Rustington FC was formed in 1903 and joined the Bognor District League shortly afterwards. They became members of the Littlehampton District League when football resumed after the Great War, winning the title four times, in 1933, 1934, 1948, and 1949.

The club’s more recent history saw Rustington enter the West Sussex League, when a re-organisation saw all the District Leagues in that part of the county merge together.

Rustington lifted the West Sussex League title in 2003/04 and were promoted to Division 3 of the Sussex County League. Among the players in their championship-winning side was the legendary Terry 'The Twister' Withers - a member of Littlehampton's all-conquering 1990/91 team, and subsequently a County League championship winner at Wick.

The club’s first season in the County League was something of a revelation. An 8th place finish may not appear anything special, but to a large extent this was due to a phenomenal record in cup competitions that saw Terry Withers lift no fewer than three trophies: the Division Three Challenge Cup (vs Lingfield); the Vernon Wentworth Trophy (vs Newhaven); and the very difficult to win Sussex Intermediate Cup (vs Bosham). In addition there were an impressive four Team of the Month awards picked up for Division Three.

Season 2006/07 will be long remembered by everyone at the club and the viewers of SkySports News as the amazing unbeaten record lasting a full calendar year was advertised throughout the county and indeed picked up by local and national news and press. This season also saw Rustington promoted as champions of Division 3 and rightly take their place in senior football.

After our most successful manager in the clubs history (Gareth Davies) left to persue his desire to become a referee, Rustington had two relatively unsuccessful management teams until the club took on Brett Torode, Vic Short & Kevin Valentine in season 2010/11 and they rescued Rustington from the risk of falling into Division Three in their first season, ending a creditable 9th.

The Sussex County Football League became the Southern Combination Football League in 2015, for the start of the 2015-16 season. The name change was accompanied by a rebranding of the league's divisions.

The final season as the Sussex County Football League was 2014-15 and the league was then rebranded as the Southern Combination Football League for the 2015-16 season.
The divisions were also renamed at this time, with Division One becoming the Premier Division. Rustington due to the ground grading of The Jubilee Playing Fields were placed in Division Two.

Despite winning Division Two on many occasions including a 3 year back-to-back-to-back first place, Rustington have not been able to rise from their division due to ground grading. The current chairman, Mr Fred Fredrickson and committee explored the possibility of ground sharing with a neighbour football club with sufficient facilites to be able to get promoted in the SCFL.

In season 25/26 this agreement was reached with our neighbours Wick Football Club, so from this season the first team of Rustington Football Club will play at Crabtree Parkk in Wick, Littlehampton. The Reserve team and childrens teams will continue to play at The Jubilee Playing Fields, Rustington