Bring home the Wickers: Southwick FC campaign gathers momentum

Officials and fans of Southwick FC have launched a crusade they hope will end in Adur District Council allowing them to move back to Old Barn Way and resume the place in the national non-league system they have had to give up.

Problems with the lease at the ground have led to them having to move down the football pyramid to the Mid Sussex League and switch matches to Buckingham Park.

But those who love a club that’s 138 years old and helped found the county league a century ago have vowed to do all they can to get it back where it belongs.

A peaceful protest will be held at Old Barn Way on Sunday to raise awareness of the campaign.

A statement issued by Southwick FC said the club’s former owner had surrendered the lease in March after ‘many years of sad and totally avoidable decline’ at the ground.

The club has been reconstituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC) by committed local people – with none of the former owners involved – and they aim to make it a ‘community amateur sports club’.

Adult, under-18 and youth teams are in place with 32 club officials, managers and coaches ready for the new season.

Southwick FC said they offered to obtain a temporary licence and make good the necessary repairs at their cost, but said the council had not responded.

The club said at a Zoom meeting in July the council had said it intended to seek proposals from all interested parties while safeguarding football as a use for the site.

The statement said the club wanted the council to go further and ensure they were the designated club allowed to use Old Barn Way.

Southwick officials said debts linked to the club’s past meant they had to step out of the National League System, which is shy they have moved from the SCFL to the lower-ranked Mid Sussex League.

They added: “The football management and current first team squad are fully committed to the club at this crucial point in its 138-year history and the new, reborn Southwick FC will start again at intermediate level, playing at Buckingham Park.

“We are hereby launching BRING HOME THE WICKERS! – calling on AWDC to grant the club the right to return home to Old Barn Way the moment the ground improvements are completed, in order to rebuild our future and return to affiliated football ASAP. Southwick FC was once one of the leading clubs in Sussex.

“We will return to happier times as a democratically-run, member-owned community club with a vibrant and enthusiastic youth section, ensuring a great future.”

Adur District Council said an inspection showed it would around £500,000 of work to get the site suitable for use but it wanted ‘to ensure community football can return to the site as soon as is practicable’.

A spokesman said: “We recognise the key role that Southwick FC plays in the local community and understand the uncertainty this has caused. But we must act in the best interests of everyone to make sure Old Barn Way is placed on a sustainable footing moving forward.

“We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge and will need support to make the site safe, legal and compliant, while meeting relevant league standards for football to return. This is why we are committed to working with all parties moving forward.

“Be assured, football will always have a home at Old Barn Way which is why we are committed to exploring all avenues to ensure that the beautiful game can return to this historic venue as soon as possible.”