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INSIDE TODAY’S PROGCAST

Click on the links below to jump straight to the relevant section…

• Darren from the Dugout
• Today’s matchday music
• Chairman’s notes
• £100 New Year raffle
• Brinky’s New Year quiz
• Rooks United
• Today’s opponents
• Boyesy Behind the Lens
• Sponsor a Lewes FC player
• Stodgebusters on Tour
• Today’s teams

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DARREN FROM THE DUGOUT

Hear Darren’s thoughts on today’s game by clicking the Play button below:

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TODAY’S MATCH MUSIC

Today’s match playlist is compiled by our very own John Peel (not that one). Click on the player below to listen to the tracks on Spotify.

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CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good afternoon and Happy New Year to everyone. I’d like to start by welcoming the fans, players, officials and management from our good friends Burgess Hill Town this afternoon in what promises to be an entertaining afternoon. It will be good to see a few familiar faces back here including Town’s current manager, Simon Wormull, and of course Gary Elphick. I’d also like to welcome my Isthmian League Board colleague Kevin Newell as well. Burgess Hill Town had certainly picked up some form in recent weeks, demonstrated by their excellent win over Worthing last week.

A year ago we sat on top of the Bostik League South and 2018 has continued to deliver some exciting times for us all. Whilst there was some disappointment we ended up being pipped to the title by Carshalton Athletic, I don’t think too many fans would have believed we would keep that excellent form going as we stepped up a division. Personally, I think we are playing better football this season than last. Once again, you could not fault the effort the team put in against Bognor Regis Town last week and the one thing we don’t see anywhere in the squad is an attitude that we are ever beaten.

Whilst we have lost a few games this season, only Bath City have beaten us by more than one goal. The mental strength of a side is rarely talked about but it certainly exists in this squad. I’ve said it before, but the preparation that goes into every game is counted in days, rather than hours at the moment. It is a team effort and a focus on the smallest things – a 1% improvement off the pitch can be the difference between a draw and a win. 

Talking of Darren’s team, today we say goodbye to our Physio Debbie Adams who is leaving us. Debbie has the tricky job of looking after Brinky’s dodgy knee, Michael’s tight hamstring as well as the rest of the squad. She’s done a great job for us and I’m sure the team will give her a great send off.  I’d like to welcome her replacement, Xavier Smith, who is here today.

Talking of welcomes, I’m excited to announce we have brought in Olumide Oluwatimilehin from Three Bridges, although it may be a challenge when I read out the teams in future! Olumide will provide some cover in midfield with Ronnie out for the season. 

We come into today’s game in fourth place,  one of three teams on 37 points.  After today, we travel to Enfield Town and Worthing in the next two weeks – two huge games for us. Whilst Haringey Borough sit at the top of the league, thanks to their amazing run of nine consecutive wins, I still think this season will be one of the tightest ever at the top of the table. Nine points separate Dorking Wanderers in second place and Bognor Regis Town in twelfth place.  After today we will have played everyone in the division and I don’t think there is anyone to fear. We know that Dorking Wanderers and Kingstonian are well-backed financially, but good players on paper do not always make a good team.

Let’s get 2019 off to a great start. Get behind the team and make it loud!

COYR!

Stuart

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BECOME AN OWNER

It costs as little as £40 to become an owner of Lewes FC. For that, you not only get the inner glow of helping your local community-owned football club, but you get great discounts from dozens of retailers in the Lewes area and nationwide. You can join instantly by clicking the button below.

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£100 NEW YEAR RAFFLE

The match day raffle at today’s game with Burgess Hill features a very handy £100 cash prize that must be won on the day, along with a collection of other excellent prizes.

The cash prize has been donated by a well-wisher so every £1 you spend on a ticket will go into the Supporters Club funds that help sustain Lewes FC as the great club it is. We’ll have three volunteers selling tickets on and the winning numbers will be announced at half-time.

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JOIN THE LEWES FC VETS

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BRINKY’S NEW YEAR QUIZ

It’s the second part of Paul Brinkhurst’s traditional festive quiz. Answer our ten multiple-choice questions and get an instant score!

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ROOKS UNITED

Next up for the Rooks United is a trip to the D’Azur, where beside the sparkling Mediterranean is a club who have gone through a major development phase themselves thanks to those wonderful chaps at UEFA.

