Champions at last!

I did have one or two ideas for this piece but as those involved didn’t get back to me in time it’s a change of tack, not that there isn’t ever something to write about when it comes to non-league football.

Two more weekends and the season comes to a finish for the first time in three years with completed records in the history books. But before that time arrives there are a couple of clubs that have finally got their rewards in Sussex.

For the last two years both Hastings Utd and Worthing have led the Isthmian South East and Premier divisions with both seasons curtailed and no promotion for either side.

Third time lucky was the call for both sides at the beginning of this season and a wonder if they could replicate what they had managed twice over already playing the same teams and in danger or joining the stagnation of steps 3 and 4.

Worthing did hit the groove slightly quicker although Hastings weren’t too far behind despite the surprising resignation of manager Chris Agutter. A point to prove and a steely determination to get to where they both felt they belonged was a good starting point as any.

Hastings made sure that they felt no loss of their boss who had led them so well in previous campaigns and under former Worthing man Gary Elphick ensured they made it to the title with three games to spare.

The Mackerel Men of course led by Adam Hinshelwood powered their way through the season as they started to do last year and had done the previous year intent on securing the National League South place they felt they deserved both on and off the pitch, a 2-0 win at Bowers & Pitsea securing the coveted title.

Both clubs have much in common, strong leadership off the pitch, Billy Wood a driven CEO at the Pilot Field who has made sure the club is in a position to progress and a sense they won’t just be making up the numbers in the Premier Division next season.

Worthing’s owner George Dowell had a dream to see his hometown club in the National League and now they are, underneath him firstly Pete Stone and carried on superbly by Barry Hunter the club is becoming more professional by the day and again from what I heard a few weeks ago they won’t be going up to make up the numbers either.

In the stands the numbers are fantastic. Worthing average over 1,300 whilst Hastings number is over 1,000 too, superb numbers for both their levels and some clubs in the division they’re moving into can’t get close to those figures often, something you would also expect to see increase going into the new season.

On the pitch, those who perform consistently over 40, 42, or 46 games win the league,  in the case of these two I think the general consensus at the beginning of the season if you finish above Worthing or Hastings then the league is yours. Both have experience in their ranks, both kept a consistent core of players and added where they deemed necessary to ensure they were going to get over the line and win the title.

Despite the fact it’s won with three games to go, neither Hinshelwood or Elphick will let the standards drop and for the Mackerel Men there is a chance to notch 100 points and seven more goals would also see 100 hit the net, two targets I’m sure the Worthing boss will make sure minds are focussed on.

Within the next two weeks Littlehampton Town could become the third Sussex side to win a title and promotion to the Isthmian League on the back of it, there must be something going along the South Coast at the moment or is it merely just in the water……..