Promotion Looms

5th March 2010

Rye United Football Club is doing everything it can to meet the ground grading requirements for promotion.
But not all of the necessary improvements will be completed by the March 31 deadline, meaning Rye will have to rely on some leniency from the Sussex County League.

Secretary Roger Bond said: "As far as we're concerned, we're doing our utmost to match what the boys are doing on the pitch. We're working hard and we've got a very clear plan of action."

The Football Association is finally implementing its ground grading criteria for clubs across the non-league pyramid in time for next season.

The document was put together eight years ago and since 2006 the Sussex County League has lobbied to get the deadline extended to give its clubs more time to secure external funding and carry out improvements.

For Division One that means having covered accommodation for 200 spectators, including 100 seats, and a fully enclosed ground with hard-standing path on three sides.

The main issues facing Rye are creating a concrete pathway from the Sydney Allnutt Pavilion to the pitch and coming up with a new stand because at present there is no seating at The Salts.

Bond continued: "We had an informal meeting with Rother District Council at the end of last year, and we outlined our objectives and the requirements of the FA.

"But we had to chase them up a few weeks ago because they hadn't come back to us from the original meeting. They suggested a formal meeting to move things forward and we had that two weeks ago.

"All the planning applications are now in the hands of the council and they can see no issues with what we want to do. The council have even offered to write to the league to apologise for holding us back."

Assuming planning permission is granted, Rye intend to carry out the work on the pathway as soon as possible and Bond is certain that an order for a new stand will be in place by the end of the month.

One drawback with the stand is that the Football Stadia Improvement Fund only issues grants to cover clubs at their present level. In the case of Rye, that would mean the 50 seat requirement for Division Two.

The Sussex County League inspected every Division One and Two ground before Christmas and told clubs what improvements are required. Clubs will be re-inspected after the March 31 deadline.

On the field, Rye have been in blistering form. The Quarterboys have closed to within three points of leaders Loxwood with four games in hand courtesy of five consecutive league wins with 18 goals scored and two conceded.

They will travel to relegation threatened Southwick tomorrow (Saturday) before taking on Loxwood in a re-arranged Division Two Challenge Cup semi-final at The Caburn, home of Ringmer FC, on Tuesday night.

Top scorer leaving Westfield

3rd March 2010

Westfield's leading scorer appears to be on his way out of the football club.
Warren Parsons, who has hit the net 14 times this season, is understood to have been disgruntled about being a substitute for the 2-1 win at home to Storrington 11 days ago.
Joint manager Tony Harris said: "He didn't train last week and text me saying he's leaving. I don't want to lose him because I think he's a good player, but I'm not overly impressed by it."
Parsons' apparent departure comes as Westfield could face a shortage of attacking options for the Sussex County League Division Two clash at home to Littlehampton Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
Harris' fellow joint boss Duncan Jones is unavailable, while Ex- Rye Players, Andy Garman and Danny Woodley are battling to shake off groin problems.

Westfield are hoping that Graham Morris will be fit enough to return to training shortly.

Ram Raid.....

28th January 2010

Rye United have got Hastings star Scott Ramsey to sign on the dotted line making him the biggest signing of 2010 for the Quarterboys.

The 29 year old is an extremely experienced League player who Started his football career at Brighton & Hove Albion in 1999, making 2 goals in 35 appearances, 12 of which were first team starts. He had a 3 month loan spell at Yeovil Town in 2001  scoring 4 goals in 17 games. Followed by another loan spell at Bognor Regis. Failing to make the first team Scott was released by Micky Adams after a breach of his contract in 2001.

On leaving Brighton & Hove Albion he joined Dover Athletic on a free transfer Ramsay played 13 games at Dover Athletic scoring only a single goal in a five month spell before transferring back to East Sussex signing to Eastbourne Borough, who were then in the Dr Martins League.

In 2003, Brentford sparked an interest in signing Scott for £25,000 to Griffin Park after scoring 33 goals in the 2002/2003 season. Ramsay took two training sessions with the Bees, but Scott was reluctant to sign.

In the six years at Eastbourne Borough, Scott bagged 185 goals in 283 appearances, and help the sussex side win the Sussex Senior Cup in 2002 and into the FA Cup first round in 2006 for the first time in the clubs history. Also rise into the Conference South football league and was part of the team that won a promotion into the Conference National league.

In June 2008, Ramsay left Eastbourne Borough after failing to agree to a new contract, signing for Hastings United, who "beat off competition from several higher league sides", such as AFC Wimbledon and Havant & Waterlooville to sign the prolific striker.

In December 2009, according to Hastings United's official website, Ramsay was reported to have signed for Conference South club Lewes F.C. on a dual registration basis.

Ramsay is a very versatile player who started out as an out & out striker but now plays at the back.

It is now hoped paperwork is concluded asap so that he can play on Saturday afternoon against Crawley Down.

Good Luck to Scott from all at Rye United and good luck in your first of many games.

Wednesday 27th January 2010

United gauranteed to win Cup

An exciting fixture has now been set up for the Hastings & District FA Senior Cup Final if Rye United can see off Third Divison opposition Bexhill United next Week after Ex-Quarterboy Captain Sean Kelly fired in a last gasp 40 yard screamer at the end of extra time to save Sidley United from a penalty shoot out against Little Common.

The Sidley Captain drove the ball home into the right hand top corner and booked their spot with a 1-0 win despite Little Common's Jared Lusted failing from the spot in the 18th minute.

FINAL

Sidley United V Rye United or Bexhill United

Date to be arranged

4th October 2009

Captain sean Kelly and Striker Danny Woodley leave Rye United for personal reasons.

Kelly going to Sidley United and Woodley to Bexhill united.

Tuesday 1st September 2009

The transfer season is still on for Rye United with another quality signing to an already powerful-looking squad . Nathan Russell (25) the former Hastings United defender has been secured on a dual registration basis and has been pencilled in for Rye's Sussex Division Two match away to Wealden on Saturday. "It's a massive signing," said Rye manager Scott Price. "Along the back three is probably the only position where we don't have cover. Lofty (Shaun Loft), Ben (Ben Radley) and Irish (Sean Kelly) have done brilliantly there but Nathan will make it 100 times better." Russell - who is behind former Rye duo Rhys Whyborne and Sean Ray in the Hastings central defensive pecking order - has been a regular on the substitutes' bench this season but has yet to make an appearance in the Ryman Premier.