Welcome to The Dripping Pan for our BetVictor Isthmian Premier League game with Horsham. Here is your complimentary matchday programme, which we call the Progcast.

In today’s issue:

• Live match updates
• Darren from the Dugout
• Chairman’s Notes
• Recent match review
• Today’s match music
• Brook’s Brainteasers
• Today’s opponents: Horsham
• Sponsor your favourite player
• Away guide: Leatherhead

LIVE MATCH UPDATES

You can get full updates from today’s game, including team line-ups, goals and substitutons, in the panel below. It will automatically update throughout the game. Data supplied by FootballWebPages.

DARREN FROM THE DUGOUT

Click play below to hear Darren’s thoughts on today’s game:

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Dripping Pan for this Bank Holiday extravaganza of football against our good friends from Horsham. I’d like to welcome their fans who I’m sure will have arrived today in big numbers, the players, the management and the officials of the club. It is great to see they have finally made it back to the town in their brand new stadium, which we are looking forward to visiting on New Year’s Day.

Just over two weeks ago I wrote these notes in a very positive frame of mind for the season ahead. Football is a cruel game as we know and despite what our fantastic new game analysis software tells us, results haven’t gone our way (I’m writing these notes prior to the Margate game).  Few fans will think we didn’t deserve all three points against Enfield, our second half fight-back at Worthing almost got us a point and we were somehow undone last Saturday by a team who were nowhere in the races. However, it is a results business and we need to improve them. Darren, Ross, Codge, Barry and I are focusing all of our attention on that one goal, including looking at additions to the squad.

One thing that everyone can do is to boost the budget through the 12^th Man Scheme. There will be buckets around the ground today and every penny goes direct to Darren to use to strengthen the squad. We are in a good position in terms of the budget available but it can never hurt to allow us to bring in some new players.

I’ve seen a few teams in our division this season and it seems that inconsistency is the rule at the moment. We lost in a very close game with Worthing, who were then thumped 6-0 at home by Hornchurch, who themselves drew with Margate, who were convincingly beaten (in terms of performance rather than result) by Cray Wanderers, who drew with Corinthian-Casuals. Enfield Town, who grabbed a point against us, lost 4-1 at home to our visitors today last week. Two wins and we could well be in the play-off positions!

There’s a few stories in the footballing world this week that have grabbed the headlines, none really bigger than the goings on at Bury Football Club.  It seems crazy that a side that won promotion last season to League One is on the verge of becoming extinct (less than 24 hours at the time of writing).  With so much money sloshing around at the top of the game, how can a club sitting on the doorstep of such giants as Manchester United and Manchester City be in a situation like this? This situation could have been avoided with proper governance and the Football League need to take a long and hard look at their processes which allow clubs to be run almost into the ground. It isn’t just Bury though – the situations at Bolton Wanderers and Coventry City have been allowed to fester for too long. How can the EFL get to a point where staff haven’t been paid for months on end?  It is wrong on so many levels.

Our Women’s team started their season last weekend with a cracking 5-1 win against Blackburn Rovers, who had only lost a couple of competitive games in the past few years.

Get behind the team and be the 12^th Man this afternoon.

Stuart

RECENT MATCH REVIEW

Lewes 0 vs Bowers & Pitsea 2

A disappointing performance at the Pan as our visitors from Essex claimed all three points. Match highlights from Your Instant Replay:

And here’s Ross Standen’s reaction:

And here are the full match stats:

LEWES	STAT	BOWERS
0	GOALS	2
60.8%	POSSESSION	39.2%
14	SHOTS	11
3	SHOTS ON TARGET	3
16	CROSSES	17
6	CORNERS	4
17	FREE-KICKS	5
1	YELLOW CARDS	0
0	RED CARDS	0
290	PASSES	172
77%	PASS SUCCESS RATE	75%

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.

BROOK’S BRAINTEASERS

Our resident stats man and Youth Secretary sets a ten-question quiz. Can you get the perfect ten? Select an answer for each question, press Finish and see you score!

TODAY’S OPPONENTS: HORSHAM

Newly promoted Horsham return to the Isthmian League Premier Division after an absence of seven years, having secured promotion via the play-offs after finishing runners-up to Cray Wanderers in the Isthmian South East Division last season. They begin a new chapter in their history this season with the opening of their new ground in the Hop Oast district on the southern edge of town.

Founded in 1881, a fourth West Sussex Senior League title in 1926 saw Horsham step up to the County League. They enjoyed a golden age in the thirties, winning the league six times, the Sussex RUR Cup seven times, and the Sussex Senior Cup twice.

