Chichester, a city best known for Glorious Goodwood, a lucrative theatre, and an excruciating amount of traffic. A perceived “middle class city” has never had football high on the agenda.
Naturally football lovers look up the A27 to Pompey, or keep things in Sussex with Brighton. Or for the unfortunate few, support a big 6 machine, or dare I say ‘them lot down the road’!
Despite successes in West Sussex and County Leagues across the 60s and 70s, including under ex Pompey star Richie Reynolds, Chichester City FC were a team forgotten by its residents.
Things weren’t helped by a turbulent period in the early 2000s. When Chichester City and local Portfield merged in the early 2000s, a formal agreement was made by the council to support one main football club in the city. However, plans to upgrade the club house were frequently ignored, leases were denied, and endless obstacles stood in the way of the club attempting to take the Oaklands Park outfit forward.
A turbulent period off the pitch and for a while a stagnant period on it. But with the arrival of Management team Miles Rutherford and Graeme Gee, and coach Danny Potter, things started looking up at Chichester.
A top five finish in the Southern Combination Football League premier division, followed by a third place spot in 2016-17, and a record breaking 5th round appearance in the FA Vase, were only the beginning.
Then came 2019, a fairy tale year in many ways. Chichester clinched the SCFL title gaining promotion to step 4 of the non-league football pyramid for the first time ever in the club’s history.
A superb start to life in the Isthmian League went hand in hand with a miraculous FA Cup run which saw Chichester, progress through 6 qualification rounds, beating three step 3 sides, progressing to the first round proper for the first time since 1960. And if things couldn’t get more astonishing, Chichester progressed to round 2 via a bye at the hands of liquidated Bury.
A meeting with League One Tranmere Rovers awaited, live on BT Sports, which ended in a 5-1 defeat. Despite over 100 places in the football pyramid between the two sides, Chi more than matched Tranmere for 45 minutes, and had good chances of their own. Ryan Peakes 90+1 goal, sparked the wildest of celebrations you’re ever likely to see for a 5-1 consolation. Feet on seats, hats in the air, and embracing newfound friends, it truly epitomised the magic of the FA Cup.
The revenue from this cup run gave Chi a huge lifeline during the COVD pandemic, but following this, there was to be no come down. Last season in 2024 following a resounding march into the playoffs, Chichester were promoted to the Isthmian Premier Division following a 5-0 away win at Three Bridges.
The city of Chichester were getting a team full of excitement, potential, and something to be proud of.
Despite the increased financial pressure of a new division, and being written off by critics going into a higher division, the fairy-tale and defiance of Rutherfords men shines through yet again. As of the time of writing Chichester are placed 6th in the league, just 2 points outside the playoffs. Ahead of teams like Hashtag United, Whitehawk, and Bognor, who all have superior financial backing.
The excitement at Oaklands Park is truly catching fire. Young supporters dubbed as Chi ultra’s’ can be seen following the team with their drums and dressed head to toe in Stone Island or CP Company, with a genuine interest in their local team. Whilst the loyal supporters who played a crucial role in the survival of the club, can finally toast an incredibly successful period.
The recent rise of Chichester City FC, is one quietly going under the radar, but is truly a modern day football fairy tale, and long may the chapters continue.
PompeyNewsNow 