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

In today’s programme:

• Live Match Updates
• Ross on the Record
• Chairman’s Notes
• Recent Match Review
• Billy’s back – but how did Football Manager know he was coming?
• Today’s opponents: Folkestone Invicta
• Sponsor Your Favourite Player
• Stodgebusters on Tour

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.

ROSS ON THE RECORD

Hear co-manager Ross Standen’s thoughts on today’s game:

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s Isthmian Premier League game against high-flying Folkestone Invicta. I’d like to welcome our guests this afternoon and hope that the Invicta fans, players, management and officials enjoy our hospitality and wish them a safe journey home.

We know this afternoon will be a tough game. Folkestone Invicta are not at the top of the table by fluke. We took them on in the FA Trophy a few weeks ago and whilst the first hour was relatively even, their persistence and attacking intent eventually saw them run out 2-0 winners. We’ve been able to bolster our squad a bit since, so we are looking forward to trying to take some revenge this afternoon.

Despite issuing numerous statements I am still getting asked about the status of our management team. Let me repeat that Ross and Codge have my full support as our co-managers (I know that sounds like the dreaded vote of confidence!) and will continue to run the team for the foreseeable future. They’ve had a good start in the roles and are now starting to look at strengthening the squad with their own players. Our aim at the start of this season was to look for a better final position than last season. Currently we are just a minimum of four points of being in that position. We’ve also got the Sussex Senior Cup game at Chichester City next week, who will be coming down off their trip to Tranmere Rovers and an Isthmian League Cup tie against Sevenoaks Town. Whilst in previous seasons we’ve decided not to enter that cup, this season it is mandatory for all clubs at step 3.

One big mental challenge we need to overcome is our home form. We’ve taken 13 points away from home this season, yet only 5 here at the Pan. We make it too easy for away teams to play their game on the pitch and we often allow their fans to create the atmosphere off it. We need to change the dynamic so that teams coming here are never given an easy ride. So please everyone get behind the team and make some noise.

I am sure most of you will have seen that we managed to persuade Billy Medlock to come back to the Pan after a year away from the game. Billy’s style and character made him a favourite with the fans, and it was disappointing to see him decide not only to leave the club but also to quit the game. Having spoken to him last week I immediately heard he has his old spark back and I am sure, given a few weeks of condensed pre-season training under Codge, he will soon be back among the goals.

We were also on the verge of signing another centre-forward, with a step 1/2 pedigree but at the last minute we were “gazumped” by a certain well-known individual who has just become involved at Romford FC. I am sure we will hear a lot more of events at the current bottom-placed club in the Isthmian North over the next few months.

Let’s get behind the team this afternoon and Come On You Rooks!

Stuart

RECENT MATCH REVIEW

Bishop’s Stortford 0 vs Lewes 2, BetVictor Isthmian Premier League, 23rd November 2019

The Rooks claimed a valuable three points in deepest Essex, with Michael Dome-Bemwin and Stefan Ilic claiming the goals. Watch the match highlights from Your Instant Replay here:

BILLY’S BACK – BUT HOW DID FOOTBALL MANAGER KNOW HE WAS COMING?

If you’re a fan of Football Manager, you will know this season’s instalment dropped on 19th November – three days before Billy Medlock rejoined the club.

But players who got hold of their game on launch day might have been surprised to see a certain striker among the Lewes FC squad in the game…

Now, anyone who’s played the game will know its scouting is top drawer, but still… did Football Manager’s non-league database compilers manage to predict our striker coup?

Probably not… As you may notice if you look a little closer at that squad list, it also features Marcus Elliott and Nico Cotton, two former players who’ve not been with us for some time. It seems Billy had yet to be cleaned from the Rooks’ squad – and now there’s no need to!

By the way, you can’t actually play as the Rooks in the current version of Football Manager 2020 – playable leagues only extend to the National League South/North. But we’ll let you know when the unofficial Non-League database is released and you can try your hand at guiding Billy and his teammates up the leagues!

TODAY’S OPPONENTS: FOLKESTONE INVICTA

Founded in 1936 Folkestone Invicta initially played in the East Kent Amateur League before joining the Kent County League, winning the Premier Division in 1979. In 1990 the town’s principal club Folkestone FC folded after many years in the Southern League, and Folkestone Invicta moved into the former’s Cheriton Road ground in 1991.

