By Scott McCarthy
Hassocks Football Club 2024-25, history makers. For the first time ever, the Robins have won the Southern Combination League title – meaning Isthmian League football will be played at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground in 2025-26. Also for the first time.
The title was wrapped up via a 3-0 win against nearest pursuers Crowborough Athletic on March 29th. Hassocks then got their hands on the trophy on Easter Monday, lifted by captain Harvey Blake after another 3-0 victory against local rivals Haywards Heath Town.
Huge crowds of around 800 attended both those matches. And easily swatting aside a Crows team that f inished runners up and a Heath outfit with the biggest budget in the division who were pre-season favourites to win the title sums up the campaign.
The Robins have dominated the division, racking up the third-biggest points tally this century after Eastbourne Borough in 1999-00 and Horsham in 201516. Two giants of Sussex non-league football.
Hassocks have scored over 100 goals in all competitions and shipped an average of under one per game in the league.
All of which has been done with a team of local players not paid a penny. 11 of the 36 used by James Westlake this season came through the youth system at the Beacon Ground. A strike rate you will not find bettered at many clubs.
It has also helped forge a special connection between the squad and supporters. Something best seen when everyone decamped to the Hassocks Hotel for a Champions Party which turned into players and fans singing karaoke together.
Still to come is the small matter of the Peter Bentley League Cup final on Saturday 10th May. The Robins will take on Crowborough at Peacehaven & Telscombe in a 1pm kick off, aiming to complete a famous double.
After that, Westlake and the committee will start planning for life on and off the pitch in the Isthmian League South East Division, step four of the non-league pyramid.
Hassocks will face the likes of Hastings United, Bognor Regis Town, Margate and Sittingbourne. Maybe even a certain Burgess Hill Town, if the Hillians do not win promotion themselves to the Isthmian Premier.
It will be a whole new challenge as our small village club takes on huge towns who are watched by thousands of people at home games. But a challenge Westlake and this history-making squad has earned the right to take on.