Littlehampton FC was formed in 1896, adding the Town suffix in 1938. In 1928 the club joined the Sussex County League. Despite finishing as runners-up in Division One on six occasions, they had to wait until 1990/91 before lifting the championship - the only time they have done so, having finished as runners-up to Wick the previous season - clinching the title on the last day of the season, at nearest rivals Peacehaven & Telscombe.

That season was undoubtedly the finest in the Marigolds’ history. As well as finishing as Division One champions, the club also reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup where they were beaten by Northampton Town in front of a crowd of 4,000 at The Sportsfield. A League & Cup ‘double’ was completed with a 3-0 win over Burgess Hill. If that wasn’t enough, Littlehampton also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, which remains the furthest that any Sussex club has ever progressed in the competition.

The following season, Littlehampton finished third behind Peacehaven and Langney Sports (now Eastbourne Borough). However, fortunes declined to the extent that they were relegated at the end of the 1994/95 season.

Two seasons later Littlehampton returned to the top division as champions of Division Two, and finished runners-up to Division One champions Burgess Hill in 1997/98. Once more however, the club suffered a sustained period of mediocrity, culminating in a miserable 2002/03 season, including a 22-1 defeat at Horsham YMCA; and relegation once again, ironically with Wick and Peacehaven... together, the three most dominant clubs in the early 1990s.

The club responded by investing heavily in the playing squad for 2003/04 and began the season as hot favourites to bounce back at the first attempt. This they duly did, finishing seven points clear of runners-up Worthing United. The two clubs also met in the League Cup final, with the Marigolds again coming out on top. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the average attendance from the previous wretched season.

The club were the favourites of many to secure back-to-back championships, which was probably a little too ambitious. Nevertheless, they did well to finish in a creditable 4th place, a position they occupied once again at the end of 2005/06. Unfortunately, and as so often appears to be the case in West Sussex, the club lost manager Carl Stabler and most of the previous season's squad during the close season (many to Wick) and from being amongst the championship favourites the previous season, were now hotly tipped as relegation fodder. Sadly that proved to be the case and the Marigolds were always struggling throughout 2006/07 with a largely young and inexperienced squad. However, twelve months is a long time in football and it probably won't be long before the club is once again back in the top flight, continuing it's yo-yo existence of the current decade.

Description of ground
Littlehampton Town FC is one of several clubs in the county whose ground is shared with cricket. The club moved to [the] Sportsfield in 1920 from its previous home at Lobbs Wood, with the grand old main stand built around 1930. Painted in the club colours, and with a slightly less than horizontal roof, its benches provide the only seating at the ground. The two dugouts stand in front.

The stand is flanked on either side by two additional covered stands with concrete steps, built between 1948 and 1950. The Sportsfield is essentially a three-sided ground with the far perimeter fence being removed during the summer. The pitch-side fence was erected in 1984, with floodlights arriving four years later.

The entrance to the ground is via a small turnstile block. with the pitch itself a short walk. To the left is the large clubhouse, the interior ceiling of which resembles the interior of the Tardis. The building itself dates from the 1970s, and looks somewhat incongruous next to the charming cricket pavilion next door, which was used by the club until 1975.

There is a reasonably sized car park, with additional parking available in St. Flora’s Road.

Despite being a three-sided ground The Sportsfield does possess a fair bit of character. However, it could prove difficult to enclose and unless the Club can come up with a similar solution to that found at Eastbourne Town FC, they may well have trouble meeting FA regulations in the future.

Directions
Traveling west on the A259, turn off on to the B2187 (Horsham Road, church on left) at the Body Shop roundabout towards Littlehampton. After Esso Garage bear left into St. Floras Road and the ground is near the end on the left hand side.

Nearest railway station: Littlehampton (approx. 15 mins walk)

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