Eastbourne United Afc

Club Badge

General Information

The Oval, Channel View Road, Eastbourne
01323 726989

Ground Information

Eastbourne United took up residence at The Oval in 1946, after their previous ground at

Lynchmere was sold for development.

Then, the local council improved the site by laying a pitch, and athletics track, and a grass cycle track.

The clubhouse and stand (which originally had benches rather than seats) were added later.

There was a further long covered terrace on the far side of the pitch

Still owned by the local council, Eastbourne United had, for a number of years,

been trying to purchase the lease which would have enabled the club to apply for Football Foundation grants for vital

ground improvements, including turning the pitch ninety degrees.

 However, this has been to no avail, and the gound has suffered considerably in recent years despite the best efforts

 of the Club, and certainly not helped by being open to the public outside of match days and susceptible to vandalism.

As a consequence, and certainly when compared to the improvements

to the other two Eastbourne clubs, the Oval had been very much the poor relation.

However, improvements were undertaken during the 2003 close-season by combined

efforts of Eastbourne United and Shinewater Association.

The Oval was also the home of the local athletic club, but when they relocated to the

fine new facilities at Cross Leavals Way , they left behind a disused cinder running track

that intervened between the spectators and the pitch. Their move has left council more

less-inclined than ever to maintain the facilities, leaving the newly-formed club with an

even more uphill task.

A major improvement therefore, was the provision of ‘new’ perimeter fencing, acquired

from Eastbourne Borough’s Priory Lane ground, and the old ground at Shinewater Lane.

This allowed spectators to get a lot closer to the action than previously, and improved

the atmosphere considerably. Equally as important, it allowed car parking inside of the

ground where the old track used to be, thereby removing previous problems of street parking.

The main focal point of the ground is obviously the large stand, which now renders

spectators even more remote from the action. The fascia was repaired following

the amalgamation and again subsequently as it once again fell into disrepair.

The words “Eastbourne United AFC” however, could be misinterpreted to the uninitiated,

and I personally would have preferred the word “Association” to have been included as

 a memorial to the old Shinewater club, even though it may have been slightly

more expensive to do so. However, the merger of the two clubs is clearly

represented in the new crest, which also includes Shine’s old colours.

One thing the new fencing will not improve however, is the weather and will leave

spectators even more exposed to the elements. Warning: the ground is very close to the seafront, and it can be very cold in the winter months (take an umbrella!)

The dugouts, which were once situated on the stand side of the pitch,

have since been moved to the other side, but there is a large

clubhouse (now re-carpeted and redecorated) and a cosy indoor tea bar which is always welcoming.

The open access of the ground however, continues to be a problem.

In August 2004 vandals were fortunately disturbed whilst trying to set

fire to the stand, although they did manage to damage several seats

before making their getaway. Possibly mindful of the possibility of a

repeat attack, the seats have now been completely removed, leaving

 behind just concrete steps although wooden slats are provided on match days.

Directions

If approaching via to A27 from Brighton, turn left at the Polegate

traffic lights, and then take the second exit at the large roundabout

 shortly afterwards to continue eastwards on the A27

(signposted Eastbourne, Hastings & Bexhill).

If approaching via the A22, take the first exit at the l

arge roundabout shortly before Polegate, signposted

A27 Eastbourne, Hastings & Bexhill.

At the next roundabout, take the third exit towards

Eastbourne, and then the second exit at the next roundabout.

 At the end of the bypass, bear left into Lottbridge Drove

(1st exit at roundabout), and continue past golf park on the right.

Proceed across two small roundabouts (superstores in the right) and carry on to the

next roundabout (opposite the Sovereign Centre).

 Take the third exit along the seafront, passing ‘Fort Fun’ on the left.

The entrance to Princes Park will be seen soon afterwards on the right,

 with Channel View Road immediately afterwoods.

The entrance to the ground is about 200-300 yards up on the right.

Nearest railway station: Eastbourne (approx. 30 mins walk).

History Of The Club

Formed in June 2003 from the amalgamation between Eastbourne United FC and

Shinewater Association FC. The first incarnation of Eastbourne United FC was as t

he 1st Sussex Royal Engineers FC in 1894. In those early days the club played nearby

to where the Saffrons (home of Eastbourne Town FC) now stands, and at the

South Lynn ground in Tutts Barn Road. After the 1914-18 Great War the club name was

changed to Eastbourne Royal Engineers Old Comrades. The site of their ground at

this time is now covered by the St.Thomas A’Beckett  RC Primary School.

Dropping the “Royal Engineers” part of the name, Eastbourne Comrades FC

joined the Sussex County League in 1935, and rejoined a year after the end

of WW2 for the 1946/47 season, when they moved to The Oval. The club’s

achievements at that time were very mediocre and in 1951 the name was changed to Eastbourne United.

The club’s fortunes changed with the new name and between

1953 and 1956 they were twice County League champions, and

 runners-up once That success saw them move into the

Metropolitan & District League in 1956 (subsequently the Metropolitan League),

and in 1964 United joined Division Two of the Athenian League,

winning the championship in 1966/67.

Two seasons later, another promotion followed (as runners-up)

and United were promoted to the Premier Division. After just one season though,

they were relegated back to Division One. However,

 in 1973/74 the League was re-organised and the Premier Division scrapped.

In 1975 United were relegated to Division Two, and when the

Athenian League was disbanded in 1977, joined Division Two of

 the Isthmian League, and subsequently Division Two (South)

following reorganisation in 1984. When further changes to the

Isthmian structure were made in 1991, United found themselves in the new Division Three and after one season, opted to rejoin the County League.

Placed in Division Two of the County League they struggled

initially and in 1996 came perilously close to dropping down into

intermediate football after finishing bottom. They recovered however,

 and within two years had won promotion to Division One as runners-up

to East Preston. In 2001/02 however, United were relegated once more.

The decision was made to amalgamate with fellow Division Two club

Shinewater Association FC at the end of the 2002/03 season.

A terrible playing surface at Shine’s ground in Shinewater Lane,

and failure to gain permission to erect the floodlights necessary

 to advance any further, made it difficult to attract players

of sufficient quality, in a town where they were already at a

premium. In addition, the ground was subject to constant vandalism.

Under the leadership of former Shinewater manager Dave Shearing, t

he new club won promotion back to Division One at the

first attempt after finishing third behind champions

Littlehampton Town, and runners-up Worthing United.

That progression was maintained in 2004/05 with another

 excellent campaign and 5th place in the top flight of the

County League. With constant rumours of disquiet off the pitch in the local media,

Shearing resigned at the end of the 2005/06 season to take a break from football

 (he subsequently joined Bexhill United), with the Club in 14th position. He was succeeded

 by former Hailsham Town boss Brian Dennis.

2003-04   Formed as a merger of Eastbourne United and Shinewater Association
          Promoted to Division One

SEASON    LEAGUE     P    W    D    L    F    A    P      POS

2003-04   SUSSEX-2  34   18   12    4   78   39   66      3/18
2004-05   SUSSEX-1  38   18    8   12   74   61   62      5/20
2005-06   SUSSEX-1  38   12    8   18   48   62   44     14/20

2004-05   EP    GREENWICH BOROUGH                   A    3-6    Greenwich Borough expelled - ineligible player
          PRE   THAMESMEAD TOWN                     A    0-1
2005-06   EP    ASH UNITED                          H    1-2

2004-05   1Q    SELSEY                              H    1-0
          2Q    WHITEHAWK                           H    0-1
2005-06   1Q    MILE OAK                            H    1-3