Club History

Chesworth Rovers was formed in 1969 by the founder Mr. John Laker, John along with parents who had young children that wanted to play a proper game of football set up the club.

Sadly John passed away in June 2006 and we would like the club to flourish as a tribute to his memory and that of all the parents and committee members who have done so much for the club in the past.

In 1969 along with other clubs emerging such as Sparrows, Tigers, Beavers & Roffey Robins saw the formation of the Horsham Mini-Minor League - a name that remained until 1997, when it was superseded by the Horsham and District Youth Football League, in order to reflect the larger catchment area, and the presence of teams including youths aged under 16.

Organised football, for those who could not make their school teams was really under way on Saturdays.

Suitable pitches was an early problem, but Eddie Miller founder of Robins , who had by now become a councillor, persuaded the Horsham District Council to provide - free of charge - pitches in Horsham Park. ‘At a stroke’, he did all youth football clubs in the town a great and lasting service.

The strike by schoolteachers, and the subsequent lack of support for after-school activities in the late 1970s meant that school teams effectively began to disappear, and more teams consequently joined the Horsham Mini-Minor League.

Managers didn’t have to worry about nets, as nobody could afford them. There were odd disputes about which side of the post the ball had passed, but generally there was accord.

In the early days, boys provided their own kit. In general, the way the boys turned out, under the circumstances, was a great credit to their parents, themselves and the club.

Managers were provided with a match ball and a training ball, and it was expected that they would last for several seasons.

Training facilities were few and far between. Managers were usually able to use the gyms at either Forest or Collyers School, once every six weeks, and so, at best, that was five or six sessions during the season.