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Selsey
     
Sussex County League Division One
   
High Street Ground, High Street, Selsey, West Sussex PO20 0QH
Telephone: 01243 603420
Website: None
  Selsey  
 
  More photographs      
         
Nickname The Blues
Club Colours Blue shirts, blue shorts
2006-07 League Position 8th (20)
2006-07 Average League Attendance 118
2006-07 Highest League Attendance 167 vs Chichester Clity United
2006-07 Lowest League Attendance 86 vs Ringmer
 
  Full statistics (courtesy of the Football Club History Database)    
 

Selsey crestSelsey made an immediate impact on joining Division Two of the Sussex County League in 1961, finishing runners-up to champions Shoreham in their first season. The competition was abandoned due to bad weather the following year, but Selsey gained promotion to Division One in 1963/64, ending the season as champions. The club remained in the top division for five years before being relegated in 1969.

A return to the top flight was achieved in 1971, again as champions but within two seasons the club once again found itself back in Division Two. Promotion to Division One for the third time in 1987, as runners-up to Pagham. This time Selsey managed to survive for four seasons, until finishing bottom in 1991 with just 12 points. As regular as clockwork, the club bounced back, finishing 4th in 1994/95 but still winning promotion. The following season was the most successful in the club’s history - finishing as runners-up to runaway winners Peacehaven & Telscombe.

2001 and 2002 saw Selsey finish 4th on both occasions, and although they dropped down to 11th place in 2002/03, lifted the League Challenge Cup for the first time after beating arch-rivals Sidlesham in a local derby at Pagham’s Nyetimber Lane ground. Problems behind the scenes at the club however, saw them start the 2003/04 amongst the favourites for relegation. The annual curtain-raiser - The Norman Wingate Trophy - did little to dispel those feelings, as Whitehawk thumped a woeful Selsey side 6-1. The remainder of the season followed suit as Selsey were duly relegated to Division Two.

Following a season of rebuilding and consolidation, 2005/06 saw Selsey back to something like their best, and with the second highest average attendances in the entire League, they comfortably maintained their reputation as one of the County’s yo-yo clubs by winning promotion back to Division One as runners-up behind champions Oakwood. It was not surprising that Selsey’s best home gate of the season (248) came against local rivals Pagham; but what was completely bizarre that the lowest attendance at the High Street Ground (88) was for the visit of Sidlesham, easily their closest neighbours with less than three miles separating the two clubs!

Back in the top division for 2006/07, Selsey comfortably maintained their position with an 8th place finish and again posted amongst the best attendances in the League, bettered only by champions Eastbourne Town, and Three Bridges.

 

Description of ground
One of the most westerly outposts of the County League, the High Street Ground is located just off the main road through the village, and tucked behind the Budgens supermarket which provides ample parking facilities.

Entry to the ground is through a couple of impressive iron gates, which on closer inspection appear to have been acquired from a local Holiday Camp. The ground itself is neat and tidy, with hard standing all around. The cosy clubhouse and dressing rooms (as well as a welcome tea bar) are all situated along the near touchline, and painted in the club colours. As can be seen from Bob Lilliman's archive photographs, the clubhouse building originally incorporated spectator seating

The stand is on the opposite touchline, was opened in 1962 but changed little in recent years, except for a smart new fascia board the construction of brick dugouts on either side, replacing the originals which were incorporated into the structure of the stand itself. There is a single long bench, with some railings to lean against behind.

 

Directions
From Chichester on the B2145, proceed through Selsey High Street to the fire station. Take next turning on the right after School Lane at traffic lights (signposted Budgens). The entrance to the ground is to the left of the supermarket car park.

Nearest railway station: Chichester (9 miles).

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

 


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