Shearing back as Bexhill boss

Shearing, a popular and well-respected figure in the local game, was appointed at a 25-strong club committee meeting on Wednesday night.

Secretary Bill Trivett said: "We think it's a great appointment. He's got a lot of contacts and he knows a lot of players. He's good with the lads and he makes training enjoyable."

The new man in charge of the Sussex Division Three outfit will be a familiar face to long-term Polegrove followers as he was also at the helm during their latter days as Bexhill Town towards the end of the 1990s.

In racent times, he has transformed Eastbourne United Association from the lower reaches of Sussex Division Two into an established Division One club.

He resigned from The Oval at the end of the 2005-06 campaign.

Up to six people applied to succeed Gerard Moyse, the majority of whom possessed experience at Sussex Division One level or higher. Moyse resigned last week over the prospect of players having to pay subs.

United also have a new chairman because Dave Harris has stepped aside from the post he has held since 2002 to make way for Colin Dunstall. Harris will continue to assist, however, in a fund-raising capacity.

Dunstall, whose son Will plays for United's under-18s side and broke into the first team for a while last season, said: "I'm extremely passionate about Bexhill and about football and the two have just come together. I think the club is very ambitious and I personally am very excited about the coming season."

Harris thanked everybody who "stayed loyal to the club" including Moyse, and added of Dunstall: "I think he's going to be a breath of fresh air to Bexhill United, but I would like to see, for the sake of the club, some Bexhill sponsorship."

The Polegrove will also play host to women's football next season after Hastings United Ladies became Bexhill United Ladies.

The club, which plays against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur in the London & South East Regional League, was left without a home after its use of the Pilot Field was terminated by Hastings United.

Bexhill will host the ladies' first, reserve and youth teams from September.

Pictured: United's off-the-field hierarchy, from left: Bill Trivett, Mandy Donno (ladies chairman), Colin Dunstall, Darren Owen (reserve team manager), Dave Harris, Andy Matthews (under-18s manager), Pat Naughton (vice-chairman). Inset: Dave Shearing.