Sidlesham only joined the Sussex County League in 1991 and enjoyed a fairly rapid climb through the Divisions. The club finished 3rd in Division Three at the first attempt, and 4th the following season. Following another 4th place in 1996, promotion to senior football for the first time was gained as champions at the end of the 1996/97 season. It then took Sidlesham just a further three seasons to win promotion to Division One, again as champions, finishing nine points clear of runners-up Arundel.

After two seasons of consolidation during which many pundits predicted them to make a rapid return, Sidlesham enjoyed their best season in 2002/03 - finishing 5th in Division One, reaching the Final of the League Challenge Cup (losing to neighbours Selsey), and enjoying a good run in the FA Vase: beating subsequent Kent League champions Maidstone United, before going down at Lowestoft Town.

The following season however, was a disappointment by comparison, with Sidlesham only managing 15th place in the table. The club were the favourites of many for relegation in 2004/05, and that proved to be the case, as they finished 13 points adrift at the bottom of the table, not helped by a dreadful disciplinary record.

Given that Sidlesham is probably one of the smallest places to have a senior football club in the country with a proportionately small following, the club had done remarkably well to achieve what it had. Perhaps not surprisingly 2005/06 was a season of consolidation and a mid-table finish was respectable. Nevertheless Sidlesham did reach the Final of the Division Two Challenge Cup, only to lose by a solitary goal to Mile Oak. The renewal of the local derby with Selsey attracted a crowd of 179 to the Recreation Ground and accounted for a rise in the average attendance; although bizarrely the return fixture was evidently watched by only 88 people and was Selsey’s lowest gate of the season!

Selsey's promotion saw Sidlesham's average gate revert to its more usual low level and even a derby game vs promotion-chasing Pagham (albeit another poorly supported club) only managed to draw a crowd of 61. Indeed, the gate of just 15 for the visit of Mile Oak was the lowest in Division Two for 2006/07.

Description of ground
Sidlesham’s home is undeniably one of the more modest County League venues. However there is enough of interest for the hardened groundhopper.There is plentiful parking at the ground, with a large, if not particularly attractive clubhouse behind the near goal.

The stand is situated mid-way along the near touchline, but is in fact more of a covered shelter. It is constructed mainly of corrugated iron, with an unusual roof that hangs downwards at an angle. The dugouts used to stand immediately in front of the stand and obscured the view quite badly (see pic). However, newer ones have since been erected on the far touchline.

Directions
From Chichester travel along the B2145 towards Selsey. The ground is visible from the road on the right, some way after passing the sign saying you are in Sidlesham.

Nearest railway station: Chichester (5 miles).

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