History
Founded in 1885, Hailsham Town F.C. was briefly known as the “Hailsham Butchers” just before the First World War. The club joined the East Sussex League and picked up early honours, winning the Sussex Junior Cup in 1896 before reaching the final of the Sussex Senior Cup in 1902.
In 1955/56 the club joined the Sussex County League, but left to join the Eastbourne League in 1963 before rejoining the East Sussex League three years later.
Hailsham Town won promotion to the Sussex County League from the Southern Counties Combination in the 1975/76 season, finishing in sixth place in their first season. Promotion to the top level of the County League came in 1980/81, as runners up to Whitehawk. The club’s best finish came seven years later – managed by Trevor Wood, the club finished fourth in Division One, in a season which included a memorable run to the last 16 of the F A Vase, before bowing out to Hungerford Town in front of 1250 spectators at the Beaconsfield.
The early 1990’s were a strong period for the club – the League Challenge Cup lifted in 1995/96 capping an era of entertaining football at the Beaconsfield. As the decade progressed however, the club fell away, and were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1998/99 season. This period out of the top flight lasted just two years – a third place finish enough to see the club return to Division One, where they have remained ever since. 2004/5 saw the club in danger of relegation early in 2005, but they rallied to finish in 12th place for the second season in succession. 2005/6 saw a 10th place finish, as well as as a 2-0 victory in the RUR Cup Final against Whitehawk. The same club would end Hailsham’s RUR dreams the following season at the semi-Final stage, but at the end of the season the side finished sixth in Division One in a year which saw another memorable F A Vase run, this time to the Third Round where the club bowed out to Sherborne Town.
The following season would see the Stringers - a nickname adopted at the turn of the Millennium as a tribute to the traditional industry of the town – finish in sixth place. Season 2008/9 was one of transition – long term manager Kenny McCreadie leaving the club in the latter part of what proved a difficult season – with some fine performances, including a victory over eventual title winners Eastbourne United, rounding off the season with a 13th placed finish.
Kenny McCreadie rejoined the club in November 2009, following the departure of previous manager Dave Shearing. After a difficult season, the First Team finished 19th in Sussex County One. We look forward to a brighter, and more stable, 2010/11!
An excellent website for the history of the Sussex County League is now available;
http://www.sussexcountyleague.com/
In 1955/56 the club joined the Sussex County League, but left to join the Eastbourne League in 1963 before rejoining the East Sussex League three years later.
Hailsham Town won promotion to the Sussex County League from the Southern Counties Combination in the 1975/76 season, finishing in sixth place in their first season. Promotion to the top level of the County League came in 1980/81, as runners up to Whitehawk. The club’s best finish came seven years later – managed by Trevor Wood, the club finished fourth in Division One, in a season which included a memorable run to the last 16 of the F A Vase, before bowing out to Hungerford Town in front of 1250 spectators at the Beaconsfield.
The early 1990’s were a strong period for the club – the League Challenge Cup lifted in 1995/96 capping an era of entertaining football at the Beaconsfield. As the decade progressed however, the club fell away, and were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1998/99 season. This period out of the top flight lasted just two years – a third place finish enough to see the club return to Division One, where they have remained ever since. 2004/5 saw the club in danger of relegation early in 2005, but they rallied to finish in 12th place for the second season in succession. 2005/6 saw a 10th place finish, as well as as a 2-0 victory in the RUR Cup Final against Whitehawk. The same club would end Hailsham’s RUR dreams the following season at the semi-Final stage, but at the end of the season the side finished sixth in Division One in a year which saw another memorable F A Vase run, this time to the Third Round where the club bowed out to Sherborne Town.
The following season would see the Stringers - a nickname adopted at the turn of the Millennium as a tribute to the traditional industry of the town – finish in sixth place. Season 2008/9 was one of transition – long term manager Kenny McCreadie leaving the club in the latter part of what proved a difficult season – with some fine performances, including a victory over eventual title winners Eastbourne United, rounding off the season with a 13th placed finish.
Kenny McCreadie rejoined the club in November 2009, following the departure of previous manager Dave Shearing. After a difficult season, the First Team finished 19th in Sussex County One. We look forward to a brighter, and more stable, 2010/11!
An excellent website for the history of the Sussex County League is now available;
http://www.sussexcountyleague.com/
RSS Feeds