Founded | 1897 |
---|---|
Region | Sussex |
Current champions | Peacehaven & Telscombe (9th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Worthing (14 titles) |
The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup is the original Cup which was presented to the Sussex County FA in 1897 by the Officers and men of the Royal Irish Rifles (subsequently Royal Ulster Rifles). The 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles won the Sussex Senior Cup, Brighton Shield, Charity Cup and Vernon Wentworth Cup in 1895–96 and were recognised as ‘Sussex Champions’. The trophy was presented as a permanent memento of their achievement and to raise money for charity.
Since its inception in 1896–97, the Sussex (R.U.R) Charity Cup has had many different formats from an end of season invitation competition to its present knockout style. A third of all gate receipts from the matches played in the competition go to the SCFA Benevolent Fund for injured players.
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1896–97 | Southwick | North End Rangers | 3–2 | Beach House Park, Worthing | N/A | |
2 | 1897–98 | Brighton Athletic | Southwick | 2–1 | at Brighton Hornets F.C. | N/A | |
3 | 1898–99 | Brighton Athletic | Worthing | 2–1 | at Littlehampton F.C. | N/A | |
4 | 1899–1900 | Horsham | Hastings & St. Leonards | 2–0 | Beach House Park, Worthing | N/A | |
5 | 1900–01 | Hastings & St. Leonards | Horsham | 4–1 | The Saffrons | N/A | |
6 | 1901–02 | Hastings & St. Leonards | Horsham | 5–2 | Shoreham | N/A | |
7 | 1902–03 | Shoreham | Hastings & St. Leonards | 4–3 | Central Ground, Hastings | N/A | |
8 | 1903–04 | Worthing | Hastings & St. Leonards | 3–2 | Worthing Sports Ground | N/A | |
9 | 1904–05 | Newhaven | Shoreham | 3–2 aet | Central Ground, Hastings | N/A | |
10 | 1905–06 | Shoreham | Newhaven | 2–0 | Worthing | N/A | |
11 | 1906–07 | Worthing | Eastbourne St. Marys | 5–2 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
12 | 1907–08 | Worthing | Rock-A-Nore | 7–0 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
13 | 1908–09 | Southwick | Newhaven | 3–0 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
14 | 1909–10 | Worthing | Newhaven | 7–2 | The Dripping Pan | N/A | |
15 | 1910–11 | Southwick | Lewes | 1–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
16 | 1911–12 | Vernon Athletic | Newhaven | 3–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
17 | 1912–13 | St Leonards Amateurs | Worthing | 3–2 | Unknown | N/A | |
18 | 1913–14 | Worthing | Lewes | 4–1 | Unknown | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | 1915-1919 | No competition - World War I | |||||
19 | 1919–20 | Brighton & Hove Amateurs | Eastbourne | 2–1 | The Saffrons | N/A | |
20 | 1920–21 | Worthing | Brighton & Hove Amateurs | 2–0 | The Sports Ground, Worthing | N/A | |
21 | 1921–22 | Vernon Athletic | Royal Corps of Signals | ? | Unknown | N/A | |
22 | 1922–23 | Vernon Athletic | Southwick | 3–2 | at Worthing | N/A | Contested by the top 4 of County League |
23 | 1923–24 | Royal Corps of Signals | Vernon Athletic | 1–0 | Fort Road | N/A | |
24 | 1924–25 | Southwick | Hastings & St Leonards | 2–1 | Fort Road | N/A | |
25 | 1925–26 | Southwick | Eastbourne | 2–1 | The Saffrons | 2,300 | |
26 | 1926–27 | Worthing | Hastings | 3–0 | Fort Road | N/A | |
27 | 1927–28 | Southwick | Haywards Heath | 8–1 | Unknown | N/A | |
28 | 1928–29 | Southwick | Worthing | 2–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
29 | 1929–30 | Southwick | Worthing | 7–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
30 | 1930–31 | Horsham | Worthing | 3–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
31 | 1931–32 | Horsham | Worthing | 6–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
32 | 1932–33 | Eastbourne | Horsham | 5–4 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
33 | 1933–34 | Horsham & Worthing (Shared Trophy) | 1–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | ||
34 | 1934–35 | Horsham | 2nd Battalion R.U.R. | 5–2 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
35 | 1935–36 | Horsham | Worthing | 9–0 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
36 | 1936–37 | Horsham | Southwick | 6–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
37 | 1937–38 | Horsham & Southwick (Shared Trophy) | 2–2 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | ||
38 | 1938–39 | Hastings & St. Leonards | Worthing | 6–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
39 | 1939–40 | Worthing | Hastings & St. Leonards | 1–1 aet 4–1 | Unknown | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | 1940–41 | No competition - World War II | |||||
