U’s plan on flying to north east

The U’s feel that would be ideal preparation for their big FA Cup third round tie away to Middlesbrough on Saturday January 5.

United player-manager Sean Ray said: “We’re looking to fly up on the Friday, train at Newcastle and have lunch there as well. It’s 90 per cent certain. We want to give the boys the best facilities we can.”

Club chairman Dave Walters confirmed he had provisionally booked the flights and overnight accommodation for the squad.

It’s the first time in the 118-year history of the present day Hastings United that the club has reached the third round proper. The old Hastings United, which went out of business in 1985, did it twice in the 1950s.

United have won six matches to get there, three of them against higher level clubs, having not won a single FA Cup tie for six years prior to this season.

The remarkable run has earned United a six-figure cash windfall, including more than £72,000 from the FA’s prize fund, which will secure the club’s short-term future.