We have been playing ‘home’ games at Chichester City’s Oaklands Park while we have a 3G pitch laid at the Nye Camp and although it is perfectly adequate, something is missing, says Ian, echoing the thoughts of many, many Bognor fans. Our results have left a lot to be desire and many argue not having the benefit of playing at our actual home could be contributing to poor form and lowly standings in the table.
Gups says a longing to come home doesn’t mean we are not grateful to our friends at Chichester City. He said: : “I’ll be honest — as chairman of the Supporters Club, I’ve never felt more grateful for the kindness we’ve received than during our time at Chichester’s Oaklands Park. The welcome has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“From the help with our Billy Vigar collection last week to the support with parking, tannoy announcements, video coverage, and setting up our supporters’ club ‘pop-up shop’ — everyone at Chichester has gone above and beyond. It’s been a lifeline.
“But as much as I appreciate everything, I have to say it: Oaklands Park isn’t home. That’s not a criticism. It’s just the truth. There’s something intangible about Nyewood Lane — a sense of belonging, of history, of identity. And I believe that returning there will be a turning point for this club.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about Worthing’s 2017 season. They had to play at Nyewood Lane due to pitch issues, and they didn’t win a single game there. But the moment they returned to Woodside Road, they hit the ground running — 5–0 and 3–0 wins in their first few matches. Crowds that had dipped below 300 suddenly surged to 855. That’s not coincidence. That’s the power of home.
“We’ve had mixed results lately. Ascot looked one of the best equipped side we’ve faced, and we got a fantastic result against them. Moneyfields was tight at halftime — had we nicked one, it could’ve gone our way. But that’s football. Sometimes you walk away thinking 4–0 is harsh, but credit to Moneyfields — they set up brilliantly.
“Yesterday, I was back at the club looking at improvements to the camera gantry. Huge thanks to thanks to Kerry and the team at Abbey Scaffolding for stepping in to help make things safer for our brilliant media team. It’s exciting to see progress off the pitch. On the pitch, results haven’t quite clicked — but I truly believe that once we’re back at Nyewood Lane, things will change.
“I’ve been listening to the latest podcast with Russ Chandler, and the level of detail and thought going into our future is inspiring. We might not see the full impact this season, but I’m convinced that this short spell at Chichester could set us up for years to come.
“That first game back — I can already feel it. The buzz, the emotion, the roar as the players walk out. If we get those three points, it’ll feel like a new chapter. I know some of the comments online have been tough to read. Some fans say they’re walking away, looking elsewhere. I get it — it’s been a tough few months. But I hope they’ll come back. I hope they’ll see this for what it is: a blip, a challenge, a test of our resilience.
“Because when we’re back at Nyewood Lane, it won’t just be football. It’ll be home. And that changes everything.”