It is fair to say that if the European Championships ever come back to these shores, Lewes wouldn’t get a look in as a potential venue, despite the aesthetic qualities of the Dripping Pan. And with that scandalous decision goes all hope of a brand new 35,000 seater stadium. But then, would we be happy if we lost the beach huts, the portaloos and a smiling Ethel on Golden Goal as you came through the turnstile?  OK, maybe the toilets… but Lewes is The Dripping Pan and we will never let corporate sponsorship darken our door*

Head five hundred miles almost due south from the Dripping Pan and just before you reach the beautiful blue seas of the upmarket coast of Cannes, St Tropez, Nice and Monte Carlo you will come across the spanking new Allianz Riveria Stadium. Built at a cost of £245 million for the 2016 European Championships, the stadium is home of Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice, OGC for short, the most famous club in France ever to play in Red and Black.

Formed in 1904, the club were one of the founding members of the French First Division – in fact they are the only club to have played in that inaugural season to be still playing in the top flight today. They have won the French title on four occasions, the last being back in 1959, whilst their most recent major honour was winning the French Cup in 1997. Another honour of note was the 1952 Latin Cup, a trophy awarded for spelling of words from the dead Roman language.

Famous ex-players include World Cup legend Juste Fontaine, Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris, and Loic Rémy. After finishing in 8^th spot last year, the club moved to appoint Patrick Vieira as manager with the hope of breaking into the top three this season.

I was lucky enough to be at the new stadium when Northern Ireland took on Poland in June 2016 and it is pretty impressive. Not so the one and a half-mile walk from the nearest transportation, especially on a roasting hot day, but it is light years away from the old Stade du Ray with its views down the valley to the sea as the sunset.  Up there with my wedding day you may think?  My last trip there was memorable for the visiting fans from Ajaccio firing flares at the home fans and one had just set light to the rubbish littered under the stands.  The beer in my hand was definitely non-alcoholic and I had paid nearly €40 for the privilege.

French football isn’t great to watch as a spectator and it is easy to see how Paris Saint-Germain have been able to dominate the game with a little…okay, a lot…of money.  There doesn’t seem to be a time in the foreseeable future when anyone else is going to get a look in at the top.  Whilst the Rooks are on their way upwards, it seems that in the case of OGC Nice the only thing we really have in common are the colours on our chests and the sunshine.

*Unless Allianz are reading and then of course I will consider influencing the board if the money is right**

**That was a joke

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TODAY’S OPPONENTS: BURGESS HILL TOWN

Founded in 1882, Burgess Hill Football Club were founder members of the Sussex County Football Association, initially playing in the Mid-Sussex Football League. The club boasts the unique achievement of winning the Sussex Senior Cup three years running between 1894 and 1896 (and never again since!), thus permanently retaining the trophy.

The club joined the Sussex County League in 1958 and in 1969 amalgamated with Worlds End F.C. and with the help of Burgess Hill Town Council were able to move to Leylands Park, the club’s current home. They were promoted to Division One of the County League in 1971, only to be relegated two years later. In 1975 they again secured promotion and a year later were County League champions for the first time.

In 1980 Burgess Hill won the League Challenge Cup and in 1992 the RUR Cup. But it was in 1997 that the club’s fortunes took a marked upturn, securing the County League championship by twelve points under manager Alan Pook. The title was retained in 1998 and 1999, along with the League Cup in both seasons, and in 1998 the Hillians reached the last sixteen of the F.A. Vase.

Gary Croydon was appointed manager at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season. He led the Hillians to runners up spot in the league and to a record fourth qualifying round FA Cup tie against Hereford United. A last 16 place was again achieved in the FA Vase and they won the RUR Cup.

Burgess Hill won the County League championship again in 2002, and achieved their best ever run in the FA Vase, being beaten after extra time by eventual finalists Tiptree United in the last eight, before a then club record attendance of 1598 (since surpassed by the 2,005 for the visit of AFC Wimbledon in April 2005). With Danny Bloor as manager for the season 2002–2003 the Hillians took the County League title for the fifth time in seven years. Gary Croydon took over again as manager as the club entered the Southern League in 2003, and after just missing out on the play-offs they moved over to the Isthmian League as a result of league restructuring.

In 2014 Burgess Hill fell just short of a play-off place but a year later in won Division One South to secure promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. In 2016 they finished 21st (of 24 teams) but were reprieved from relegation; they finished 19th in 2017 and 23rd last season, avoiding relegation on goal difference.

