Hadlow United Vrs Gardeners Arms 

10th August 2003 (Pre-Season Friendly)

With the weather hitting record temperatures today United were confronted with the massive task of taking on Gardeners Arms FC.  Gardeners, winners of division 2 last season, brought a strong squad along and the looked like they meant business from the off.  Jim Cook had a full squad to select from apart from "wide-boy" Dave Carlton (who has more holidays than Judith Chalmers).  United were on the wrong end of a 5-0 score line and had  few chances in front of goal.  Gardeners played simple football with devastating effect at times and United were left chasing shadows, this was in part, matched by the commitment and a few good passages of play from United.  Players were swapped regularly to combat the sweltering heat, and, the game was stopped at regular intervals for players to top up with fluid.  Although the score line was not in Hadlow's favour a lot was learnt from this game and all in all this was a good  learning curve.

This was a game that United were never tipped to win and was arranged by Jim Cook to make his troops work, and all things considered, they came out the other side of the match a stronger squad.  Cook was able to try different formations and personnel and United stand in good stead for the new season.