Sussex Senior Challenge Cup

Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
Organising body Sussex County Football Association
Founded 1882 (1882)
Region Sussex
Number of teams 50 (2016-17)
Current champions Brighton & Hove Albion
(14th title)
Most successful club(s) Worthing
(21 titles)
2016-17 Sussex Senior Cup

The Sussex Senior Cup is an annual association football knock-out cup competition for men's football clubs in the English county of Sussex and is the county senior cup of the Sussex FA. Its official name is the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup. For sponsorship purposes, from 2012 to 2018 it is also known as the Parafix Sussex Senior Cup after a new three-year sponsorship deal was agreed in 2015.[1]

First played in the 1882-83 season, shortly after the founding of the Sussex County Football Association in 1882, the first winners of the cup were Brighton Rangers. Other teams who won the cup in its early history are Burgess Hill, Lancing College and Eastbourne.

The team with most title wins in the competition's history are Worthing but teams who have been successful in the cup recently are Sussex's two Football League teams, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crawley Town. Bognor Regis Town won the competition a record five times in succession between 1980 and 1984.

Winners also qualify for a place in the Sussex FA Community Shield match, traditionally the opening match each season in Sussex football. Brighton & Hove Albion are the current holders of the Sussex Senior Cup, having beaten Crawley Town 2–1 in the 2018 final in a repeat of the 2017 final.

History

Shortly after the Sussex County Football Association was founded in 1882 the inaugural competition of the Sussex Senior Club took place for the 1882-83 season. Brighton Rangers won the final of the first competition 3-0. Founder members of Sussex County FA include the public schools of Lancing College, Brighton College and Ardingly College and their old-boy teams dominated the cup early on, along with clubs such as Burgess Hill and Eastbourne, whose teams were made up of upper and middle class players.[2]

The cup was initially contested only by amateur clubs. At the time Sussex's only professional club, Brighton and Hove Albion tried to enter the competition in 1905 but had to withdraw because of clashing dates.[2] Albion won the Sussex Wartime Cup in 1943 but only entered the normal competition in 1946.[2] Albion entered the competition again in 1975-76 following the abolition of the distinction between amateur and professional clubs in the English game.[2]

Following the 1913–14 competition, the cup was suspended due to the First World War, and resumed in 1919–20.[2] During the Second World War the winners of the Sussex Wartime Cup were awarded the Sussex Senior Cup. The Sussex Wartime Cup took place on a league basis and a competition was held in every year during the Second World War except for 1940-41 when no competition for the Sussex Senior Cup was held.

Under Jack Pearce, Bognor Regis Town dominated the Sussex Senior Cup in the 1980s, winning the cup six times, including a record five times in succession, and finishing runners-up once.

From 1950–51 the cup final took place at the Goldstone Ground every year until 1995 when Brighton sold their ground to developers. A crowd of over 7,000, the cup's highest attendance in recent years, saw the 2010–11 season final take place at Brighton's new American Express Community Stadium on 16 July 2011. It was the first competitive match to be played there. Brighton won the game 2–0 with Gary Hart scoring the first ever goal at the new ground. The cup final has taken place there every year since 2011.

Eligibility

The Sussex Senior Cup is open to all men's senior clubs in the historic county of Sussex that are affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. In 2016–17 this was 50 clubs that play in the top ten tiers of the English football league system (Premier League, English Football League, National League, National League South, Isthmian League, Southern Combination Football League Premier Division, Southern Combination Football League Division One and Southern Counties East Premier Division).

Competition format

Overview

Beginning in September, the competition proceeds as a knockout tournament throughout its duration, consisting of three rounds, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, usually in May. A system of byes ensures that the highest placed 14 clubs in Sussex enter the competition in the second round. For reasons of fairness to other clubs, the Brighton & Hove Albion reserve team competes in the Sussex Senior Cup as, depending on season, the main squad are up to Football Championship level, many stages of the football league pyramid ahead of other teams.

Distribution

The tournament is organised so that 32 clubs remain by the second round. 35 of the 37 clubs in the Southern Combination League Premier Division and Division One (tiers 9 and 10 of the English football league system) and one club from the Southern Counties East Premier Division (tier 9) enter in the first round. In the second round, the two highest ranked Southern Combination League Premier Division clubs from 2015–16 (Eastbourne Town and Peacehaven & Telscombe) enter the cup, as well as Bognor Regis Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burgess Hill Town, Crawley Town, East Grinstead Town, Eastbourne Borough, Hastings United, Horsham, Lewes, Three Bridges, Whitehawk and Worthing who all receive a bye to the second round.