Currently in 20th place Burgess Hill come into today’s game buoyed by their 2-1 Boxing Day victory over Worthing. They are managed by popular former Lewes player and manager Simon Wormull.

MEET THE SQUAD

Simon Wormull – Head Coach 

Simon began his footballing career with the mighty Spurs, and counts the mighty Rooks among his former clubs. He played a big role in our Conference South title-winning team in 2007-08, before leaving for Eastbourne Borough. As a coach, Simon returned to Lewes where he enjoyed a brief, successful role as Caretaker-Manager. Simon was promoted to first-team Manager here for the 2012-13 campaign but parted company after Lewes narrowly avoided relegation from the Isthmian Premier that season. He was appointed Head-Coach at the Hillians in October.

Josh James – Goalkeeper

Josh returned to the Hillians at the end of last season to play a major part in helping them avoid relegation.  He lists Brighton, Worthing, and Horsham amongst some of his previous clubs. Despite being described by Hillians as one of the best shot stoppers in the league, he won’t cause Lewis Carey any introspection.

Mitch Bromage – Goalkeeper

Mitch is a young goalkeeper who picked up the Hillians U18 player of the season award last year. He also played many times for their U23s as they won the league title last season, and could have a bright future ahead of him in the game.

Tom Cadman – Defender

Tom joined the Hillians from Whitehawk last season. He is used as a central defender or full-back. Tom started as a scholar at Brighton & Hove Albion, and has also represented Republic of Ireland at U18/U19 level.

Boris Kipeya – Defender

Boris for all we know may turn out to be one of the world’s best full-backs. For now he has made 6 Bostik Premier appearances for Hillians since joining in November. Despite being Belgian-born he is no fan of Hercule Poirot, and previously played for Cheshunt and Kings Langley.

Dan Choules – Defender

Dan recently joined the Hillians on a dual registration from Woking where he came through the youth academy. He is a young full-back who can also play centre-back.

Gary Elphick – Defender/Captain

Club captain Gary joined the Hillians at the beginning of last season from local rivals Worthing where he was Player-Manager. He is a vastly experienced central defender, previously with Brighton & Hove Albion, Eastbourne Borough, St. Albans City, Aldershot, Havant & Waterlooville, Eastleigh, Tonbridge Angels and, of course, The Rooks.

James Richmond – Defender

James joined Hillians from Hampton and Richmond FC in the 2015/16 season, a defender who can play at full-back or centre-half.

Ibrahim Diallo – Defender /Midfielder

Ibs is a right-back who likes to get forward and can also play in midfield. He has spent much of his career in French football with the likes of FC Bourgoin, VS Villefontaine, Lyon Duche AS and Edusport Academy, and Joined from Billericay Town in February.

Henry  Watson – Defender/Midfielder

Henry is a summer recruit from Horsham FC having previously progressed through the youth system at Worthing. Described as a fierce competitor at the back but equally comfortable moving into midfield, Henry has also appeared for Sussex at schoolboy level.

Michael Wilson – Midfielder

23 year-old midfielder Michael has made 13 appearances this season after joining Hillians in October from East Grinstead.

Dan Beck – Midfielder

In his second spell with the Hillians, Dan re-joined the club in the summer from Bognor Regis Town where he was captain and made over 400 appearances. Dan was previously on the books at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Keano Deacon – Midfielder

Keano recently joined Hillians and made an instant impact scoring on his debut. He previously played with Stalybridge Celtic and Fleetwood Town, and is described as a quick and skillful winger with an eye for goal.

Pat Harding – Midfielder/Forward 

Pat is in his eighth season with the Hillians and can play in a number of positions. He is the club’s longest serving player, who was a member of their title-winning side and, with an eye for goal, reached the milestone of 100-plus goals last season in more than 300 appearances.

Aaron Smith Joseph – Midfielder/Forward

Aaron signed permanently for the Hillians in the 2017/18 season. He is described as a young attacking midfielder/forward with an eye for goal who loves to run at ordinary defenders, the like of which he will not find in a Darren Freeman team.

Andre McCollin – Forward

 Andre is a recent signing for the Hillians from Harlow Town. A much travelled experienced striker whose previous clubs include Tonbridge Angels, Kingstonian, Farnborough, Aldershot Town and Yeovil Town.

Ben Pope – Forward

Ben is a summer signing from Worthing whom he joined after his release from Brighton & Hove Albion at 16, and has represented Sussex as a schoolboy and U18s.

