Welcome to Seaford Times Rugby club page. The above photograph shows a Seaford rugby team from the 1960’s, kindly sent to Seaford Times by Maggie Bunce.
Seaford Times will post some memorable moments in the clubs history, but let’s have some of your memories from the past of our club, our players and matches.

Please email seaford.times@gmail.com if you, or your relations, have kept any articles, or photos of anything to do with the Seaford rugby club that you would like to share with our younger rugby club members, supporters and followers.

THE BEGINNING 1937

In October 1937 Mr. P. C. O. Munton contacted the council and stated that a committee had been set up and decided to form a rugby football club for Seaford. He asked if the Council would give them support by allowing them to hire a suitable pitch on the Salts Recreation Ground. Major Robert Willis was asked, by the council, to look for a suitable pitch for the rugby club.

While the council members brought up the subject at their monthly meetings, the rugby club decided to save time and look around themselves, and eventually the headmaster of Kingsmead School, Mr. Shilcock, allowed the new club to play on the schools pitch for nothing.
Before war broke out in 1939, the new Seaford Rugby Club had played 23 games. Seaford won 13 games, lost 9 and drew one.
The club ceased playing during the second world war, and reformed after the hostilities ended.
It was in 1951 that the club re-formed. Home games were played at Newlands School and the players changed at The Seven Sisters.
In 1956 the home pitch was at Steyne Road, part of the Seaford College grounds, and its playing surface had an excellent reputation.
By 1965 the club was able to field a Second XV but the plans to build what is now Seaford Head Lower School on the Steyne Road site meant that the hunt was on for a new home. By the early seventies the club had settled at its present home in the Salts Recreation Ground and the new clubhouse was opened. (Andy Smith. Edited)

To start our memories of Seaford Rugby Club, here is a cup final match from 2002, from an incredible season where Seaford did not lose one single match.

14th April 2002 SUSSEX SHIELD FINAL (at Crawley)
Pulborough  7 – 27 Seaford

Seaford completed their unbeaten season with a brilliant display in the Sussex Shield Final, beating Pulborough 27-7.
It was a superb performance from Peter Joy’s men and they thoroughly deserved their 20 point victory — in reality in could have been a lot more.
Both Seaford and Pulborough were unbeaten in their respective leagues this year and have both enjoyed numerous victories well in excess of 50 points.
So in this eagerly awaited final, held at St Francis Rugby Club, Crawley, something had to give.
Seaford had more of the crowd support and they were boosted by an impromptu fireworks display before kick off, but unfortunately, the fans had to wait a while before the fireworks happened on the pitch.
The game was very even to start with and it was clear there were nerves in both camps.
Pulborough started with a lot of possession but they could not get past the big red brick wall that was the Seaford defence.
Seaford’s tackling and scrum were looking good and they looked the stronger side physically.
It was Pulborough who had the first real chance to score after Richard Walters penalty hit the upright.
The ball fell to Simon Baker but his clearance was blocked and after a couple of passes, William Lawes looked to be clear down the right.
But Nick Everson, who changed the match later on, saved the day with a superb tackle.
Seaford slowly came into the game and from the 22nd minute, really began to dominate the match.
Andy Booth, who would rather forget his day with the boot, missed a penalty before, after sustained pressure, Seaford took the lead through an Everson try. Booth missed the conversion.
Andy Gunstone and Stuart Webb at six and seven were devastating, giving the opposition halfbacks no time on the ball and the second Seaford try came from a great Stuart Webb tackle in which the opposition lost the ball.
The loose ball was quickly channelled down the line for Everson to add his second of the half but unfortunately Stuart Webb broke his collarbone in the collision and had to be replaced. Booth missed the conversion and then missed the chance for another three points.
With confidence high, Seaford came out firing on all cylinders and within 15 minutes of the restart they put the game beyond Pulborough.
First, hooker Trevor Matthews was driven over the line after a ruck from a lineout and then Booth’s luck changed with a tremendous tiy. He ran more than 50 yards to go over.
The outstanding Simon Baker took over kicking duties this tune and he floated the conversion between the posts.
Pulborough’s pace quickened when Matthew Barton came on as sub and they tried to put Seaford under pressure, but the men in read were not going to break.
Booth thought he scored Seaford’s fifth try but Everson’s final pass was forward. But from the resulting scrum, which went against the head, Baker broke through to make the score 27-0.
There was still time for Pulborough to score a converted try right at the death, but the damage was already done by Seaford.

Seaford Team: K Kristiansen (S. Cody), Trevor Matthews, B. Carron (M. Andrews), M. Williams, Pete Joy (Captain), Stuart Webb (M. Garman), Andy Gunstone, D. Newby, (B. Lane), M. Hannay, Simon Baker, Nick Everson (P. Innis), J. Tindall, L. Pryer, J. Anderson, (G. Hutt), Andrew Booth (R. Lewis).  (Seaford Gazette)