40 | 1941–42 | Worthing | Haywards Heath | 3–1 | Victoria Park (Haywards Heath) | N/A | |
41 | 1942–43 | Brighton & Hove Albion Juniors | Worthing | 4–3 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
42 | 1943–44 | Haywards Heath | R.A.F. XI | 4–3 | Victoria Park (Haywards Heath) | N/A | |
43 | 1944–45 | Worthing | Brighton & Hove Albion Juniors | 3–1 | Unknown | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
44 | 1945–46 | Horsham | Eastbourne | 4–1 | Unknown | N/A | |
45 | 1946–47 | Littlehampton Town | Hastings & St Leonards | 2–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
46 | 1947–48 | Eastbourne | Horsham | 5–3 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
47 | 1948–49 | Horsham & Worthing (Shared Trophy) | 1–1 | Queen Street | N/A | ||
48 | 1949–50 | Eastbourne | Haywards Heath | 6–0 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
49 | 1950–51 | Horsham | Haywards Heath | 5–2 | Queen Street | N/A | |
50 | 1951–52 | Horsham | Haywards Heath | 3–2 | Unknown | N/A | |
51 | 1952–53 | Worthing | Chichester City | 5–1 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
52 | 1953–54 | Worthing | Shoreham | 5–2 | Culver Road | N/A | |
53 | 1954–55 | Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys | Eastbourne United | 1–0 | Goldstone Ground | N/A | |
54 | 1955–56 | Eastbourne United | Eastbourne | 6–0 | The Oval, Eastbourne | N/A | |
55 | 1956–57 | Horsham | Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys | 2–0 | Hanbury Park | N/A | |
56 | 1957–58 | Bexhill Town Athletic | Shoreham | 7–1 | Hanbury Park | N/A | |
57 | 1958–59 | Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys | Bognor Regis Town | 4–2 | Unknown | N/A | |
58 | 1959–60 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Arundel | 6–0 | Woodside Road | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59 | 1960–61 | Brighton & Hove Albion & Chichester City (Shared trophy) | ? | Unknown | N/A | ||
60 | 1961–62 | Lewes | Haywards Heath | 4-2 | Unknown | N/A | |
61 | 1962–63 | Lewes | Chichester City | 3–2 | Unknown | N/A | |
62 | 1963–64 | Chichester City | Eastbourne | 2–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
63 | 1964–65 | Lewes | Shoreham | 4–2 | Unknown | N/A | |
64 | 1965–66 | Lancing | Rye United | 3–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
65 | 1966–67 | Haywards Heath | Seaford Town | 8–1 | Unknown | N/A | |
66 | 1967–68 | Rye United | Haywards Heath | 3–1 | Unknown | N/A | |
67 | 1968–69 | Arundel | Southwick | 3–1 | Woodside Road | N/A | |
68 | 1969–70 | Littlehampton Town | Rye United | 2–0 5–3 | The Dripping Pan | N/A | First game abandoned |
69 | 1970–71 | Littlehampton Town | Ringmer | 1–0 | Old Barn Way | N/A | |
70 | 1971–72 | Bognor Regis Town | Chichester City | 1–0 | at Littlehampton | N/A | |
71 | 1972–73 | Arundel | Southwick | 3–0 | Woodside Road | N/A | |
72 | 1973–74 | Bexhill Town | Seaford Town | 1–0 | Unknown | N/A | |
73 | 1974–75 | Haywards Heath | East Grinstead | 4–1 | The Dripping Pan | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
74 | 1975–76 | Haywards Heath | Wick | 2–0 | Queen Street | N/A | |
75 | 1976–77 | Southwick | Littlehampton | 1–0 | Woodside Road | N/A | |
76 | 1977–78 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Burgess Hill Town | 1–0 | Old Barn Way | N/A | |
77 | 1978–79 | Arundel | Ringmer | 2–0 | Old Barn Way | N/A | |
78 | 1979–80 | Arundel | Hastings Town | 1–0 | The Caburn Ground | N/A | |
79 | 1980–81 | Steyning Town | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 2–1 aet | Culver Road | N/A | |
80 | 1981–82 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Littlehampton Town | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
81 | 1982–83 | Three Bridges | Hastings Town | 3–2 | Culver Road | N/A | |
82 | 1983–84 | Littlehampton Town | Southwick | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
83 | 1984–85 | Steyning Town | Portfield | 1–1 aet 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
84 | 1985–86 | Eastbourne Town | Steyning Town | 3–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
85 | 1986–87 | Eastbourne Town | Arundel | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
86 | 1987–88 | Three Bridges | Hailsham Town | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
87 | 1988–89 | Pagham | Littlehampton Town | 1–0 aet | Culver Road | N/A | |
88 | 1989–90 | Wick | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 3–0 | Culver Road | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
