The club can trace its existence back to the foundation of the 1st Sussex Royal Engineers Volunteers (Eastbourne) FC on 5 September 1894, following success in a football tournament at Sheffield Park near East Grinstead, as part of a training camp for Sussex Companies of the Regiment. The new club adopted the Regimental colours of red and blue stripes, but with no home ground the first two matches were played on the field of South Lynn School in Tutts Barn Lane; and numerous other venues were used in those early years, although the new club also returned to Sheffield Park to play.

In 1901 the club gained permission from Eastbourne Council to use Gildredge Park in the Old Town as their home ground. Like the other grounds, it was not enclosed and entrance was by voluntary donation of one penny. The playing surface was also very undulating and resulted in its nickname: the “Switchback Pitch”. In 1913 there was a name change to the 1st Home Counties Royal Engineers (Eastbourne) FC to reflect a merger between the RA Volunteers with the Territorial Army.

The club resumed playing at Gildredge Park after the Great War and in 1920/21 following the disbandment of the Volunteers at the end of hostilities was re-named for a third time: becoming Eastbourne Royal Engineers Old Comrades FC. In 1921/22, the club joined the Sussex County League, and the season was also notable for a permanent move to the Lynchmere. In 1924 the Royal Engineers suffix was dropped and the club became known simply as Eastbourne Old Comrades FC. The following season heralded new club colours of black and white stripes as ties with the Royal Engineers were finally broken.

At the end of the 1927/28 season the Comrades resigned from the Sussex County League were admitted to the Spartan League, shortening their name to Eastbourne Comrades FC. By this time, a sustained programme of improvements carried out entirely by voluntary labour had seen considerable improvement of the Lynchmere, including construction of a wooden grandstand and another covered enclosure.

The start of the 1935/36 season saw the club admitted back into the Sussex County League having resigned from the Spartan League a couple of years earlier. With War declared on 3 September 1939 the new season had barely started, and a friendly at the Lynchmere versus Bexhill on 4 May 1940 proved to be the Comrades’ last match for six years. By the end of WW2 the Lynchmere had a new owner and future tenancy was uncertain, Seating had been removed from the stand by “persons unknown”, as had baths; heating and equipment from the tea chalet, along with most of the piping. The buildings were also badly damaged and the club’s bank balance was nil. As the ground had not been commandeered, the War Office refused compensation.

The 1946/47 season was similarly disastrous and the club finished bottom of the Sussex County League having won just two of twenty-six fixtures. It was certainly not helped by having to play the last eleven matches away from home, all of which ended in defeat. In fact the match against Haywards Heath on 11 January 1947 proved to be the last at the Lynchmere. An “arctic winter” intervened during this period the ground was sold for development.

Fortunately for the club, they were invited by Eastbourne Council to use at The Oval in Princes Park (formerly Gilbert Recreation Ground), near the seafront which the Council was developing into a sports arena. There were no facilities at that time and the Comrades were only re-elected to the Sussex County League on condition that the pitch was roped off on match days. The first match versus Littlehampton, on 30 August 1947 was watched by an estimated crowd of 1,000 who paid by voluntary collection. This attendance was doubled the following week for the visit of Chichester.

The club name was also changed for a sixth time to Eastbourne United FC in 1950/51. Local derbies against Eastbourne continued to draw large crowds and on 7 May 1956 United avenged a number of earlier defeats with a 6-0 victory in the Final of the RUR Charity Cup in front of a record crowd of 6,600 at the Oval.

During the 1975/76 season an attempt to merge with Eastbourne Town failed at a late stage and in 1977 another expansion of the Isthmian League saw United join the new Division Two where they remained until being placed into Division Three in 1991, following further restructuring. The combination of poor results, low income, and the long distances involved in traveling to away matches meant that United’s place was unsustainable. The club sent a notice of resignation to the League but were told they would have to join the Combined Counties League as this was the feeder into the Isthmian. Following a successful appeal to the FA, United were allowed to re-join the Sussex County League instead, albeit in Division Two.

In the local press on 6 July 2001, it was announced that the Oval had been spared from the axe by the Council. This was welcome news but the ground remained in quite a state of disrepair, largely a consequence of the Council’s continued refusal to prohibit public access, and United were faced with a requirement to carry out repair and refurbishments estimated at £83,500 to satisfy the terms of their lease which still had 13 years to run at the time. At the end of the 2002/03 season, and struggling in Division Two of the Sussex County League, United amalgamated with fellow Division Two club Shinewater Association in a ‘marriage of convenience’, becoming Eastbourne United Association FC in the process.

Under the leadership of former Shinewater manager Dave Shearing, the new club won promotion back to Division One at the first attempt after finishing third behind champions Littlehampton Town, and runners-up Worthing United. That progression was maintained in 2004/05 with another excellent campaign and 5th place in the top flight of the County League. With constant rumours of disquiet off the pitch in the local media, Shearing resigned at the end of the 2005/06 season to take a break from football (he subsequently joined Bexhill United and then Rye United), with the Club in 14th position. He was succeeded by former Hailsham Town boss Brian Dennis who guided a young United side to a promising 7th place finish in 2006/07.

