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Shoreham Preview

Shoreham Preview

sam surbey6 Apr 2018 - 08:12
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The club was established in 1892 and were one of the founding members of the West Sussex Football League in 1896. After the first World War the club played in the Brighton, Hove & District Football League, until the end of the 1919/20 season when they became one of the founder members of Sussex County Football League. Apart from a five-year break between 1927/28 and 1931/32 they have remained there, regularly moving between Divisions One and Two, and when the league changed its name to the Southern Combination for 2015/16, became members of the Premier Division. In 2016/17, having led the league for most of the season, the club finished as runners-up in the Premier Division to Haywards Heath Town. However, after Haywards Heath were penalised with a nine points deduction for fielding an ineligible player, Shoreham became champions and were promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League.

We have met once before this season in competitive football, in the treble winning season of 1996/97, in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round. After a 0-0 draw in Sussex, two Wayne Schweiso penalties and a goal apiece from Phil Harris and Terry Martin gave Bay a 4-0 victory.

The Musselmen have endured a torrid start since their promotion, having won three, drawing five and losing 31 of their 39 outings, also having a six-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player. They have two points from a possible 30 in their last ten home games and on Thursday lost 4-1 away at Thamesmead Town cementing their position at the bottom of the table. Herne Bay are 12 places and 50 points ahead, having played one game more.
But nothing should be taken for granted, as those who were present at relegated Godalming Town last campaign would testify.

Shoreham are the 41st team that we have met in the Isthmian League and amazingly the only club that we have played who have a home shirt colour of predominantly blue.

They play their home games at The Taxi-Link Community Sports Ground, Middle Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6GA which is 99 miles from Winch’s Field. Shoreham have an average attendance of 103 (highest 221 and lowest 50) and are 19th place in the Bostik South attendance table.

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