In 1951 Horsham moved up to the Metropolitan League, subsequently playing in the Corinthian and Athenian Leagues before joining an expanded Isthmian League in 1973. Promotions in 1996, 2002 and 2006 took Horsham to the Premier Division for the first time, with a highest ever finish of eighth in 2007.

A memorable FA Cup run in 2007-8 saw Horsham reach the First Round for only the third time in their history. The 4-1 victory over Conference South Maidenhead United was watched by a home crowd of 3,379. In the Second Round Horsham drew 1-1 at home to Swansea City before going out in the replay.

In 2008 Horsham sold their Queen Street ground. Relegated in 2012 to Division One South, they finished bottom in 2015, suffering relegation to the County League. They returned to the Isthmian League in style, winning the renamed Southern Combination League at the first attempt with 109 points.

Having finished 16th in 2017 and 15th in 2018, Horsham claimed the runners-up spot in the re-jigged South East Division last season. Play-off victories over Haywards Heath, by 3-0, and Ashford United, by 2-1 after extra time, ensured promotion.

We last met in the 2017-18 season, going down 1-2 on a cold New Year’s Day at Culver Road, Lancing, and winning the return game 4-2 on the April night we secured promotion to the Premier Division.

MEET THE SQUAD

Dominic Di Paola – Manager

Dom joined the Hornets in April 2015, the former Hastings boss taking over when they were bottom of the Ryman League South. The last 12 months has seen Horsham move in to The Camping World Community Stadium, marking the club’s permanent return to the town after 12 years away, and gain promotion to step 3 for the first time since 2012. Winning their play-off Final the manager revealed a natural way with words, describing his team’s success as “incredible, unbelievable, phenomenal, emotional” – nuff said.

George Bentley – Goalkeeper

George progressed through Brighton & Hove Albion’s Academy to earn himself a two year scholarship, and featured in the Seagulls’ U18 Premier League side. He joined Worthing on work experience in 2017 before registering as a first team player, making his senior debut for the Mackerel Men at the end of the 2017/18 season. George spent time on loan at East Preston last season, making several first team appearances, and joined Horsham this summer after his release by the Albion.

Sebastian Oldham – Goalkeeper

Seb is a young goalkeeper who joined the Hornets this summer, having featured for Haringey Borough’s Development side last season.

Jerry O’Sullivan – Defender

Look, all I know is that Jerry is a Horsham new boy who used to play for Dorking (I think).

Steve Metcalf – Defender

Steve is a vastly experienced defender who has won promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division with three different clubs. Having started out at Saltdean, he had spells at Lewes and Newhaven before joining Worthing for the first of three spells in 2006. He spent the 2007/8 campaign at East Preston and then had two years with Horsham YMCA, returning to Worthing for two further seasons before winning a Ryman League Division One and Sussex Senior Cup double with Peacehaven & Telscombe in 2013/14. In 2015/16 a third spell at Worthing saw Steve captain the Rebels to the Ryman Division One South title. He made the switch to Horsham, earning a third promotion with the Hornets in 2018/19.

Ben Dyett – Defender

Ben plays for Horsham, and used to play for Hillingdon Borough, Hayes, Chipstead, Dorking, and FC Barcelona. Only kidding with that last one.

Will Miles – Defender

Injury restricted Will’s appearances to just seven after making the switch from Worthing to Horsham in February 2019, so he will be hoping for a more successful run this season. Will is a cultured centre-half who progressed from the successful Burgess Hill Town Academy to make his senior debut aged 18, winning an Isthmian League South Division championship medal in his first season. Later made first team captain, he missed most of the 2017/18 campaign through major ligament damage but was signed by Worthing in May 2018 and played in half of the club’s matches before making the switch to Horsham.

Harry Mills – Defender

Harry made the summer switch to Horsham from Walton Casuals where he was voted last season’s Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year. An accomplished full-back, he started out at Hampton & Richmond before joining Walton & Hersham in October 2014 and became a regular in the Swans’ side before making the switch to Guildford City, of the Combined Counties League, for whom he made nine appearances at the tail end of the 2015/16 campaign. Moving back to Walton-on-Thames, this time with Casuals, Harry scored in a penalty shoot-out victory over Corinthian-Casuals to earn the Stags promotion from the Isthmian League South Division in 2018 and went on to make a season’s club record 59 appearances for the club last term in the Southern League.

