After the highs of last season Chopbacks prepare for fresh battles ahead

The departure of Neil Sutcliffe as both club Chairman and first team Manager The Chopbacks have had to make a number of changes to the management setup before the start of the new football season writes Tony Cook. First was to install a new first team manager and Sam Cook accepted that role. He needed to rebuild his coaching team […]

Grassroots football on the up? New teams line up to join local league

THE East Sussex Football League (ESFL) will start the new season in September with 11 new teams, most of them based in Hastings. ESFL Chairman Gary Wenham is thrilled and says there is still time if more clubs are interested. The news of the additional teams joining the ESFL follows a publicity campaign back in […]

League wants ideas to boost grassroots football numbers

The East Sussex Football League (ESFL) is hoping to defy a national trend and encourage more teams to join for next season. Across the country the number of grassroots football teams is falling and many local teams have disappeared in recent years. Now the ESFL is looking to attract more clubs with the deadline to […]

Chopbacks make a slow start but finish with a flourish

South Coast Athletico 7 Magham Down 0 South Coast Athletico were in league action at the weekend, hosting a recently strengthened Magham Down side. The two sides last met in October when the match ended in a 12-0 win for the Chopbacks. Coast’s Manager Neil Sutcliffe kept the team grounded in his pre-match comments making it clear this game would be very […]

Chopbacks dig deep to secure victory

Sandhurst 0 South Coast Athletico 2 It was to be the final match before the festive break and the Chopbacks were away to Sandhurst, the weather was cold and wet but the pitch held out. The first half was a quiet affair with few real chances as the teams cancelled each the other out. The biggest opportunity was […]

Chopbacks show no signs of winter rust

South Coast Athletico 5 Hawkhurst II 0 With the winter weather closing in rain began to fall at the Chopbacks’ home pitch at Bexhill College for this Saturday’s league return clash against Hawkhurst United seconds. The first game at Hawkhurst ended honours even with a 3-3 scoreline, Chopbacks management team, Neil Sutcliffe and Sam Cook had made positive changes approaching the game which they felt would make […]

Chopbacks bow out of second cup competition

Sussex Blufin Junior Cup second round South Coast Athletico 1 Rudgwick 3 The Chopbacks game on Saturday was against West Sussex Division Two team Rudgwick. As the game got underway the Chopbacks looked the more comfortable side in the opening 15 minutes. South Coast however were caught on the break from an attack deep in […]

Chopback’s grit and determination see them fight back to secure a draw

Hawkhurst Utd II 3 South Coast Athletico 3 At the weekend the South Coast Athletico traveled to play Hawkhurst seconds with a couple of key players unavailable. It was  perfect weather for football and the squad was looking to get back to winning ways in the league. Hawkhurst had other ideas however fielding a first team striker and midfielder […]

One Hastings… many footballers!

It was a day of intercultural football at the Oval on Sunday as ten teams competed for top honours in the Hastings Intercultural Organisation (HIO) football tournament. Teams taking part included two from Hastings Borough Council (HBC). There was a team from Pestalozzi Village that included students from around the world and  Hastings Mosque fielded […]