Shoreham FC was founded in 1892 and gained its first major honour in 1902, winning the Sussex Senior Cup, something that was repeated four years later. In 1920 Shoreham became founder members of the Sussex County League, only to resign seven years later after picking up just five points over the entire season and finishing bottom of the twelve club League. In 1932 however, the club rejoined and ended the 1934/35 season as runners-up to Horsham.

After a difficult period during the 1940s, Shoreham took the County League title for the first time in 1951/52, and retained it the following year. In 1960/61 Shoreham were relegated, but made an immediate return as Division Two champions the next season.

The Blues were relegated once more in 1966/67 to Division Two, where they spent six seasons before finishing as runners-up to Portfield in 1972/73. Unfortunately, they survived only a season before being relegated again. True to form, Shoreham bounced back: winning the Division Two title in 1976/77 and adding the Division One championship in 1977/78.

Over the past twenty years, Shoreham have continued to alternate between the top two divisions of the County League, with frequent relegation and promotion seasons at Middle Road. The best seasons in recent years came in the mid-1990s, when they twice finished in the top four of Division One, and won the League Cup in 1996.

Shoreham were promoted back to Division One as runners-up in 2001/02, following relegation two seasons earlier. However, a familiar pattern followed as, after narrowly avoiding relegation in 2002/03, the club finished bottom in 2003/04 and returned to Division Two. The Musselmen continued their yo-yo existence between the Divisions the following season - making an immediate return back to the top flight of the County League after finishing 3rd behind champions Crowborough Athletic and Wick.

Given their previous history of moving back and forth between the divisions, the Committee at this friendly club must have been pleased to consolidate in 2005/06. The season saw Middle Road continue to be favoured as a neutral venue for cup ties, and the Musselmen were to collect some silverware of their own: defeating Whitehawk 2-1 in the Final of the John O’Hara League Challenge Cup.

2006/07 began on a positive note, as Shoreham defeated the previous season's champions Horsham YMCA to take the Norman Wingate Trophy. In the League however, they failed to trouble the leading clubs once again.

As an aside, the club's nickname is of interest, even though the ‘Oystermen’ might have been more appropriate it seems. There was once a major oyster fishing industry in Shoreham which, at its height in 1869 boasted a total fishing fleet of 295 boats employing 740 men and 89 boys. Unfortunately, without today’s regulations on fishing quotas, the oysters were soon all fished out, probably by the time the Football Club was formed. Certainly, by 1913 the fishing fleet had fallen by almost fifty per-cent but it is reasonable to suppose that the fishermen turned instead to fishing for mussels, which are also abundant in the area.

Description of ground
Shoreham’s Middle Road ground is situated at the far side of a recreation ground, behind Southland’s Hospital, and has been the club’s home since 1970.

Parking is available either in a small car park just inside the recreation ground, or in Middle Road. Access is across the recreation ground itself - a walk that can be something of an ordeal in winter, when the wind is howling!

The ground has floodlights, installed in 1986 and celebrated with a game against Wimbledon on 14 October, in front of a record crowd of 1,342. The current clubhouse to the left of the entrance dates from a year earlier. To the immediate right as one enters is a small wooden covered area behind the near goal.

Immediately ahead, along the near touchline is a seated stand. This was built in the late 1970s, as does the concrete boundary wall (which replaced temporary canvas sheeting). The stand is perfectly adequate, although the seats are at a low level and the numerous supporting pillars can be a bit intrusive. The remainder of the ground has hard standing and is open to the elements.

There is a new sponsors’ & officials’ area adjacent to the pitch; and the dugouts on the far side have been enlarged/extended in recent years. In addition, a grant from the FA helped fund a new perimeter fence that was in place for the 2005/06 season.

Directions
Take the A27 to Shoreham. At the Holmbush Roundabout take the exit towards Southlands Hospital. Immediately before the hospital, turn left down Hammy Lane, then right at the mini roundabout into Middle Road. The entrance to the ground is at the far end of the recreation ground immediately on the right.

Nearest railway station: Shoreham (10 mins).

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