Sidmouth Town

Football in Sidmouth was first organised in league form in 1912 when the Young Unionists Association Football Club joined the East Devon League, though progress was interrupted by the First World War. After reforming in 1919, the side played under various names and in different leagues, including the Ottery & District, Victory and East Devon Leagues, recording championship successes in the 1930s before the outbreak of the Second World War halted competition again. Post-war, the club re-joined the Exeter & District League, achieving promotion to its Premier Division in the late 1950s.

The following decades brought a mix of successes and relegations. Sidmouth won its first Premier Division title in the late 1960s but also spent time back in the Senior Division during the 1980s, including a title win in 1987. In the early 1990s, despite a relegation, the club returned to the Premier Division and maintained its status after a reorganisation of the Devon & Exeter League. A second Premier Division championship came in 2011, after which the club stepped up to the South West Peninsula League, where they remained until their promotion to the Western League in 2025.

Matches were originally played on several sites around the town before the Recreation Ground at Manstone became the permanent home. The first clubhouse was a simple wooden hut with basic facilities, replaced in 1974 by a purpose-built clubhouse that has since undergone several extensions, including modern changing rooms, a refurbished bar, and the Ken Mortimore Building in 2017. Further upgrades funded by local bodies and grants have added floodlights, covered seating, and extended pitches to meet league standards. The nickname “Vikings” was adopted in the 1970s following a local newspaper competition, and the club continues to enjoy strong links with the Sidmouth community, supported by local businesses and organisations.