Eastbourne Town F.C.

Full name	Eastbourne Town Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Yellows, The Town
Founded	1881 (as Devonshire Park FC)
Ground	The Saffrons, Eastbourne
Capacity	3,000 (200 Seated)
Chairman	David Jenkins
Manager	John Lambert
League	Southern Combination Premier Division
2017–18	Southern Combination Premier Division, 5th of 20
Home colours	Away colours

Eastbourne Town Football Club are an English football club based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The club is a FA Chartered Standard Community club affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association.^[1] The club was founded in 1881 as Devonshire Park FC and is the oldest senior football club in Sussex. The club are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at The Saffrons.

History

Early history

Founded in 1881 as Devonshire Park Football Club, named after the original ground they played at (now the venue for the Eastbourne International Tennis tournament), they moved to their current home The Saffrons in 1886.^[2] A home they have shared since with Eastbourne Cricket Club and Eastbourne Hockey Club. They changed their name to Eastbourne F.C. in 1889 as the town was being expanded after the railway arrived into the town.^[2] Although at the time they were not in a league, they competed in the Sussex Senior Cup reaching the final ten times between 1889 and 1903, winning eight times in that period.^[3]

They were founding members of the Southern Amateur Football League in 1907 in which they remained in until 1946, winning the Sussex Senior Cup three more times in that period. They briefly left in 1920 and was one of the founding teams of the Sussex County Football League, in which they stayed for one season and returned to the Southern Amateur Football League in 1921.^[4] 1946 saw them join the Corinthian League.^[4] In 1953, Eastbourne played their local rivals Hastings United in the FA Cup, although they lost 7–2 they recorded their record attendance of 7,378.^[2]^[5]

In 1963 the Corinthian League merged with the Athenian League^[6] Eastbourne were placed into the first division of the new league and stayed there for the first three seasons before relegation into the second division. In 1971, they changed their name from Eastbourne F.C. to the present name. The 1975–76 season saw Eastbourne reach the 5th round of the FA Vase. During the same season they nearly amalgamated with league rivals Eastbourne United but opted to re-join the Sussex County League.^[5]

Sussex County League and Isthmian League

Unable to continue in the Athenian League, due to falling attendances, they joined the Sussex County League in 1976.^[2]^[7] Their first season in the new league was successful, winning the Division 1 title. They came close to the title again in the 1984/85 and 1985/86 seasons, finishing third on both occasions.

In 2001 they were relegated into Division 2 after 25 years. They did not manage to gain an immediate promotion back in the following season, but achieved a return to Division 1 at the end of the 2002–03 season after finishing in second place.

In the 2006–07 season, they became Sussex County League champions again. They secured the title on the last day of the season by defeating Oakwood 6–1 away from home to pip Whitehawk at the post, earning promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South.^[8]

In 2014 they were relegated back to the Sussex County League. During the 2015-16 season they finished runners up in the Sussex County League and reached the 3rd qualifying round in the FA Cup, the furthest they had reached in 47 years.^[9]

Other teams

For the 2017-18 season the club runs two youth teams (U21, U18) and a ladies' team.^[10]

Supporters

Eastbourne Town's support includes two supporters groups Pier Pressure and the Beachy Head Ultras. Started in 2015, the groups follow the European ultras tradition and were formed by local fans disengaged with modern professional football. The clubs supporters groups have regularly backed anti-discrimination and anti-homophobia initiatives, amongst many other initiatives within the community.

The groups have gained attention for their graphic work for the club (programmes, merchandising and promotional posters) using an eclectic range of visuals relating to Eastbourne including Throbbing Gristle's 20 Jazz Funk Greats, co-author of the Communist Manifesto; Friedrich Engels (whose ashes were scattered in the town) and Aleister Crowley (who edited a Chess column for the local newspaper).^[11]^[12]

Ground

The Saffrons, Meads Road End, December 2014.

Eastbourne Town play their home games at The Saffrons, Compton Place Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1EA. Eastbourne Town have played football here since 1886, when the then Devonshire Park Football Club moved grounds from their former namesake (now the venue for the Eastbourne International tennis tournament).

Honours

Sussex Senior Challenge Cup:
- Winners (12): 1889–90, 1890–91, 1893–94, 1894–95, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1921–22, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1952–53
- Runners Up (10): 1892–93, 1896-97, 1906-07, 1920-21, 1922-23, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1950-51, 1972-73, 1977-78

Sussex County League:
- Champions (2): 1976–77, 2006–07
- Runners Up (1): 2015–16

The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup^[13]
- Winners (6): 1932–33, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2014–15
- Runners Up (5): 1919–20, 1925–26, 1945–46, 1955–56, 1963–64

Notable former players

Former Eastbourne Town players who have also played in the Football League or Premier League include:

Club records

Record attendance: 7,378, FA Cup Qualifying v Hastings United, 1953–54
Best League Performance: Isthmian League Division One South, 11th, 2012–13
Best FA Cup performance: 4th Qualifying Round, 1967–68
Best FA Vase performance: 5th Round, 1975–76

