The “Lions” were formed in 1903 starting their playing history in the local Bognor & Chichester Football league, making steady progress in the ensuing years. It wasn’t until 1966 that the 1st real honours came into the club when we were very proud to be crowned Champions of the West Sussex Premier League, repeating the feat again in 1969 & 1970. During this time they also added the Sussex Intermediate Cup in 1967 & 1969.
We gained entry into Division 2 of the County League in 1970. In this inaugural season we just missed out on Promotion & found ourselves semi finalists in the Sussex Senior cup. Following on to two successive seasons finishing 3rd a downwards spiral set in which ended in us having to apply for re-election to the league in 1977.
Following the rebuilding of the team in the 1978 season we finished 3rd, but the following year we were to Champions of Division 2. We were then Champions this time of Division 1 only 2 years later, but sadly only to be relegated in 1984. The 1985 season saw us finish 3rd having also won the division 2 cup this being for the 2nd time after the success in 1972. 1987 Saw us win the 2nd division title and this was followed up by having back to back division 1 titles in 1988 & 1989, we also this year won the RUR Cup.The 1980’s also saw good times for the reserve side as they won the reserve section in 1981 & followed it up.In the Reserve Cup they were winners in 1978/81/88/89 and again 1991 & 1996 In the years to come the club was never out of the top half of the table other than the 1999-2000 seasons.
Pagham Football Clubs centenary year promised much and sadly delivered very little, With Graham Peach handing over the chairman ship over to Steve Newdick, the club still had a familiar face in the Boardroom.2003/04 Season however, saw us finish in the bottom 3 but were lucky enough to be spared the drop by St.Leonards FC going into liquidation, but there was no escape in the 2004/05 season however as the “Lions” dropped back into division 2. Kevin Seal took over the reigns from Steve Newdick to become the new Chairman & kept the position for a couple of years until business reasons forced him to resign. 2005/06 Saw us finish 13th in the table and could be viewed as a season of consolidation, but the 2006/07 season saw us comfortable roar back to the top flight as champions some 10 points clear of St.Francis Rangers in runners up spot. The 2007/08 season saw us a well placed 9th Position. Gary Block took the Chairman’s job full time in the 2008/09 season on a full time basis after standing down as manager towards the end of the previous season, although this was short lived as he himself stood down in April and the club was left with Brent Williams to “Stand in” until the end of the season. The 2009/10 Season Saw a New Committee with Brent Williams at the Helm & Dave Berkowitz held the Managers spot along with Mick Williamson, although the club finished just outside the drop zone it was genially felt, but for a run of bad injuries the team would of finished a lot higher than their league place suggested, as their end of season league form showed.
The start of season 2010/11 saw the return of Carl Stabler to the manager's position, with Dave Berkowitz becoming assistant manager. Luke Cooper took over sole control of the reserve side, with many of Stabler's former Wick players following him to Nyetimber Lane. First game saw them lose narrowly to Crawley Down, before they took out their frustration on Ringmer, walloping them 4-1 at Nyetimber Lane. Scott Murfin's double strike would be a sign of things to come as Pagham started scoring goals for fun. Next put to the sword were Lordswood in the FA Cup, with a 5-1 away win showing Pagham's strength when coming from a goal behind.
Hassocks gained a point at Nyetimber before East Grinstead Town came to the 'Lane. Top of the table before the game, the Wasps were easily stung to defeat by a rampant Lions side who scored three goals whilst conceding only the one. A trip to Arundel followed, with Murfin's burgeoning strike partnership with James Temple again bearing fruit as they cracked four passed a maudlin Mullets side. The FA Cup returned with Pagham's long trip to Faversham resulting in a 2-0 reverse against higher league opposition who didn't look it for most of the match. Chichester City then put their off-field problems behind them to sneak a 2-1 victory at Nyetimber. Just when people were voicing doubts about the new Pagham revolution, they travelled to Eastbourne United Association and thumped eight passed their hapless hosts
Arundel were next put to the sword at Nyetimber, a 3-1 walloping seein ex-Lion Lewis Hamilton's goal unable to help his side as Murfin, Frangou and Alex Kew all hit back. Crawley Down then came to Nyetimber, with top of the table form...which showed as they ran out 4-1 winners in a game the Lions were second best for long periods. Three goals in six minutes for the visitors saw off the Lions' hopes of going top of the table themselves.
