retiredmartin

April 2024. Hastings.

And if you think football posts are not what you pay your subscription for, wait till I get on to Korngold next week.

300 miles north, James was heading to the Etihad in torrential rain to see Level 1 City take on mighty Luton; I’d decided to take in some “salt of the earth” football at one of the oldest grounds in the country at Hastings United in Level 7.

But first, haddock and chips.

I’m sure Peter’s is a famous name amongst the south coast chippies, though this one seemed to be run by lovely Turkish folk who let an old fella have his chips “on tick” and had the Spurs game with a commentary from Istanbul.

Awful photo, NF&CSS 4 grub.

2 lessons…

Kidz – don’t eat your haddock and chips while walking.

Also kidz, don’t drink 3 pints including fizzy keg before attempting a mile walk unless you know there’s a bush on the route.

Luckily there was, and luckily Hastings v Whitehawk wasn’t all-ticket. You can’t be sure these days.

Great pic of that entrance in the club bar,

a jolly place needing only Harvey’s on cask.

But a bumper crowd of 1,748 for a mid table Level 7 fixture,

and although technically a Sussex derby I reckon the visitors added 30 to that bumber crowd.

Lots of families and women; the game’s gone to pot I tell you.

Look ! They’re selling cookies from a pink tent ! What happened to whelks ?

The game seemed destined to start as 7 v 5,

and that motorbike, which I read as “F**k carpets” preceded the motorcycle intro of Saxon’s Wheels of Steel.

A remarkable soundtrack took in Ian Dury and Richard Thompson, before serenading the teams out to “Sussex By The Sea”. We get Oasis and “Hey Jude” at the Etihad.

Sadly the match itself was garbage, settled by a remarkable lob volley winner that allowed Whitehawk to trundle back along the A259 to Brighton with 3 deserved points.

And the most remarkable thing ? No-one left before the final whistle. Were the fudge brownies discounted at full time ?

Back at Rye Harbour Mrs RM insisted I try the flashy new bar at the caravan park with its alleged craft.

£6.30 for Neck Oil somehow simultaneously fizzy and flat. Should have stuck to John Smiths Smooth.