A Few Words About Us
Hailsham Town FC are the senior football club for Hailsham, East Sussex. Founded in 1885, Hailsham Town have had a long and successful history in Sussex football, winning many local competitions as well as reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Vase during the 1988/89 Season. The Stringers are a Community Sports Club. We run teams at Senior Mens, Senior Women, Mens Under 23 and provide football for Under 6's up to Under 18's.
Mens
We've been playing since 1885 - currently running a senior and U23 team in the Premier Sports Southern Combination Football League. First Team Admission prices are £3 for adults, £1 for concessions with accompanied Under 12's free of charge. Under 23 match admission prices are £2.50 adults, £1 concessions. For the latest fixtures and results, click here For the latest league table, click here
Womens
The newest addition to the Stringers are our women's team, who play in the Sussex County Women & Girls Football League. Matches take place on Sunday afternoons and are free entry for all. For the latest fixtures and results, click here For the latest league table, click here
Youth
The future first teamers - and those who just want to kick a ball! - Fun, safe, competitive and non competitive football from age 5 upwards for boys and girls, with teams in a variety of local leagues To see what age groups we cover click here
Facts
Hailsham Town FC in numbers
Teams
Youth Players
Years of footballing history
Volunteers making it happen
Our Teams & Squads
With 14 different teams at the club, we offer football for all For more details on a team or player, click or tap on the icon
- Teams
- Mens Squad
- Womens Squad
Our History
Established in 1885 after a meeting at the Crown Hotel, with Dr Ernest Gould as the first club President, Francis Terry as the first Secretary/Treasurer and Alfred Smith as the first club captain, Hailsham won the Sussex Junior Cup in 1895–96, beating Worthing Athletic 1-0, and were founder members of the East Sussex League in 1896. The club finished near to or at the bottom of the league in 1901–02 (the final table is lost to history), but would reach the Sussex Senior Cup final for the first and only time to date, going down 3-0 against Shoreham, before finishing bottom for the next three consecutive seasons, and then again in 1906–07 and 1907–08, after which they left the league, instead joining the Eastbourne League. After World War One Hailsham played one further season in the Eastbourne League before rejoining the East Sussex League in 1920. Although the club finished in the bottom two in both 1925–26 and 26-27, they shared the title with Hastings Seconds in 1927–28, before finishing bottom again in 1929–30, 1930–31 and 1931–32. After three years playing at Lovell's Field from 1934 (behind the old Courthouse), Hailsham moved to the Recreation Ground, alternating games between the outside pitch and what is now The Beaconsfield, and the club were league runners-up to Hastings Rangers in 1937–38. After finishing bottom of the table again in 1948–49 and 1950–51, they won the East Sussex League for the first time outright in 1953–54, a season which also saw them win the Sussex Intermediate Cup. In 1955 Hailsham joined Division Two of the Sussex County League under the name Hailsham Football Club, and became the first club in Sussex to install built in floodlights, with the 'Switch On' coming on 12th January 1960 with a game against an East Sussex League XI. Hailsham would then win the Division Two Invitation Cup in their first season, but resigned from the league during the 1962–63 season. They subsequently joined the Eastbourne & District League, before returning to the East Sussex League in 1968, when they joined Division Two, this also should have been the final season in which first team games were regularly played on the outside pitch, as Hailsham Parish Council gave the club an ultimatum in April 1969 to pick one pitch – naturally we chose the one with our floodlights – however memories suggest otherwise! Hailsham were Division Two champions in their first season back in the East Sussex League, earning promotion to Division One. They went on to win the Division One title at the first attempt. In 1972, the now-renamed Hailsham Town transferred to the Southern Counties Combination. They