Matt & Jacob

On the 22nd August 2015 the club was hit by tragedy when Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt were lost in the Shoreham Air Disaster. The team did not play again until 6th September, when they faced East Preston in an FA Vase tie. The match was played in front of more than 1000 spectators and the Mavericks won the game 2-1 in dramatic fashion. 

Every year the Sussex County FA holds memorial games in loving memory of Matt & Jacob. Matt & Jacob will always be remembered at the club. We have built the memorial stand to honour their name and we have the memorial garden which was constructed through donations of materials, and labour from local tradespersons, and businesses. Within the club house you will also see many other tributes dedicated to Matt & Jacob.

In 2025, to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the Shoreham Air Crash, the Mavericks announced that the number 1 and 11 shirts would be permanently retired in Matt and Jacob’s memory. The shirts were presented to the Grimstone and Schilt families at the annual memorial match so they are theirs forever.