A few paragraphs can barely do justice to arguably the most complicated club history in Sussex football, that is also inexorably linked to the history of two neighbouring grounds: The Pilot Field and The Firs.

The current Hastings United FC has no real connection the club of the same name that went bust in 1985, but rather with Hastings & St. Leonards FC, who joined the Sussex County League in 1921 and played at the Pilot Field on a permanent basis from 1923. After three successful seasons however, they left the County League, and subsequently joined the Corinthian League in 1946 following WW2. In 1948 however, they were forced to resign after one game due to ground problems, when the newly formed Hastings United took over the Pilot Field.

In 1952 Hastings & St. Leonards FC rejoined the County League as founder members of Division Two, now playing at The Firs next door, and enjoyed their best season in 1959/60, finishing as runners-up to Old Varndeanians. After 24 seasons in Division Two, the club changed its name to Hastings Town in 1976 and, after a further four seasons in Division Two were promoted to Division One as champions in 1979/80.

The best the club managed in Division One of the County League was 3rd in 1982/83. However, on the demise of Hastings United in 1985 an opportunity presented itself for the club to take the place of United in the Southern League (Southern Division) AND move back to their former home at the Pilot Field ... despite having finished only ninth the previous season!

Despite this they managed to finish 3rd in 1985/86, and in 1991/92 finished top of the Southern Division and were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League.

In 1999 the club resigned from the Southern League with the intention of moving across to the Isthmian (and the prospect of less traveling). However, they subsequently changed their mind and despite finishing 5th in the Premier Division had to reapply and were placed in the Eastern Division - effectively a relegation.

After three seasons in the Eastern Division, Town won promotion back to their rightful place in the Premier as champions, and celebrated by changing their name to Hastings United, as well as adopting that club’s old colours, rather than the all white strip of Town. In their first season under their new guise United reached the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history (something not even the old United had managed), narrowly losing to Conference side Stevenage Borough. In retrospect though, the name change proved to be a fateful move, as the new United were relegated straight back down to the Eastern Division at the end of the 2002/03 season.

With a wholesale change of the playing staff, United struggled once again in 2003/04 as attendances dropped dramatically from the previous season. Safety soon proved to be the most realistic objective, which the club achieved. Due to restructuring, Hastings found themselves in Division One of the Isthmian League in 2004/05, finishing in a creditable mid-table position. The following season saw a similar final position, with further restructuring of the Isthmian League seeing the club in the new Division One South for 2006/07.

After several seasons in the doldrums, 2006/07 proved to be a memorable one. Despite only finishing 4th in the League, the play-off system saw Hastings promoted to the Premier Division of the (Ryman) Isthmian League which it is hoped, will prove a springboard to the recovery of some former glories.

Description of ground
Before describing the Pilot Field itself, it is worth looking back on the complicated history of the ground, and its association with The Firs next door (former home to the now defunct St. Leonards FC). As mentioned above, the history of the ground is also inexorably linked with the respective histories of the two clubs.

The first club to play on the Pilot Field site was Rock-a-Nore FC, who gained permission to play on a large meadow at the Pilot Field in 1920. The first match to be played there, on the upper pitch (now The Firs) was later that year when the club played Chichester in the newly-formed Sussex County League. At the end of that season, Rock-a-Nore merged with All Saints FC to become Hastings & St. Leonards FC (see history above).

In 1921 the Council brought forward a £6,000 scheme for excavating and laying out two pitches but, because of the substantial slope, hundreds of tons of earth had to be shifted and moved across to build up the area where the grandstand is now. By the time the work was complete it had cost £32,000 (at 1920s currency value!), with a further £8,000 for the massive stand which followed two years later. After problems with the drainage had been resolved, the club moved down from the upper pitch to play regularly at the new Pilot Field ground from 1923.

In 1948 the newly formed professional club Hastings United took over the Pilot Field, whilst Hastings & St. Leonards moved back up to the top pitch. Before long, the ground was also hosting greyhound racing and, for a short spell, speedway as well. Hastings United continued to play at the ground until June 1985, when they folded with massive debts.

Apart from a brief spell, Hastings & St. Leonards continued to play on the upper pitch. In 1976 they changed their name to Hastings Town. When Hastings United folded, ‘Town applied for, and were accepted into the Southern League; and moved back down to the Pilot Field after an absence of 37 years. The club continued to use the Firs for reserve and Sunday games until it was leased to STAMCO (later St. Leonards Stamcroft FC and then St. Leonards FC) in 1993 until their demise in February 2004.

The decision of Hastings Town to change their name to Hastings United in 2002, AND from an all white kit to the old claret & blue of United certainly ensured that the ground received a face-lift, with the fascia, perimeter fence, and metal work all receiving a new coat of paint!

Naturally, the stand which has a capacity of 1,000 (the majority on benches), is the main focal point, and provides a good if slightly obstructed view due to the supporting pillars. There is a large covered terrace behind the near goal which is a popular vantage point, and not far from the attractive clubhouse. As can be seen from  Bob Lilliman's archive photographs, there were previously two covered areas behind this goal. Provision has been made outside the clubhouse for spectators to stand with drinks and watch the action (with plastic glasses of course). Opposite the stand is a huge grass bank running the length of the touchline, which is largely fenced off and out of bounds.

During the 2005/06 season a new covered area over a few steps of terracing was erected behind the goal at the far (Wood End) of the ground. It was named the Cole Warren Stand in memory of two recently deceased supporters. The remnants of the speedway track still surrounds the pitch, which make it impossible to get too close to the action, and can render the Pilot Field a bit of a soul-less place ... especially when things aren’t going too well on the pitch

In January 2007 it was reported that the club wished to sell The Pilot Field and The Firs and build a new state-of-the-art stadium elsewhere in the town. A proposal had been made to Hastings Borough Council and, with the money raised from that sale, the club intends to build a new home and a third generation astroturf pitch with facilities for other sports such as athletics. At the very least The Pilot Field may still have a few more seasons but its loss, and particularly that of the grandstand (surely worthy of listed status) would be a significant one to the county.

Directions
From A21 turn right into Junction Road. At T junction turn right into The Ridge. Go straight over two mini roundabouts, passing the Conquest hospital on the right. After 2 miles, turn right into Elphinstone Road, opposite cemetery. Ground is approximately 600 yards on the left. There is limited car parking in ground, otherwise in Elphinstone Road

Nearest railway station: Hastings (1.5 miles)

Map (link to www.streetmap.co.uk)