References

↑ "FA Charter Standard Clubs Roll of Honour". Sussex County Football Association. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
1 2 3 4 "A Short History of Eastbourne Town Football Club". Eastbourne Town F.C. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ Parris, Keith. "The Sussex Senior Challenge Cup: Past Winners". sussexcountyleague.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
1 2 "Football History Database:Eastbourne". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
1 2 Bauckham, David. "Eastbourne Town F.C." Nomad Online. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ "Corinthian League". Non League Matters. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ "Football Club History Databse: Eastbourne Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ Griggs, Howard (2007-05-08). "Eastbourne Town clinch title". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ "Borough and Town both target some FA Cup glory". Eastbourne Herald. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ "Other Teams". Eastbourne Town F.C. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
↑ ""Non-league football is our punk rock" – Alex Brown's work for Eastbourne Town FC". It’s Nice That. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
↑ "Eastbourne Town FC – Alex Brown « The Modern Game". www.themoderngame.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
↑ "R.U.R. Cup Final Results – Sussex County Football Association". Sussexcountyleague.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-11.

External links

Official website
Eastbourne at the Football Club History Database
Eastbourne Town at the Football Club History Database

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "FA Charter Standard Clubs Roll of Honour". Sussex County Football Association. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-01-30.

[A_Short_History_of_Eastbourne_Town_Football_Club-2] 1 2 3 4 "A Short History of Eastbourne Town Football Club". Eastbourne Town F.C. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[The_Sussex_Senior_Challenge_Cup:_Past_Winners-3] Parris, Keith. "The Sussex Senior Challenge Cup: Past Winners". sussexcountyleague.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Football_History_Database:Eastbourne-4] 1 2 "Football History Database:Eastbourne". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Eastbourne_Town_F.C.-5] 1 2 Bauckham, David. "Eastbourne Town F.C." Nomad Online. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Corinthian_League-6] "Corinthian League". Non League Matters. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Football_Club_History_Databse:_Eastbourne_Town-7] "Football Club History Databse: Eastbourne Town". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Eastbourne_Town_clinch_title-8] Griggs, Howard (2007-05-08). "Eastbourne Town clinch title". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Borough_and_Town_both_target_some_FA_Cup_glory-9] "Borough and Town both target some FA Cup glory". Eastbourne Herald. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[Other_Teams-10] "Other Teams". Eastbourne Town F.C. Retrieved 2016-04-07.

[11] ""Non-league football is our punk rock" – Alex Brown's work for Eastbourne Town FC". It’s Nice That. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2017-07-25.

[12] "Eastbourne Town FC – Alex Brown « The Modern Game". www.themoderngame.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-25.

[The_Sussex_Royal_Ulster_Rifles_Charity_Cup-13] "R.U.R. Cup Final Results – Sussex County Football Association". Sussexcountyleague.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2012-11-11.

2018–19 Isthmian League
Premier Division	AFC Hornchurch Bishop's Stortford Bognor Regis Town Brightlingsea Regent Burgess Hill Town Carshalton Athletic Corinthian-Casuals Dorking Wanderers Enfield Town Folkestone Invicta Haringey Borough Harlow Town Kingstonian Leatherhead Lewes Margate Merstham Potters Bar Town Tonbridge Angels Whitehawk Wingate & Finchley Worthing
North Division	AFC Sudbury Aveley Barking Basildon United Bowers & Pitsea Brentwood Town Bury Town Canvey Island Coggeshall Town Dereham Town Felixstowe & Walton United Grays Athletic Great Wakering Rovers Heybridge Swifts Maldon & Tiptree Mildenhall Town Romford Soham Town Rangers Tilbury Witham Town
South Central Division	Ashford Town (Middx) Bedfont Sports Bracknell Town Chalfont St Peter Cheshunt Chipstead Egham Town FC Romania Hanwell Town Hayes & Yeading United Hertford Town Marlow Molesey Northwood South Park Tooting & Mitcham United Uxbridge Waltham Abbey Ware Westfield
South East Division	Ashford United Cray Wanderers East Grinstead Town Faversham Town Greenwich Borough Guernsey Hastings United Haywards Heath Town Herne Bay Horsham Hythe Town Phoenix Sports Ramsgate Sevenoaks Town Sittingbourne Thamesmead Town Three Bridges VCD Athletic Whitstable Town Whyteleafe
Seasons	1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1919 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19

2017–18 Southern Combination League
Premier Division	AFC Uckfield Town Arundel Broadbridge Heath Chichester City Crawley Down Gatwick Eastbourne Town Eastbourne United Association East Preston Hassocks Horsham YMCA Lancing Langney Wanderers Lingfield Little Common Loxwood Newhaven Pagham Peacehaven & Telscombe Saltdean United Shoreham
Division One	AFC Varndeanians Alfold Bexhill United Billingshurt Hailsham Town Littlehampton Town Midhurst & Easebourne Mile Oak Oakwood St Francis Rangers Seaford Town Selsey Sidlesham Southwick Steyning Town Storrington Wick Worthing United
Division Two	Angmering Seniors Bosham Brighton Electricity Copthorne Cowfold Ferring Jarvis Brook Littlehampton United Montpelier Villa Roffey Rottingdean Village Rustington Upper Beeding Westfield Worthing Town
Seasons	1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19