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BOYESY BEHIND THE LENS

A gallery of great photos taken by club photographer, James Boyes, at our pre-Christmas game with Merstham. Click here to view all of Boyesy’s Lewes FC albums.

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SPONSOR A LEWES FC PLAYER

It costs only £50 to sponsor a player or manager for home or away Kit. £25 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: CATHY FELTHAM

STEVE BRINKHURST
HOME: RON PIDGEON
AWAY:
TRAINING KIT & BOOTHS: ETHEL TREAGUS

FRANKIE CHAPPELL
HOME: ED BRIGGS
AWAY: ED BRIGGS
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS:  ED BRIGGS

DAYSHONNE GOLDING
HOME KIT: HAIR FOR MEN, 16 MARKET ST, LEWES

NICO COTTON
HOME: JAMES BRIGGS
AWAY: JAMES BRIGGS
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: JAMES BRIGGS

JAMES HAMMOND
HOME: ROOK, CANNON AND HORSE ASSOCIATES LTD
AWAY: LUCAS WARNER
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: LUCAS WARNER

LUKE BLEWDEN
HOME: SUSIE ARLETT
AWAY:
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: SUSIE ARLETT

LLOYD COTTON:
HOME: STUART FULLER
AWAY: STUART FULLER
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: STUART FULLER

BILLY MEDLOCK
HOME: DAVE LAMB
AWAY: DAVE LAMB

STACEY FREEMAN
HOME: ROGER WARNER
AWAY: ROGER WARNER
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: ROGER WARNER

HARRY REED
HOME: ANDY ROSSITTER
AWAY: SAM & JOE BARKER
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS:

LEWIS CAREY
HOME: DAVID & BARBARA ARNOLD
AWAY:
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS:

RONNIE CONLON
HOME: NEIL FINNEY
AWAY: LUCAS WARNER
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: SUSIE ARLETT

JONTE SMITH
HOME: BARRY HAFFENDEN
AWAY: JASON FOULKES
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: LUCAS WARNER

OMARR LAWSON
HOME: TONY HARMAN
AWAY: YEOVIL JOHN
TRAINING KIT & BOOTS: LUCAS WARNER

MICHAEL DOME-BEMWIN
HOME: DAVE EVANS

LEON REDWOOD
HOME: WILL & COLIN KEMP

CLUB SHOP MANAGER, BARRY HAFFENDEN
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY HAIR FOR MEN, 16 MARKET ST, LEWES

If you wish to sponsor a player, contact David Arnold at the Supporters Club.

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STODGEBUSTERS ON TOUR

The final game before Christmas was a wet Wednesday evening trip to Merstham. With it persistently raining in Lewes all day we were half expecting to get a message that the game was off. No such message was forthcoming so gleefully we congregated at Lewes station for the 5.45pm train along with a few other Rooks diehards.

A change of trains was required at Gatwick.  Merstham is only fifteen minutes up the line from Gatwick but the train’s final destination was Peterborough. Peterborough? Now that is a service you certainly wouldn’t want to doze off on!

Bang on time we piled out at Merstham and the gaggle of Rooks fans stumbled their way along the dark roads trying to avoid the puddles.

We had time for couple of trays of excellent chips and some bandying of words with the other regular faces before it was time for kick off.

We fancied this. On the train we had unanimously predicted a Lewes victory. 2-1 seemed a popular prediction. Any win would put us back on top of the table after Haringey had the cheek to knock us off the top a couple of evenings earlier, and we wanted to show Gus Sow what he was missing.  Lewes started like they meant business and a typical brilliant Hammo free kick soon bulged the net. We were on our way back to the top of the table. So we thought.

The rain started to fall. One by one we retreated to the small stand behind the goal. The players had retreated a little too and Merstham were seeing more of the ball. An excellent series of passes found one of their players in space centrally and he duly whacked it past a stranded Carey. That wasn’t in the script. Worse was to come. The home team were getting on top and about five minutes later a great cross from the right was turned in. It very nearly got catastrophic when we immediately gave the ball away again and they were clean through for a one-on-one against Carey who saved superbly.

Half time came not a moment too soon as we were being outplayed. The hair dryer would be needed in the Lewes dressing room.

The response was immediate. Harry Reed chased a seemingly lost cause towards the dead ball line managed to get the ball back to Kieran Pamment who beat three players and curled the ball perfectly just inside the post. Now we would show them. Another Hammo free kick was fingertipped onto the post as we went in search of the winner. But that was as good as it got.

