The biggest sporting stories in Sussex in 2024

The year of 2024 has seen some colossal sporting stories across East and West Sussex.

From darting delight to Paralympic pandemonium, there has been huge successes, as well as some low points across a variety of sports.

Some have grabbed the headlines within the county, while others have experienced success overseas.

We take a look at four of the biggest sports stories from the last 12 months.

On New Years Day, Rob Cross, previously of Hastings, found himself in a bit of a pickle.

The former world champion was 4-0 down in the PDC World Darts Championship quarter-final, but pulled off an astonishing comeback.

He won five consecutive sets to pull off the improbable win against Chris Dobey, but went on to lose his semi-final bout to teenage sensation Luke Littler.

Cross has still had a good year on the oche, winning one of the European Tour events, as well as quarter-final appearances in the Grand Slam and World Matchplay, plus a personal best performance in the Grand Prix.

Unfortunately for Cross, he won't be starting off 2025 by reclaiming the world crown, after he lost 3-1 to Scott Williams in the second round just before Christmas.

While it may not have had the fairy tale ending supporters had dreamt of, Brighton & Hove Albion fans will hold on to the memories of their Europa League run forever.

The Seagulls won their final match in the competition – a 1-0 victory over Italian giants AS Roma, which gave fans a memorable send-off.

But it was a 4-0 defeat to Roma the week before which sealed the club's fate.

Supporters still enjoyed their experience in the Italian capital – with arguably one of the memorable tales to came from the trip was Jack Stephenson, a fan who stabbed on the eve of the match, was able to attend the match at the Stadio Olimpico.

So far in the 2024/25 season, Albion are performing well and fans may feel another European adventure could be on the cards again soon.

On 19 May, Crawley Town made history by playing at Wembley Stadium for the first time in the club's history.

The players were seemingly unfazed by the occasion, as goals from Danilo Orsi and Liam Kelly gave the West Sussex side a 2-0 win and promotion to League 1.

Many punters had predicted Crawley to exit League 2 but in the opposite direction, so the win topped off what had been an already impressive season.

So far in League 1, it has been a mixed season as Crawley lost most of the promotion-winning squad in the summer, while manager Scott Lindsey also left the club in September.

Now under the stewardship of Rob Elliott, the Red Devils find themselves in a relegation battle heading into 2025.

At seven months pregnant, Crawley's Jodie Grinham not only competed at the Paralympics, but she won two medals during the games in Paris.

Competing in archery, she won a gold in the mixed team compound final and a bronze in the women's individual compound.

After winning gold, she said: "All I wanted to do at the end was jump up and down and cry and scream and shout.

"But being heavily pregnant, realistically the best thing to do was crouch down and take a second and then I could give hugs and things."

Former Angmering School pupil Toby Collyer made his Manchester United debut in September for Manchester United.

The 20-year-old, who came on for Casemiro at half-time, joined Manchester United from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

Ian Gooding, the school's assistant headteacher, said: "I can't tell you how proud we are as a school.

"He regularly comes back and sees us when his schedule allows and is always keen to help out our current students when possible."

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