Will Sussex ever have a 3rd League Club? If so,.....

[ofco8]

........who could it be? Realistically only Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing would be big enough to sustain a 1st or 2nd Division team. Think
Eastbourne Borough will need to start rising again to achieve this.

 

[Leosayer]

Don't know about Hastings or Eastbourne but Worthing would have to do something about their ground I doubt it's changed much.
First game I was ever taken to was in summer 1975 Worthing v west ham complete with brooking, bonds, lampard. My nan's house was in the next road.

 

[catfish]

None of these clubs have the infrastructure to get anywhere close to the league.

 

[catfish]

Don't know about Hastings or Eastbourne but Worthing would have to do something about their ground I doubt it's changed much.
First game I was ever taken to was in summer 1975 Worthing v west ham complete with brooking, bonds, lampard. My nan's house was in the next road.

I was at that game - got Frank Lampard's autograph after the match.

 

[DumLum]

I reckon there is a good chance there will only be one Sussex League club in ten years......and it aint gonna be Crawley.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

if we'd gone out of business in the 90's, started again but with fairly low crowds, or if falmer had been turned down and we were playing at withdean, probably in league 2 with low crowds then there's a chance that another sussex team could get fairly high up

but while we're getting 20,000+ there's no chance of anyone else in sussex getting the crowds needed to support a league club

edit- i mean a 3rd club after crawley

 

[Rugrat]

Simple ... No .... next

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Only the Quarterboys!!!

Realistically the answer is no. The only way Rye could make it is if the Hastings clubs collapse (no bad thing) and they get a council that cares make about football than cricket.

 

[Arthur]

Worthing have a reasonable following.........when the Albion are away.

I'm sure that is the case at allot of clubs from the county league up, especially this season.

Surprised no one has mentioned Whitehawk. Very good chance they'll be step 3 next season and the pockets seem to be quite deep there!

But in answer the the original question no, not without significant investment. Both Eastbourne and Lewes have proven they can't hold their own in the conference let alone the football league. There will always be teams prepared to go shit or bust to get in the football league so competing financially is going to be very difficult.

 

[kip]

Worthing have a reasonable following.........when the Albion are away.

I'm sure that is the case at allot of clubs from the county league up, especially this season.

Surprised no one has mentioned Whitehawk. Very good chance they'll be step 3 next season and the pockets seem to be quite deep there!

But in answer the the original question no, not without significant investment. Both Eastbourne and Lewes have proven they can't hold their own in the conference let alone the football league. There will always be teams prepared to go shit or bust to get in the football league so competing financially is going to be very difficult.

I can see Whitehawk getting to the conference with them building a new ground and the money they have but not sure if they can make it to the league. Would like to see them do well though I have great respect for Freeman. The only problem is if they get bigger it will be the Albion fan base they eat into especially for the casual supporter who can't get a ticket at the Amex

 

[dennis]

I can see Burgess Hill doing a Lewes and rising to through the leagues and then collapsing if the proposed new ground by the Triangle goes ahead. Initial 3000 capacity is being talked about.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

when Crawley do 'a Rushden and Diamonds' normal service will be resumed and some on here will give up the dream of 'little ol Crawley (good luck to 'em)' finishing above us in the league.

 

[KneeOn]

Chichester? Theres more to sussex than just Brighton and Eastbourne... Chichester is a city after all...

 

[Lenny Rider]

I doubt we have any other clubs that could sustain league football in Sussex, both Eastbourne Borough and Lewes found the gulf between Conference South and the top non league division too much.

As regards Worthing they were offered a place in the Conference nearly 30 years ago, having finished runners up in the Isthmian Premier, but turned it down due to the financial implications, and one of the main people who made that decsion was Ray Bloom, who told me it would have been a recipe for disaster.

Its not just about crowds, the players have to be very flexible, I remember Garry Wilson from Eastbourne on the radio last year when they had drawn at home against Hinckley in the Trophy, he was talking about the fact that they had the replay on Tuesday then would be leaving for the away game at Darlington on the Friday, but they werent full time so the main point he said re the players was they either had to have a lot of holiday left or very understanding bosses.

Clubs like Worthing, Bognor, Lewes etc are just not big enough top go full time, which is why we'll never get a third league club in Sussex

 

[withdeanwombat]

Chichester? Theres more to sussex than just Brighton and Eastbourne... Chichester is a city after all...

They'll have more of a chance when Portsmuff finally go bust.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

I doubt we have any other clubs that could sustain league football in Sussex, both Eastbourne Borough and Lewes found the gulf between Conference South and the top non league division too much.

As regards Worthing they were offered a place in the Conference nearly 30 years ago, having finished runners up in the Isthmian Premier, but turned it down due to the financial implications, and one of the main people who made that decsion was Ray Bloom, who told me it would have been a recipe for disaster.

Its not just about crowds, the players have to be very flexible, I remember Garry Wilson from Eastbourne on the radio last year when they had drawn at home against Hinckley in the Trophy, he was talking about the fact that they had the replay on Tuesday then would be leaving for the away game at Darlington on the Friday, but they werent full time so the main point he said re the players was they either had to have a lot of holiday left or very understanding bosses.

Clubs like Worthing, Bognor, Lewes etc are just not big enough top go full time, which is why we'll never get a third league club in Sussex

not to mention, nobody seems to want to win the Sussex County league as even a step up to Ryman South is beyond the wage bill of most SCL clubs

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

I think it's only a matter of time before Buxted Kuntsox FC make it into the Conference. From there, the world's their lobster.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

not to mention, nobody seems to want to win the Sussex County league as even a step up to Ryman South is beyond the wage bill of most SCL clubs

REALLY!!! Seems Pagham and Rye are making a real go at it.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

REALLY!!! Seems Pagham and Rye are making a real go at it.

what I mean is, is some clubs will find it a poison challis, good luck to anyone who can sustain it but for a lot of clubs the increased pressure and expenses could drag them under

 

[Richard Hebberd's Syrup]

REALLY!!! Seems Pagham and Rye are making a real go at it.

They'll make a real go of it but whether they will want to/are able to step up into the Ryman remains to be seen. You just have to look at Crawley Down who romped the league last season yet are having a right old struggle due to the extra commitments needed at the higher level