United Services F Team Profile

The team’s nucleus came together way back in the 1996-97 season (Wednesday League (Div. 2?)) when Gary invited Peter and Brian to join the Scaynes Hill ‘C’ squad which already included Robert Barnett. Andy Short had played his way into the team within the next couple of seasons (by beating the then skipper Gary on more than one occasion!). Keith Dyer, a long time friend of Peter’s, came into the fold a few years later and was part of the finest moment for the Scaynes Hill ‘C’ team when they won the Sayers Cup in April 2005. After taking the difficult and emotional decision to move from the Scaynes Hill Social Club to the United Services Club for the start of the 2006-07 season, the team entered a period of unparalleled success as the newly designated USC ‘F’.

The first season playing at the United Services Club in Wednesday League Division 2 saw the team win the Championship without losing a league match. During the victorious 2006-07 season, Peter’s eldest son, Matt, joined the squad and began to establish himself in the side.

The following season, 2007-08, in Wednesday League Division 1 would prove to be a much tougher one but the team managed to edge out the two other teams vying for the title on the last day of the league season to claim back-to-back Championships.
Bonus silverware would also come in the shape of the Sayers Shield in April 2008 (see the match report and photo on the website!). Matt Mays played a key role in the victory over the holders, Lindfield ‘C’ and in the successful league campaign that preceded the shield final.

Matt had moved on in his life by the dawn of the 2008-09 season, relocating to the Netherlands to further develop his career. Will he be back with us for the 2009-10 season? Only time will tell!

Another key decision was taken by the squad before the start of the 2008-09 season, prior to Matt’s departure and that was to try our luck in the Thursday Leagues, a new challenge for all of us!

So far so good…