History
Founded as Langney Football Club in 1965, the club initially joined the Eastbourne & District Football League and competed in local leagues and played on public recreation grounds. By 1983, renamed Langney Sports, the club entered the Sussex County League and rose through its divisions, ultimately claiming the league title in the 1999/00 season under Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood. This success led to promotion to the Dr. Martens League (Eastern Division). After a season of consolidation at the higher level, the club finished a creditable ninth in the table.
Meanwhile, off the field, the Sports were laying sound physical foundations. From those itinerant early years on local park pitches, the club had always envisioned a more permanent home. Audaciously, they approached the local council with the improbable project of turning Priory Lane – then a mere expanse of empty marshland – into a proper stadium. The County League years saw those plans beginning to be realized. During the 2000/01 season, the club received a £117,000 grant from the Football Foundation to further develop Priory Lane.
The early 2000s saw the club achieve remarkable progress, including promotions to the Dr. Martens Premier and the Conference South and their first FA Cup First Round match in 2005. The club achieved promotion to the pinnacle of Non-League, to the Conference Premier in 2008/09, where they defied expectations with a mid-table finish. Though relegation followed two seasons later, the club remained a respected force in the National South with Tommy Widdrington overseeing a phase of mid-table stability at the level.
Recent years have been transformative, with entrepreneur Simon Leslie taking ownership in 2023 and introducing structural changes, including a move to full-time football under manager Mark Beard. The 2023/24 season began with much anticipation, but it was ultimately a season of transition. Despite the high expectations, the team faced challenges adapting to the full-time model, resulting in a lower-than-expected league finish.
Form
The 2024/25 season has seen the Sports challenge at the top end of the table. Currently placed 8th, Adam Murray’s side are just 4 points behind league leaders Torquay United, in what is a highly congested top half of the table.
Recent results have seen the Sports put a run of four unbeaten matches together, with wins over Bognor Regis Town in the Sussex Senior Cup and Weston-super-Mare in the National League South as part of the run.
Last Six
26/12 – Salisbury (H) – Drew 0-0
21/12 – Weston-super-Mare (A) – Won 0-1
14/12 – Hornchurch (H) – Drew 1-1
10/12 – Bognor Regis Town (H) – Won 2-1 (Sussex Senior Cup)
07/12 – Boreham Wood (A) – Lost 1-0 (FA Trophy)
30/11 – Chesham United (A) – Drew 0-0
The Gaffer
Adam Murray was appointed as the new manager for the Sports at the start of January 2024.
As manager of AFC Fylde, he won the National League North last season before more recently helping Darrell Clarke turn Cheltenham Town’s fortunes around in League One.
As a player, Adam made over 500 appearances and represented England at Under 20 level, enjoying multiple promotions with the likes of Burton Albion and Mansfield Town.
Having worked at Besiktas with Dele Alli and assistant to the very successful Watford manager Valerian Ismael, Adam brings a great deal of quality and experience to Priory Lane.
The Skipper
Brad Barry, 29, signed a two-year deal with Eastbourne Borough at the start of the 23/24 season and continues as club captain.
After joining from Stevenage in 2023, Barry made 36 appearances across all competitions for the Sports. Having left Brighton as a youngster in 2015, Barry went on to join Swindon Town for two years, before a spell with Chesterfield.
He then joined Barrow in 2019, where he was part of the side which won the National League title in 2019/20 before joining fellow League Two side Stevenage in 2021.
Key Player
George Alexander is the Sports’ top-scorer with 11 goals to his name this season.
The 23-year-old joined Eastbourne Borough in the summer of 2024. He has proven to be a natural goal scorer and was named in the league’s Team of the Half Season recently.
A product of Millwall’s academy, Alexander made one senior appearance for the Lions, coming on as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic.
He moved to Bromley in 2021 following a successful trial period and made 38 appearances for the Ravens, scoring six goals. Alexander had a number of loan spells to the National League South while at Bromley, with short spells at Welling, Slough and Dartford, before joining Chelmsford City for the back end of last season where he impressed by scoring 8 goals in 16 games, earning him a summer move to Eastbourne Borough.
