Welcome to the Dripping Pan for today’s Bostik Premier League game with Carshalton Athletic. Here is your complimentary e-programme.Â
CONTENTS
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Today’s opponents: Carshalton Athletic
DARREN FROM THE DUGOUT
This season, we’ll be interviewing Darren ahead of every game. Click Play below to hear his thoughts on pre-season, the new players in the squad and today’s opponents.
TODAY’S MATCH MUSIC
We’ve created a playlist of the music you’ll hear in the stadium before the match and at half-time. If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to the songs on the playlist below.
CHAIRMAN’S NOTES
Hello everybody and welcome to the new season, our new format programme, our visitors Carshalton Athletic, and, of course, everyone here at The Dripping Pan today. It may seem like an eternity since we wrapped up our successful Bostik League South campaign back in April, but behind the scenes we’ve hardly had a break.
As with the start of all new seasons, there are plenty of changes to update you all. We’ve seen some familiar faces move on, such as Gus Sow, Jamie Brotherton and Matthew George and we wish them all well. We’ve seen the legend that is Chris Winterton hang up his gloves and off the pitch we have said goodbye to Kevin Miller. However, we welcome a host of new players, a new kit partner and a brand new bar!
It was incredibly pleasing to agree new contracts for our management team – Darren, Ross and Codge have done a fantastic job here and we were very pleased to see them want to continue the journey we are currently on. They have all worked incredibly hard on building a new squad and recorded a clean sweep of pre-season friendly wins, even with a few notable names missing.
It is quite ironic that our first game back in the Isthmian Premier League is against Carshalton Athletic who pipped us to the title last year. The Robins were the best team we played across the two games last season and I know that Darren is still kicking himself for the early goal we conceded in the game here at The Pan in the Spring, which ultimately gave our visitors the title. We welcome the fans, players, management and officials here today and hope you enjoy our hospitality.
As you will be reading this on your digital device, you may wonder what has happened to the traditional match day programme. We have been toying with the idea of going “digital” for many seasons, as we have seen sales of the programme decline, yet costs rise. Last year, the Isthmian League gave our visitors permission to be the triallist for an e-programme and this season we wanted to try ourselves.
We believe we are the first, and only, club at this level or above, who are producing a live programme, where content will be updated during the match day. We are walking in unchartered territory here and would really appreciate your feedback both in terms of the idea but also the content. We are also very pleased to have Ben Lane, a Rooks fan from Colchester, producing a Lewes FC podcast on a weekly basis, giving fans another source of information about the club. You can find his match preview further down the programme agenda.
Once again, we wouldn’t be talking about the start of a new season without our superb volunteers. I’d like to give a big shout of thanks to Roger, who has been working on the pitch daily, for hours on end, since May in some of the harshest conditions we’ve ever experienced. I know having seen some of the other pitches around the county that we can be very proud of his efforts, so please say a big thank you to him when you see him.
Tomorrow, our Lewes Women’s side finish their pre-season preparation when they entertain West Ham United Women here at The Pan, kick-off 2pm before they kickstart their season with a Continental Cup tie against Charlton Athletic Women. Their first game in the new second tier of Women’s football, The Championship, is away at Millwall Lionness’ on the 9th September. It promises to be a historic and very exciting season for John Donoghue’s side.
Let’s start the season as we mean to go on by getting behind the Rooks this afternoon.
Stuart
PRE-MATCH PODCAST
Ben Lane gives us an audio preview of today’s game with Carshalton. Just click the player to listen.
MEET OUR NEW BOYS
LEWIS CAREY (Goalkeeper)
Lewis is an experienced non-league keeper who has previously proved a thorn in the Rooks’ side! He started his career at Bristol City and has also appeared between the sticks for Bromley, Eastbourne Borough and Tonbridge Angels. It was his three strong appearances for Thamesmead Town against the Rooks last season that persuaded Darren Freeman to make him his number one at the Pan.
MICHAEL DOME-BEMWIN (Midfielder)
Michael (often referred to in match reports from his other clubs as Michael Awaah) is a much-travelled midfielder, having played in the USA, Spain and Cyprus. Now back in England, he’s bringing his bustling energy to the Lewes midfield.
NICO COTTON (Midfielder)
The young wide midfielder joined the Rooks at the start of 2017-18, after being released from Southend Utd, where he had spent three years as a professional. Cotton has sampled life in the Bostik Premier before, with loan spells at Lowestoft.