The Lions visited Wick next on a filthy night, the rain teeming down almost all game. In the end the weather didn't matter at all, as a superb match took place. With so much at stake, given the comings and goings between Nyetimber Lane and Crabtree Park, the Lions eventually ran out 2-1 winners, although Wick put up one hell of a fight!. This put the Lions in good stead for the visit of Brading Town for the F A Vase match.With the surprise inclusion for Pagham of Alex Bryant in goal being the main talking point, A five goal thriller saw Brading win through 3-2. A superb strike from Daren Pearce put Pagham on their way to a 2-0 win against Crowborough, with the Lions very much the "form" side in Division 1.
Lingfield visited Nyetimber Lane with a poor run behind them, and so it carried on as the Lions forward line ran riot, scoring five times to give Pagham a well deserved 5-2 win. With the visit of table topping Three Bridges to come, a big victory set the Lions up for their next match...but things didn't go quite to plan, as Three Bridges struck late into the game to win 1-0, with seven yellow cards awarded (five of which went to Pagham), it wasn't a game for the purist
Back to winning ways as Midhurst were beaten on their own ground in the RUR cup. Rumours off-field of players leaving Nyetimber Lane, and cracks in the strong squad took little away from a reasonable victory. Next up Lingfield again, with a 2-0 defeat to a team beaten 5-2 only a couple of weeks prior. With George Gaskin having gone back to former side Wick, and allegedly more to follow, the Senior cup tie against Worthing United the following Tuesday couldn't come quick enough. A 4-1 walloping of Worthing United was then followed by the rout of Redhill, the Lions hitting 6 away from home. All conquering Three Bridges were bought to book as Andy Weir's goal knocked the champions-elect out of the RUR cup at Nyetimber Lane. Peacehaven were next to visit fortress Nyetimber, running out 3-0 winners to dent the Lions pride a little. Four goals from four different scorers saw the Lions return to form as Crowborough were crushed in their own back yard. Drama in extra time saw Rye's fighting spirit denied as Pagham drew 1-1 to force a replay in round three of the John O'Hara cup. The next result was perhaps the most embarrasing seen at Pagham in many a year. Division 2 Uckfield smashed six passed a hapless Lions side to leave them reeling, and out of the RUR cup.
More goals conceded in the next game as Hassocks scored four with the Lions only able to muster a brace of goals to give a mini blip in what was a vintage season. A win against St Francis was followed by two dispiriting defeats. Rye left the Lions toothless with a 2-1 win at home, whilst Selsey weren't full of Christmas spirit as they beat Pagham 1-0 in front of a massive home Boxing Day crowd at Nyetimber Lane. Inconsistency became the name of the game as a league "double" over Shoreham was coupled with losses at Three Bridges and away to Rye United in the John O'Hara cup replay. Three wins on the trot then saw Pagham back on track with Redhill, Chichester City and St Francis Rangers all put to the sword. This set the Lions up for the very eagerly awaited home game against Wick...home to ex-boss Gary Block, and to many of last season's Lions squad...
Pagham score first through a superb header by Wick's Julian Boniface, but three second half strikes from ex-Pagham players Frangou, Turner and Hunter see the Wickers win 3-2 in a pulsating local derby. Eastbourne United Association were next to visit Nyetimber Lane. the Lions had dished out an 8-1 thrashing to EBUA in the away fixture earlier in the season, and the score could easily have been repeated again as the Lions roared to an all-too-easy 6-0 win. This luck wasn't to last, as a visit to Ringmer saw the home side romp to a 4-1 victory, echoing the score between the two sides at the start of the season. Luke Cooper's reserves meanwhile moved from strength to strength, going joint top of their division as Wick were whipped 4-0 on their own ground
