Deal Town FC

opposition history

Eastbourne Town is the oldest senior football club in Sussex. Being founded on 19 October 1881 as Devonshire Park F.C. named after the first ground the team played on. Having failed to secure the use of a ground in South Fields, near to Gildredge Park, permission was sought to play on the grounds of Devonshire Park. Part of the deal was to change the name to Devonshire Park in return the Park Company would supply all match materials and pay travelling expenses to away games.

Being named after it’s first home ground – A venue now know for staging one of the pre-Wimbledon tennis tournaments. In fact, it was the arrival of the tennis at the ground which ultimately was to lead it becoming the predominant sport and the subsequent relocation of both cricket and football. After five years of playing at the Park, the club moved to the newly opened “Saffrons Field” colourfully named after the variety of crocus which had been cultivated on the site for use in the preparation of medicines.

The club changed its name to Eastbourne FC and fielding a side of ‘gentlemen amateurs’ began to play a dominant role in county football winning the Sussex Senior Cup. For the next 15 years Eastbourne won the Sussex Cup a total of eight times, and being runners-up on three occasions.