Key defender bids farewell

Rob Jordan has bid farewell to the ADA East Sussex Football League Division One high-flyers after moving from Hastings to Sheffield last weekend.

He said: “I’m from that part of the world originally and my wife’s expecting a baby so we’re moving back for family support; that’s what’s driven the move. I’ve managed to sort a new job in the process.”

Jordan moved from his Yorkshire roots to the south coast around six years ago. He lived in Brighton for about 18 months and later spent time in London, but it was when he was based in Eastbourne that he started playing for Baptists through some work colleagues.

The 30-year-old started in the seconds before progressing to the front side, which has enjoyed much success during the four years or so that Jordan has been involved.

He said: “I think it’s come an awful long way from when I started playing. We’ve been promoted a couple of times, started up a third team, the 3G (artificial pitch) at Battle has been built and we’ve played in the Christian Cup.”

Jordan, who works in finance for banking giants HSBC, was part of the Battle side which was runners-up in the National Christian Trophy last season.

In fact, he travelled down from holiday in Scarborough to play in the final at Sixfields Stadium, home of Northampton Town FC, where Baptists surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.

But the real highlight of Jordan’s time at Battle was off the field because it was through the club that he met wife Ania. Having moved to the country from Poland eight or nine years ago, Ania watched Baptists’ games because the two sons of the family she was staying with were in the team.

Jordan, whose last game for the club turned out to be the 4-1 win over Langney Wanderers II on January 11, leaves with Battle lying third in the league, and through to the quarter-finals of the National Christian Cup and Hastings & District FA Junior Cup.

“It’s a very good team,” added Jordan. “It’s a really nice club, really well run and the manager’s nice.”

Baptists manager Gary Walsh said: “He’s been a really good servant to the club. I think he was players’ player last year and a big hole has been left.”