Mile Oak FC was formed in 1960 with the aim of providing football for the expanding population of local community, north of Portslade.

After many years of success in the Brighton League, the club made the decision on 1986 to aim to become a senior club in the Sussex County League, and an application was made to join the Southern Counties Combination League, which was a feeder into the Sussex ‘pyramid’. After just one season, the club won promotion to Division 3 of the County League as champions.

After five seasons, promotion was gained to Division Two in 1991/92, as runners-up to Hassocks, and then to Division One as champions in 1994/95.

After such a meteoric rise up the pyramid, the staunchly amateur club, which still demanded ‘subs’ from its players, predictably found it tough in the top division, and the highest placing they managed was 16th, before being relegated back to Division Two after three seasons, in 1997/98.

A fifth place finish in Division Two the following season, has been their best showing since, although in 2005/06 The Oak added some silverware to the trophy cabinet by beating Sidlesham 1-0 in the Final of the Division Two Challenge Cup.  The past two seasons has seen the club comfortably finishing in the top half of the table.

Description of ground
Mile Oak’s Recreation ground has its detractors, and indeed it’s not the best place to be on a cold, wet December evening due to its elevated and rather exposed position. The facilities are pretty spartan, with the only cover provided by a small shelter mid-way along the near touchline. When the weather is nice however, a good view can be found by standing on the grass bank that runs along the same touchline. Permanent dugouts were erected in 2002 although these barely meet requirements, if at all.

During the 2003 close-season considerable work was done to bring the ground up to FA Cup & FA Vase standards. This included provision of new separate male/female toilets, a segregated walkway for players and officials up to the pitch, and hard standing on three sides of pitch (stand side and both ends).

Access to the ground is along a long path, which leads up from the main road, past a childrens’ playground. Parking is available in the Community College car park opposite. The sloping pitch has an elevated position. There are also floodlights but these have been a bone of contention with local residents since they were erected in order to meet the requirements for promotion in 1995.

Refreshments, toilets and changing rooms are to be found in the small Community Centre just outside the entrance to the ground.

Directions
Traveling west on the A27, turn off on to the A293 (signposted Shoreham), then right at roundabout into Fox Way. Fox Way joins Chalky Road, and the ground is located on the right hand side opposite the Community College.

Nearest railway station: Portslade (approx 30 minutes walk).

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