Damage in the Box!: HASTINGS UNITED (The Pilot Field)

I decided to end my (English) season of 'hopping' with a 'proper' journey. I looked through the many grounds I needed to visit in the south, at either Step 3 or 4, then see if I could get a deal on the train. I popped Hastings in to the search engine and it came up with a ridiculously cheap price, so it was to East Sussex I made my way today.

This game could have been a vitally important one for Hastings as, up until last weekend, it looked like they would need a win to secure their Isthmian Premier League status, but an 'against the odds' win away at 3rd placed Lowestoft Town meant their tenure was secure for another season.

In fact, reading in the match programme, this was the first time in Hastings' 5 year spell at Step 3 they wouldn't be going into the final game of the season needing to get something. Therefore there was a celebratory mood at the Pilot Field today.

Celebratory was hardly the word I would have used to describe my mood as I travelled down on the train as, the further south I got, the more persistent the rain. Naturally, as a paranoid groundhopper, panic starts to set in as to whether the game would be on, as in this day and age the slightest bit of drizzle can cause a referee to 'brick it' and call a game off.

Some last minute pitch forking
from the groundsman

London Bridge, where I had to go for my connection south, was my point of no return, so to speak, as once I was on that train it was Hastings or bust. Numerous phone calls to the club failed to get a response, so in the end I spoke to the opposition secretary, from the Metropolitan Police, who told they were travelling as they hadn't been told otherwise. That was good enough for me, so I decided to travel too.

The Dolphin

Fortune favoured the brave and upon arrival at the ground the pitch looked in absolutely immaculate condition, so I should really never have worried. The wondrous Pilot Field is actually in a quite hilly part of town, which was OK to walk down after the game, but i'm so glad I was offered a taxi share by 3 other Hastings fans as it would've been a pretty arduous walk up the hill pre-match, especially after my pre-match GBG ticking!

On the subject of which, suppose I best get that out of the way, I managed to pay a visit to 3 of the 4 GBG entries for 2012. The Dolphin, The Stag and the quite superb First In Last Out, which produces it's own ale range, of which there were four FILO ales on tap (right), all of which were absolutely gorgeous. The was also a large open fire, which was a real treat on a bitterly cold and wet day.

Back to the ground, and as mentioned it is on a hill so the ground has been built into the hill but obviously levelled out. The main stand, with its wooden bench seats, is actually held up by buttresses (right) and there are two other covered terraces behind each goal. There is also the remnants of a speedway track, though the ground hasn't hosted speedway since the 1940's!

The 'current' Hastings United have played at the Pilot Field since 1985, when the original Hastings United were liquidated. They were the original tenants of the ground, when they were known as Hastings & St Leonards, but were re-located to the adjacent upper pitch in 1948 when Hastings United were formed.

In 1985 Hastings & St Leonards, now known as Hastings Town, moved back to the Pilot Field after a gap of 37 years and in 2002 Town they then changed their name to Hastings United. Phew!

As mentioned earlier, United had already secured their place in the Premier League for next season so today's game against the mid-table Metropolitan Police was effectively a dead rubber and, to be honest, it was played like it was.

In defence of both sides, the weather was absolutely foul with driving rain, strong winds and a distinct chill in the air. I think I would have rather been anywhere else but out on that pitch (ideally back at the FILO by that open fire, with a pint of Crofters!)

There was lots of possession football but no real attempts at goal that troubled either goalkeeper. The game was settled in favour of the 'boys in blue' mid-way through the second half when, after 64 minutes, substitute Mu Maan curled in a beautiful effort from the edge of the box then, after 72 minutes Staforde Palmer fired home to seal the points.

A disappointing result for the homesters, but I think the majority of the crowd went home happy in the knowledge that the hard work was done last weekend.

Finally, after all that waffle regards Hastings, I never once mentioned 1066...oh b*gg*r, just did!!