Clubs entering in this round Clubs advancing from previous round
First round
(36 clubs)
Second round
(32 clubs)
  • 18 winners from first round
Third round
(16 clubs)
  • 16 winners from second round
Fourth round
(8 clubs)
  • 8 winners from third round
Semi-finals
(4 clubs)
  • 4 winners from quarter-finals
Final
(2 clubs)
  • 2 winners from semi-finals

Qualification for subsequent competitions

Sussex Community Shield

The winners of the Sussex Senior Cup traditionally play the winners of the Sussex County Football League (since 2015-2016 the Southern Combination Football League) for the Sussex Community Shield (also known as the Sussex County FA Community Shield. The 2016 competition saw Horsham, the winners of the 2015-16 SCFL play Eastbourne Borough, the winners of the 2015-16 Sussex Senior Cup.[3] Eastbourne Borough won the 2016 Sussex Community Shield 3-0.[4]

Winners and finalists

1883-1900[5]

Season Winners Runners-up Final result Venue Attendance Notes
1882-83Brighton RangersBurgess Hill3-0Preston ParkN/A
1883-84Burgess HillArdingly College2-0Preston ParkN/A
1884-85Burgess HillLancing College5-1Preston ParkN/A
1885-86Burgess HillLancing College2-0Preston ParkN/A
1886-87Lancing CollegeBrighton College4-3County GroundN/A
1887-88Lancing CollegeBrighton College2-1County GroundN/A
1888-89Brighton CollegeBurgess Hill1-0County GroundN/A
1889-90EastbourneChichester4-0County GroundN/A
1890-91Eastbournewon on a league basis
1891-92Brighton HornetsWorthing5-3County GroundN/A
1892-93WorthingEastbourne2-1County GroundN/A
1893-94EastbourneSouthwick2-1County GroundN/A
1894-95EastbourneSouthwick1-0County GroundN/A
1895-96Royal Irish RiflesSouthwick4-0County GroundN/A
1896-97SouthwickEastbourne1-0County Ground7,000-8,000[6]
1897-98Eastbourne SwiftsHastings and St Leonards3-0County GroundN/A
1898-99EastbourneHastings and St Leonards3-0County GroundN/A
1899-1900EastbourneChichester3-0County GroundN/A

1901-1945[5]

Season Winners Runners-up Final result Venue Attendance Notes
1900-01EastbourneBrighton and Hove Rangers3-1County GroundN/A
1901-02ShorehamHailsham3-0County GroundN/A
1902-03EastbourneHastings and St Leonards7-0County GroundN/A
1903-04WorthingSt Leonards2-1County GroundN/A
1904-05Eastbourne Old TownShoreham3-0County GroundN/A
1905-06ShorehamHove2-1Goldstone GroundN/A
1906-07HoveEastbourne4-0Goldstone GroundN/A
1907-08WorthingHelmston3-1Goldstone GroundN/A
1908-09HoveNot known?N/A
1909-10HoveChichester3-1Goldstone GroundN/A
1910-11SouthwickLewes1-0Goldstone GroundN/A
1911-12St Leonards AmateursEast Grinstead4-1Goldstone GroundN/A
1912-13SouthwickLewes3-2Goldstone GroundN/A
1913-14WorthingEastbourne St Mary's4-0Goldstone GroundN/A
1919-20WorthingSignalling School2-1The Dripping PanN/A
1920-21Royal Corps of SignalsEastbourne1-0The Dripping PanN/A
1921-22EastbourneWorthing2-1The Dripping PanN/A
1922-23WorthingEastbourne2-0The Dripping PanN/A
1923-24Royal Corps of SignalsSouthwick2-0The Dripping PanN/A
1924-25SouthwickShoreham2-1The Dripping PanN/A
1925-26ChichesterEastbourne5-1The Dripping PanN/A
1926-27WorthingChichester3-1The Dripping PanN/A
1927-28SouthwickEastbourne3-0The Dripping PanN/A
1928-29WorthingSouthwick2-0The Dripping PanN/A
1929-30SouthwickEastbourne Old Comrades3-0?N/A
1930-31SouthwickLewes3-0Trafalgar GroundN/A
1931-32EastbourneLewes3-2aetTrafalgar GroundN/A
1932-33EastbourneHastings and St Leonards3-1The Dripping PanN/A
1933-34HorshamLewes4-1Woodside RoadN/A
1934-35WorthingHastings and St Leonards2-1The Dripping PanN/A
1935-36Hastings & St. LeonardsLewes2-0The SaffronsN/A
1936-37SouthwickHaywards Heath8-3?N/A
1937-38Hastings & St. LeonardsHaywards Heath4-1?N/A
1938-39HorshamWorthing3-1Goldstone GroundN/A
1939-40WorthingHastings & St. Leonards1-1aet
4-1		The Dripping Pan
Goldstone Ground		N/A
1941-42Haywards Heath Townwon on a league basis
1942-43Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. Juniorswon on a league basis
1943-44RAF (Ford)won on a league basis
1944-45Worthingwon on a league basis

