Rain fails to dampen festival

That is despite the massive drop in entries which meant that only three of the nine scheduled events went ahead and the continual rain of Sunday.

Festival co-ordinator Melvyn Young said: "It went very well apart from the lack of teams and the rain. It was an enjoyable tournament and I would like to think all the teams enjoyed themselves. It was a good couple of days."

The festival kicked-off on Saturday with the under-11 age group and there was success for the host club because the Westfield team run by Mat Ball clinched the Archers of Westfield Trophy with London-based Rushingham runners-up.

Hastings Town Youth lifted the Wisdens Trophy in the under-13 category on Sunday morning from runners-up Glenco, while Sedlescombe Rangers were crowned under-15 champions the same afternoon with Hastings Town Youth second.

The latter event, however, was halted three-quarters of the way through and decided on penalties because the referee deemed conditions too dangerous. Not even Westfield's excellent draining Parish Field pitch could cope with half a month's rain in one day.

Part two of the festival will take place the weekend after next with the under-7s and under-9s scheduled for the Saturday (May 15), and the under-8s and under-10s a day later. Spaces remain available in all four age groups, contact Melvyn on (01424) 756704.

The Westfield FC May Soccer Festival has been running since 1976 and even in the recent past was one of the biggest events of its kind in the south east, attracting more than 200 teams from all over the region.

More pictures will appear in Friday's Rye and Battle Observer.