Somehow, just like the first half, Merstham rallied again and started passing the ball around and pressed relentlessly when they didn’t have it. It was no surprise when a corner wasn’t cleared and the ball was hammered into the net. It was all very frustrating. Lewes just couldn’t get going and produce anything. We had two wide men but couldn’t seem to get the ball to them at all, whereas we lost count of how many times their nippy wide men got in behind us. We started going long but Jonte was well marshalled all night.

Merstham were playing much better than their league position would suggest. The referee didn’t help matters much either by whistling every time a home player went to ground under the most innocuous of challenges. It did get a bit feisty near the end with Merstham being guilty of some poor challenges resulting in five yellow cards for them. Two of them went to Gus who was dismissed in the last minute. But he was to have the last laugh as Merstham deservedly ran out 3-2 winners. The home team had worked really hard, played very well and had been the better team in the night. Too many Lewes players had an off night.

Disappointed, we trudged back to the station for the journey home and for the post-mortem on the train. More importantly, though, a few crucial questions came to mind. With a couple of blank Saturdays coming up how could we avoid the horrors of being dragged along on Christmas shopping and post-Christmas sales trips to Dunelm Mill or Laura Ashley? In an act of sheer desperation Gary the Badge and Malcolm planned to go and watch Worthing v Bognor. PJ wasn’t THAT desperate and declined the trip as he thought that would be even worse than shopping.

Next up for the Stodgebusters: Boxing Day at Bognor Regis Town. No trains, so another outing for the Rookmobile. And where will we find a cafe open?

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TODAY’S TEAMS

Teams will appear here when announced…

LEWES

1	LEWIS CAREY
2	OLUMIDE OLUWATIMILEHIN
3	LEON REDWOOD
4	THOMAS DAY
5	FRANKIE CHAPPELL (C)
6	STACEY FREEMAN
7	OMARR LAWSON
8	JAMES HAMMOND
9	JONTE SMITH
10	KIERON PAMMENT
11	DAYSHONNE GOLDING
12	HARRY REED
14	LUKE BLEWDEN
15	CALLUM OVERTON
16	MARCUS ELLIOTT
17	CHARLIE COPPOLLA

BURGESS HILL TOWN

1	JOSH JAMES
2	BORIS KIPEYA-BONNO
3	TOM CADMAN
4	MICHAEL WILSON
5	GARY ELPHICK (C)
6	JAMES RICHMOND
7	ANDRE McCOLLIN
8	PAT HARDING
9	BEN POPE
10	DANIEL BECK
11	AARON SMITH-JOSEPH
12	CHARLIE BENNETT
14	MARCO FIGUERO CAVELO
15	DANIEL CHOULES
16	JOHAN TOLULOPE
17	FARRELL RYDER

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Opponents	H/A	Date
Enfield Town	A	5th Jan, 3pm
Worthing	A	12th Jan, 3pm
Wingate & Finchley	H	19th Jan, 3pm
Margate	H	23rd Jan, 7:45pm

CREDITS AND LEGAL

“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation 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).The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”

Lewes 2000 FC Limited. Registered in England and Wales with Company Registration Number 03790979. Lewes 2000 FC Limited is 100% owned by Lewes Community Football Club.

Honorary President Terry Parris
Chairman Stuart Fuller
Directors Ed Briggs, Charlie Dobres, Karen Dobres, Stuart Fuller, Steve Keegan, Galia Orme, John Peel, Ed Ramsden, Roger Warner, Trevor Wells
Club Secretary John Peel
Match Secretary David Evans
Youth Secretary Kevin Brook
Operations Manager Warren Lane

Equality FC Campaign Manager Karen Dobres

Life Members
Mr and Mrs Brook, Vic Blunt, Pat Dartnell, Gary Elphick, Gordon Fowlie, Peter Hiscox RIP, 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 RIP

Manager Hugo Langton
First team coach Dale Hurley
First team physio Katie Joynes
Goalkeeping coach John MaCrae
Under-18s Manager Dale Hurley
Under-18s Assistant Manager Craig Stevens
Under-18s coaches Jake Legrange and Johnny Buggy

Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Stuart Fuller
Progcast Editors Paul Sheppard and Stuart Fuller
Progcast Designer Barry Collins
Club Photographer James Boyes