Formed in 1888 as Haywards Heath Junior FC, under which banner the club played for the first six years of its existance. In 1894 the name was changed to Haywards Heath Excelsior FC. However this lasted just one season before the “Excelsior” suffix was dropped and the club became simply Haywards Heath FC. In 1988 - the club’s centenary year - the name was changed once more, this time to Haywards Heath Town FC.

The club dominated the Mid Sussex League in the early 1920s before they left to join the Brighton & District League in 1931/32. The championship was duly won the following season with a 100% record, and Haywards Heath joined the Sussex County League in 1932.

After WW2 the club re-entered the County League on its resumption, winning the League title in 1949/50 and 1950/51. When Hanbury Park was opened in 1952 Haywards Heath joined the Metropolitan League and competed against the third teams of Football League Division One clubs. In 1957/58 the club lifted the Sussex Senior Cup, before re-joining the County League in 1961/62.

Haywards Heath won the County League once more in 1969/70, but just over ten years later found themselves in Division Two following relegation in 1980/81.

Division One status was regained in 1986/87 as runners-up to Wick, and the following season the club finished in third place. However a decline began to set in at Hanbury Park, and the Blues were relegated once more in 1991/92. Worse was to come, with the club dropping into Division Three the following season, where they remained until winning promotion back to senior football at the end of the 2002/03 season, as runners-up to Midhurst & Easebourne.

Unfortunately, the return to senior football was to be short-lived. Numerous problems both on and off the pitch, saw Haywards Heath relegated back to the Division Three after just one season. After what had appeared to be a renaissance for the club, worse was to follow in 2004/05 as the Blues finished one off the bottom of County League Division Three, but were spared relegation due to a combination of the League being three clubs short, and only one club winning promotion to the County League (Little Common).

In the midst of significant changes off the pitch, the club improved to finish in a mid-table position in 2005/06 and there were encouraging signs that Haywards Heath might once more be heading towards another fruitful period in their long history after an earlier false dawn. That position was improved by three places in 2006/07 as the Blues finished in 5th place, and created a minor piece of County League history as the club to finally end Rustington's record-breaking unbeaten run on 24 February 2007.

Description of ground
Haywards Heath’s Hanbury Park Stadium harks back to the days when the club was a major power in the Sussex Non League game, prior to its decline during the 1990s.

The ground was opened in 1952 by Sir Stanley Rous, with a game against Horsham FC. With the covered terracing that once stretched along the far touchline now gone, the massive stand, with its benches painted in the club colours, is the obvious focal point of the ground and is a fine example of its kind. This provides an excellent view. Dugouts, acquired from Crawley Town FC replaced the old concrete ones which stood along the opposite touchline.

Hanbury Park has been further improved by the extension of the hard standing along the stand side of the ground, and across the top end; whilst the dressing rooms and toilets have also been improved. Work has also been undertaken to improve the playing surface.

There is ample car parking outside the main entrance to the ground in Allen Road.

Directions
Take the A272 to Haywards Heath town centre. At the Sussex Roundabout, travel north on the B2708 (Hazelgrove Road) and take the first right into New England Road. Allen Road is the 4th tunring on the right and leads to the ground. The ground can also be accessed via Boston Road, further down on the right, which leads to the Sawyers Squash Club, adjacent to the ground.

Nearest railway station: Haywards Heath (20 mins walk)

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