Newhaven is another Sussex town that has a bit of a reputation. Like all ports it has an industrial and practical side that isn’t pretty to look at. Situated just down the river Ouse from Lewes and around nine miles from Brighton it perhaps suffers in comparison with those two more celebrated towns.
On a very cold January afternoon with the sun shining on the sea, and the boats in its harbour looking resplendent, I found myself quite liking the town. Coming out of the ‘town’ not ‘harbour station’ and passing the ferry terminal, you cross the swing bridge over the river. Only built in 1974, it’s the third such structure to sit across the Ouse and must be quite a sight when operating.
Victorian ramparts and gun emplacements
A footpath then leads past cottages, boatyards and fishmongers before looping round past some new built flats and a fine view of the harbour. You then find yourself on Fort Road, with the hill ahead containing the Victorian ramparts and gun emplacements installed to protect the harbour, and in use until 1962. The site is much older though with Bronze age origins.
Underneath this brooding military colossus (the largest such site in Sussex) sits a pleasant park containing the Fort Road ground of Southern Combination outfit Newhaven FC. I’d been putting off a visit here. Wet weather and an idea to combine an article with a trip to watch FC Dieppe had stayed my hand. As if to remind me, after entering the ground the vast yellow Newhaven to Dieppe ferry came into the dock, adding to my sense of somehow being half on the continent. This was amplified by the many different structures painted in a bold Spanish style red and yellow around the neat and tidy ground.
The stadium itself is dominated by a large brick-built main stand, containing a cosy and much needed bar on such a cold day. This is augmented by two pieces of the old temporary Withdean stadium seating, creating an unusual open seated section behind one goal (another European look) and another in front of the stand. Further behind the goal were some pleasing historical remnants of the former terrace with a bus shelter type structure for cover. The other two sides are simple concrete paths around the artificial pitch. At the ‘fort’ end there were probably more people using the purpose-built skate park that sits behind the fence than there were in the ground.
Despite the ubiquity of these surfaces, whenever I see a game on 4G (astroturf) it still feels like a training session rather than a real match. As Newhaven ambled out in their Melchester Rovers colours, the very enthusiastic stadium announcer sounded somewhat out of place in these sedate surroundings. One elderly eccentric with an old-fashioned football rattle and a teddy bear roared out his appreciation of captain Lee Robinson, who waved back in slightly embarrassed acknowledgment.
Newhaven v Little Common
Today’s visitors were Little Common from the outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea. Backed by several surprisingly vocal teenage supporters they set about Newhaven with gusto. Their numbers included several players who looked as if they had attacked the Christmas festivities with the same zeal. This physical approach from the burly visitors stopped the home side from developing many patterns of play and they really should have gone in at least one goal to the good.
Newhaven came out after the break playing with a much faster pace and dominated the second half. The continental feel of the proceedings extended to the ‘Dockers’ playing with a deep lying exotically coiffured sweeper, whose flamboyant promptings led to several half chances being passed up.
The main drama of the half was provided by penalties. Initially one was awarded to the home side, then overruled correctly by the linesman, before ‘Common’ missed one of their own. By now the little Common fans had been joined by several pre-pubescent Newhaven supporters with a drum. Their shrill chants were met with scorn by the Little Common fans who entertainingly began to do a Poznan-style jump in response.
Back on the pitch, Newhaven were awarded and scored another penalty, before ‘Common’ deservedly equalised with a few minutes to go. The result left Newhaven well placed in fourth position in the SCFL, with Little Common safely in mid-table. Only 149 hardy spectators braved the cold, and once again having Isthmian league Lewes, neighbours Peacehaven and of course Brighton and Hove Albion nearby can’t help the Dockers attract sizable crowds.
If you are in the area and especially on a warmer day, there are few non-league grounds in a more interesting setting and for an admission price of £8 it’s excellent value as well.
Now for FC Dieppois!
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