Chichester City United FC was founded in 2000 following the merger of Chichester City FC and Portfield FC. The venture had been discussed for many years but it was only at the start of the new millennium that the brave step was undertaken. The City had always struggled to support two senior clubs so the merger was seen as the only option for Chichester to become a force in non-league footballing circles.

In the club’s first season, 2000/01, the new club finished seventh in Division One of the Sussex County League and were also the highest scorers, as well as having the best away record. The following season, Chi improved further, finishing third, albeit 23 points behind runaway winners Burgess Hill Town; and in 2002/03 the Club finished 4th in the County League, consolidating its position as one of the leading sides in the Division. That promise was fulfilled in 2003/04 as Chi lifted the County League title after one of the most keenly contested seasons in recent years.

Despite an appearance in the Final of the RUR Charity Cup (where they lost 0-1 to Ringmer), 2004/05 proved something of a disaster, with the reigning County League champions flirting with relegation and only really securing their Division One status with a win at Redhill in their penultimate game; and a home draw against Three Bridges on the final day of the season.

Season 2005/06 produced a more comfortable 8th place finish although attendances continued to fall for a second successive season. Not long after the end of the 2006/07 season the club was rocked by the resignation of manager Mick Catlin who, despite a modest League placing, had led Chi to another RUR Cup Final Success vs Whitehawk. Catlin's team also took Horsham to a penalty shoot-out in the Final of the Brighton Charity Cup. Catlin felt that he was unable to take the club any further under the existing set-up.

Despite the merger of City and Portfield, the club remains poorly supported. There are a number of other County League clubs close by, not to mention Bognor Regis Town and Havant & Waterlooville within easy reach ... not forgetting Portsmouth! However, the ongoing delays and uncertainty surrounding the club's proposed move back to a re-developed Oaklands Park (see below) certainly hasn't helped matters and, with little or no work being carried out at Church Road in the meantime, it is hardly an inviting place to watch football.

Visit the official club website for detailed histories of Portfield and Chichester City; and news updates regarding the Oakland’s Park development (link at the top of this page).

Description of ground
Although pretty basic, Portfield’s ground at Church Road used to be pleasant to visit and remains an oasis of calm, with the cemetery next door a barrier between the ground and the busy superstores a short way beyond. The only cover is provided by the stand along the near touchline, which replaced an earlier wooden structure (see Bob Lilliman's archive photograph - link above). There is also a small area of shallow and very rudimentary concrete terrace on the far side.

The changing rooms and large clubhouse are on either side of the main gate, which also provides limited parking. The gold and black entrance sign is a small reminder of the colours of Portfield FC whose home Church Road once was.

The newly-formed club moved into the council-owned ground at Church Road, supposedly as a temporary measure whilst the erstwhile home of Chichester City at Oakland’s Park was being redeveloped (again, see Bob Lilliman's archive pics).

In March 2003 it was reported that the new ground development was set to go ahead after a meeting between the district council and Sport England evidently smoothed the way for an agreement to be made over replacement facilities. Although the redevelopment of Oakland’s Park is due to be financed by the sale of Church Road to developers, a sticking point had been the need for the council to satisfy Sport England that it was providing facilities elsewhere in the district to offset the loss of the pitch.

In the summer of 2005 it was understood that the council had come up with proposals for a package of replacement facilities and that some work had begun on the redevelopment of Oakland’s Park. This was certainly not before time as for obvious reasons, little money has been spent on the upkeep of Church Road, which is slowly deteriorating despite the Club’s best efforts at repainting which has spruced it up a little. At the beginning of the 2007/08 season Portakabins were erected after the clubhouse was condemned. Unfortunately progress with the ‘new’ ground is still proving painfully slow and on a recent visit [August 2007] there was no obvious sign of any progress.

Directions
Travel west on the A27 to Chichester. At the Superstores just before entering Chichester bear right (passing Pizza Hut on the right), then left (passing Lidl supermarket on left). Take the first left into Church Road, and ground will be found almost immediately on the right.

Nearest railway station: Chichester (approx. 20 mins walk).

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