NASSIM DUKALI (Midfielder)
The tricky winger joined the Rooks at the start of the 2017-18 season, after some eye-catching performances for Herne Bay and Greenwich Borough last season. Nassim scored 14 goals and made 15 assists last season in the Bostik South and is looking to bring that form to our Bostik Premier campaign.
LUKE BLEWDEN (Midfielder/Forward)
Another Rooks returnee, Blewden first appeared for Garry Wilson’s side in 2013-14, scoring 12 goals in 25 appearances. The hard-working forward left the Pan to rejoin Tonbridge Angels, before returning to Lewes for the start of the 2018-19 campaign. Luke gives Darren options both out wide and as an out-and-out striker.
BREAKING NEWS…. BOUWE’S BACK
Bouwe Bosma has rejoined the club on a month’s loan from Coventry City. Bouwe joined the Sky Blues in the summer, having impressed the Coventry scouts on several occasions last season. He’s here to sharpen his match fitness as he continues his development in the Midlands. Welcome back, Bouwe.
BRIAN’S BADGES
Brian-the-Badge has produced two special badges to mark last season’s success.
For Owners: Promotion badge, ÂŁ7.00; Probee Cup Winners, ÂŁ5. (Non-Owners @ ÂŁ10.00 & ÂŁ7.00 each respectively.)
There are only 50 of each badge on sale, so hurry along to Brian while stocks last.
50% of sales go to the 12th Man Fund.
Also, don’t forget to pay a visit to Gary Blaber’s badge stand at the top of the Philcox!
TWO-YEAR DEAL FOR THE BOSS
So, as Stephen Gerrard takes over at Glasgow Rangers, who cares? Because we’ve got Darren Freeman. Many of you will have heard the rumour that Stevie G’s people had sounded out the board of Lewes FC about starting his career here at the Dripping Pan. And this programme can reveal the truth behind the rumour: there was never, repeat never, any prospect of our board even considering swapping our Manager.
We were not about to allow Lewes FC become a stepping stone, even for such an illustrious name as Gerrard. And, with the reputation the footballing industry has as a cut-throat business, there would be no guarantees that Gerrard would not be given the sack from the Pan, and a bag to put it in, in 2019. No. The bigger problem that exercised Lewes FC is what would happen if a bigger club came in for Darren? After all, every good Manager will boss Chelsea at some point in their career.
The irony of this includes a counter rumour, namely that our Manager was one of the names on the Rangers’ list. And, not simply because F appears before G in our alphabet, an insider has revealed Darren Freeman was higher in the “get the right man” thinking at Ibrox; thankfully all that is history now. After our 0-0 draw with Chipstead in April, the last time I saw Darren he was sinking a pint and letting his hair down in the Royal Oak, but naturally I couldn’t get near him.
The whole point of this brief article is to tell the boss how much all of us behind the goals, on the touchline, and bums in seats, rate him here; and that’s not forgetting his lieutenants Ross and Codge.
We are equally pleased to report that, when Chairman Stu advised Darren he would like him to copy Gareth Southgate’s sartorial elegance – remarking on the snazzy three-piece in baking sunshine – Darren politely suggested Stu go and um… go and err… enjoy himself.
Our boss played for, amongst others, Gillingham, Fulham and of course Brighton & Hove Albion. He will always be remembered for two feats with the Seagulls – scoring a hat-trick in Albion’s first ever competitive match at the Withdean Stadium, when they beat Mansfield 6–0, and scoring the first goal of the new millennium when he netted in an early kick-off against Exeter on January 3, 2000. A winner in his managerial career too, Darren guided Whitehawk to three promotions in four years, before joining us in 2015.
Darren achieved his first target last season in getting us promoted. Nothing in life stays the same, so, while we still can – here’s to you boss.
TODAY’S OPPONENTS
Carshalton Athletic pipped us to the post last season to claim the Isthmian South title by three points. They beat us 3-2 on a sub-zero evening in December and again 1-0 at the Pan in March thanks to an early goal.
Founded in 1905 as Mill Lane Mission, they merged with neighbours Carshalton St Andrews (founded 1897) and were re-named Carshalton Athletic and joined the Southern Suburban League in 1907. They moved to their current home, the War Memorial Ground in Colston Avenue, in 1920.
