Saturday, May 26, 2012
Details of the U's pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2012/13 Ryman League campaign have been confirmed this week, with the stand-out fixture seeing Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion visit the Pilot Field on July 21 for a Saturday afternoon game.
The Seagulls have advised the Club that they intend to send a full strength squad along the A27 to mark the first meeting in several years between United and Sussex's number one side, the game kindly being sponsored by accountancy firm Plummer Parsons.
Advance tickets are now on sale, priced at £10 for adults and £3 for under 18s, while family tickets, valid for two adults and two under 18s, are also available for £22.
On the day of the match, admission costs will be £12 for adults and £5 for under 18s and there will be no family tickets available.
Access to the main stand will cost an additional £1 for all, but space is naturally limited and if stand tickets are sold out in advance, there will regrettably be no further access permitted on the day.
Tickets can be purchased from the Pilot Field - please call 01424 444635 to confirm opening times - from the Albion Ticket Office and from Smart Property Solutions at 41 Havelock Road in Hastings Town Centre.
Alternatively, please contact Dave Walters on 07970 165102, or by emailing davewalters@idnetfreemail.co.uk but please note that a small administration fee will apply.
The U's pre-season kicks off with a short trip to take on County League neighbours Westfield on July 14 and, following the Brighton game, Sean Ray will send one side to Ryman Division One South outfit Hythe Town on Tuesday, July 24, whilst another United XI will line-up at home to a Crawley Town Youth & Development XI on the same evening.
Another double header of sorts has been scheduled for July 28, with Bexhill United and Little Common both appearing at the Pilot Field on the same afternoon, the busy day of action getting underway at noon, and that will be followed by a visit to Faversham Town in north Kent on Tuesday 31st.
August begins with a trip to last season's County League champions Three Bridges, newly promoted to the Ryman League set-up, and the build-up to the new campaign continues at home to Conference South side Bromley on Tuesday 7th, before concluding at near neighbours Eastbourne Town on Friday 10th, eight days before the league season gets underway.
There were no real surprises in the 2012/13 Ryman Premier Division line-up that was confirmed by the Football Association yesterday. Relegated duo Thurrock and Hampton & Richmond Borough have both been placed alongside the U's for next season, replacing Conference South bound Billericay Town and AFC Hornchurch.
Meanwhile, none of the four relegated sides won a reprieve, so Leatherhead, Aveley, Tooting & Mitcham United and Horsham will all drop a level, being replaced by Whitehawk and Bognor Regis Town from Division One South, and by Leiston and Enfield Town from Division One North. There was no other movement amongst the remaining sixteen teams.