Bognor joined the Sussex County League in 1927, finishing as champions on four occasions. In 1935 the club was given permission to use “Regis” in it’s name by King George V, after he stayed in the town whilst convalescing, and added the Town suffix in 1949.

Relegation to Division Two in 1969 was to start a new era for the club. Winning their way back to the First Division at the first attempt, they went on next season to win the Championship. This prompted them to apply to join the Southern League, which meant they had played in three different leagues in three successive seasons.

Bognor took their time to settle at the higher level and in the 1981/82 season were runners-up in both the League and the League Cup, they also won the Merit Cup for the most goals scored in a season. The following season saw Bognor playing in yet another league - the Isthmian - when they were elected to Division One. Their first season saw them promoted as runners-up to the Premier Division. Bognor's highest Premier League placing was fifth in 1986/87, but were relegated to Division One in 1995/96.

After winning the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in 1955, Bognor went on the create a competition record by winning it five years running in the early 1980s. The Rocks also have an excellent record in the FA Cup, having reached the 2nd Round proper on four occasions, and the 1st Round three times.

In 2001/02 the club just missed out on promotion, finishing in 4th place, but as one of the stronger sides in the newly constituted Division One (South), won promotion at the first attempt in 2002/03, as runners-up to Carshalton Athletic, just edging out Lewes on goal difference. Back in the Premier Division, The Rocks finished in a creditable 10th place, securing their place in the newly constituted Conference South well before the end of the season.

Bognor have since proved themselves a steady mid-table outfit, finishing in the same position the past two seasons. They have built a well deserved reputation as one of the most attractive footballing sides at their level of the Pyramid, particularly on the excellent playing surface at Nyewood Lane but arguably lack the resources at present to mount a serious challenge for promotion.

Description of ground
Nyewood Lane is arguably one of the more unsung grounds in the county, but has a lot of character and is well worth a visit, being painted in the club’s green livery. The club moved to Nyewood Lane more than 80 years ago, when a small wooden stand was built with two dressing rooms and a storage shed. There were wooden terraced seats for around 150 spectators. The pitch was enclosed with old wooden posts linked with thick rope. The club’s first floodlights were brought from Wembley Stadium and fitted on telegraph poles.

Since leaving the County League in the early 1970s, the ground has changed considerably, with covered accommodation provided on three sides. The main stand (pictured above, but on the agenda for demolition - see below) also houses the dressing rooms and boardroom. It has a capacity of about 200: inadequate for the requirements of Step 2 of the Non League Pyramid and which would preclude Bognor from promotion. The stand replaced a very similar wooden structure in the same position, which boasted a very attractive curved fascia (see Bob Lilliman's archive photographs - link above).

In 2006 it was announced that planning permission had been secured for the construction of a replacement at a cost of approximately £700,000. When complete the new stand will have a capacity of 500 and in addition, will incorporate a full range of community facilities, with the bulk of the funding coming from the Football Foundation and local government regeneration money. At the time of writing however (June 2007) these plans have yet to come to fruition.

Adjacent to the current stand is a second seated area, with covered terracing nearest to the entrance and corner flag. Opposite is further covered terracing, extended around behind the far goal, where there is also a rather smart electronic scoreboard. Nyewood Lane also boasts one of the best playing surfaces in the County and contributes in no small part to the Rocks’ reputation as one of the better footballing sides in Non League football.

Although not particularly well supported, the Bognor fans are amongst the most enthusiastic anywhere in Non League and always get behind their side. There is a small clubhouse behind the near goal and also the Club Shop aka 'The Rocks Megastore'. Finally, a note about the food which has an unrivalled reputation for the size and range of burgers available (cow in a bap anyone?) ... not to mention the slabs of bread pudding! Not the best place to avoid coronary heart disease but whatever you do, don’t eat before you visit (unless you happen to be a vegetarian).

Directions
From Chichester take the A259 to Bognor Regis. Turn right into Hawthorn Road, then eighth right into Nyewood Lane. The ground is on the right. From the north or east follow seafront signs then westward from the pier past Aldwick shopping centre, then right into Nyewood Lane. Parking inside the ground is extremely limited and usually reserved for visiting officials; there is however, plentiful street parking nearby.

Nearest railway station: Bognor Regis (approx 1 mile).

Map (link to www.streetmap.co.uk)