The end of the 1984 85 season was the last in the history of the first club to be called Hastings United and this last traumatic season is  remembered and reviewed twenty five years on.
The Town’s introduction to professional football had occurred in a blaze of glory in 1948 when the Hastings Council decided to grant a lease of the Pilot Field to the newly formed Hastings United, ending the occupation by the existing tenants Hastings and St Leonards. The demarcation between the amateur and professional game was strong, at least in name, and the changes that Summer created a deep divide between football loving residents of the Town.
United had blossomed in the 1950s and had caught national attention with FA Cup giant killing exploits, including the defeat of Swindon Town at the Pilot Field in December 1953 and a subsequent enthralling tie at home to Norwich City. In this memorable match six goals were shared in front of a ground record attendance of 12,727, before Hastings lost the replay at Carrow Road. All of that was a distant memoryat the beginning of the 1984/85 season with United preparing for their season in the Southern Premier League.
The pre season preparations were thorough and United were able to announce four prestigious home friendlies against Crystal Palace, Millwall, Southend and Portsmouth. Such sides were a stark contrast to some of the outposts listed  in the forthcoming  league fixtures. These included clubs who have subsequently made their impact at a higher level like Cheltenham Town and the somewhat less well known Shepshed Charterhouse,
Former United player Gerry Boon was by then Manager of Hastings United, the club having dispensed of the services of former Manager Peter Sillett. The squad that he had assembled by then had largely been disbanded. Still in the squad were defender Peter Petkovic and striker Wayne Peacock, but the remaining squad players were locally based players. The same season saw the continued emergence of local rivals Hastings Town and competition grew between the two clubs as to who was able to attract the best local players. By a cruel twist of fate United and Town were drawn to play one another in September 1984 in the FA Cup and United just about demonstrated their superiority with goals from Wayne Peacock and Peter Petkovic  in front of  764 supporters.
The club battled on the field against the threat of relegation and off the field, sought to combat  the  financial threat . United twice survived winding up threats for unpaid tax bills and Hastings Council began moves to withdraw the Pilot Field lease. Supporters gathered at the Town Hall in March when it was disclosed that United’s debts were close to £100,000, about half of which related to the Squash club complex which had been financed through a £52,000 bank loan of which the Council were guarantors. Accounts had not been produced by the Club for May 1983.
In May Chairman Mick Piper met with 100 supporters who heard £30,000 was needed immediately to save the club. An invitation for individuals to each give £1,000 was given. In the background it was also revealed that club officials had begun talks with neighbours Hastings Town around the possibility of forming a single club. The sale of the Squash Courts enabled Chairman Mick Piper to declare in April “As a debt free club, probably one of the few, we should be able to attract new directors and we can grow in stature from there.” In the end, this was not sufficient and the club surrendered the lease to the council, and Town accepted the invitation to take this over
Achievements on the field were of secondary attention but for the record relegation was avoided, thanks to a victory over Welling United in the final league game. United were to win their final match in this era against Banstead in the Gilbert Rice Floodlight Cup, with goals coming from Wayne Peacock and John Daubney.
The chapter began with Hastings United ousting local rivals Hastings and St Leonards from the Pilot Field, through the assistance of the Council. The chapter ended with the Club surrendering the lease to the Council to enable local rivals Hastings Town ( later to become Hastings United) to take their place.
Perhaps the last word should go to Tony Cosens, the then Secretary of Hastings United. He resigned from his post and was appointed by Hastings Town, conditional on their admission to the Southern League. Commenting on the final turbulent week’s activity he commented “This looks like the end”
Details regarding the first Hastings United are recorded in the book Hastings Reunited by Roger Sinden, on sale in the Supporters Club Shop. All sale proceeds benefit the club.