IN-SPIRING CHICHESTER CITY

The Lilywhites of Chichester City FC have made big history in the FA Cup and have just been given a BYE into the next round of the FA Cup at the expense of once Football League club, Bury FC, who have withdrawn from the cup and league for "financial reasons". The Chichester club has made the news this week by offering part of their FA Cup money reward for getting into the 2nd Round Proper-£36,000. The club has earned £46,390 before the £36,000 windfall for getting an uncontested bye. They themselves have been close to financial collapse recently.

Chichester is a town in West Sussex, which has a wonderful Cathedral, whose tower has experienced a number of collapses due to subsidence, lightning strikes and poor construction. Christopher Wren had a hand in its construction but does not admit to the occasional "telescoping". George Gilbert Scott has also been part of the cathedral's construction.
The Joseph Gilbert landscape from 1833 shows the spire in its best form!

The club was founded in October 1873 as Chichester Football Club the City being added in 1948. The club played in the first ever Sussex County FA Cup Final in 1882, losing 0-5 to Storrington (a village in West Sussex). The club was a member of the West Sussex League in 1896 and later became founder members of the Sussex County League.

In 1960 the Lilywhites shared the RUR Sussex Senior Cup with Brighton and Hove Albion having drawn 2-2, with no penalties to decide the tie. They made the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup, losing to Bristol City away 0-11 on November 5th 1960. I might remind that not long ago I was mentioning John Ayteo of Bristol City.....did you read it? He might have played.

Chichester City FC now plays in the BetVictor Isthmian League South-East division and had merged with nearby Portfield FC,  in 2000, creating Chichester City United FC. They then reverted to Chichester City FC in 2009. They played in the Sussex County League and joined the Southern Combination Premier in 2018-19. Their Ladies team plays in the FA Women's National League South.
Below is their ground with no sign of a goal??? (I mean the structure!!)


En Route to this point in history Chichester has beaten:
Erith Town h 3-1, in the EXTRA Prelim Rd.
Then Bridon Ropes 7-2 a Prelim Rd
Chalfont St Peter 2-0 h First Qual Rd
Hartley Wintney 0-0 a replay 1-0 h in 2nd Qual Rd
Enfield Town  1-0 h 3rd QR
Bowers and Pitsea 2-1 a 4th QR
First Rd Proper BYE

This weekend they drew 0-0 away at Hythe Town in Kent , in the league, in front of 160 supporters.