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Welcome to The Dripping Pan for today’s Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup with Three Bridges. Here is your complimentary e-programme.

In today’s issue:

ROSS ON THE RECORD

Click on the play button below to listen to Ross Standen’s thoughts on tonight’s game:

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good evening and welcome back to the Dripping Pan for this evening’s Sussex Senior Cup match against Three Bridges. I’d like to welcome the players, fans, management and officials here tonight and hope you enjoy our hospitality and a safe journey home.

Tonight is a small diversion, rather than a distraction, from league activities. Our record in recent years in this competition hasn’t been too impressive, with defeats against lower placed sides such as Littlehampton Town and Selsey. Last season we exited the tournament to an injury time goal here against Brighton & Hove Albion in a game that we should have won.

It is a cup that every season we look forward to because, with the luck of the draw, there is always that hope that this season we could get to the final. It is also a great opportunity to visit some of the clubs we rarely get a chance to play, such as Hailsham Town, Broadbridge Heath and Southwick, as we have done in recent seasons. We certainly won’t underestimate Three Bridges tonight though and look forward to a great cup tie.

Last Saturday we put in one of our best performances of the season to grab all three points at Cheshunt in a vital game for us. We aren’t in the position in the league where we want to be, or many of our performances have deserved this season, so for us to be able to get some just reward was incredibly satisfying. Everyone played their part in appalling conditions with goals in the first half from Hammo and Leon, which was either a wind-assisted cross or a genius floated effort from thirty yards. One other positive from the game was seeing Ronnie Conlon now kicking a ball in the pre-match warm up. After a year out of the game we are all counting down the weeks until we will see him back in the starting line-up.

Just as Ronnie and Brinky are nearing match fitness, we have unfortunately lost Dean Bown with a serious knee injury whilst out on loan at East Grinstead Town. Dean is only a young lad but this is the second bad knee injury he’s had whilst being at the club and we wish him all the best in his recovery.

Two former Rooks have found themselves with managerial roles this week. Danny Bloor has returned to Eastbourne Borough after the departure of Lee Bradbury, whilst Jay Lovett has swapped the hot seat at South Park for the very hot one at Burgess Hill Town, who sit just above the relegation zone in the Isthmian League South East Division. We wish both all the best in their roles.

Last Saturday, whilst we went in search of the win at Cheshunt, our Women’s team took on current Super League leaders, Chelsea Women, here in the Continental League Cup. With over 1,000 crammed under cover from the pouring rain here at the Pan, the Rooks were on course for a famous draw, thanks to Katie Rood’s stunning equaliser until a late Chelsea winner settled the tie. But it was a fantastic occasion and thank you to everyone who helped on the day – we really do have an amazing set of volunteers.

Enjoy the game and see you all back here Saturday for the visit of Wingate & Finchley! Come On You Rooks!

Stuart

LEWES FC BOARD ELECTIONS 2019

Do you want to become a director of Lewes FC? Now’s your chance to help shape the future of the club. There are FOUR vacancies on the board this year. If you’re interested in filling one of them, click here for full details of how to apply.

RECENT MATCH REVIEW

Cheshunt 0 vs Lewes 2, BetVictor Isthmian Premier League, 2nd November 2019

The Rooks claimed all three points in dismal conditions in North London. Did Leon mean his wonder strike? Judge for yourself with the match highlights from Your Instant Replay.

Here’s Tony Coade’s thoughts on the game:

And here’s the verdict of co-manager Ross Standen:

TONIGHT’S OPPONENTS: THREE BRIDGES

Founded in 1901, Three Bridges Football Club joined the newly formed Second Division of the Sussex County League in 1952, gaining promotion as champions to Division One in 1954, but only lasting one season before dropping back down to Division Two.

Known as Three Bridges United since 1953, they reverted to Three Bridges again in 1964. Promotion and relegation followed in succession, as they enjoyed spells in Division One between 1969 and 1973, 1974 and 1977, 1980 and 1997, before a further promotion in 1999.

Three Bridges finished runners-up in the County League in 1986, 1988 and 1989. They won the County League for the first time in 2012, thereby securing promotion to the Isthmian League. They achieved a highest-ever league placing of seventh in Division One South in 2015.

Relegated in 2017 to the re-named Southern Combination League, they bounced back at the first attempt, finishing one point behind champions Haywards Heath, but securing promotion as runners-up. Last season they finished 14th in the re-organised South-East Division. This season they are currently 18th (out of 20 teams) in the league table.

MEET THE TEAM

KIERON THORPE – GOALKEEPER

Born 12.12.90 in Crawley.  Joined July 2014.  Previous clubs include:  Dulwich Hamlet, Lewes, Horsham, Crawley Down Gatwick, Worthing, Horsham YMCA, Broadbridge Heath.  Over 150 appearances for the club and now also managing Bridges’ new U7s team.

