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Fort Road Recreation Ground, Newhaven 01273 513940
Take the A259, which becomes a one way system around the
town.
Turn left at the police station into South Road, which
becomes Fort Road. Ground on the right just past a small
parade of shops.
Nearest railway station: Newhaven Town (approx. 15 mins
walk).
Description of ground
The sad decline of Newhaven’s Fort Road ground stands as a
testiment to the fragile balance that exists between success
and failure in County
League football. The massive unfinished - and with
hindsight, hugely over-ambitious - stand dominates the far
touchline.
Begun during in the early 1990s as the club spent heavily in
a bid to improve its position in the pyramid, severe
financial
difficulties resulted in a halt to buiding work, and
ultimately relegation down to Division Three of the County
League.
The stand, which would never have won any awards for
aesthetic beauty it has to be said, was to contain new
dressing rooms
and various function facilities. Access can still be gained
to the viewing area via steps to the side, and this commands
a magnificent view
of the pitch and harbour beyond. However the building as a
whole is closed and regarded as a hazard, with rubble strewn
in what was once
the players’ tunnel.
The remainder of the ground is equally run-down, with the
perimeter fencing rusting, and the clubhouse behind the near
goal looking the worse for wear.
On a recent visit however, it was pleasing to note that the
fencing surrounding the ground had been renewed and the
dugouts have received a welcome coat
of paint. It can only be hoped that having narrowly survived
dropping out of the County League althogether not too long
ago, Newhaven will once
more be able to establish themselves in the future.
Newhaven FC is one of the oldest clubs in Sussex, and was
formed by the Towner family who were brewers in the town
during the latter 19th century,
plus some of their enthusiastic friends. A meeting took
place at the Bridge Hotel in early December 1889 during
which it was resolved to form the Club
and 20 members signed up on the day.
Although the club joined the Sussex County League in 1920 it
was not until 1948/49 that any silverware of note found its
way to the Dockers’ trophy
cabinet, when the club won the Sussex County FA Invitation
Cup.
In 1950/51 Newhaven finished in fourth place behind
champions Haywards Heath, and in 1953/54 won the League,
ahead of Rye United and Cuckfield.
Although finishing fifth behind Eastbourne United the
following season, success eluded the Newhaven, who were
relegated to Division Two in 1964/65.
The Dockers made an immediate return as runners-up to
Horsham YMCA, only to be relegated again two years later.
Newhaven once again returned to the top division in 1971/72,
and won the Division One championship in 1973/74,
finishing two points ahead of Littlehampton Town. Just two
years later though, they found themselves relegated for a
third time.
After fifteen years in Division Two, the club was promoted
to Division One as champions in 1990/91, and in 1992/3
finished sixth.
The following year they won the Sussex RUR Cup, only to be
relegated in 1994/95. Further relegation to Division Three
followed in 1998/99
and the club narrowly escaped dropping down to the East
Sussex League the season afterwards.
