Hailsham Town Football Club is a football club based in Hailsham, East Sussex, England. They are currently members of the and play at the Beaconsfield. The club are known locally as 'The Stringers', a nickname which derives from traditional industry in the town.
Established in 1885, Hailsham won the Sussex Junior Cup in the 1895âÂÂ96 season and went on to be one of the founder members of the East Sussex League in 1896. After finishing bottom of the league for four consecutive seasons between 1901âÂÂ02 and 1904âÂÂ05 and then again in 1906âÂÂ07 and 1907âÂÂ08, Hailsham left to rejoin the Eastbourne League. In 1912 the club merged with Hailsham Athletic. Rejoining the East Sussex League in 1920, Hailsham finished bottom of the league in 1925âÂÂ26. Although they were runners-up in 1927âÂÂ28, they finished bottom of the league again in 1929âÂÂ30, 1930âÂÂ31 and 1931âÂÂ32. The club were runners-up for a second time in 1937âÂÂ38.
Following World War II Hailsham finished bottom of the table again in 1948âÂÂ49 and 1950âÂÂ51, before winning the East Sussex League for the first time in 1953âÂÂ54, a season which also saw them win the Sussex Intermediate Cup. In 1955 Hailsham joined Division Two of the Sussex County League under the name Hailsham Football Club. They won the Division Two Invitation Cup in their first season, but resigned from the league during the 1962âÂÂ63 season. They subsequently joined the Eastbourne & District League, before returning to the East Sussex League in 1968, when they joined Division Two.
Hailsham were Division Two champions in their first season back in the East Sussex League, earning promotion to Division One. They went on to win the Division One title at the first attempt. In 1972 the now-renamed Hailsham Town transferred to the Southern Counties Combination. They won the league in 1974âÂÂ75 and were promoted to Division Two of the Sussex County League. The following season saw them win the Hastings Senior Cup. After finishing as Division Two runners-up in 1980âÂÂ81 they were promoted to Division One. They won the League Cup in 1994âÂÂ95 beating Wick 2âÂÂ1 in the final. The club remained in Division One until being relegated at the end of the 1998âÂÂ99 season.
Hailsham were promoted back to Division One following a third-placed finish in 2000âÂÂ01. In 2005âÂÂ06 they won the Sussex RUR Cup with a 2âÂÂ0 win over Whitehawk in the final. The club were relegated again in 2010âÂÂ11, but finished second in Division Two the following season to earn an immediate promotion back to Division One. In 2015 the league was renamed the Southern Combination, with Division One becoming the Premier Division. Hailsham finished bottom of the Premier Division in 2016âÂÂ17 and were relegated to Division One. In 2022âÂÂ23 the club finished bottom of Division One, resulting in relegation to Division Two. In 2023âÂÂ24 they won the Hastings Intermediate Cup, beating Hawkhurst United 4âÂÂ1 in the final.