TADLEY BROMAGE – DEFENDER

Born 18.09.97 in Shoreham.  Joined Bridges on 10th August 2018.  Previous clubs include: Shoreham and Burgess Hill Town.

ANTONE DOUGLAS – DEFENDER

Born 27.12.89 in London.  Joined Bridges in July 2018.  Previous clubs include:  Crawley Town; Waltham Forest; Staines Town; Histon; Carshalton Athletic; Billericay Town; Whyteleafe (loan); Worthing; Merstham.

AARON GOODE – DEFENDER

Born 18.12.1988 in St. Helier, Jersey.  Joined Bridges in July 2019.  Previous clubs include Queens Park Rangers; Kingstonian; Bedfont Town; Tooting & Mitcham United; Walton & Hersham; Met. Police and Whitehawk.

DEAN GUNNER – DEFENDER, CAPTAIN

Born 25.01.1988 in Epsom.  Joined Bridges February 2019.  Played for Merstham for seven seasons before joining Dorking Wanderers for two seasons, having earned promotion with both teams.  Previous clubs include:  Horsham YMCA, Whyteleafe, Greenwich Borough, Chipstead, Dorking Wanderers, East Grinstead Town

TROY WILLIAMS – DEFENDER

Born 24.04.94 in Croydon.  Joined Bridges in July 2019.  Previous clubs include Tooting & Mitcham, Merstham, Grays Athletic, Lewes, Horsham (loan) and Walton & Hersham.

JOHN LANSDALE – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

Born 20.07.91 in Shoreham.  Joined in July 2014.  Previous clubs include:  Burgess Hill Town, Worthing, Eastbourne Town, Whitehawk and Crawley Down Gatwick.  Supporters’ Player of the Year last season (2017/18).

MATTHEW WHITEHEAD – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER

Born 29.04.92 in Shoreham.  First joined Bridges in July 2014 for two seasons before joining Horsham at the start of 2016/17 season, returned to Bridges in November 2016.  Signed for Saltdean in 2018/19 and re-signed for Bridges this summer.  Previously with Lewes, Worthing, Bognor Regis and Hastings United, with whom he reached the FA Cup 3rd Round Proper.

LEE HALL – DEFENDER & VICE CAPTAIN

Born 23.11.87 in London.  Joined February 2017.  Previous clubs include:  Fulham (8 years, earning two years’ scholarship at high and reserve level); Corinthian-Casuals (in 2015, played in Brazil against Corinthians at the Arena Stadium in front of 30,000 fans); Lewes, Sutton Utd., Harrow Borough, Kingstonian, Met. Police, Tooting & Mitcham Utd. and Carshalton Athletic.

BRANNON O’NEILL – MIDFIELDER

Born 22.03.1990 in Cuckfield.  Joined on 12th January 2018 from Burgess Hill.  Spent four years at Worthing before leaving to join Dorking Wanderers in 2016/17 season.  He then signed for Burgess Hill in the Bostik Premier Division last season before transferring to Bridges.  Joined Whitehawk the start of this season and re-signed for Bridges on 11th October 2018.

YOUCEF AZZOUZ – MIDFIELDER

Born 06.09.199 in London.  Joined Bridges U23s in January 2019 and quickly also featured for the First Team.  Previous clubs include:  Tooting & Mitcham United and Whyteleafe

CURTIS GAYLER – MIDFIELDER

Born 01.09.95 in Brighton.  Joined Bridges on 11th October 2019.  Previous clubs include: Burgess Hill Town, Hastings, Worthing, Whitehawk, Lewes, Horsham, East Grinstead Town.

REECE PRICE-PLACID – MIDFIELDER

Born 13.11.1995 in London.  Joined Bridged in July 2019.  Started as a youngster at Woking, and while out on loan at Corinthian-Casuals, attracted Peterborough, Crawley, Southend Utd. and Luton.  He moved to Gibraltar playing for Bruno’s Magpies and Mons Calpe, before returning to the UK where he played for Basildon Utd. and Hayes & Yeading before joining Harlow Town in July 2018.

ANDREW SESAY – MIDFIELDER

Born 21.05.1997 in London.  Joined Bridges on 24th February 2019 and is attracting a lot of attention from other clubs so far this season.  Other clubs include:  Tonbridge Angels; Greenwich Borough.

SOLOMON TAIWO – MIDFIELDER

Born 29.04.1985 in Lagos, Nigeria.  Joined Bridges in July 2019 from Phoenix Sports where he had played since 2016/17.  Previously played at Conference South level and below, including Bromley, Maidenhead Utd., Tooting & Mitcham Utd., Weymouth, Chesham Utd., Sutton Utd. before joining League Two side, Dagenham & Redbridge in 2007.  He signed for Cardiff City, in 2009, making 9 appearances before leaving in June 2012 to join Luton Town, Aldershot Town, Dover Athletic, Margate, Cray Wanderers, and Bishop’s Stortford.

