Deal Town Football Club, nicknamed “The Hoops,” is a non-league football club based in Deal, Kent.
Established in 1908, they currently compete in the Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division, which is part of the eighth tier of English football. The team calls Charles Sports Ground their home ground.
The club’s early years were spent in regional leagues, beginning in the Thanet League and East Kent League before joining the Kent League in 1909. After the league’s dissolution in 1959, they became founding members of the Aetolian League, later moving through the Southern League, Greater London League, and eventually returning to the Kent League in 1971. Their first Kent League championship came in the 1953/54 season, with a second title arriving in 1999/2000. Other successes included the Greater London League Cup in 1967/68 and five Kent League Cup final appearances, winning three, most recently in 1998/99. The club also claimed the Kent FA Senior Trophy twice, in 1994/95 and 1999/2000, after several near misses in the competition.
A significant milestone came in 2000 when the team became the first Kent side to win the FA Vase, defeating Chippenham Town 1-0 at Wembley in front of over 20,000 fans. This success followed a transformative period under Chairman Roy Smith and manager Tommy Sampson. However, the departure of key players and management after their Vase triumph led to a challenging period of rebuilding. The following decades saw fluctuating fortunes, with managerial changes and mid-table finishes but steady growth in infrastructure, including the introduction of a women’s team, the re-launch of reserves, and investment in facilities such as a new clubhouse.
In recent years, the club has seen remarkable progress, both on and off the pitch. A standout 2023/24 season saw them clinch the Southern Counties East Football League title with four games to spare, breaking home attendance records and earning promotion to Step 4 of the National League System for the first time since 1963. The season also featured a strong FA Vase run, with spirited performances capturing the support of growing crowds at the Charles Ground. Alongside first-team success, the reserves achieved back-to-back league and cup doubles, and the women’s team celebrated promotion in their debut season, highlighting the club’s continued ambition and development at all levels.