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About Us, A Brief History

Seaham Sea Angling Club (SSAC) was formed in April of 1912 (nearly to the day The Titanic sank) following the construction of the outer piers and upon the request of the Sixth Marquess of Londonderry, who saw the need for an organised body to manage the increasing numbers of anglers fishing from the piers. In those days, angling was treated as a necessary activity to encourage Lord Londonderry's local miners to help provide a good source of food for the family table. Today, angling is recognised as more of a sport than to provide fish to eat, although many anglers like no more than taking home a good cod or two.
As the membership progressed, especially following the 2nd World War, there became a need for some sort of headquarters that would serve the members and committee to go about there ever increasing administrative duties and competitions. The first headquarters were built around 1950 which amounted to a wooden building, known as 'the hut' on the Dock Co premises. This 'hut' served well for 34 years until the Dock Co allocated the angling club some new land adjacent to South Terrace in which they could construct a 'proper' brick building.

The property was funded by the SSAC members with the help of the Sports Council and opened, as Clifford House, in July 1984. In 1998, the club was informed that the land on which Clifford House stood would be required for a large retail development. There was no option but to work alongside the local authorities and the developers, Modus Properties, in an attempt to secure the best available site for a new building for the members. Following nine years of consultation with the authorities and developers, the outcome could not have been better.

The new two storey headquarters were built nearer the dock entrance with its own private car park. The committee found it appropriate to name this mavellous building George Tully House, after the now deceased SSAC secretary who worked tirelessly for the club and for the building of the old Clifford House. George Tully House was officially opened in August 2007.

As you may imagine, the overheads to sustain an 'angling premises' on this scale is that of a small to medium size business. The income can only be achieved by a regular annual membership, members using the facility and a good turnover from competitions. That is the principle reason why SSAC have so many junior, senior and open competitions, to maintain the interest of the membership and such necessary income. There are a total of 70 competitions each year, 23 for the juniors, 23 senior competitions and 24 opens, that's an average of one competion every 5.2 days...a lot of work for the committee and many rewards for the successful anglers.