ALEX LAING – MIDFIELDER/STRIKER

Born 27.09.1995 in Brighton.  First joined in July 2018, before returning to Bridges in October 2019.  Previous clubs include:  Littlehampton Town; Horsham; Eastbourne United Association; Shoreham; Haywards Heath Town and Saltdean United. Oh, and Lewes.

LUKE LEPPARD – STRIKER

Born 23.04.89.  Joined Bridges on 14th October 2019.  Previous clubs include:  Crowborough Athletic and Greenwich Borough.

ANDRE McCOLLIN – STRIKER

Born 26.03.1985 in London.  Joined Bridges in July 2019.  Began his career with Corinthian-Casuals in 2006-07 before spells with Fisher Athletic, Yeovil Town, Farnborough and Croydon Athletic.  Other clubs include Kingstonian (2012-2014, January-May 2016 and from December 2017); Aldershot Town (2014/15); Cray Wanderers (2015/16); Tonbridge Angels and Merstham (2016/17); Haringey Borough (2017-18); Harlow Town (August 2018); Burgess Hill (September-December 2018); Whytelefe (January-May 2019).

TOM TOLFREY – STRIKER

Born 10.07.1991 in Crawley.  Joined Bridges on 6th July 2019 from Dorking Wanderers where he played for five seasons, scoring 143 goals in 118 games.

Lewes Men's squad photo 19-20

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 – ÂŁ75. Away Kit – ÂŁ75. Training Kit – ÂŁ25. Boots ÂŁ25.

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

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

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

STODGEBUSTERS ON TOUR

When the draw for the FA Trophy was made an away game at the current league leaders was not what we wanted. Either a winnable home game or a visit to a new ground would have been preferable. Sadly it wasn’t to be, so the Stodgebusters prepared for another trip to Folkestone hoping for an improvement on the 4-0 defeat at the back end of last season. Invicta are looking pretty good this season but had lost at home to Bognor the week before so all was not lost.

Once again Turnstile Alan offered to drive, so PJ picked up Gary and Malcolm to meet up at Roly’s abode in deepest Polegate. After another game of hunt the seat belt we were off. An 11.30 departure meant we had plenty of time for lunch but where would we go? A previous visit to Folkestone by train had found the excellent Full English cafe in the town centre but parking might have been a problem.

We didn’t have to worry as we found a lovely place just the other side of Rye. Beryl’s Cafe seemed to be part of a farm shop but it looked decent enough so in we went. Although the menu wasn’t that extensive they did a reasonably priced Full English which was fine by us. It was excellent and the Latte was that good one member of the party had to have a refill. The staff were very pleasant as well. Certainly one to remember on future visits to Folkestone or even Hythe.

The journey had been completed in decent weather for the majority of it but as we got nearer to Folkestone it took a turn for the worse. When we arrived the leaden skies looked like we were in for a very wet afternoon. The wind had also increased considerably. As we arrived in plenty of time Gary the Badge wandered over to visit the club shop and do a bit of badge swapping. Geoff who runs the shop is a very pleasant chap and was more than happy to have a few different badges to sell. Gary was very happy to pick up a few new ones as well. Slade Green or Edinburgh University anyone?

As the game kicked off Lewes had the wind at their backs and started well. We were playing some good stuff and things looked promising. The home team didn’t look anything special and we were quite comfortable. The rain had started to fall by this time and the wind was causing problems. There was no cover at the end we were standing except for a very impressive tree so on went the rain macs and up went the hoods. The wind certainly caused a problem for Alan as his cap blew off twice and went hurtling down the terraces. Gary came to the rescue by giving him a large rubber band which he just happened to have in his pocket. Alan was able to secure his cap by putting it over his head and under his chin. A bit unorthodox but it worked! More worryingly for Alan was the failure of the zip on his legendary yellow jacket.

We got to half time goalless and wandered up to the other end where thankfully there was some cover. Folkestone came out a different side after the interval and we were being pegged back. It was no surprise when they went ahead and then added a second. We had no answer after that and offered very little going forward. Folkestone look a decent side and will surely be there or thereabouts in the promotion shake up at the end of the season. It was all a bit disappointing in the end with no real attempts on goal to test an underworked keeper or give us something to get excited about. All we had to look forward to was the drive home in what was by now pouring rain.

Alan and PJ did exceptionally well on the return trip and we were back in Lewes by 7pm, which meant we didn’t miss much of Strictly! (Edit: PJ would like it known that he has no interest in Strictly Come Dancing.)

Where next for the Stodgebusters? Only Gary has been to Cheshunt before back in the days of Jimmy Quinn and Billy Nixon, and he remembers nothing about the place. A new ground for the rest of the gang so let’s hope the train can take the strain and get us there. The journey looks easy enough via Victoria and Seven Sisters but you never can tell!

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