The ultimate guide to match day at Bognor Regis FC

Bognor Regis Town Football Club, also known as The Rocks, is a team steeped in history. At the impressive age of 136 years old, the side was originally founded in 1883 as Bognor FC, only a few years after rugby football and association football went their separate ways and the England’s FA was formed as the sport’s first governing body. From its home at Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis Town FC is a team which has  gathered plenty of local support ever since. So, if you’re in Bognor Regis and want to check out the local footballing talent, here’s a guide to match day at Bognor Regis FC to get you started.

The story so far

After Bognor FC was formed, it became a member of the West Sussex Football League in 1896, joining the Senior Division. They won the championship of this league five times in the early 1920s, joined the Brighton & Hove District League in 1926, and then the Sussex County League until 1972. The club became Bognor Regis F.C. in 1929 after King George V added ‘Regis’ to the town’s name.

Bognor Regis FC then went on to win the Sussex County Division One championship in the 1948–1949 season, adding ‘Town’ to their name at the end of this season so as not to be confused with the local rugby club. The ground’s first set of floodlights were bought from Wembley Stadium and fitted onto telegraph poles. In the 1970s the current floodlight pylons were added, with four along each touchline, before two of these were removed on each side in the early 1990s.

More recently Bognor Regis Town Football Club has been on a winning streak, gaining promotion to the Vanarama National League South for the 2017-2018 season. However, despite a promising start, they eventually finished bottom of the table and as a result returned to the Isthmian Premier for the 2018-2019 season, where they currently reside in the top half of the table.

A typical Bognor Regis Town FC match day

The ground at Nyewood Lane has a capacity of 4,000, of which 350 are seated, but as we all know, when it comes to supporting a local side it’s traditional to stand, pie and pint in hand, as you cheer on your side. On the rare occasion that it rains in Bognor Regis, much of the spectator area is covered and there’s plenty to eat and drink once inside. Look out for the team mascot, Rocky Bear.

The next chapter

You can find their full fixtures and results here.

Photo by Tommy Mcmillian