Paul Ifill / Saltdean United article from the Guardian

[MikeySmall]

I remember Tigers when Joe El Abd was their star and he was playing nearly 2 years above his age group! great vision & skill, who would have thought such a little lad would turn out to be an egg chaser?

I ran a team in those days and the Tigers folk were some of the friendliest we came up against. they did well too, turning a bunch of honest kids into a pretty decent team.

Little Lad. Joe is HUGE. He stopped playing football as he fell out with the football coach at Varndean.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Blimey!! What a thread.

I played for saltdean for probably 6 or 7 years.

The Mount seemed a truely EPIC pitch at that age. Still have all my old saltdean shirts now all with number 12!

 

[The Spanish]

there used to be some real characters down at the mount. Talking of Gerry Green, anyone remember Donny Martin, Gerry's mate and often right hand man who sadly passed away a few years ago. Blinding bloke.

South African Martin, who did a runner back to South Africa with the bar takings of about 17 quid! Evertons discos. Many a good laugh had down there.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

I played against Saltdean for Peacehaven a couple of times on that pitch.

I worked with Gerry Green on the taxis, he's a really smashing fella!
Gerry was walking home pissed one night when he got stopped by a copper, this copper was also from Glasgow and asked Gerry his name "Green" Gerry replied, "Wrong colour" the copper said

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Remember playing against Jakey Robinson quite a few times.


He basically raped us.

 

[Stoichkov]

yeah it was a three club town for a time. just trying to tap into the seamingly endless geyser of talent spewing from bevendean.

when in fact barcelona just used to shamelessly get kids from other areas of brighton, they had a premier league ethos even then. in fact barcelona are probably to blame for our wc2010 exit if you look hard enough.

Yep, they nicked our keeper.

The same keeper a year or so ago later I nut-megged to win us an unlikely victory over Bevendean Barcelona in the Worthing summer 5-a-side tournament at the rugby ground

Our itchy shirts didn't have a badge but if it did, i'd have kissed it

 

[Stoichkov]

Does anyone remember (from the late 80's this was) a kids sunday league team called 'Sparta'?

I think they were from the Hastings area? We never played them in the league, only once in a cup match where they absolutley thrashed us. I reckon they were even better than Bevendean Barcelona were.

 

[Iamapen15]

Good times I used to play for Saltdean

Your not the fat kid in the back row are you?

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Used to go down to Hill Park regulary to watch The Tigers during the Gillingham years. Still got loads of programs from 1997.

Paul Ifill was a real star even then.

 

[Stoichkov]

What about the tracksuits? Remember them?

All two colours and all from that shop that used to be, I think, Neville Road.

They all had a hood with the team name on the back

Coombe Rovers was Red & Blue (Palace Colours, shocking) and Bevendean was Black & Yellow. Whitehawk was Red & White and I can't remember any others?

Even then, it used to make me laugh when you saw another kid around town with their club tracksuit on!

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

What about the tracksuits? Remember them?

All two colours and all from that shop that used to be, I think, Neville Road.

Neville Road as in the road leading up to Rottingdean windmill? Where was that

 

[The Spanish]

Used to go down to Hill Park regulary to watch The Tigers during the Gillingham years. Still got loads of programs from 1997.

Paul Ifill was a real star even then.

Saltdeans Golden Generation.

 

[Stoichkov]

Neville Road as in the road leading up to Rottingdean windmill? Where was that

Sorry Nevill Road Hove!

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Saltdeans Golden Generation.

Finished second that season did they not?

 

[The Spanish]

Finished second that season did they not?

I think you are right. I'd forgotten all about how close they came one year. It must have been around then. I should be meeting one of that golden generation later this week for a pint so will ask.

 

[Rowdey]

yeah it was a three club town for a time. just trying to tap into the seamingly endless geyser of talent spewing from bevendean.

when in fact barcelona just used to shamelessly get kids from other areas of brighton, they had a premier league ethos even then. in fact barcelona are probably to blame for our wc2010 exit if you look hard enough.

Haha - The Maynards of Heath Hill Ave, set it all up i recall, and were pretty organised.
In our team - Wayne Spencer, Darren Scott, Bain Kershaw, Craig Whittington and me all from Lwr Bev, with John Simmo and Peter O' Driscol from Coldean

What about the tracksuits? Remember them?

All two colours and all from that shop that used to be, I think, Neville Road.

They all had a hood with the team name on the back

Coombe Rovers was Red & Blue (Palace Colours, shocking) and Bevendean was Black & Yellow. Whitehawk was Red & White and I can't remember any others?

Even then, it used to make me laugh when you saw another kid around town with their club tracksuit on!

Great recall mate - we even had branded yellow Holdalls..!

 

[Rowdey]

After a rummage in a long lost drawer, i've found a couple old medals and plaques showing 1984 when i played for Melford FC with Roland Ward - Which kinda proves i was in Bevendean Barcleona before then circa 79 to '83..

A long, long time ago..

 

[Stoichkov]

It was called the 'Mini Minor League' when I played.

Anyone remember the Hollingbury Hawks Portacabin off Lynchets Close in Hollingdean? Burnt down in the end I think?

 

[Stoichkov]

Hollingbury Hawks
Coombe Rovers
Whitehawk
Old Town Boys (Eastbourne)
Hove Park Colts
Adur Athletic
Bridge View (Lewes, quite posh)
Kingston (Very posh!)
Durrington Dynamos
Bevendean Barcelona, Bulls & Badgers
Saltdean Tigers
Peacehaven Pirates

I can't think of any others local ones from the mid to late 80's?

 

[The Spanish]

After a rummage in a long lost drawer, i've found a couple old medals and plaques showing 1984 when i played for Melford FC with Roland Ward - Which kinda proves i was in Bevendean Barcleona before then circa 79 to '83..

A long, long time ago..

Did you have TJ in goal for melford Rowdey?