Angmering historian traces 100 years of football history

Brian White, 72, of Palmer Road, has spent years researching and compiling photographs of Angmering FC.

Now, he has created a new display bringing together the photos to celebrate the club’s centenary.

Brian, who played as a left-winger for the club during the 1950s, said: “I have been involved with the club since I was 13. So I have a pretty strong tie with it.

“But what I want people to realise about the club is just how much quality it really has.

“I want to make people aware of the situation with regards to its current clubhouse, which is in desperate need of repair.

“I hope that through my exhibit, people will get a feeling for just how much heritage a small club like this has and will be able to help us build a new club house altogether.”

Brian showed his exhibit during a presentation evening at the clubhouse, in Decoy Drive recreation grounds, on Saturday, with the club’s West Sussex Football League Premier Division trophy, that they won this season, taking centre stage,

The display combined photos of past player s as well as memorabilia which included a pair of old leather boots, club strip and Brian’s own youth team medal he won in 1955.

Stuart Smith, manager of the club’s first team, said: “Brian’s display shows, from a footballing perspective, the heritage of a club like this.

“There aren’t many grassroots football teams who make it to their centenary.

“It’s a unique testament to the community as a whole, who have remained loyal to a club they are clearly passionate for.”

In May, the club withdraw its application for promotion into the Sussex County Football League, despite having been provisionally accepted by the SCFL, due to the ground’s grading criteria.

Angmering were crowned West Sussex Football League Premier Division champions for the 2010/11 season but following an inspection by the SCFL ground grading committee, last April, decided they could not complete the necessary work by the required May 31 deadline.

The club is now looking to raise roughly £50,000 to renovate the clubhouse.