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In Memory of  Roger Dennett

In Memory of Roger Dennett

Paul Merison15 Apr - 04:00

Roger “Sipper” Dennett, another Saxons stalwart of bygone times passed away recently on March 27th 2025.

Bill Butler and Micky Acott share their memories of Roger.

Rogers family tell us that he played from 1970 to 1982; from my memory for the most part of that period in the 1st XI. Roger was a lovely chap, always had a ready smile – it is the first thing people remember about him.

Despite the smile, Roger was a cultured yet doughty defender but it’s fair to say that racing around the pitch was never a huge part of his game. He told a tale about the season when the 1st XI was captained by Paul Masterton, then skipper of Sussex who bought with him notions like ‘stretching’ and ‘warming up’ before the game… and don’t forget, this was the era when we used to meet in the Fountain along at Marina for a beer or two before the game. On being asked to partake in such newfangled activities, Roger informed his skipper “I have a finite amount of energy… you can either use it before the game or during the game.” He was released to, as he put it, “Potter about in the D warming up the goalie.”

As Michael Acott, the last man playing from that era, said “With Roger (Dennett) and Derek (Addrison) playing in front of me (in goal) we had a formidable defense.” I remember watching the 1st XI at this time and Roger read the game so well that it always looked as if attackers ran up the pitch and then gave him the ball… like some sort of training exercise. Not an easy skill. Micky recalls that he always liked to be involved in the game and would spend a fair bit of time in the opposition half, usually getting a few goals from open play each season. And on the odd occasion he got caught out up the pitch leaving Micky and Derek to clear up, he would arrive back in defense saying, “We make a great team!”. He was of course not alone in this playing trait; I could pen an interesting column remembering the others…

Off the hockey pitch Roger played cricket for Hastings Priory 2nd XI and earned his corn as Publicity and Entertainments Manager for Hastings Borough Council. Having him at the centre of HBC was a great help in getting our grass pitches looked after and doubtless assisted in keeping the legendary “Mayor’s Reception” as part of the Easter 4th XI and September 1st XI festivals that we ran back then.

He was a local at the Black Horse Inn, Telham back in the day when Eddie Dunford (a great supporter of the club) was landlord, along with John Bollom, John Mayo, John Seekings, Paul Meredith Snr. and Alan Blackwell amongst others – the Black Horse Christmas lunches in those days were epic occasions lasting hours… He was a good man, and we salute him.

Bill Butler, Vice President SSHC

Photo: Taken at the opening of the ill-fated Bulverhythe clubhouse sometime in the late 70s when the 1st XI played a Sussex side.

Back row from the left: John Stewart (future 1st XI skipper), Derek Addrison (former 1st XI skipper), Roger Dennett, Michael Acott (future 1st XI skipper), Paul Masterton (1st XI and Sussex skipper), Richard Tanner (unbelievable player)

Front row from the left: John Matthews, Nigel Harper, Steve Boswell (amazing centre forward), Simon Bollom (RAF and Combined Services skipper), Phil Gregory (future 1st XI skipper), Tim Jones

Further reading