East Preston F.C.

East Preston

Full name

East Preston Football Club

Nickname(s)

EP, EPFC

Founded

1966

Ground

The Lashmar, East Preston

Capacity

2,000

Chairman

Keith Glenister

Manager

Bob Paine

League

Southern Combination Division One

2015–16

Southern Combination Premier Division, 19th (relegated)

Home colours

Away colours

East Preston F.C. is a football club based in East Preston, near Littlehampton, West Sussex, England. The current club was reformed in 1966 and were founding members of the Sussex County League Division Three in 1983. They are currently members of the Southern Combination Division One and play at the Lashmar.

History

East Preston FC was originally formed in 1947, but within ten years the club had folded. However it was reformed, as the present club in 1966 when it was elected to the Worthing League. East Preston then moved on to the West Sussex League for the start of the 1968–69 season before becoming founder members of the newly formed Sussex County League Division Three in 1983–84, having won a number of honours in the seasons leading up to that. The club won Division Three at the first attempt but were unable to take their place in senior football as the ground and facilities were not up to the required standard. The club remained in Division Three until 1990–91 when they regained promotion, this time as runners up to Ifield. However, this lasted just one season before being relegated back the following year. After a couple of near misses they finally achieved promotion at the end of the 1994/95 season. In that promotion season they achieved a treble, also winning the Division 3 Cup and the Sussex Intermediate Cup.

In 1997–98 promotion to Division One was achieved for the first time in the club's history. The club finished fourth in 1999/00 before being relegated in 2000–01. East Preston were immediately promoted back to the top flight. Following a season of consolidation, 2003–04 saw East Preston finish third behind Chichester City United, and just missing out on the runners-up spot on goal difference to Rye & Iden United. In the 2004–05 season the club managed only a mid-table finish. Disquiet behind the scenes culminated in December with the failure of the first team squad to fulfil a fixture at Eastbourne Town, and the ultimate resignation of manager Vic Short. The team did, however, reach the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Cup and lost to eventual winners Didcot Town in the 2nd round of the FA Vase. The team finished in 16th place in the 2005–06 season and then in 2007–08 secured a 4th place finish under Chris White, however following White's departure to Horsham YMCA East Preston were relegated the following season and continued to under achieve in Division 2.

Prior to the 2011–12 season East Preston appointed manager Dom Di Paola from Worthing United bringing with him his assistants Ian Brown, Jan Miller, Mick Wannacott and Adam Westwood. The club finished 1st in the Sussex County Football League Division 2 that season, finishing 12 points above runners up Hailsham Town and earning promotion in the process. The success continued when they thrashed local rivals Littlehampton Town in the final of the division 2 cup to secure the double. ^[1]

Stadium

EPFC play their home games at East Preston Sports & Social Club, Lashmar Road, Littlehampton, BN16 1ES.

East Preston’s ground at The Lashmar has been steadily improved over the last five years. The most recent addition being a small fifty seat stand along the near touchline, built near the end of the 2002–03 season. Previously the only cover at the ground was provided outside of the changing rooms, adjacent to where the stand has been erected. This area extends around behind the corner flag. Floodlights were added to bring the ground up to required standards of SCFL Division One.

Fans

East Preston FC attracts reasonably sized crowds to most matches, most fans sitting on the 150-seater stand. The Lashmar is also home to the 'EP Ultras', a small group of local teenage boys who regularly attend home and away games to provide an atmosphere. The group have been widely acknowledged and acclaimed across non league clubs in Sussex for their continued support and dedication.

Honours

League honours

Sussex County League Division One
- Winners: 2013-14
Sussex County League Division Two^[2]
- Winners: 1997–98, 2011–12
Sussex County League Division Three^[2]
- Winners: 1983–84
- Runners-Up: 1990–91, 1994–95
West Sussex Football League Premier Division:^[3]
- Champions (4): 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83

Cup honours

The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup^[4]
- Winners (1): 2012–13
Sussex County Division Two Cup^[5]
- Winners: 2011–12
Sussex County Football League Division Three Cup:^[6]
- Winners (2): 1987–88, 1994–95
- Runners up (2): 1983–84, 1989–90
Sussex Intermediate Cup^[5]
- Winners: 1994–95
Brighton Charity Cup^[5]
- Winners: 2009–10

Records

Highest league position:^[2]
- 1st in Sussex County League Division One: 2013-14
FA Cup best performance^[2]
- Third qualifying round: 2004–05
FA Vase best performance^[2]
- Second round: 1999–2000, 2004–05

References

↑ http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/eastprestonfc/a/club-history-44208.html
1 2 3 4 5 "Football Club History Database – East Preston". Fchd.info. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
↑ "West Sussex Football League – Cup Details". Yourgolfclub.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
↑ "East Preston lift Sussex RUR Cup – Local Football". Littlehampton Gazette. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
1 2 3 "East Preston Football Club". Eastprestonfc.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
↑ "Division 3 Cup – Sussex County Football League". Sussexcountyleague.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.

External links

Official website

Southern Combination League

Premier Division	AFC Uckfield Town Arundel Broadbridge Heath Chichester City Crawley Down Gatwick Eastbourne Town Eastbourne United Association Hailsham Town Hassocks Haywards Heath Town Horsham YMCA Lancing Littlehampton Town Loxwood Newhaven Pagham Peacehaven & Telscombe Shoreham Wick & Barnham United Worthing United

Division One	AFC Varndeanians Bexhill United Billingshurt East Preston Langney Wanderers Lingfield Little Common Midhurst & Easebourne Mile Oak Oakwood Ringmer St. Francis Rangers Saltdean United Seaford Town Selsey Southwick Steyning Town Storrington

Division Two	AFC Roffey Club Alfold Bosham Clymping Cowfold Jarvis Brook Lancing United Montpelier Villa Roffey Rottingdean Village Rustington Sidlesham Upper Beeding Westfield Worthing Leisure Town

Seasons	1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Coordinates: 50°48′49.820″N 0°28′56.730″W / 50.81383889°N 0.48242500°W / 50.81383889; -0.48242500

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