Hailsham Town F.C.

Last updated

Hailsham Town
Hailsham Town F.C. logo.png
Full nameHailsham Town Football Club
Nickname(s)The Stringers
Founded1885
GroundThe Beaconsfield, Hailsham
Capacity2,000 (100 seated) [1]
ChairmanChris Weller
ManagerMike Baker & Callum Standish
League Southern Combination Division Two
2023–24 Southern Combination Division Two, 5th of 12
The main stand at The Beaconsfield Hailsham Town Main Stand 2007.jpg
The main stand at The Beaconsfield

Hailsham Town Football Club is a football club based in Hailsham, East Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Division Two and play at the Beaconsfield. The club are known locally as 'The Stringers', a nickname which derives from traditional industry in the town.

Contents

History

Established in 1885, [1] Hailsham won the Sussex Junior Cup in the 1895–96 season [2] and went on to be one of the founder members of the East Sussex League in 1896. [3] After finishing bottom of the league for four consecutive seasons between 1901–02 and 1904–05 and then again in 1906–07 and 1907–08, Hailsham left to rejoin the Eastbourne League. [4] In 1912 the club merged with Hailsham Athletic. [5] Rejoining the East Sussex League in 1920, Hailsham finished bottom of the league in 1925–26. Although they were runners-up in 1927–28, they finished bottom of the league again in 1929–30, 1930–31 and 1931–32. [6] [7] The club were runners-up for a second time in 1937–38.

Following World War II Hailsham finished bottom of the table again in 1948–49 and 1950–51, before winning the East Sussex League for the first time in 1953–54, [8] a season which also saw them win the Sussex Intermediate Cup. [9] In 1955 Hailsham joined Division Two of the Sussex County League under the name Hailsham Football Club. They won the Division Two Invitation Cup in their first season, [10] but resigned from the league during the 1962–63 season. [11] They subsequently joined the Eastbourne & District League, before returning to the East Sussex League in 1968, when they joined Division Two. [12]

Hailsham were Division Two champions in their first season back in the East Sussex League, earning promotion to Division One. They went on to win the Division One title at the first attempt. [12] In 1972 the now-renamed Hailsham Town transferred to the Southern Counties Combination. [2] They won the league in 1974–75 and were promoted to Division Two of the Sussex County League. [13] [2] The following season saw them win the Hastings Senior Cup. [14] After finishing as Division Two runners-up in 1980–81 they were promoted to Division One. [15] They won the League Cup in 1994–95 beating Wick 2–1 in the final. [16] The club remained in Division One until being relegated at the end of the 1998–99 season.

Hailsham were promoted back to Division One following a third-placed finish in 2000–01. [15] In 2005–06 they won the Sussex RUR Cup with a 2–0 win over Whitehawk in the final. [2] The club were relegated again in 2010–11, but finished second in Division Two the following season to earn an immediate promotion back to Division One. In 2015 the league was renamed the Southern Combination, with Division One becoming the Premier Division. [15] Hailsham finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2016–17 and were relegated to Division One. In 2022–23 the club finished bottom of Division One, resulting in relegation to Division Two. [15] In 2023–24 they won the Hastings Intermediate Cup, beating Hawkhurst United 4–1 in the final. [17]

Honours

Records

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Combination Football League</span> Association football league in England

The Southern Combination Football League is a football league broadly covering the counties of East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and South West London, England. The league consists of eight divisions – three for first teams, two for Under 23 teams and three for Under 18 teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewes F.C.</span> Association football club in Sussex, England

