Hailsham Town F.C.

Hailsham Town
Full name Hailsham Town Football Club
Nickname(s) The Stringers
Founded 1885 (as Hailsham)
Ground The Beaconsfield, Hailsham
Ground Capacity 2,000
Chairman Derek York
Manager Dave Shearing
League Southern Combination Premier Division
2015–16 Southern Combination Premier Division, 18th
The main stand at The Beaconsfield

Hailsham Town F.C. is a football club based in Hailsham, East Sussex, England. They were established in 1885 and joined the Sussex County League in 1955 as Hailsham F.C., changing to their present name in 1970.[1][2] They are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Beaconsfield.

The club are known locally as 'The Stringers', a nickname which derives from traditional industry in the town, and was adopted officially at the turn of the Millennium.

History

Early history

Founded in 1885 as Hailsham Town, the club briefly played under the name of Hailsham Butchers before the First World War.[3] They would win the East Sussex Junior Cup in 1896, and also reached the final of the Sussex Senior Cup in 1902. Changing their name to Hailsham between 1902–53, the club won the Sussex Intermediate Cup in the 1953–54 season and then won the Division Two Cup in 1956. In 1959, Hailsham became the first Sussex side (all leagues) to install floodlights.

1970s to 2000s

Hailsham joined the Southern Counties Combination League in 1972, which was a feeder for the County League. In 1975–76 the club won promotion to Division Two of the County League as champions, and finished a creditable sixth in their first season. After six seasons, during which they were one of the leading clubs in Division Two, Hailsham finally won promotion to Division One, as runners-up to Whitehawk in 1980–81.

In 1988–89, under the guidance of Trevor Wood, Hailsham finished fourth in Division One, their best ever placing, and also reached the last sixteen of the FA Vase, losing at home to Hungerford Town in front of a crowd of 1,100. In the early 1990s, the club proved itself as one of the best in the County League and, although never finishing higher than fifth, lifted the League Challenge Cup in 1994–95.

The end of the 1990s however, saw a decline in the club’s fortunes, and they were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1998–99 season. After just two seasons however, Hailsham returned to Division One, after finishing in third place behind Southwick and Peacehaven & Telscombe.[1][2]

2010 - 2013

Hailsham Town were managed by Kenny McCreadie from 2004 until March 2009 – although in January 2008, McCreadie was suspended after allegedly throwing a punch at Eastbourne United Association player Matt Jones.[4] In his absence, Ross Scarmadella took control of the team as Caretaker Manager, assisted by Jon Purdey.[5] McCreadie returned to the club, having been found guilty,[6] on the 14th of February. McCreadie then left the club by mutual consent in March 2009.[7] Scarmadella again took charge in a temporary capacity, with the club advertising for a permanent manager at the end of the 2008/09 season.[8] In June 2009, Dave Shearing was appointed to the position.[9] However, after a poor start to the season, with the Stringers languishing second from bottom in the table, Shearing resigned after a seven match losing streak, citing an argument with the club over the availability of reserve team players.[10] McCreadie was reappointed manager in November 2009, returning to the club after a six-month spell coaching at East Grinstead.[11] After being relegated due to Ground Grading issues in season 2010/11, McCreadie led Hailsham back into Division One at the first attempt in 2011/12, finishing runners up to East Preston.

In May 2013, Kenny McCreadie left the club with a new manager Andy Goodchild replacing him.[12]

2014 - Onwards

With Goodchild dismissed following a 4-3 win away at bottom club Selsey, former Eastbourne United Under 18 manager Ian Stevens took the helm, with an immediate resurgence in form, eventually leading to Hailsham Town performing the great escape by avoiding the drop from the Sussex County Football League Division One by finishing 17th on the last day of the Season.

The following season however would see another tough year, despite the club reaching the Second Round proper of the FA Vase for the first time since the 2006/07 season. The Stringers would eventually finish 18th, facing relegation to the Southern Combination Football League Division 1, However Hailsham Town avoided relegation due to Oakwood failing the ground grading criteria for promotion to the Premier Division. Stevens resigned following the conclusion to the season, with assistant Paul Daubeney handed the reigns, however his resignation three weeks later due to work commitments brought a surprise return to the club for Dave Shearing, reappointed in time to take charge for the 2016-17 season.

Ground

Hailsham play their home games at The Beaconsfield, Western Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3DN.

Honours and achievements

Club records

  • Highest league position:[17]
    • 4th in Sussex County League Division One: 1988–89
  • FA Cup best performance[17]
    • Third qualifying round: 1989–90, 1990–91
  • FA Vase best performance[17]
    • Fifth round: 1988–89

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

References

  1. 1 2 Williams, Tony (2008-09-15). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  2. 1 2 "Football Club History Database – Hailsham Town". Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  3. ↑ "The Stringers". Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  4. ↑ Howard, Derren (2008-01-10). "McCreadie banned from all football over alleged punch". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  5. ↑ Howard, Derren (2008-01-17). "Mystery Bulgarian interests United". Eastbourne Herald. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Mac Is Back". Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  7. ↑ "McCreadie leaves Hailsham Town...while Rowland resigns at Uckfield". Sussex Express. Beckett Newspapers. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  8. ↑ "Stringers advertising for new football manager". Sussex Express. Beckett Newspapers. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  9. ↑ Elvin, Joe (2009-06-08). "Shearing: Town Job To Be My Last". www.eastbournetoday.co.uk. Beckett Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  10. ↑ Howard, Derren (2009-08-11). "Shearing quits Hailsham". www.eastbournetoday.co.uk. Beckett Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  11. ↑ McEwen, Ken (2009-11-27). "Mac is Back at Hailsham Town". Eastbourne Herald. Beckett Newspapers. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  12. ↑ "It's all change as Stringers plan for success". Eastbourne Herald. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  13. ↑ "R.U.R. Cup Final Results – Sussex County Football Association". Sussexcountyleague.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  14. ↑ "Shoreham F.C. – Early football in Shoreham and the 'Glory Years". Shoreham History Portal. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  15. ↑ http://sussexcountyleague.com/tables/scl_1953-54.htm. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ http://www.sussexcountyleague.com
  17. 1 2 3 http://www.fchd.info/HAILSHAT.HTM

External links

Premier Division
Division One
Division Two
Seasons
  • 1920–21
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  • 2010–11
  • 2011–12
  • 2012–13
  • 2013–14
  • 2014–15
  • 2015–16
  • 2016–17

Coordinates: 50°51′41.26″N 0°15′08.71″E / 50.8614611°N 0.2524194°E / 50.8614611; 0.2524194

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