Sussex County Football Association

The Sussex County Football Association, also simply known as Sussex County FA or Sussex FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Sussex, England. The Sussex County FA was founded on 23 September 1882[1][2] and run a number of County Cup competitions at various levels for teams all across the county. It is affiliated to The Football Association.[3]

Sussex County Football Association
Formation23 September 1882 (1882-09-23)
PurposeFootball association
HeadquartersCulver Road
Location
Region served
Sussex
Chief executive
Ken Benham
Chairman
Mathew Major
President
Les Kempster
AffiliationsThe Football Association
Websitewww.sussexfa.com

History

Founded on 23 September 1882,[3] the Sussex County FA was founded by several football clubs including Burgess Hill, Chichester City and Horsham. The 1882/83 season saw the Sussex FA create the Sussex Senior Cup, which was won for the first time by Brighton Rangers. The competition continues to run and is the longest-running football competition administered by the Sussex County FA.[3]

Whilst the main aim of county football associations was to ensure clubs had many matches to play, a secondary aim was to help organise the recreation of schoolchildren.[4] The Sussex County FA was formed at the time when parents in Sussex were pressing local schools to introduce games on Saturdays, with the intention of keeping children out of mischief.[4]

In July 1981 the Sussex County FA purchased Lancing F.C., to which it moved its operations, effectively making Lancing F.C.'s home of Culver Road the headquarters of the Sussex County FA.[3] On 2 November 1999 the Sussex County FA became incorporated as a private limited company. At this time, a new Board of Directors was created, with a second tier of volunteers called ‘the Council’, which was replaced in 2017 with ‘County Members’ and a series of Working Committees, designed to run football matters more effectively and inclusively.[3]

County Leagues

The Southern Combination Football League, formerly known as the Sussex County League until 2015 is the highest level league in Sussex with the Premier Division winners being promoted to the Isthmian League or the Southern League. There are three divisions in the SCFL; Premier Division (level 9), Division One (level 10) and Division Two (level 11). Division Two being of intermediate level and a feeder league alongside the Mid-Sussex Football League. Other feeder leagues at level 12 and below include East Sussex, West Sussex and the. Brighton Worthing & District.

In addition there are also Sunday leagues and Youth leagues.

Cup Competitions

The Sussex County FA run several cup competitions:[5]

  • Sussex Senior Challenge Cup
  • Sussex RUR Cup
  • Sussex Community Shield
  • Sussex Women's Challenge Cup
  • Sussex Intermediate Challenge Cup
  • Sussex Under-23 Challenge Cup
  • Sussex Junior Challenge Cup
  • Sussex Sunday Challenge Cup

There are also various other cups and trophies for all levels of football in Sussex.

References
  1. Harvey, Adrian (2005). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Abingdon: Routledge.
  2. "Sussex County FA - History". Sussex FA. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  3. "Sussex County FA - History". Sussex FA. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  4. Harvey, Adrian (2013). Football: The First Hundred Years: The Untold Story. Routledge. p. 210.
  5. "Sussex County FA - Cups & Competitions". Sussex FA. Retrieved 10 December 2020.


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