89 | 1990–91 | Whitehawk | Peacehaven & Telscombe | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
90 | 1991–92 | Burgess Hill Town | Ringmer | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
91 | 1992–93 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Lancing | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
92 | 1993–94 | Newhaven | Pagham | 4–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
93 | 1994–95 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | STAMCO | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
94 | 1995–96 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Saltdean United | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
95 | 1996–97 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Shoreham | 3–3 4–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
96 | 1997–98 | Wick | Shoreham | 3–2 | Culver Road | N/A | |
97 | 1998–99 | Wick | Burgess Hill Town | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
98 | 1999–2000 | Burgess Hill Town | Saltdean United | 3–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
99 | 2000–01 | Horsham YMCA | Burgess Hill Town | 3–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
100 | 2001–02 | Selsey | Arundel | 2–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
101 | 2002–03 | Southwick | Sidley United | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
102 | 2003–04 | East Grinstead Town | Three Bridges | 4–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
103 | 2004–05 | Ringmer | Chichester City United | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
104 | 2005–06 | Hailsham Town | Whitehawk | 2–0 | The Saffrons | N/A | |
105 | 2006–07 | Chichester City United | Whitehawk | 2–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
106 | 2007–08 | Three Bridges | Selsey | 4–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
107 | 2008–09 | Eastbourne United Association | Rustington | 4–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
108 | 2009–10 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Wick | 6–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
109 | 2010–11 | Crawley Down Gatwick [1] | AFC Uckfield Town | 2–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
110 | 2011–12 | Rye United [2] | Selsey | 2–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
111 | 2012–13 | East Preston | Broadbridge Heath | 1–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
112 | 2013–14 | Horsham YMCA | East Preston | 0–0, 5–4 pens | Culver Road | N/A | |
113 | 2014–15 | Eastbourne Town | Loxwood | 2–1 | Culver Road | N/A | |
114 | 2015–16 | Newhaven | Chichester City | 4–2 | Culver Road | N/A | |
115 | 2016–17 | Newhaven | Crawley Down Gatwick | 5–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
116 | 2017–18 | Chichester City | Pagham | 4–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
117 | 2018–19 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Haywards Heath Town | 3–0 | Culver Road | N/A | |
– | 2019–20 | Competitions cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | [3] |
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Final result | Venue | Attendance | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | 2020–21 | Competitions cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | [4] | ||||
118 | 2021–22 | Littlehampton Town | Saltdean United | 2–0 | Culver Road | 782 | |
119 | 2022–23 | Peacehaven & Telscombe | Broadbridge Heath | 1–0 | Culver Road | 302 |
Club | Winners | Runners up | Winning Years |
---|---|---|---|
Worthing | 14 | 9 | 1904, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1914, 1921, 1927, 1934, 1940, 1942, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1954 |
Horsham | 13 | 4 | 1900, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1957 |
Southwick | 11 | 6 | 1897, 1909, 1911, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1938, 1977, 2003 |
Peacehaven & Telscombe | 9 | 3 | 1978, 1982, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2010, 2019, 2023 |
Eastbourne Town | 6 | 5 | 1933, 1948, 1950, 1986, 1987, 2015 |
Littlehampton Town | 5 | 3 | 1947, 1970, 1971, 1984, 2022 |
Haywards Heath Town | 4 | 8 | 1944, 1967, 1975, 1976 |
Chichester City | 4 | 5 | 1961, 1964, 2007, 2018 |
Newhaven | 4 | 4 | 1905, 1994, 2016, 2017 |
Arundel | 4 | 3 | 1969, 1973, 1979, 1980 |
Whitehawk | 3 | 3 | 1955, 1959, 1991 |
Lewes | 3 | 2 | 1962, 1963, 1965 |
Wick | 3 | 2 | 1990, 1998, 1999 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 1943, 1960, 1961 |
Three Bridges | 3 | 1 | 1983, 1988, 2008 |
