Hassocks Fatboys Reserves will come up against a familiar face tonight as Stuart Ridley brings his Lindfield III side to Ardingly College.
The return of a former fan favourite in the opposition dugout is bound to increase the pressure on boss Jamie Stratton, who has seen his side win just once so far in pre-season. Rumours that another hero from Fatboys past in the shape of former club captain Martyn Buxton have been given short shrift, largely because it is wife swap evening in Storrington.
Ridley was one of the most celebrated players in the early days of the Fatboys, playing 60 times between 2012 and 2016. He scored the first ever competitive goal in Fatboys history when netting in a 3-2 defeat against Pink Flamingos III’s and he was part of the side that won the Sussex Sunday League Division Three title in the 2014-15 season.
Off the pitch, Ridley is fondly remembered for winning Sexiest Player of the Season in 2013-14 and for his dalliance with a schoolgirl which nobody was meant to know about, but he told everyone anyway. There was also the time he turned up to the Club after a game with 30 bread rolls for his teammates to eat.
Ridley will find plenty of familiar faces in the Fatboys line up this evening, with only one new signing set to feature. That’s Ando Knott, although Stratton’s squad will be boosted by the presence of two first team players.
Rob Lloyd is the first, clearly desperate to have the excuse that he needs to be at Nine Acres Field for 6pm in order to escape his Whitehall office and the task of negotiating Brexit. Jason Gander is the second. There is no such glamorous reason for Gander’s presence other than that he wants to be able to try and fit into the new kit by the start of the campaign.
Gander has previously played for Lindfield III, appearing in one game in goal last season which he described at the time as being, “not a great performance. In fact, a pretty bad one.” Nick Davie has also turned out for the Swans on several occasions in a bid to see how far his head can make it up the anal canal of former Lindfield boss Aaron Walsh.
The two sides have one previous meeting to their name which came a year ago. Lindfield were easy 3-1 winners that day with Simon O’Brien scoring the Fatboys goal.
Kick off is at the slightly earlier time of 6.30pm at Nine Acres Field, Ardingly College.
Squad: Nick Jones, Nick Davie, Sam Wilson, Jason Gander, Matt Freeman, Stuart Young, Jules Clay, Kevin Ticehurst, Russell Jebbitt, Desmond Balderdash, Reece Wickwar, Rob Lloyd, Mark Potter, Tommy Tyler, Ando Knott, Josh Evetts, Chris Clayton, Simon O’Brien