History & Development of Eastbourne Rugby Club

Eastbourne RFC was founded in 1895 and was reformed in 1928, it is the second oldest club in Sussex. It started as a Wednesday XV but moved to playing on Saturdays in 1936. Initially, it was a migrant club playing successively on pitches at Devonshire Park, The Saffrons and Whitebread Hollow before establishing its base on Martin's Field at Hampden Park in 1947 ( Martin's Field is the current pitch in front of what is know Park College). Members of the club at that time cleared and prepared this pitch and built a small clubhouse, the remains of which were destroyed by the October 1987 hurricane.

In 1969 a new two-storied brick clubhouse was erected in its current position in Hampden Park, this and the car park were built on ground leased from Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC). The building was then state of the art and was financed by the efforts of the club members and various funding loans all of which have since been paid off. At the same time the club aquiredits clubhouse pitch, and leases for the pitches and clubhouse grounds were licensed with EBC. In 2002 the club aquired a third pitch, adjacent to the old floodlit training facilities from the EBC, whilst in 2003 the EBC also granted the club the use of the building just behind the 3rd team pitch, containing 8 changing rooms, referees' changing facilities and integral showers and toilets for 5 years. These extra facilities have relieved the congestion created by the great success of our Mini and Junior sections. A business plan has been developed as a springboard for the Clubhouse Expansion Project. In 2002 the club also gained access to the splendid state of the art floodlit training facilities at the recently built Hampden Sports Park, which it uses regularly to improve its coaching regimes. Recently new showers have been installed, the playing surface is being reseeded and there are current plans to enhance and relocate the club's own floodlights.

The Senior First XV won promotion from Sussex 1 League in 1998 and spent two years in London 3 South East before dropping down to London 4 South East when the leagues were restructured and the clubs per league reduced, after two years in that league it gained promotion back to London 3 SE in 2002, one of its most successful seasons, when it also reached the last 16 of the National Powergen Intermediate Cup. In 2003 the club was relegated back to London 4 SE, once again due to restructuring of the league. Typically the club fields four senior XVs each season. The recent success of the First XV is a great measure of the Youth Development Programme. A colts XV was formed in the 50's, initially drawing on players from Eastbourne College. This age group originally competed at U19 level. Things have since changed and it is an Under 18s side that has won the Sussex Shield 4 times out of 8 final appearences. The U18s have also won their age group league in both 2003 and 2004 without losing a match. In 2004 the Under 16s also won the Sussex age group cup final.

The first mini groups were formed in 1976, initially there were just the U10 and U12 age groups but in the following year the U8 Mini and U14 XV teams were established. A year later an U16 XV was introduced. Since then, and especially in the last ten years, the Mini and Junior age groups have expanded and gone from success to success, with every age group from U7 to U18 represented. The club has become a centre of excellence for its catchment area in SE Sussex. The club prides itself on providing team rugby for children of all social and ethnic backgrounds and is active in the community in helping youngsters from disadvantaged circumstances. This is no small measure due to the strong team of RFU coaches and Team Managers dedicated to operate at all levels. The club provides coaching in schools, road shows and coaching and team management for Park College.