the campaign, a superb 1-1 draw away to eventual league champions Chelmsford City.
Also stepping up from the Reserves with John, is assistant manager Wayne Farrier, another popular, local, footballing figure, whose own playing career included a long spell with Stamco, and saw him captain Sidley United to the County League title in 2001. He then moved to Westfield, where he ultimately linked up with John, joining him at the Pilot Field at the start of last season.
The pair face a testing couple of months as they prepare for life in the Ryman League though, with United having already lost keeper Lee Worgan, striker Ade Olorunda, and central midfielder Tim Olorunda, to Premier Division rivals Tonbridge Angels, and with three other players said to be in talks with Division One South side Ashford Town.
Hastings United Football Club is once again searching for a new First Team manager, after Tony Dolby reluctantly confirmed that he will not be returning to take up the role on a full-time basis for the 2008/09 campaign.
The former Tonbridge Angels boss only took over at the Pilot Field in January, with his long time number two at Longmead, Mike Rutherford, joining him in accepting the task of trying to keep United in the Ryman League Premier Division, following the departure of Hastings’ promotion winning manager Nigel Kane.
Together, Tony and Mike oversaw an immediate improvement in results, taking four points out of six against eventual beaten play-off finalists Staines Town, and leading Hastings to their first away league victory of the season at Margate. Successive defeats at AFC Wimbledon and East Thurrock United in early March left United deep in relegation trouble though, before a run of six wins in their last nine games led them to safety, sealed by a 3-0 success at bottom club Leyton on the final day of the season.
United Chairman Dave Walters commented, "When he first accepted the job at the Pilot Field, Tony did so on the basis that neither of us was committed in any way beyond the end of what turned out to be a successful battle against relegation. Obviously, after keeping us up, I was keen to secure Tony’s services for next season too, but the long journey from his Chislehurst home was not to his liking, and as was the case with Mike, he has advised me that this was the overwhelming reason for his decision not to continue in the role. Whilst this comes as a huge disappointment, I would of course like to thank both Tony and Mike for their considerable efforts in ensuring that Hastings United will remain a Premier Division club next season, and wish them every success in the future."
The Club will now consider its options for a brief period, but will hope to be in a position to appoint Tony’s successor in the near future.
Hastings United Football Club is delighted to announce that Smart Property Solutions has agreed to become its new main sponsor, in a deal that will run for the next two seasons.
Smart Property Solutions, based at 41 Havelock Road in Hastings, is the fastest growing sales and lettings agency in the 1066 area. It is a new, innovative and forward-thinking company, which specialises in residential sales and lettings. All enquiries are dealt with by a Director of the firm, thus providing a reliable, professional and dedicated service at all times. The company covers Hastings, Bexhill, St Leonards, Westfield, Battle, Sedlescombe, Fairlight and other surrounding areas as well.
United Chairman Dave Walters commented, "We are excited at the prospect of working with Smart Property Solutions over the next two seasons, and are very grateful to them for showing such faith in what we are trying to do at the Club. For such a fledgling company to be so proactive and supportive of the senior Football Club in the area is a tremendous credit to them, and as a Club, we will be doing whatever we can to help them promote their business. I would urge all supporters to think of Smart first, when they come to sell their houses. In fact, all Supporters’ Club members will receive a discounted commission from Smart Property Solutions for using their services."
Smart Property Solutions Director Isaac Bull added, "We are all very excited about this new deal, and hope that over time, our name can become synonymous with Hastings United Football Club, who have enjoyed continued success over recent seasons. We are hoping that this can become a long term relationship, and are looking to build strong local connections with the Club and its supporters".