With Eastbourne Borough now established as the town's leading club; and Eastbourne Town promoted to the Isthmian League, 'United' are now very much the town's poor relations. Gates these days are a far cry from the four figure crowds that once flocked to The Oval and the average attendance is artificially inflated with the derby game vs Town each season. The club will miss that income in 2007/08. Despite continued problems off the pitch, once hopes that this very friendly club can continue and one day repeat its successes of yesteryear.

Click here for an extended club history, including Shinewater Association (PDF file, Adobe Acrobat required)

Description of ground
The Oval has been home to United since 1947, after their previous ground at Lynchmere was sold for development (see above). Then, the local council improved the site by laying a pitch, and athletics track, and a grass cycle track. The 1950/51 season began with a brand new pitch and new kit of white shirts and black shorts, and during the following close season plans were made for a grandstand and terracing, as the Council granted the club a new long lease. The precise date that the stand and terrace was officially opened is uncertain. However, what is known is that the Pavilion (Clubhouse), built at around the same time was officially opened on 3 September 1955 vs Queen’s Park Rangers.

In 1958/59 the first floodlights were erected at the ground and inaugurated with a match versus Eastbourne in front of a gate of 4,100. By 1966 however, United were competing in the Athenian League, and new floodlights were erected at a cost of £5,500. The new lights were officially christened on 25 October 1967 with the visit of a strong West Ham United side, watched by a 2,000 strong crowd.

A third set of floodlights was officially opened on 18 February 1980 by former manager Ron Greenwood, as United beat Millwall in front of a gate of 1,100. But, with little money to maintain the Oval, the ground was showing signs of wear and tear. The infamous storm on the night of 16 October 1987 destroyed the covered terrace on the Watling Road side of the ground and, with no insurance against storm damage taken out by the Council, was never replaced, leaving only a few steps of terracing as a permanent reminder.

Still owned by the local council, the club have, for a number of years, been trying to purchase the lease which will have enabled it to apply for Football Foundation grants for vital ground improvements, including one suggestion of turning the pitch ninety degrees. However, this has been to no avail, and the ground has suffered considerably in recent years despite the best efforts of the club, and certainly not helped by being open to the public outside of match days and susceptible to vandalism.

As a consequence, and certainly when compared to the improvements to the other two Eastbourne clubs, the Oval had been very much the poor relation. However, improvements were undertaken during the 2003 close-season by combined efforts of Eastbourne United and Shinewater Association. The Oval was also the home of the local athletic club, but when they relocated to the fine new facilities at Cross Levels Way, they left behind a disused cinder running track that intervened between the spectators and the pitch. Their move appeared to leave council even less-inclined to maintain the facilities, leaving the newly-formed club with an uphill task.

A major improvement therefore, was the provision of ‘new’ perimeter fencing, acquired from Eastbourne Borough’s Priory Lane ground, and the old ground at Shinewater Lane. This allowed spectators to get a lot closer to the action than previously, and improved the atmosphere considerably. Equally as important, it allowed car parking inside of the ground where the old track used to be, thereby removing previous problems of street parking.

The main focal point of the ground is obviously the large stand, which now renders spectators even more remote from the action. The fascia was repaired following the amalgamation and again subsequently as it once again fell into disrepair. The words “Eastbourne United AFC” however, could be misinterpreted to the uninitiated, and I personally would have preferred the word “Association” to have been included as a memorial to the old Shinewater club, even though it may have been slightly more expensive to do so. However, the merger of the two clubs is clearly represented in the new crest, which also includes Shine’s old colours.

One thing the new fencing will not improve however, is the weather and will leave spectators even more exposed to the elements. Warning: the ground is very close to the seafront, and it can be very cold in the winter months (take an umbrella!)

The dugouts, which were once situated on the stand side of the pitch, have since been moved to the other side, but there is a large clubhouse (now re-carpeted and redecorated) and a cosy indoor tea bar which is always welcoming.

The open access of the ground however, continues to be a problem. In August 2004 vandals were fortunately disturbed whilst trying to set fire to the stand, although they did manage to damage several seats before making their getaway. Possibly mindful of the possibility of a repeat attack, the seats have now been completely removed, leaving behind just concrete steps although wooden slats are provided on match days.

Directions
If approaching via to A27 from Brighton, turn left at the Polegate traffic lights, and then take the second exit at the large roundabout shortly afterwards to continue eastwards on the A27 (signposted Eastbourne, Hastings & Bexhill). Skip next paragraph ...

If approaching via the A22, take the first exit at the large roundabout shortly before Polegate, signposted A27 Eastbourne, Hastings & Bexhill.

At the next roundabout, take the third exit towards Eastbourne, and then the second exit at the next roundabout. At the end of the bypass, bear left into Lottbridge Drove (1st exit at roundabout), and continue past golf park on the right.

Proceed across two small roundabouts (superstores to the right) and carry on to the next roundabout (opposite the Sovereign Centre). Take the third exit along the seafront (Royal Parade), passing ‘Fort Fun’ on the left. The entrance to Princes Park will be seen soon afterwards on the right, with Channel View Road immediately afterwards. The entrance to the ground is about 200-300 yards up on the right.

Nearest railway station: Eastbourne (approx. 30 mins walk).

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