In 1946, they entered the Corinthian League, which they won two years running in 1953 and 1954. In 1956 Carshalton joined the Athenian League and in 1973 the newly expanded Isthmian League. A successful period saw them win the Surrey Senior Cup in 1989, 1990 and 1992, and the London Challenge Cup in 1991.
Financial difficulties contributed to a period of instability, but a seventh-place finish in 2004 was enough to enter the Conference South for two seasons until relegation back to the Isthmian League in 2006, and a further relegation to Division One South in 2014.
CARSHALTON ATHLETIC SQUAD
Billy Bishop (Goalkeeper)
A very popular player with the supporters and his fellow players, Billy is now in his second season with the Robins. The winner of the Bostik League golden gloves award for April 2018, Billy was a “rock” during our run in to the Bostik South title.
Mohammed-Idris Oshilaja (Defender)
Originally on loan from Dulwich Hamlet, “Kikki” is now a fully fledged member of the squad proving his worth in a variety of positions from defence to midfield. He has great pace and awareness for such a young player.
Jordan Cheadle (Defender)
Jordan is now in his second season with the club. “Cheades” is a very valuable member of the squad. He is an experienced defender with a very good goal scoring record. Last season he scored several crucial goals during the promotion run, notably a free kick away to Cray Wanderers.
Paris Hamilton-Downes (Defender)
Paris aka “The Doctor” has come through the club’s academy to become our first choice left back and Club Captain. An extremely popular member of the squad, Paris has led by example and is a credit to the club.
Michael Aziaya (Defender)
Michael was voted the supporters player of the year last season. His consistent performances earning him the title of “The Beast”. Michael also has experience of playing football in Sweden.
Danny Dudley (Defender)
As well as being an excellent defender, Danny, a local lad, also coaches as part of his job teaching at the local boys school. Danny has excellent ball distribution skills and is very strong in the air.
Kalvin Morath-Gibbs (Defender)
Kalvin is now in his third season with the club and is an important part of our back line A player who likes to break quickly from the back he has a keen eye for goal. Last season his name was one of those put on the official football used in last season’s F.A. Cup Final.
James Richmond (Defender)
A welcome new addition to the squad this season, James joins us from Burgess Hill Town. James gained good experience playing with them in the Premier division, and will bring much needed experience to our back line.
Bobby Price (Defender/Midfielder)
Bobby is a product of our Academy and is our regular right back. He can also play in midfield, possesses great pace, is strong in the tackle, and has a good eye for goal. A very important member of the squad Bobby is also the club Vice-Captain.
Rio Davidson Phipps (Defender/Midfielder)
Rio rejoined the team last season on our promotion run in, he is a young player with lots of potential and an excellent shot.. Previously with Barnet Academy, he has also played for Croydon.
Ola Sogbanmu (Midfielder)
Ola had an outstanding season for us, a highly competitive player with a never-say-die attitude. Ola has great strength, is a very good passer of the ball, a very popular player within the squad, and with the supporters.
Levi Phillips (Midfielder)
A new addition to the squad, Levi is a product of the club’s youth system and has a bright future in the game. A very good crosser of the ball, Levi has great pace and an accurate shot.
Peter Adeniyi (Midfielder)
Our player-manager Peter is in his third season as player/boss and in a short space of time has transformed our playing style. A classy midfield player and good passer of the ball, Peter was the Manager of the Year for the Bostik League South Division. Peter is a popular figure among the players and supporters.
Ryan Healy (Midfielder)
Another product of our academy Ryan is a valuable member of the squad, a fearless player who likes a tackle and doesn’t mind getting stuck in. He is very much a team player and scorer of spectacular goals at important times.
Jordan Clarke (Midfielder/Forward)
Jordan is returning to the club for his second spell after playing for both Tooting & Mitcham United and Corinthian Casuals. An exciting player he can play both in midfield and further forward; another strong player with an eye for goal.
Raheem Stetrling-Parker (Forward)
Raheem had an excellent first season with the Robins. Raheem is strong and powerful with a good shot. He settled in very well with the club, in becoming a major part of the squad.
Jerson Dos Santos (Forward)
A very experienced player, Jerson joined the club over the summer from Hythe Town and will add some much-needed fire-power to our front line. A good team player Jerson has settled in well and been among the goals pre-season.
Tommy Bradford (Forward)
A major part of the Robins’ squad Tommy has come all the way through the club’s junior teams and has amended his role in the team from being an outright striker often coming forward from deep. Tommy is a popular player with the supporters and his fellow players.
