Sidley secure services of Baker

The striker/attacking midfielder shot them to the Division One and John O'Hara Challenge Cup double back in 2001 and has since played for St Leonards, Eastbourne Borough and Rye & Iden United.

Baker is the third high-profile capture that Sidley have made this summer following the arrivals of Dominic Clarke and Wayne Farrier.

"I'm really happy about that," said manager Liam Barham. "He was one of the main men I was after this summer and he wants to play for us. He looks really, really fit and sharp and I'm looking forward to watching him play because he's a natural goalscorer."

Barham, who says preparations to date "couldn't have gone any better", takes an 18 man squad to Division Two Wealden for their opening friendly on Saturday July 23.

Bexhill United, meanwhile, have undergone a mini off-field shake-up. Bill Trivett has been joined as manager by Jason Robson, who was also installed as secretary at a committee meeting on Wednesday night following the resignation for personal reasons of secretary and joint second team boss Chas Tibbutt. Darren Owen will now become the sole man in charge of the reserves.

On the field, pretty much all of last season's squad has now put pen to paper for the 2005-06 Sussex Division Two campaign in addition to former Rye & Iden United reserve team player Chris Catt.

Joe Cornwall trained with them for the first time on Tuesday night after returning from America and is expected to sign soon, but Trivett admits that "it sounds as though" Wes Tate has gone to Wealden. Bexhill's scheduled friendly at Uckfield Town tomorrow has been called off by their opponents.

Little Common have added Crowborough Athletic pair Brian Ray and Sam Hoover to the squad that finished last season, with the exception of Adam Day, who has returned to Sidley.

"I'm just quite pleased we've signed last year's squad on," said chairman Ken Cherry ahead of his side's return to Sussex Division Three. "Things are going very well at the moment. They've all been working hard at training and we're not doing too badly for numbers, quite a few of the youngsters (from their under-18s side that will play in the Sussex County Youth League this season) are still coming down."

Sidley United's early season fixtures (FA Cup tie v Pagham to be confirmed): August 13 East Preston (a) 3pm, August 16 Ringmer (a) 7.30pm, August 30 Eastbourne United Association (a) 7.45pm, September 3 St Francis Rangers (a) Sussex Senior Cup 1st round 3pm, tba Wick/Arundel (a) John O'Hara Challenge Cup 2nd round.

Bexhill United's early season fixtures: August 13 Steyning Town (a) 3pm, August 20 Broadbridge Heath (a) 3pm, August 23 Saltdean United (a) 7.45pm, August 27 Oakwood (a) 3pm, August 29 East Grinstead Town (a) 11am, September 10 Southwick (a) RUR Charity Cup 1st round 3pm, September 27 Sidlesham (h) Sussex Senior Cup 1st round 3pm.

Little Common's early season fixtures: August 20 Forest (a) 3pm, August 27 Pease Pottage Village (a) 3pm.

Sussex Intermediate Cup 1st round draw (all matches to be played on October 15): Bexhill United II v Midhurst & Easebourne II, Little Common v Rottingdean Village, Sidley United II v Central Sussex College.