Chichester City's hopes of remaining in the Isthmian Premier Division have been extinguished after the Football Association turned down the club's appeal against an enforced switch to the Southern League.
The West Sussex outfit were among several clubs reshuffled in the FA's annual allocation of non-league line-ups for the 2026-27 campaign, which saw them moved sideways at Step 3 into the Southern League Premier South. The decision had nothing to do with results on the pitch - Chichester had comfortably preserved their status in the Isthmian Premier, rounding off the season with a creditable 2-2 draw away at play-off chasing Brentwood Town. Instead, the move formed part of the governing body's periodic redrawing of geographical boundaries across the National League System.
That offered little comfort at Oaklands Park. The club argued that swapping the Isthmian set-up - their home since winning promotion from the Southern Combination in 2019 - for the Southern League would carry a heavy practical cost. With local Sussex fixtures stripped away and replaced by lengthy journeys westward to the likes of Evesham, Frome and Plymouth Parkway, officials warned of significantly increased overheads and far more hours spent on the road. There were also fears the change could undermine recruitment, with Sussex-based players potentially deterred by the additional travel. According to discussion of this summer's appeals, Chichester proposed Leatherhead as an alternative candidate for the switch.
Chairman Andy Bell acknowledged that the FA sometimes has legitimate reasons to relocate clubs when redrawing league maps, but made the club's preference plain: "We'd rather stay in the Isthmian," he said, pointing to the difficulties the move would create.
The appeal was heard in early June alongside several others- Bishop's Stortford, Quorn and South Park Reigate were among the clubs also contesting their placements - but, like those, it proved unsuccessful. Confirming the outcome, Chichester struck a gracious tone, stating they would remain in the Southern Premier South and looked forward to welcoming new opponents and away supporters to Oaklands Park. One consolation is the presence of near-neighbours Havant & Waterlooville in the division, which should provide at least one short trip and a lively local rivalry.
Head coach Darin Killpartrick admitted the verdict had been half-expected. He described the club as "disappointed to lose the appeal but not surprised," adding that they would simply get on with it and try to enjoy visiting unfamiliar grounds.
The ruling capped a bruising week for the club, who also said goodbye to three key members of the squad. Talismanic striker Jimmy Wild, consistently Chichester's leading scorer during his spell at the club, is understood to be heading to Chatham Town, with Killpartrick conceding the club could not compete financially to retain him. Goalkeeper Kieran Magee has departed for AFC Portchester of the Isthmian South East, while defender Jamie Horncastle is also moving on.
After seven seasons in the Isthmian fold, Chichester now face a summer of adjustment — new opponents, new travel plans and a reshaped squad - as life in the Southern League beckons.
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