Lea Dawson – Midfielder

Lea captained Cray Wanderers to both the Isthmian League Division One North and South play-offs during a three year spell at Hayes Lane before opting to join Ashford United last summer. He made 19 appearances for the Nuts & Bolts but then made the switch to SCEFL side Cray Valley Paper Mills, ending last season with an appearance at Wembley as an unused substitute in the final of the FA Vase.

George Hayward – Midfielder

A tenacious and energetic midfielder, George joined the Hornets last summer after helping Haywards Heath Town to promotion to the Isthmian League. He started off as a youngster at Brighton & Hove Albion and went on to have loan spells at Burgess Hill and Bognor Regis before joining Worthing and then Haywards Heath. He scored the first goal of Horsham’s Isthmian League play-off final win against Ashford United in May 2019.

Charlie Harris – Midfielder

Charlie spent three years at Brighton & Hove Albion Youth Academy but failed to break into the first team. An unsuccessful move to Barnsley followed and he returned south, initially joining his hometown club East Grinstead before securing a move to Eastbourne Borough at the start of the 2017/18 season. He spent a month on loan with the Hornets that same season before making the move permanent in the summer of 2018. Scorer of a superb winning goal away to Premier Division Carshalton Athletic in the FA Cup, Charlie went on to become one of the stand-out performers last season only to miss the last three months through injury.

Alex Kelly – Midfielder

Alex is a talented central midfielder who has already caught the eye with some impressive pre-season performances for the Hornets following his summer arrival from Walton Casuals. An ex-scholar at Charlton Athletic, Alex joined Casuals in 2016 and was a member of the side that won promotion from Isthmian League South in 2018, becoming a regular in last season’s side that played in the Southern League.

Jack Brivio – Midfielder

Jack enjoyed an impressive first season with the Hornets following his summer arrival from Burgess Hill Town, captaining the side to a play-off final success over Ashford United and leading the club back to the Isthmian League Premier Division for the first time in seven years. A composed and cultured midfielder, Jack came through the Tonbridge Angels academy to make his senior debut, only to suffer an injury at the end of 2014 that ruled him out for a season and a half. Joined Burgess Hill Town in May 2016 and spent two years playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division before being released in September 2018, when he was promptly snapped up by Horsham. He scored 9 goals in 43 appearances for the Hornets by the start of 2019/2020.

Jared Rance – Midfielder

Midfielder ‘Jaz’ came through the Worthing youth set-up and made his senior Worthing debut as a substitute against Horsham the following season, and his first start against the same opposition a few weeks later. A regular goal-scorer at youth level, Jaz moved to join East Preston where his goals helped them to promotion to the Southern Combination Premier Division in 2016/17 before rejoining Worthing in October 2017. He signed for Horsham this summer.

Kieran Lavery – Forward

Scorer of more than 200 goals in a nine year career at Surrey side South Park, it was no surprise when Kieran was snapped up by Premier Division Dorking Wanderers at the start of 2018/19. However, he struggled to secure a regular starting place at Meadowbank and spent a month on loan to Horsham in the December, returning for a second spell from February through to the end of the season. He joined the Hornets on a permanent basis this summer.

Chris Smith – Forward

Chris arrived at Horsham in the summer of 2018 with the reputation of being a 20-plus goal a season man and lived up to his billing by scoring 23 in his first season to help the Hornets to promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. ‘Smudge’ made his name at his first club South Park, for whom he scored in excess of 200 goals in over 300 appearances after making his senior debut as a 16 year old. Having topped the Surrey club’s goal-scoring charts for five successive seasons, he moved to Burgess Hill Town in 2015, returning to South Park for a spell prior to his move to Horsham where he linked up once more with former South Park strike partner Kieran Lavery.

Zack Newton – Forward

Zack didn’t start playing competitive football until he was 16 but wasted little time, scoring 4 goals in 21 appearances for Worthing in 2015/16. He later signed for Welling United, via a brief stop at the Met Police, and played 9 times in their National League South campaign last year, during which he returned to Worthing on loan. He joined Horsham this summer.

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.

SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER

The Supporters Club are once again selling player and management sponsorship to raise money for the club. Grab your player before your favourite goes!

Costs are as follows: Home Kit – £75. Away Kit – £75. Training Kit – £25. Boots £25.

Contact: david.arnold@me.com or see David or Barbara on match days.

Thanks to the following sponsors who’ve signed up so far!

