UP THE BEARS AND THE MAGPIES

I was delighted to read the Broadbridge Heath FC Twitter feed this week, publicising their first game of the season at their Highwood Hill facility, a new stadium and clubhouse sited on the outskirts of Horsham in West Sussex. They opened the ground with a match against local rivals Loxwood FC.

I know the spot well, a village I drove through on my Vespa 150 on my way from home in Pulborough to school and social matters in Horsham town! Broadbridge Heath was the home of several school mates and the football club very much a village affair. Sited on the Horsham by-pass, the village would soon grow in size as there was more demand from the growing population to overspill from bigger settlements. BBH FC, the Bears, inevitably benefited. (There is a pub in Horsham called The Bear...perhaps that is where club was formed rather like the FA in the Freemasons' Tavern in 1863).

BBHFC, was founded in 1919 by local soldiers returning from the war. There were only 12 players and they played in and won the local Horsham and District League Championship and the Challenge Cup.
The club gradually progressed, had its ups and downs, but was promoted into the lower divisions of the West Sussex League in 1970, then was promoted to the Premier in 1978, joining the Southern Counties League in the mid 1980s and now the Macron Southern Combination premier.
The club played at a former army camp at Wickhurst Lane from 1987. I have been past it many times on the by-pass.....it is now a Tescos!
The committee got sorted out, developed the new ground and with recent successes under the watchful eye of Steve Painter, the Bears took control of their new facility at Highwood Hill, running a 1st and Reserve team, U23, U18 Vets and 10 junior and minor teams.
The two Sussex clubs came together this week; Loxwood FC being the last opponents to play the Bears at the old ground, were invited to help open the new Broadbridge Heath FC stadium. The game ended in a "suitable" 2-2 draw and 330 people turned up to witness the game.

Bears' Martyn Flack had the privilege of scoring the first goal at the new stadium.
NOTE THAT THE BEARS are to be featured on BBC TV this weekend in their FA CUP Qualifying Round against Punjab United at Gravesend 12.30.

Loxwood FC, the Magpies, was founded in 1920, folded in 1980 and reformed in 1997, played through the West Sussex League, Sussex County League etc, now playing in the Macron Southern Combination Premier.
Jimmy Hill opened their new stand  with a game against the famous The Corinthian Casuals FC in August 2008 and Crawley Town helped christened their new floodlights in 2010.

Mark Beard manages the team and he has been round the block since 1993: Millwall, Sheff Utd, Southend, Kingstonian, San Pedro, AFC Wimbledon, Tooting and M and others. His main claim to fame is having been in the Stevenage FC team when they played and beat Kidderminster Harriers 3-2 in the FA Trophy FINAL at Wembley in 2006-7, the first final held at the revamped stadium. Mark enjoys new beginnings.