won the league in 1974–75 and were promoted to Division Two of the Sussex County League. After finishing as Division Two runners-up in 1980–81 they were promoted to Division One. After entering national competitions for the first time since the days of the FA Amateur Cup in the early 1900's, the club's best runs came in consecutive seasons – in the 1988/89 season Hailsham reached the fifth round of the FA Vase, where they would go out 3-2 to Hungerford Town, and the following year a spot in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup was achieved, going out 4-3 in a replay to Dulwich Hamlet. They won the League Cup in 1994–95, beating Wick 2–1 in the final, and remained in Division One until being relegated at the end of the 1998–99 season. However, a third-place finish in Division Two in 2000–01 saw the Stringers promoted back to Division One. In 2005–06 Hailsham won the Sussex RUR Cup, defeating Whitehawk 2–0 in the final thanks to goals from Eddie Koboah and Peter Cooper. The club were relegated again in 2010–11, but finished second in Division Two the following season to earn an immediate promotion back to Division One. In 2015 the league was renamed the Southern Combination, with Division One becoming the Premier Division. They finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2016–17 and were relegated to Division One, finishing 8th two seasons in a row, before two Covid-disrupted years followed in which the Stringers just about escaped relegation to intermediate football. The trapdoor would eventually open in 2022/23, with the Stringers falling into intermediate football for the first time in 48 years ahead of 2023/24. Stability was ensured with a fifth placed finish, with the first team also lifting the Hastings FA Intermediate Cup, their first trophy since 2006, thanks to goals from Josh Silva-Carvhalo, Matt Fear, Jack Hobden and Henry Thompson in a 4-1 win against Hawkhurst United.
Remembering The Fallen
Similarly to many clubs, professional and amateur alike across the country, Hailsham Football Club lost several players during the 20th century who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. They are commemorated on the war memorial in the clubhouse, which was installed in 2016. Our thanks go to David Dyer, whose book, 'The Heroes of Hailsham', was extremely helpful in the production of the memorial.
Sussex County Football League
1980-81 Sussex County League Division Two runner-up 2011-12 Sussex County League Division Two runner-up
Sussex County Football League
John O'Hara League Cup winners 1994-95 Division Two Invitation Cup winners 1955-56
National Competition Record
FA Cup; Third Qualifying Round 1989-90 FA Vase; 5th Round Proper 1988-89
Our Sponsors
Our sponsors make it possible for our teams to continue playing the sport they love. Please support them! Links open in a new tab
Welcroft Lee Logistics
First Team Main Sponsor
Green & Ridley Teamwear
Kit Supplier - First Team
Sussex Heat Pumps Ltd
First Team - Away Kit, Matchday Wear & Training Kit Sponsor
Dyson's Heating Limited
Womens Team Main Sponsor
Team Frames
Under 23 Main Sponsor
Sussex Plumbing Supplies
Womens Team Matchday Wear Sponsor
Brewers Decorator Centres
Womens Team Training Kit Sponsor
Eastbourne MG
U18 Team Sponsors
Plan Ahead
Matchday Programme Printers & Sponsors
One Answer Insurance
Under 14 Home Shirt Sponsors
M.W. Pyle Roofing Ltd
Under 14 Away Shirt Sponsors
Focus Medical Eye Centre
Under 13 Shirt Sponsors
Advance Space Design & Development Specialists
Under 12 (Stringers) Shirt Sponsors
Paradigm Transformation
Under 12 (Ropers) Shirt Sponsors
Owen Contractors Ltd
Under 10 (Ropers) Shirt Sponsors
Littlewood Group
Under 10 (Stringers) Shirt Sponsors
Panther Fire Solutions
Under 7 Shirt Sponsors
Mitchells
Under 6 Shirt Sponsors
Kaebo Graphics
Womens Team Management Kit Sponsor
Whiteline Manufacturing Ltd
Womens Team Management Coat SponsorWant to be a part of it?
If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring the club, please get in touch - email hailshamtownfc@gmail.com . Potential players should contact the named person on the relevant page for the team/age group you are interested in.
Contact & Social Media Links
Where to find us, in person and online
The Beaconsfield,
Western Road, Hailsham, BN27 3JF
hailshamtownfc@gmail.com