Having consolidated their position in recent years, the rot
set in once again in 2003/04. Newhaven finished the season
just one place off the bottom
of the table with only Upper Beeding (who managed just two
points all season) below them. |
NEWHAVEN FOOTBALL CLUB
1920-21 Founder members of Sussex County League
1953-54 Sussex County League Champions
1965 Relegated to Division Two
1965-66 Sussex County League Division Two runner-up
Promoted to Division One
1968 Relegated to Division Two
1971-72 Sussex County League Division Two Champions
1973-74 Sussex County League Champions (2nd time)
1976 Relegated to Division Two
1990-91 Sussex County League Division Two Champions
Promoted to Division One
1995 Relegated to Division Two
1999 Relegated to Division Three
 |
|
SEASON |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
PTS |
POS |
|
POS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1920-21
SUSSEX |
22 |
8 |
2 |
12 |
37 |
48 |
18 |
8 |
of |
12 |
|
1921-22
SUSSEX |
22 |
5 |
4 |
13 |
26 |
53 |
12 |
10 |
of |
12 |
|
1922-23
SUSSEX |
20 |
8 |
3 |
9 |
31 |
48 |
19 |
7 |
of |
11 |
|
1923-24
SUSSEX |
22 |
6 |
2 |
14 |
40 |
66 |
14 |
11 |
of |
12 |
|
1924-25
SUSSEX |
24 |
11 |
5 |
8 |
56 |
41 |
27 |
6 |
of |
13 |
|
1925-26
SUSSEX |
22 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
66 |
88 |
13 |
11 |
of |
12 |
|
1926-27
SUSSEX |
22 |
5 |
4 |
13 |
45 |
77 |
14 |
11 |
of |
12 |
|
1927-28
SUSSEX |
22 |
8 |
4 |
10 |
53 |
64 |
20 |
7 |
of |
12 |
|
1928-29
SUSSEX |
22 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
39 |
71 |
16 |
9 |
of |
12 |
|
1929-30
SUSSEX |
22 |
10 |
3 |
9 |
61 |
54 |
23 |
6 |
of |
12 |
|
1930-31
SUSSEX |
22 |
7 |
1 |
14 |
61 |
82 |
15 |
8 |
of |
12 |
|
1931-32
SUSSEX |
22 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
56 |
59 |
21 |
7 |
of |
12 |
|
1932-33
SUSSEX |
24 |
12 |
4 |
8 |
68 |
48 |
28 |
5 |
of |
13 |
|
1933-34
SUSSEX |
24 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
43 |
54 |
20 |
8 |
of |
13 |
|
1934-35
SUSSEX |
24 |
11 |
2 |
11 |
53 |
62 |
24 |
6 |
of |
13 |
|
1935-36
SUSSEX |
26 |
8 |
3 |
15 |
49 |
73 |
19 |
11 |
of |
14 |
|
1936-37
SUSSEX |
26 |
13 |
6 |
7 |
73 |
54 |
32 |
7 |
of |
14 |
|
1937-38
SUSSEX |
26 |
12 |
2 |
12 |
56 |
64 |
26 |
7 |
of |
14 |
|
1938-39
SUSSEX |
26 |
8 |
6 |
12 |
49 |
69 |
22 |
8 |
of |
14 |
|
1945-46
SUSSEX-E |
14 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
39 |
40 |
17 |
4 |
of |
8 |
|
1946-47
SUSSEX |
26 |
14 |
3 |
9 |
65 |
69 |
31 |
5 |
of |
14 |
|
1947-48
SUSSEX |
26 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
52 |
87 |
14 |
13 |
of |
14 |
|
1948-49
SUSSEX |
26 |
8 |
4 |
14 |
54 |
78 |
20 |
10 |
of |
14 |
|
1949-50
SUSSEX |
26 |
6 |
6 |
14 |
48 |
72 |
18 |
11 |
of |
14 |
|
1950-51
SUSSEX |
26 |
15 |
5 |
6 |
83 |
58 |
35 |
4 |
of |
14 |
|
1951-52
SUSSEX |
28 |
5 |
8 |
15 |
53 |
107 |
18 |
14 |
of |
15 |
|
1952-53
SUSSEX-1 |
26 |
12 |
4 |
10 |
59 |
43 |
28 |
6 |
of |
14 |
|
