Hastings United Are Back with Brad Barry as their New Captain
The new football season has arrived, and there’s a real excitement in the air around Hastings United as they’ve kicked off their 2025/26campaign in the Isthmian League South East Division.
This year Lightning Fibre is delighted to announce we’re sponsoring someone who’s set to become a real fan favourite: the highly respected new club captain, Brad Barry.
Brad Barry: A Local Lad Leading the Way
Brad’s name might ring a bell – he’s the nephew of Gareth Barry, the Premier League’s all-time appearance holder.
Born and raised in Hastings, Brad has spent much of his career playing for clubs around the country, including Swindon Town and Chesterfield. But now he’s back, and he’s wearing the armband.
Brad told us he was keen to return to his roots and spend more time with family after years on the road. Hastings United gives him the perfect chance to lead his hometown club from the heart of the pitch, where he’ll be commanding from his midfield position.
It’s his first time playing for the U’s, yet he’s already settling in like he’s been there for years, and feels confident this could be a massive season for Hastings.
Big Games Right from the Off
Hastings United will be getting stuck in with an opening fixture against Erith Town. And the big games keep coming, with two huge home matches just around the corner:
- Wednesday 13 August – vs. Eastbourne Town (Isthmian League clash)
- Saturday 16 August – vs. Harrow Borough (FA Cup Preliminary Round)
If you’ve never been down to The Pilot Field, now’s the perfect time to experience it. Great football, great atmosphere – and proper local passion on show.
More Than Just Match Day
We recently popped down to one of the team’s training sessions to meet a few faces behind the scenes – including Dean White, one of the club’s owners, and Lorna White, Commercial Manager, who is clearly one of the club’s biggest champions.
Lorna talked us through some of the plans for the club’s future – and they’re exciting. There are redevelopment plans for after the25-26 season which will see improved facilities for players and the wider community that Hastings United serves.
900+ Season Tickets Sold – and Counting
One thing that really stood out is just how much support the club already has.
Over 900 season tickets have been snapped up, and that number’s still rising. You can buy individual game tickets and season tickets on the club website.
Supporting the Hastings Community
At Lightning Fibre, we love being part of the Hastings community – and we can’t wait to be supporting the U’s this season. And it’s not just football, we also sponsor local events including the Pirate and Comedy Festivals and charities too.
Brad's a Fan of Your Most Local Broadband Company
Lightning Fibre is your most local broadband company in Hastings – and Brad is a big fan.
He switched to Lightning Fibre’s high speed, full fibre broadband a while ago, to ensure he has a reliable service for his family, business and streaming on Twitch!
Contact Lightning Fibre’s friendly local team on 01323 380260 (open daily from 8am–8pm) to find out more.
We can help you upgrade to full fibre broadband or make an easy switch to our service - that is rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Here’s to an exciting season ahead.
Up the U’s! 👊⚽