DARREN FREEMAN

HOME: REG FREEMAN

JORDY MONGOY

HOME: SAM & JOE BARKER

TOM DAY

HOME: STUART ELMER

FRANKIE CHAPPELL

HOME: SUSIE ARLETT

JAMES HAMMOND

HOME: STUART FULLER

AWAY: STUART FULLER

MICHAEL DOME-BEMWIN

HOME:  TONY HARMAN &YEOVIL JOHN

AWAY: YEOVIL JOHN & TONY HARMAN

AWAY GUIDE: LEATHERHEAD

Founded – 1907
Manager – Nikki Bull
Best league position –3^rd in Isthmian League (Premier Division) 1972/73
Best FA Cup run – Fourth Round Proper 1974/75 – Lost at Leicester City 3-2
Ground Capacity – 3,400 with around 350 covered seats (last season average 374)

Where is Leatherhead FC?

Fetcham Grove
Guildford Road
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 9AS

How was last season?
The Tanners were always on the fringes of the play-offs during most of the season, eventually missing out by a few points.  Their away form was impressive with six wins out of their last seven on the road, scoring 17 and conceding just one.  However, just one home win in the same period saw them always be relying on others to drop points which never happened.

Isthmian League Premier Division – 8^th – P 42 W 19 D 8 L 15 GS 56 GA 42 GD +14 PTS 65

• FA Cup – Fourth Qualifying Round – Lost at home to Hitchin Town 2-1 in a replay
• FA Trophy – First Qualifying Round – Lost away to Folkestone Invicta 5-1
• Surrey Senior Cup – First Round – Lost away to Carshalton Athletic on penalties
• Isthmian League Cup – First Round – Lost at home to Worthing 1-0

Form this season
So far it’s been a disappointing start to the season for the Tanners, with just two points from their opening three games, although away draws at Horsham and Folkestone Invicta shouldn’t be sneered at.  Their only home game so far saw them lose 3-2 to league leaders Haringey Borough.  Eddie Dsane has grabbed two goals so far, both from penalties, to be their leading scorer.

When did we last meet Leatherhead?
We “won on aggregate” over two games last season thanks to a 1-0 victory at the Pan in December when James Hammond’s scrambled first half effort was enough to give the Rooks all three points.  In the reverse fixture towards the end of the season, honours were even after Hammo, again, gave the Rooks the lead in the 10^th minute only for the Tanners centre-back Jerry Nmanami to equalise from close range after a corner wasn’t cleared.

About Fetcham Grove
Leatherhead’s ground is a perfect Non-League venue – old rambling stands, a decent bar and hospitable fans.  The main stand is a small covered affair with an old tin roof, steeped in history, next to which is a covered terrace that almost runs down to the corner flag.  Behind one goal is a good-sized covered terrace which sits on a hill and at the other end is covered hard standing. The club has a decent bar with an area to watch the game from outside whilst having a beer.  You will also find the small shed club shop in this area.

How to get to Fetcham Grove
The ground is located close to the town centre which does require a bit of concentration to find in the last mile or so.  Head north on A23/M23 then clockwise (for a change) around the M25.  Leave the M25 at Junction 9. At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, take the 2nd exit signposted A246 Cobham.  At the next one roundabout, take the first exit. You will pass an Esso garage on the right and then a Shell garage on the left. Immediately after the Shell garage, there is a give way sign.  Take the outside lane and follow the road round to the right.

As you go down the hill, switch to the left-hand lane and follow the road round a sharp left turn. After a Pumping Station (left hand side) the road bears round to the right. Take the first turning left (before railway bridge) and the entrance to Leatherhead Football Club is approximately 50 metres on the left-hand side.  For the car parks carry on down the road for a hundred yards and you can park free of charge in the Leisure Centre.  Journey time from Lewes is around 50 minutes.

If you are coming by train, then the ground is a ten-minute walk away.  Head out of station and head downhill.  Cross the main road (Randalls Way) and into Station Approach.  Follow this road, running parallel to the railway line.  At the end of the road turn left and then right into Waterway Road. When you reach the Waterworks roundabout you will see the entrance to the ground.  Trains from Lewes will require a change at Clapham Junction and take around 90 minutes.

Admission at Fetcham Grove
Admission last season was £10 for adults, £7 for concessions (senior citizens and students), Under16s £5.  The club haven’t published this season’s admission prices at the time of writing.

Fancy a beer?
The nearest pub to the ground is the Running Horse on Bridge Street which has some centuries-old history and some decent beer on tap.  The Edward Tylney is a Wetherspoons venue in the High Street, opposite the Dukes Head.  Another good pub is the Penny Black in North Street that also has a decent outside area.

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