1953-54
SUSSEX-1 |
28 |
22 |
3 |
3 |
74 |
27 |
47 |
1 |
of |
15 |
|
1954-55
SUSSEX-1 |
32 |
16 |
3 |
13 |
69 |
35 |
35 |
5 |
of |
17 |
|
1955-56
SUSSEX-1 |
32 |
14 |
4 |
14 |
64 |
32 |
32 |
9 |
of |
17 |
|
1956-57
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
11 |
2 |
17 |
61 |
76 |
24 |
12 |
of |
16 |
|
1957-58
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
14 |
5 |
11 |
63 |
49 |
33 |
6 |
of |
16 |
|
1958-59
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
12 |
5 |
13 |
53 |
54 |
29 |
11 |
of |
16 |
|
1959-60
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
11 |
5 |
14 |
51 |
64 |
27 |
8 |
of |
16 |
|
1960-61
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
7 |
6 |
17 |
50 |
96 |
20 |
15 |
of |
16 |
|
1961-62
SUSSEX-1 |
32 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
70 |
88 |
34 |
6 |
of |
17 |
|
1963-64
SUSSEX-1 |
32 |
12 |
4 |
16 |
58 |
88 |
28 |
10 |
of |
17 |
|
1964-65
SUSSEX-1 |
32 |
7 |
4 |
21 |
49 |
93 |
18 |
17 |
of |
17 |
|
1965-66
SUSSEX-2 |
34 |
30 |
2 |
2 |
142 |
34 |
62 |
2 |
of |
18 |
|
1966-67
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
55 |
62 |
27 |
12 |
of |
12 |
|
1967-68
SUSSEX-1 |
30 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
28 |
84 |
12 |
16 |
of |
16 |
|
1968-69
SUSSEX-2 |
28 |
15 |
6 |
7 |
81 |
47 |
36 |
4 |
of |
15 |
|
1969-70
SUSSEX-2 |
28 |
14 |
5 |
9 |
56 |
37 |
33 |
4 |
of |
15 |
|
1970-71
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
16 |
4 |
10 |
71 |
50 |
36 |
6 |
of |
16 |
|
1971-72
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
21 |
8 |
1 |
76 |
21 |
50 |
1 |
of |
16 |
|
1972-73
SUSSEX-1 |
28 |
10 |
6 |
12 |
41 |
40 |
26 |
9 |
of |
15 |
|
1973-74
SUSSEX-1 |
28 |
18 |
7 |
3 |
50 |
24 |
43 |
1 |
of |
15 |
|
1974-75
SUSSEX-1 |
28 |
10 |
5 |
13 |
36 |
40 |
25 |
9 |
of |
15 |
|
1975-76
SUSSEX-1 |
28 |
14 |
6 |
18 |
32 |
89 |
14 |
15 |
of |
15 |
|
1976-77
SUSSEX-2 |
26 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
43 |
42 |
27 |
6 |
of |
14 |
|
1977-78
SUSSEX-2 |
28 |
2 |
1 |
25 |
19 |
103 |
5 |
15 |
of |
15 |
|
1978-79
SUSSEX-2 |
26 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
32 |
36 |
25 |
8 |
of |
14 |
|
1979-80
SUSSEX-2 |
26 |
11 |
7 |
8 |
39 |
34 |
29 |
5 |
of |
14 |
|
1980-81
SUSSEX-2 |
26 |
9 |
4 |
13 |
44 |
56 |
22 |
9 |
of |
14 |
|
1981-82
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
37 |
53 |
27 |
10 |
of |
16 |
|
1982-83
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
5 |
7 |
18 |
65 |
65 |
17 |
14 |
of |
16 |
|
1983-84
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
7 |
5 |
18 |
58 |
58 |
26 |
14 |
of |
16 |
|
1984-85
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
64 |
64 |
16 |
15 |
of |
16 |
|
1985-86
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
8 |
5 |
17 |
57 |
57 |
29 |
12 |
of |
16 |
|
1986-87
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
10 |
6 |
14 |
36 |
48 |
36 |
10 |
of |
16 |
|
1987-88