Michael Dixon (Forward)
Michael is a new addition to the team joining from Tooting & Mitcham United. Another very good strong forward who leads the line well and is good in the air, he is a valuable addition to the squad.
Ricky Korboa (Forward)
Academy product, Ricky, is now an established member of the squad and combines well with our midfield to create chances. Despite injuries last season, Ricky has great pace and ability, and has worked very hard to get back to full fitness.
PRE-SEASON IN PICTURES
Photos from our games versus Hastings Utd and Eastbourne Borough, taken by our brilliant club snapper, James Boyes.
STODGEBUSTERS ON TOUR
Every summer, the first sign of a new football season rapidly approaching for the Stodgebusters has nothing to do with football. Captained, as always, by legendary Groundsman Roger, Roly, PJ, Gary the Badge, Colin and Chunky met up at The Grange Gardens in June for the annual Skittles Tournament. What a team. Such untapped potential. Surely this would be the year that team “Come On You Rooks!” would be a serious threat for some silverware as long as we kept away from the beer tent and the burgers?
Things didn’t go exactly to plan. Despite some heroic scoring from Roly and Colin the rest of us were, frankly, a bit of a letdown and, unlike England, we exited at the group stage and would not feature in the finals. After many years we still haven’t worked out how a seemingly good bowl from one of us down the middle can go between all the skittles and score nowt whereas an opposing septugenarian can just nudge a skittle and they all go down like dominoes. Pre-season training will have to be more stringent next year.
The Stodgebusters would be a little thin on the ground for the first friendly due to holidays, but Gary the Badge and PJ, fresh from a scouting mission at Mac’s Cafe, flew the flag by hopping onto a Brighton train for an evening in Lancing. It’s always nice to see all the usual folks after the summer break and there was a good turnout to see how the Lewes team shaped up with one or two new faces. Two cracking goals from Marcus and Omar saw Lewes home while we enjoyed the bacon rolls in the sun.
Onto Saltdean, and 3 of us had our first pre-match lunch of the season. The Saltdean Tavern carvery is eat-all-you-want and is understandably Stodgebuster Utopia. It was a “how many roast potatoes can one get on a plate” competition, and getting back to the table without losing any en-route was reminiscent of It’s a Knockout. It’s probably the only time we will ever see roasties, mash and chips all on one plate. Just for good measure it was Bottomless ice creams all round for dessert.
We intended to walk it off by walking to the ground, but after studying Google maps we thought better of it and got Mrs Gary the Badge to run us up there in the car. Good job too. It was a bleedin’ long way and it was bleedin’ hot. Once there it was another lovely afternoon in the sun, and a four-nil victory for the Rooks over a Saltdean team featuring Jamie Brotherton and Matt Hurley. Quote of the day was from someone on the Lewes bench who remarked that the “pitch needed rolling anyway” after Brothers was sent tumbling.
Next up was an evening trip to Hastings for the strangely all-ticket friendly. Four of us boarded PJ’s freshly MOT’d Rookmobile for the drive to the Pilot Field. It was excellent chips all round as we watched the Lewes boys nick a 1-0 victory thanks to a second half Hammo penalty. Hastings looked very useful and pinned us back for long periods but they lacked a finisher. They really need someone like Billy Medlock (!). It was an enjoyable evening and there was no sign of the hooligans who turned up at the Pan earlier in the year. They probably heard that we were going to be there.
Next on the list was a Monday evening at Peacehaven and Telscombe. A ground still sorely remembered by us for a poor 2-0 defeat a few seasons ago that saw the end of Mr Bloor and Mr Wilson as Lewes managers. After a couple of trays of chips we watched Lewes race into a 2-0 lead thanks to 2 great strikes from Nico Cotton and Hammo. Half-time changes upset the Lewes rhythm and sustained Peacehaven pressure saw them nick a goal back. But Lewes held on for a 2-1 victory.
East Grinstead would be our final friendly and in their keenness to avoid traffic delays Gary and PJ arrived quite a bit too early to find the gates not open. But the bar is not a bad place to spend an hour or so. Two fine goals from Jonte and a third from Dylan saw Lewes run out 3-2 winners against a spirited East Grinstead side. Lewes should have scored more as they were guilty of missing some gilt-edge chances. Also, the less said the better about the defensive foul-up for Grinstead’s first. But 6 wins from 6 friendlies is quite satisfying.