Post-1945 winners[5]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Season Winners Runners-up Final result Venue Attendance Notes
1945–46WorthingHastings and St. Leonards3–2 (on aggregate)??N/A
1946–47WorthingHaywards Heath1–0The Dripping PanN/A
1947–48SouthwickHorsham2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1948–49Littlehampton TownSouthwick3–2Queen StreetN/A
1949–50HorshamSkyways F.C.2–1Woodside RoadN/A
1950–51Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old BoysEastbourne1–0Woodside RoadN/A
1951–52WorthingBognor Regis Town3–2Goldstone GroundN/A
1952–53EastbourneNewhaven2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1953–54HorshamWhitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1954–55Bognor Regis TownHorsham2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1955–56Bognor Regis TownEastbourne United3–2Goldstone GroundN/A
1956–57WorthingEastbourne United2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1957–58Haywards HeathWorthing2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1958–59WorthingCrawley Town2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1959–60Eastbourne UnitedBognor Regis Town1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1960–61WorthingHorsham4–3Goldstone GroundN/A
1961–62WhitehawkEastbourne United4–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1962–63Eastbourne UnitedSelsey1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1963–64Eastbourne UnitedLewes2–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1964–65LewesLittlehampton Town6–3Goldstone GroundN/A
1965–66Eastbourne UnitedChichester City5–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1966–67Eastbourne UnitedHorsham2–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1967–68SouthwickHorsham5–3 A.E.TGoldstone GroundN/A
1968–69Eastbourne UnitedHorsham3–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1969–70Littlehampton TownWorthing1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1970–71LewesEastbourne United2–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1971–72HorshamWhitehawk2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1972–73RingmerEastbourne Town1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1973–74HorshamWorthing2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1974–75WorthingLewes1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1975–76HorshamHastings United F.C. (1948)2–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1976–77WorthingSouthwick2–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1977–78WorthingEastbourne Town4–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1978–79Hastings United F.C. (1948)Horsham1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1979–80Bognor Regis TownLewes1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1980–81Bognor Regis TownRingmer4–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1981–82Bognor Regis TownPeacehaven & Telscombe1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1982–83Bognor Regis TownLewes3–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1983–84Bognor Regis TownLittlehampton Town1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1984–85LewesBognor Regis Town2–2, replay 2–1Goldstone Ground/replay at Woodside RoadN/A
1985–86Steyning TownHastings Town1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1986–87Bognor Regis TownArundel1–1, replay 3–0Goldstone Ground/replay at Woodside RoadN/A
1987–88Brighton & Hove AlbionLewes3–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1988–89Steyning TownHastings Town3–2Goldstone GroundN/A
1989–90Crawley TownEastbourne United2–1Goldstone Ground1,531
1990–91Crawley TownLittlehampton Town2–1Goldstone Ground1,682
1991–92Brighton & Hove AlbionLangney Sports1–0Goldstone Ground1,336
1992–93WickOakwood3–1Goldstone GroundN/A
1993–94Brighton & Hove AlbionPeacehaven & Telscombe1–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1994–95Brighton & Hove AlbionBognor Regis Town2–0Goldstone GroundN/A
1995–96Hastings TownCrawley Town1–0Woodside Road1,153
1996–97St LeonardsSaltdean United2–1Woodside RoadN/A
1997–98Hastings TownBurgess Hill Town2–1Broadfield Stadium1,256
1998–99WorthingHastings Town3–0Broadfield StadiumN/A
1999-00Brighton & Hove AlbionHastings Town1–1, 4–3 pensPriory Lane1,355[7]
2000–01LewesBognor Regis Town2–1Priory Lane1,031[8]
2001–02Eastbourne BoroughLewes2–1Priory Lane1,588[9]
2002–03Crawley TownEastbourne Borough0–0, 6–5 pensPriory Lane1,705[10]
2003–04Brighton & Hove AlbionWorthing2–0Priory Lane1,022[11]
2004–05Crawley TownRingmer2–0Priory Lane1,009[12]
2005–06LewesHorsham3–1Priory Lane880[13]
2006–07Brighton & Hove AlbionWorthing2–0Priory Lane873[14]
2007–08Brighton & Hove AlbionCrawley Town1–0Priory Lane685[15]
2008–09Eastbourne BoroughBrighton & Hove Albion0–0, 1–0 A.E.TPriory Lane1,204[16]
2009–10Brighton & Hove AlbionBognor Regis Town4–0Priory Lane605[17]
2010–11Brighton & Hove AlbionEastbourne Borough2–0Falmer Stadium7,104[18]
2011–12WhitehawkCrawley Down2–1Falmer Stadium1,896[19]
2012–13Brighton & Hove AlbionBognor Regis Town4–0Falmer Stadium2,435[20]
2013–14Peacehaven & TelscombeBognor Regis Town3–0Falmer Stadium2,003[21]
2014–15WhitehawkLewes5–0Falmer Stadium2,585[22]
2015-16Eastbourne BoroughWorthing1-0Falmer Stadium2,899[23]
2016-17 Brighton & Hove Albion Crawley Town 0-0, 3-0 A.E.T Falmer Stadium 1,316
2017-18 Brighton & Hove Albion Crawley Town 2-1 Falmer Stadium 1,503 [24]