SUSSEX-2 |
28 |
9 |
4 |
15 |
39 |
62 |
31 |
13 |
of |
15 |
|
1988-89
SUSSEX-2 |
26 |
8 |
14 |
4 |
46 |
35 |
38 |
7 |
of |
14 |
|
1989-90
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
9 |
8 |
13 |
36 |
40 |
35 |
11 |
of |
16 |
|
1990-91
SUSSEX-2 |
30 |
20 |
4 |
6 |
60 |
30 |
64 |
1 |
of |
16 |
|
1991-92
SUSSEX-1 |
34 |
13 |
6 |
15 |
63 |
73 |
45 |
10 |
of |
18 |
|
1992-93
SUSSEX-1 |
34 |
16 |
5 |
13 |
63 |
51 |
53 |
6 |
of |
18 |
|
1993-94
SUSSEX-1 |
38 |
17 |
9 |
12 |
79 |
67 |
60 |
8 |
of |
20 |
|
1994-95
SUSSEX-1 |
38 |
7 |
6 |
25 |
42 |
103 |
27 |
18 |
of |
20 |
|
1995-96
SUSSEX-2 |
34 |
16 |
3 |
15 |
63 |
62 |
51 |
6 |
of |
18 |
|
1996-97
SUSSEX-2 |
34 |
13 |
7 |
14 |
67 |
62 |
46 |
12 |
of |
18 |
|
1997-98
SUSSEX-2 |
34 |
7 |
9 |
18 |
40 |
80 |
30 |
16 |
of |
18 |
|
1998-99
SUSSEX-2 |
34 |
2 |
7 |
25 |
26 |
97 |
13 |
18 |
of |
18 |
|
1999-00
SUSSEX-3 |
30 |
5 |
2 |
23 |
34 |
104 |
17 |
15 |
of |
16 |
|
2000-01
SUSSEX-3 |
28 |
7 |
3 |
18 |
39 |
69 |
24 |
14 |
of |
15 |
|
2001-02
SUSSEX-3 |
30 |
12 |
7 |
11 |
53 |
43 |
43 |
7 |
of |
16 |
|
2002-03
SUSSEX-3 |
28 |
12 |
5 |
11 |
58 |
54 |
41 |
7 |
of |
15 |
|
2003-04
SUSSEX-3 |
26 |
6 |
2 |
18 |
40 |
60 |
20 |
13 |
of |
14 |
|
2004-05
SUSSEX-3 |
24 |
6 |
3 |
15 |
29 |
50 |
21 |
11 |
of |
13 |
|
2005-06
SUSSEX-3 |
26 |
15 |
5 |
6 |
61 |
31 |
50 |
4 |
of |
14 |
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
PTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2196 |
814 |
388 |
1004 |
4177 |
4748 |
2223 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
1993-94
EP |
ST
ANDREWS (LONDON) |
H |
4 |
2 |
|
PRE |
FURNESS |
H |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
TONBRIDGE |
H |
2 |
3 |
|
1994-95
PRE |
CHATHAM TOWN |
H |
1 |
4 |
|
1995-96
1Q |
CANTERBURY CITY |
H |
1 |
3 |
|
1996-97
1Q |
CRAY
WANDERERS |
H |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1945-46 1Q |
HAYWARDS HEATH |
H |
2 |
2 |
|
1945-46 1Qr |
HAYWARDS HEATH |
A |
0 |
5 |
|
1946-47 PRE |
EASTBOURNE |
A |
1 |
4 |
|
1947-48 PRE |
EAST GRINSTEAD |
A |
2 |
5 |
|
1949-50 PRE |
HOVE |
A |
2 |
3 |
|
1950-51 PRE |
EASTBOURNE
COMRADES |
A |
0 |
0 |
|
PREr |
EASTBOURNE
COMRADES |
H |
3 |
0 |
|
1Q |
EAST GRINSTEAD |
H |
1 |
2 |
|
1952-53 PRE |
ASHFORD TOWN
(KENT) |
H |
2 |
4 |
|
1953-54 PRE
L |
LANCING
ATHLETIC |
A |
1 |
2 |
|
1954-55 PRE |
EASTBOURNE |
H |
2 |
2 |
|
PREr |
EASTBOURNE |
A |
0 |
3 |
|
1955-56 PRE |
EAST GRINSTEAD |
A |
1 |
2 |
|
1956-57 PRE |
BOGNOR REGIS
TOWN |
H |
1 |
5 |
|
1957-58 PRE |
EASTBOURNE |
H |
2 |
1 |
|
1Q |
LANCING
ATHLETIC |
H |
1 |
0 |
|
2Q |
BOGNOR REGIS
TOWN |
A |
1 |
5 |
|
1958-59 1Q |
ARUNDEL |
A |
2 |
3 |
|
1959-60 PRE |
LANCING
ATHLETIC |
A |
1 |
2 |
|
1960-61 1Q |
EASTBOURNE |
A |
1 |
2 |
|
1961-62 2Q |
EASTBOURNE
UNITED |
H |
1 |
6 |
|
1962-63 1Q |
BEXHILL TOWN |
H |
0 |
0 |
|
1Qr |
BEXHILL TOWN |
H |
0 |
2 |
|
1994-95 PRE |
CANTERBURY
CITY |
A |
0 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
