In May 2001 Langney Sports FC changed its name to Eastbourne Borough FC. Below, in an extract from his speech made at the Club Annual Awards and Presentation Evening on 26 May, Chairman Len Smith explained the reasons why

Not so long ago, Langney Sports were playing in local leagues and there were certain FA Officials who were against us joining the newly formed County League Division 3: they said we would never be anything but a parks side. Those same officials now use our club and its facilities to stage the Sussex Senior Cup final. We have moved forward at an amazing pace and who would have thought that the Club Committee would find itself planning for a future that, hopefully, will see the club rise further up the Pyramid, to the [Dr Martens] Premier Division … and perhaps further.

However, it is essential that if this progress is to be realised, club officials balance finances, team building, and ground improvements in order that we may continue to enjoy success both on and off the pitch. We are a club with ambition and I hope that Garry [Wilson], Nick [Greenwood], and Adrian [Colwell] will continue to attract players who are equally ambitious and will lead us to continued success in the future.

As I’m sure you will understand, we need sponsors to support our efforts, and to allow Garry to further strengthen the side. But getting financial support is not easy, and a full-time Commercial Manager was appointed to strengthen our intent in this department. Over recent years we have become the leading football club in Eastbourne and gained tremendous support from the local public. But moving up to a national league has been more demanding. Expenses have increased. Transport costs have increased, and finding a major sponsor has not been easy. We’ve often received initial positive responses from firms, but they ask “Where is Langney?” and report back that they prefer to help organisations that can be geographically located by their customers.

With the need for national identification, wide-ranging sponsorship, and acceptance as a major non-league club that could be readily located by fans throughout the country, we have recognised the need to sell the club to a larger clientele. It has therefore been decided that the club should set it’s sights on, not only carrying the name Langney Sports Club out into the whole country, but that this should go hand-in-hand with the decision by the local Council to attract more people to Eastbourne by re-selling itself. A Dr Marten’s Football Club should be an integral part of this towns attraction and with this in mind we have decided to make a major step forward.

In 1885, the most famous club to come from the Southern League, Hotspur FC, changed it’s name to Tottenham Hotspur FC. Even Newton Heath FC found it necessary to become Manchester United. Both have progressed to the highest levels of English football. Locally, it’s worth remembering that our neighbours Eastbourne United were once known as The Comrades.

Success is not in the name but in the determination and professionalism that goes hand-in-hand with progress. They were not afraid to put behind them the success of their early years in a desire to move forward to greater honours. With this in mind, as from today the football club will be known as Eastbourne Borough Football Club, who play at Langney Sports Club here at Priory Lane. “Sports” will carry the name of Eastbourne out to the public of non-league football, and will be incorporated into the overall growth of our town.

As you can imagine, such a decision took a lot of soul-searching. For those of us who have been involved from the beginning it was a very difficult decision. There are still many people involved with playing, managing, and raising funds for the original teams; and the many hours given to planning, building, and developing the clubhouse took up a good part of our lives.

But we must progress. We have left behind the parks. We have outgrown the County League. We are now seeking to be amongst the best in the Dr Martens League. We must go forward as part of the Eastbourne development, and represent one of the country’s major towns and resorts. Eastbourne Borough FC will become a club to challenge the best in non-league football, and under Garry and Nick, and with the loyalty of you the players, supporters and Committee there can be some great times ahead.

Len Smith