Venues

The final of the Sussex Senior Cup has been played at Falmer Stadium since 2011

For rounds before the semi-final stage, the venue of each match is determined when the fixtures are drawn; the first club drawn in a fixture is usually the home team and matches are played at the club's home ground. The semi-finals are played at a neutral venue, usually at the Sussex FA at Culver Road in Lancing.

The final of the Sussex Senior Cup was held at Preston Park in Brighton for the first four competitions, from 1883 to 1886. It was then held at the County Cricket Ground in Hove for 18 editions of the cup, with the exception of the 1891 season, which was held on a league basis. In 1906 the first cup final took place to have been played at the Goldstone Ground in Hove. At the time the Goldstone Ground was the home stadium of Brighton and Hove Albion, which for some time was Sussex's only professional football club. The Goldstone Ground was known to have hosted the final of the Sussex Senior Cup a record 55 times between 1906 and 1995. Other stadiums to have hosted the Susssex Senior Cup include The Dripping Pan in Lewes (held 14 times between 1920 and 1947), The Trafalgar Ground in Newhaven (held twice in 1931 and 1932), Woodside Road in Worthing (held 7 times between 1934 and 1997), The Saffrons in Eastbourne (held once in 1936), Queen Street in Horsham (held once in 1949), Broadfield Stadium in Crawley (held twice in 1998 and 1999) and Priory Lane in Eastbourne (held 11 times between 2000 and 2010). Since 2011 the final of the Sussex Senior Cup has been played at the Falmer Stadium in Brighton.

Records

Statistics

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners up Winning Years
Worthing 21 9 1893, 1904, 1908, 1914, 1920, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1999
Brighton and Hove Albion 14 1 1943, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018
Eastbourne Town 12 9 1890, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1922, 1932, 1933, 1953
Southwick 10 7 1897, 1911, 1913, 1925, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1948, 1968
Bognor Regis Town 8 7 1955, 1956, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987
Horsham 7 8 1934, 1939, 1950, 1954, 1972, 1974, 1976
Eastbourne United 6 6 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969
Lewes 5 13 1965, 1971, 1985, 2001, 2006
Hastings United 4 7 1936, 1938, 1996, 1998
Crawley Town 4 5 1990, 1991, 2003, 2005
Whitehawk 4 2 1951, 1962, 2012, 2015
Burgess Hill Town 3 3 1884, 1885, 1886
Eastbourne Borough 3 3 2002, 2009, 2016
Hove 3 1 1907, 1909, 1910
Haywards Heath Town 2 3 1942, 1958
Littlehampton Town 2 3 1949, 1970
Lancing College 2 2 1887, 1888
Shoreham 2 2 1902, 1906
Royal Corps of Signals 2 0 1921, 1924
Steyning Town 2 0 1986, 1989
Chichester 1 4 1926
Brighton College 1 2 1889
Ringmer 1 2 1973
Peacehaven & Telscombe 1 2 2014
Hastings United (1948) 1 1 1979
Brighton Rangers 1 0 1883
Royal Irish Rifles 1 0 1886
Brighton Hornets 1 0 1892
Eastbourne Swifts 1 0 1898
Eastbourne Old Town 1 0 1905
St Leonards Amateurs 1 0 1912
RAF (Ford) 1 0 1944
Wick 1 0 1993
St Leonards 1 0 1997
Ardingly College 0 1 -
Brighton and Hove Rangers 0 1 -
Hailsham Town 0 1 -
Helmston 0 1 -
East Grinstead Town 0 1 -
Eastbourne St Mary's 0 1 -
Signalling School 0 1 -
Skyways F.C. 0 1 -
Newhaven 0 1 -
Selsey 0 1 -
Arundel 0 1 -
Oakwood 0 1 -
Crawley Down 0 1 -