We won’t forget East Grinstead in a hurry. Throughout the game we were fending off flying critters intent on eating us. PJ got away without any bites, probably thanks to his David Beckham shower gel putting them off. Poor old Gary the Badge must have used the Norman Hunter version as his legs got bitten so bad he ended up at the hospital next day, legs bandaged and popping antibiotics.
The Stodgebusters will return soon for Tonbridge Angels and Dorking Wanderers.
SPONSOR A LEWES FC PLAYER
It costs only ÂŁ50 to sponsor a player or manager for home or away Kit. ÂŁ25 for training kit and boots. All funds raised go to Lewes FC Supporters Club, helping to fund Lewes FC throughout the season.
Contact: david.arnold@me.com or see David or Barbara on match days.
DARREN FREEMAN
HOME: REG FREEMAN
AWAY: DAVE LAMB
ROSS STANDEN
HOME: DAVID & BARBARA ARNOLD
AWAY:
STEVE BRINKHURST
HOME: RON PIDGEON
AWAY:
FRANKIE CHAPPELL
HOME: ED BRIGGS
AWAY: ED BRIGGS
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS:Â ED BRIGGS
NICO COTTON
AWAY: JAMES BRIGGS
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: JAMES BRIGGS
JAMES HAMMOND
HOME: ROOK, CANNON AND HORSE ASSOCIATES LTD
AWAY:
BILLY MEDLOCK
HOME: DAVE LAMB
AWAY: DAVE LAMB
HARRY REED
HOME: ANDY ROSSITTER
AWAY:
TODAY’S TEAMS
LEWES
1. LEWIS CAREY
2. STEVE BRINKHURST
3. LEON REDWOOD
4. JAMES HAMMOND
5. FRANKIE CHAPPELL ©
6. STACEY FREEMAN
7. NASSIM DUKALI
8. OMARR LAWSON
9. JONTE SMITH
10. BOUWE BOSMA
11. RONNIE CONLON
12. MICHAEL DOME-BEMWIN
14. BILLY MEDLOCK
15. LUKE BLEWDEN
16. NICO COTTON
17. HARRY REED
CARSHALTON
13. BILLY BISHOP
2. BOBBY PRICE
3. PARIS HAMILTON-DOWNES
6. JAMES RICHMOND
7. JERSON DOS SANTOS
8. OLAWALE SOGBANMU
9. RAHEEM STERLING-PARKER
10. TOMMY BRADFORD
11. RICKY KORBOA
12. MICHAEL AZIAYA
15. KALVIN MORATH-GIBBS
5. DANNY DUDLEY
4. PETER ADENIYI
16. JACOB MENDY
17. LEVI PHILIPS
18. MICHAEL DIXON
Credits and legal info
The Bostik League strongly support recent FA statements that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly, any form of discriminatory abuse, whether it be based on race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, faith, age, ability or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association. (The FA 0800 085 0508/Kick It Out 020 7253 0162)
Lewes 2000 FC Limited. Registered in England and Wales with Company Registration Number 03790979.
Honorary Presidents Carol Joy and Terry Parris
Chairman Stuart Fuller
Directors
Charlie Dobres, Eddie Ramsden, Stuart Fuller, John Peel, Barry Collins, Jackie Gilligan, Ed Briggs, Jon Ruben
Club Secretary Barry Collins
Operations Manager Duncan Thompson
Life Members
Mr and Mrs Brook, Vic Blunt, Pat Dartnell, Gary Elphick, Gordon Fowlie, Peter Hiscox, Billy Nixon, Derrick Parris, Terry Parris, Jimmy Quinn, P. Swaysland, Steve Ibbitson, Jason Hopkinson, Steve White, Martin Elliot, Kevin Fingerneissl, Kevin Powell, David and Barbara
Arnold, Roger and Cathy Feltham, Ethel Treagus, Roy Dartnell RIP, Ron Moore, Derek Southouse, Ray Smith, Ken Carter
Manager Darren Freeman
Assistant Manager Ross Standen
First Team Coach Tony Coade
Physiotherapists Paul Baskin & Debbie Adams
Performance Analyst Matthew Strong
Development Squad Manager Steve Eke
Under-18s Manager Dale Hurley
Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Stuart Fuller
Progcast Editors Paul Sheppard and Duncan Thompson
Progcast Designer Barry Collins
Club Photographer James Boyes