‘The Mavericks’

Worthing United Football Club traces its roots back to Wigmore Athletic, who were founder members of Division Two of the Sussex County Football League in 1952. Success came immediately as the club won the Division Two title in its first season and gained promotion to Division One. Over the following decades, Wigmore established itself within Sussex football, winning the League Cup in 1959–60 and making its debut in the FA Cup, while enjoying several promotions and relegations between the county league’s top two divisions.

The club’s story has always been shaped by the dedication of local people and families. Few have had a greater influence than the Albon family, whose association with the club spans generations. Robert Albon represented the club as a player and tragically lost his life whilst playing. In recognition of his memory and the family’s outstanding contribution to Worthing United, the club’s home at Lyons Farm became the Robert Albon Memorial Ground. Robert’s father, Bob Albon, was among the founders of Worthing United following the merger of Wigmore Athletic and Southdown FC and later served with distinction as Club President for many years.

In 1988, following relegation from the Sussex County League, Wigmore Athletic merged with local side Southdown FC to form Worthing United Football Club. The newly formed club quickly rebuilt, winning promotion from Division Three and later returning to the top tier of Sussex football. Notable successes included promotion under Dominic Di Paola in 2010–11 and Nigel Geary’s league and cup double-winning side of 2014–15. The formation of the club was driven by dedicated volunteers, including Bob Albon and Len Killpartrick, whose vision and commitment helped establish the foundations upon which Worthing United continues to build today.

Worthing United has also endured moments of profound sadness. In 2015, the club was deeply affected by the loss of players Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt in the Shoreham Air Crash. The response from the football community and the club’s supporters demonstrated the strength, resilience and togetherness that have always been at the heart of Worthing United. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the club retired Matthew’s number 1 shirt and Jacob’s number 11 shirt. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Shoreham Air Crash in 2025, Worthing United permanently retired both numbers, ensuring that the memory of Matthew and Jacob will forever remain part of the club’s history.

Another figure whose contribution has been instrumental to the club’s success is Mark Sanderson. Since first becoming involved as a volunteer in 1995, Mark has served Worthing United in numerous capacities and dedicated countless hours to its development both on and off the pitch. Today, he continues to play a central role as Chairman, Secretary and Groundsman.

From its beginnings as Wigmore Athletic to the present day, Worthing United has remained a community club built on hard work, loyalty and local pride. The foundations laid by the club’s founders, the dedication of volunteers, and the commitment of generations of players, officials and supporters have created a club that continues to thrive while honouring the legacy of those who helped make it what it is today. Len continues to serve the club as President, providing an enduring link between Worthing United’s formation and its future.