Total cups won by town or city

34 different clubs have won the cup, and the majority of cups have been won by clubs from Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Worthing.

Town or city Number of cups won Clubs
Brighton and Hove 24 Brighton and Hove Albion (14), Whitehawk (4), Hove F.C. (3), Brighton Hornets (1), Brighton College (1), Brighton Rangers (1)
Eastbourne 23 Eastbourne Town (12), Eastbourne United (6), Eastbourne Borough(3), Eastbourne Old Town (1), Eastbourne Swifts (1)
Worthing 21 Worthing (21)
Southwick 10 Southwick (10)
Bognor Regis 8 Bognor Regis Town (8)
Horsham 7 Horsham (7)
Hastings 7 Hastings United (4), Hastings United (1948) (1), St Leonards Amateurs (1), St Leonards (1)
Lewes 5 Lewes (5)
Crawley 4 Crawley Town (4)
UK armed forces 4 Royal Corps of Signals (2), RAF (Ford) (1), Royal Irish Rifles (1)
Burgess Hill 3 Burgess Hill (3)
Littlehampton 3 Littlehampton Town (2), Wick (1)
Lancing 2 Lancing College (2)
Haywards Heath 2 Haywards Heath Town (2)
Shoreham-by-Sea 2 Shoreham (2)
Steyning 2 Steyning Town (2)
Chichester 1 Chichester City (1)
Ringmer 1 Ringmer (1)
Peacehaven 1 Peacehaven & Telscombe (1)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Parafix Agree New Deal to Sponsor Sussex Senior Cup". Sussex Express. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1993). Seagulls! The Story of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Goldstone Books. ISBN 0952133709.
  3. ↑ "Community Shield clash to kick-off Sussex FA's NSPCC fundraising". West Sussex County Times. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Impressive Borough sink Horsham to land Sussex Shield". Eastbourne Herald. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "The Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Past Winners". www.sussexcountyleague.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  6. ↑ "Worthing Gazette - Wednesday 24th March 1897". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  7. ↑ "Albion - victory falls flat". The Argus. 2000-05-02. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  8. ↑ "Lewes win Senior Cup". The Argus. 2001-05-08. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  9. ↑ "Sub wins cup for Borough". The Argus. 2002-05-07. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  10. ↑ "Reds win shoot-out". The Argus. 2003-05-06. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  11. ↑ "Match report: Albion Res 2 Worthing 0". The Argus. 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  12. ↑ "Reds tough it out to see off Ringmer". The Argus. 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  13. ↑ "Lewes made to work for cup triumph". The Argus. 2006-05-02. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  14. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2007-05-07). "Jake double for Albion final". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  15. ↑ Hollis, Steve (2008-05-06). "Albion reserves end on a high note". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  16. ↑ "Boro lift Sussex Senior Cup". Eastbourne Herald. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  17. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2010-05-03). "Caskey double sets up cup triumph". Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  18. ↑ Naylor, Andy (2011-07-16). "Hart so pleased to score Amex opener". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  19. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2012-05-12). "Gargan hit late winner as Hawks win Senior Cup". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  20. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2013-05-18). "Agdestein stars as Albion win Senior Cup". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  21. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2014-05-18). "Peacehaven complete league and cup double". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  22. ↑ Griggs, Howard (2015-05-16). "Classy Whitehawk win Senior Cup at the Amex". The Argus. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  23. ↑ "Borough lift Senior Cup with victory over Worthing". Eastbourne Herald. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  24. ↑ Razavi, Amir (9 May 2018). "Brighton and Hove Albion U-23s beat Crawley Town to win Sussex Senior Cup". The Argus. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
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