Vernon Athletic | 3 | 1 | 1912, 1922, 1923 |
Shoreham | 2 | 6 | 1903, 1906 |
Burgess Hill Town | 2 | 3 | 1992, 2000 |
Hastings & St Leonards | 2 | 3 | 1901, 1902 |
Rye United | 2 | 2 | 1968, 2012 |
Eastbourne United | 2 | 1 | 1956, 2009 |
Steyning Town | 2 | 1 | 1981, 1985 |
Brighton Athletic | 2 | 0 | 1898, 1899 |
Bexhill United | 2 | 0 | 1958, 1974 |
Horsham YMCA | 2 | 0 | 2001, 2014 |
Hastings United | 1 | 5 | 1939 |
Ringmer | 1 | 3 | 2005 |
Pagham | 1 | 2 | 1989 |
Selsey | 1 | 2 | 2002 |
Bognor Regis Town | 1 | 1 | 1972 |
Brighton Amateurs | 1 | 1 | 1920 |
Crawley Down Gatwick | 1 | 1 | 2011 |
East Grinstead Town | 1 | 1 | 2004 |
East Preston | 1 | 1 | 2013 |
Hailsham Town | 1 | 1 | 2006 |
Lancing | 1 | 1 | 1966 |
Royal Corps of Signals | 1 | 1 | 1924 |
St Leonards Amateurs | 1 | 0 | 1913 |
Broadbridge Heath | 0 | 2 | – |
Seaford Town | 0 | 2 | – |
2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles | 0 | 1 | – |
AFC Uckfield Town | 0 | 1 | – |
Loxwood | 0 | 1 | – |
Portfield | 0 | 1 | – |
Royal Air Force XI | 0 | 1 | – |
Rustington | 0 | 1 | – |
Saltdean United | 0 | 3 | – |
Sidley United | 0 | 1 | – |
STAMCO | 0 | 1 | – |
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.
Worthing Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Worthing, West Sussex, England. They are currently members of the National League South and play at Woodside Road.
Horsham Football Club are a non-League football club based in Horsham, West Sussex, England, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Chichester City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Chichester, West Sussex, England. Affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association, they are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at Oaklands Park.
Eastbourne United A.F.C. is a football club based in Eastbourne, England. They were formed in 2003 after a merger between Eastbourne United F.C. and Shinewater Association. In 2009 they were the Sussex County League champions for the first time in 53 years, 18 years after leaving the Isthmian League. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division.
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.
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.
Shoreham Football Club is a football club based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, England. The club is affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and their home stadium is Middle Road. The club are nicknamed "The Musselmen" after the town's ancient mussel picking tradition. The club's home kit is all royal blue with white trim, and the away kit is all red with white trim.
Three Bridges Football Club is a football club based in Three Bridges in Crawley, West Sussex, England. The club is affiliated to the Sussex County Football Association. They were established in 1901 and were founding members of the Sussex County League Division Two in 1952. In the 1981–82 season, they reached the Third Round of the FA Vase. Currently they are members of the Isthmian League South East Division.
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 Division One.
Whitehawk Football Club is a semi-professional English football club based in Whitehawk, a suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex. The club currently plays in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Whitehawk's home ground is the 3126-capacity Enclosed Ground, situated within East Brighton Park. Nicknamed The Hawks, the club's traditional playing colours are red and white. Prior to 2010, the club had never played above County League level, but after three promotions in four seasons, the Hawks reached Conference South in 2013 as well as the second round of the FA Cup in 2015.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 2016–17 Southern Combination Football League season was the 92nd in the history of the competition, which lies at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system.
Football in Sussex refers to the sport of association football in relation to its participation and history within Sussex, England. Football is one of the most popular sports in Sussex with over 500 football clubs and 38,000 players in the county.
The 2020–21 Southern Combination Football League season was the 96th in the history of the competition, which lies at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. This season also marked 100 years since the league was first formed, with Eastbourne Town, Newhaven and Shoreham being the only teams still in the league to have played in the first season.