March’s meeting with Chamber member ‘Hastings United FC’
Founded over 100 years ago as Rock-A-Nore, a few new name and location changes later, local football club continues to look for ways to re-engage with the local business community and welcome local companies to the club.
In our March 2023 meeting we heard from Business & Commercial Manager, James Hopkins, along with a tour from Chairman/CEO Billy Wood and Vice Chairman/Director Patrick McCrossan.
On the tour, chamber members were given the chance to walk around the grounds of The Pilot Field. The semi-professional football club located in Hastings has been playing at The Pilot Field since 1985, following the demise of the prior Hastings United. In 2002 they changed their name to adopt the former’s identity and currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
The club, founded in 1893 as Rock-A-Nore, joined the East Sussex Football League in 1904. They were one of the first members of the Sussex County Football League and renamed themselves Hastings & St Leonards in 1921. In 1927, the club made a move to join the Southern Amateur Football League. Over two decades later, they spent some time in the Corinthian League before becoming founding members in 1952 of Division Two in the Sussex County League. Then in 1976, the club rebranded themselves as Hastings Town, taking the place of Hastings United in 1985. This later changed again to Hastings United when they joined the Southern Football League in 2002 and two years later joined the Isthmian League where they have remained since.
Whilst the Pilot Field has been the home base for the club since 1985, it was previously also its home for a span of twenty eight years between 1920 and 1948. Since 1948, two new stands have been constructed behind one goal, floodlights have been installed, and additional catering facilities have been added to the field. The main entrance of the ground was graced with a new clubhouse in 1998 and its features were further expanded a year later. In 2005, the “Cole Warren” stand was built at the far end of the Stadium, offering covered standing and seating on three sides of it.
We also got the chance to have a look inside at the Home changing rooms. Whilst the Away room is larger, they believe that the shape of the changing room they use for home games brings better luck due to getting the players full attention for pre-game match plans and pep talks.
After arriving back at the Hastings Sports & Social Club, James gave a presentation on their new business club idea, the Men’s and Women’s teams, and full time Football & Education Programmes. He also informed us about the proposed development to turn the Tilekiln playing field into a new Hastings United football stadium, which they are currently attempting to negotiate with Hastings Borough Council to find a “level playing field”. If anyone would like a 1-2-1 meeting with James Hopkins about how they can get involved, you can email him: james.hopkins@hastingsunited.com