Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this chapter, we travelled to West Sussex for a some FA Cup action as Southern Combination Premier League side Pagham FC took on Ithsmian South East Division side East Grinstead Town at Nyetimber Lane.
It's All In The Name
The name Pagham is thought to arise from the habitation of a tribal leader named 'Paega,' from whom other place names in southern England are derived.The name Nyetimber was first mentioned as Neuetimbra in the 12th century, which means "new timbered building." Even until the 14th century, Pagham was one of the most important English ports, selling wool to Europe, but with the arrival of a massive storm in 1341, a big portion of the Parish was completely destroyed by the sea, and the hamlet of Charlton was consumed and vanished.As the harbour steadily silted up, so did Pagham's fortune. The Lions are the club's nickname.
Some Notable Former Players
Tom Broadbent
Tommy Block
Ben Clark-Eden
Luca Coleman-Carr
James Temple (now beach soccer player)
A History Lesson From The Gloucester Groundhopper
The club was founded in 1903 and began in the Bognor & Chichester Football League before moving to the West Sussex league. The club won the West Sussex League Premier Division for the first time at the end of the 1965-66 season, then achieved the feat twice more in 1968-69 and 1969-70. In addition to league success, the club won the Sussex Intermediate Cup twice, in 1966-67 and 1968-69.
After winning the West Sussex league, the team moved to Division Two of the Sussex County League in 1970-71, placing third in their first three seasons. The club played their first ever FA Cup game in 1972-73, drawing 0-0 with Chichester City before losing 2-1 in the replay. Pagham were Division Two champions in 1978-79, earning promotion to the top flight. The next season, the club placed fourth behind champions Chichester City, but won the title in 1980-81, three points ahead of runners-up Peacehaven & Telscombe, who went on to win the next two titles. Pagham were relegated just three years later. Two third-place finishes followed before the Division Two championship was won for the second time in 1987.
Better was to come in the following two seasons, with consecutive Division One crowns and the League Challenge Cup in 1988-89. Following that, the club solidly established itself as a Division One club, albeit it never reached the heights of the late 1980s, with the finest season being 1992-93, when Pagham finished runners-up to Peacehaven. However, in 2003-04, the club finished in the bottom three, with only the earlier liquidation of St. Leonards saving them from relegation to Division Two. However, there was no escape in 2004-05, and the Lions were relegated to Division Two after another dreadful season.
In what could be considered a season of consolidation following a couple of dismal years, the Lions finished 13th in 2005-06, but they handily returned to the first division as champions in 2006-07, finishing ten points ahead of runners-up St. Francis Rangers. They were moved to the Wessex League Premier Division for the 2022-23 season, but have recently been reinstated to the SCFL Premier Division for the 2023-24 season.
Honours
🏆Sussex County League Division One (Champions: 1980–81, 1987–88, 1988–89) (Runners-up: 1992–93)
🏆 Sussex County League Division Two (Champions: 1978–79, 1986–87, 2006–07)
🏆 West Sussex Football League Premier Division (Champions: 1965–66, 1968–69, 1969–70)
🏆 West Sussex Football League Division Two South (Champions: 1962–63)
🏆 The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup (Winners: 1988–89) (Runners-up: 1993–94)
🏆 Sussex County League Cup (Winners: 1988–89, 2016–17)
🏆 Sussex County League Division Two Cup (Winners: 1971–72, 1985–86)
Matchday: Pagham FC 0-4 East Grinstead Town
We travelled to Pagham on a wet and windy Saturday as we sought yet another game that was full of goals. We arrived at the ground, and parked in the nearby residential parking, which was free. Only issue would be that if it was a big game that attracted a large attendance, parking may be scarse and may deter supporters from attending.
Arriving at the ground, we went straight into the club bar, which was what it said on the tin, it was a bar. After purchasing a coke and a pin badge (£4) I went back outside where they were serving food. The food was incredibly good value. A larger cheeseburger (with onions) and a large amount of chips cost £6. This, in terms of food at the football, is incredible value. The burger was nice, and the chips were good too. There was also a selection of sauces, which may seem to be an odd thing to point out, but you would be surprised how many non league clubs only offer ketchup. As a result the large variety of sauces was a welcome change.
The stadium is made up of two stands that could possibly house around 500 people in total. For the level it is at, it was actually a reasonable ground, which felt built up and was not just a 'pitch with fences.' It is clear that the regulars at the club are very passionate about Pagham FC and this was clear with everybody who I spoke to. Everybody was friendly, and welcoming, and easy to talk to, which again, you'd be surprised how many clubs' supporters are not like that.
At the level of football, however, you don't expect any chants or pyrotechnics, and unfortunately, this was the case at Pagham. Except from a select few from the East Grinstead contingent who sang throughout the whole game, and a bolt of lightning that scared the living daylights out of me (and the lino), there was barely any noise.
Teamsheet
Pagham FC
Manager: Jason Mines
Lew Boughton
Tom Atkinson
Lukas Micevicius
Jamie Ford
Daryl Wollers (c)
Toby Pointing
Alfie Davidson
Jamie Carroll
Kieran Howard
Thomas Jefkins
Edgaras Kazlauskas
Frederick Chipp-Smith
Substitutes
Ben Cooper
Ollie Clarke
Dan Simmonds
John Philips
Bryn Hauxwell
East Grinstead Town
Manager: Drew Cooney
Matte Pierson
Ryan Green
Omar Folkes
Michael Wilson
Matthew Weaire
Glenn Wilson (c)
Cameron Reardon
Kiye Martin
Darnell Bailey-King
Connor Tighe ⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️
Max Walsh ⚽️
Substitutes
Ben Aubrey
Ollie Cash
Thibault Abie
Tommy Summerfield
Jack Kenyon
Alessio Akabuogu
Chris Alhassan
The game was dominated from start to finish by East Grinstead Town, who's free flowing football was too much to handle for Pagham. East Grinstead took the lead just two minutes in after a naive handball by Lew Boughton gave them a free kick on the edge of the box. It was played short to Max Walsh, who smashed in a piledriver to make it 1-0.
The lead was then doubled in spectacular fashion. Boughton cleared a ball straight to Connor Tighe on the halfway line, who took a touch and channelled his inner Xabi Alonso, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Alfie May. The ball looped over the goalkeeper and it was 2-0.
Tighe then began having a goal of the season competition with himself as he made it 3-0 before halftime. The ball was cleared to him on the edge of the box, he took a touch and curled a lovely shot round the goalkeeper.
The second half was dominated by East Grinstead, but Pagham had more good moments, however they rarely threatened the East Grinstead goalkeeper. The Wasps hit the bar, missed a one on one, and forced two saves out of Boughton before Tighe made it a hattrick for himself, and four for East Grinstead. Poor defending from Pagham left Tighe through on goal with all the time in the world, and he placed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 4-0, which is how the game ended.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 4/10
Food and Drink: 7/10
Stadium: 5/10
Welcome: 7.5/10
Overall Experience: 7/10
GG
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