Lewes Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Lewes, East Sussex, England. Established in 1885, they were founder members of the East Sussex League in 1896 and the Sussex County League in 1920, before moving up to the Athenian League in 1965 and then the Isthmian League in the 1977. After being founder members of the Conference South in 2004, they were promoted to the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football, in 2007. However, they were relegated back to the Conference South after a single season, and were later relegated to the Isthmian League in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worthing F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Worthing Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in the West Tarring area of Worthing, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the National League South and play at Woodside Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peacehaven & Telscombe F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Peacehaven & Telscombe Football Club is a football club based in Peacehaven, East Sussex, England. The club is affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. The club are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Sports Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arundel F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Arundel Football Club is a football club based in Arundel, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Division One and play at Mill Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Preston F.C.</span> Association football club in England

East Preston Football Club is a football club based in East Preston, near Littlehampton, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Division One and play at the Lashmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horsham YMCA F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Horsham YMCA is a football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at Gorings Mead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littlehampton Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Littlehampton Town Football Club is a football club based in Littlehampton, England. They were established in 1896 and joined the Sussex County League in 1928. In the 1990–91 season, they reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, and in the 2021–22 season they reached the FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at The Sportsfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Rye United Football Club was a football club based in Rye, East Sussex, England. They were the founding members of the Sussex County League Division Two in 1952. The club were members of Division One of the league. On 20 March 2014, the club held an Extraordinary General Meeting at which it was decided to withdraw from the league with immediate effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidley United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sidley United Football Club is a football club based in Sidley, near Bexhill, England. The club is affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association They currently play in the East Sussex Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wick F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Wick Football Club is a football club based in Wick, near Littlehampton, England. Wick joined the Sussex County League Division Two in 1964. In the 1998–99 season, they reached the 4th round of the FA Vase. Prior to the 2013–14 season, they merged with near neighbours Barnham. However the clubs split again in 2016, reverting to Wick FC and are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bexhill United is a football club based in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England. The club was formed in 2002 through the merger of Bexhill Town and Bexhill Amateur Athletic Club, though the latter split from the club in 2006. Affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association, they are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Polegrove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crawley Down Gatwick F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Crawley Down Gatwick Football Club is a football club based in Crawley Down, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Haven Sportsfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Grinstead Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

East Grinstead Town Football Club is a football club based in East Grinstead, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at East Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancing F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Lancing Football Club is a football club based in Lancing, West Sussex, England. They are members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at Culver Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selsey F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Selsey Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Selsey, West Sussex, England. The club is a FA Chartered Standard Community club affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. The club are currently members of the Southern Combination Division One and play at the High Street Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steyning Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Steyning Town Community Football Club is a football club based in Steyning, West Sussex, England. The club is an FA Charter Standard community club, affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Shooting Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haywards Heath Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Haywards Heath Town Football Club is a football club based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at Hanbury Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lingfield F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Lingfield Football Club are a football club based in the village of Lingfield, near East Grinstead, Surrey, England. The club is affiliated to the Surrey County Football Association. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Sports Pavilion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhaven F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Newhaven Football Club is a football club based in Newhaven, East Sussex, England. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at Fort Road.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) Non-League Club Directory 2017, Tony Williams Publications, p499 ISBN   978-1869833695
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hailsham Town Nomad Online
  3. East Sussex League 1890s Hastings Football History
  4. East Sussex League 1900s Hastings Football History
  5. Sussex Agricultural Express, 26 July 1912, p2
  6. East Sussex League 1920s Hastings Football History
  7. East Sussex League 1930s Hastings Football History
  8. East Sussex League 1950s Hastings Football History
  9. 1953-54 Sussex County League
  10. 1955-56 Sussex County League
  11. Hailsham at the Football Club History Database
  12. 1 2 East Sussex League 1960s Hastings Football History
  13. Southern Counties Combination Hastings Football History
  14. "Past Competition Winners". FA Full Time - Hastings FA. Hastings & District Football Association. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hailsham Town at the Football Club History Database
  16. League Cup Archived 2011-12-06 at the Wayback Machine Sussex County League
  17. "Hastings & District FA". The FA Full Time. Retrieved 25 May 2024.

50°51′41.26″N0°15′08.71″E / 50.8614611°N 0.2524194°E / 50.8614611; 0.2524194