OLD FOOTBALL CLUB PHOTOS

The top picture is of the Newhaven Boys School cricket team of 1925 which reached the county final when it was played at the Sussex County Ground in Hove. Harold Hills (my father) is sitting second in from the left, his age then was 14. I remember him telling me that they beat their opponents so easily in the final that day that afterwards it was decided the final result would be the best of three matches... the Newhaven boys went on to lose the next two matches !! I have the same picture and it is dated on the back October 1925.

Bottom picture standing left, in a suit, is my grandfather Ernest Howard. In the second picture is Maurice Tate, standing on the far right. He played  cricket for Sussex and England and was one of the greatest bowlers ever. He even referred to Don Bradman as his 'rabbit', as he got him out so often. He was as famous in the twenties as Freddie Flintoff is now. Maurice's father, Fred Tate, also played for Sussex and England. Some of the others are Sussex cricketers - I will sort out names later.

The cricketer standing second from left is, I think, Mr Hersee, not sure of spelling. I believe he was the Headmaster at Hillcrest school. Can anyone confirm that?

I have been looking at the mens cricket team, and I am sure that it is Mr Frank Hersee, also pretty sure they are at the Blackstone Lane ground near Henfield. The ground was obtained by Sussex County Cricket Club about 2002, it is now their cricket academy. I built the clubhouse there in 2004 and they have got lots of photos of the old ground. I will get onto them and see what I can find.

The think you will find the above picture of the cricket team was taken at the Newhaven Boys School as it was then up Bay Vue, in Newhaven, Terry

John -- Editor

I recognise Fred Davies in two of the photographs:- In the second photo he is 10th from the left standing. In the fifth photo he is the left player of the front three. He was married to my aunt (Dorothy Robinson), who was sister of my mother (Ivy Robinson).

The cricketer to the left of Mr Hersee is George Lower who used to work as a painter for Oxley and Bennett's. By the way, Mr Hersee was our "science" teacher at the boys school and I remember him "imploding" a test tube which resulted in Glass everywhere and a cancelled class. He was a good teacher though. (Like they all were at Newhaven Boys School then).

1925  Newhaven School Cricket Team in top picture, in batting order. These names are from the semi-final.
S. Wood, C. Jesty, R. Eager, G. Lower, W. Taylor, C. Saunders, J. Eager, M. Markwick, A. Cosham, W. Head, H. Hills.

Having the names of the boys in the match, can any Newhavener put any of those names to the top photograph?