Invicta joined Division Two of the Kent League in 1991, winning the title at the first attempt along with the Division Two Cup and the Kent Intermediate Shield. Finishing runners-up in Division One of the Kent League in 1998 they earned promotion to the Southern Division of the Southern League.

They were transferred to the Eastern Division in 1999, and after a runners-up spot in their first season won promotion to the Premier Division. Relegated in 2003, a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Division the following season was enough to win promotion due to league re-organisation, Invicta finding themselves transferred to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League. In 2005-6 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 2–1 at League Two Chester City.

Relegated to Division One South in 2009, they finished second and won promotion back to the Premier Division via the play-offs in 2010. However, they finished bottom in 2011 and were relegated back to Division One South. Four successive top five finishes saw Invicta defeated in the play-offs, until winning the Division One South title by 24 points in 2016 (with manager Neil Cugley completed 1,000 matches as the club’s manager) to return to the Premier Division.

In 2018 they finished fourth, scoring over a hundred league goals, but lost in the play-off semi-finals to Hendon. Last season they finished sixth, missing out on the play-offs by a single point. They currently lie second in the table, a point behind Horsham with a game in hand.

MEET THE SQUAD

NEIL CUGLEY – Manager

Now in his 23rd season as the club’s manager Neil has completed over 1,100 games in charge. Neil became the longest-serving manager in the top seven tiers of English football when Arsene Wenger left Arsenal at the end of the 2017-18 season. He led Folkestone to winning the Isthmian League Division One Championship by 24 points in 2015-16 when he collected many personal accolades including Manager of the Season. He also received a Lifetime Achievement award from The Non-League Paper at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. As a player, Neil had three spells at Folkestone Town and also played for Ashford, Dartford, Margate, Dover Athletic, Maidstone United and Thanet. In the 1982-83 season he broke Folkestone’s goalscoring record with 46 goals.

HENRY NEWCOMBE – Goalkeeper

Henry joined Folkestone in July 2019 having come through the ranks at Gillingham. He represented Kent Schools in 2008 and 2009 going on to gain a professional contract at the Priestfield Stadium in 2016. He has also had spells with Chatham Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Margate, and Hythe Town.

TIM ROBERTS – Goalkeeper

Tim joined Folkestone in September 2013 from Walton & Hersham and is now well past the 300 appearances mark.  He was Supporters’ Player of the Year for the championship-winning season of 2015-16 with 20 league clean sheets, the first goalkeeper to win the award since 1995. He has also played at Chatham Town, Croydon, Erith Town, Sittingbourne and Dulwich Hamlet.

FINN O’MARA – Defender

Finn spent six years at Gillingham having joined them at the age of 13 and signed from Gillingham during October 2018. He made his professional debut during the 2017-18 season when he came on as a substitute away to Blackburn Rovers before making his full league debut at home to Portsmouth in a game shown live on Sky Sports! He has made over 50 appearances for Invicta.

NAT BLANKS – Defender

Nat was originally with Invicta as a youth team player before moving to Gillingham. He has subsequently played for Marlow, Chalfont St Peter, and Burnham, before returning in October 2012. He has now made over 250 appearances for the club and was a part of their 2015-16 Isthmian League championship-winning side.

CALLUM DAVIES – Defender

Callum joined the Invicta initially on loan from Maidstone United in August 2016 and has now made over 150 appearances for the club. He swept the board at the club’s Player of the Year presentations during 2017-18, winning Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year, and even walking away with the young Payer of the Year award! Callum began his career at Gillingham, for whom he began as a trainee, captained the youth team, progressed to the reserves and made 29 first team appearances between 2010-15. He won a League Division Two title medal under Martin Allen in 2013 but injury restricted his progress under Justin Edinburgh.

JOSH VINCENT – Defender

Josh is Invicta’s longest-serving player,  having made the first team squad during 2008-09. He has now made over 450 appearances for the club. The club’s Young Player of the Year in 2008-09. He is a goalscoring right back, member of the 2015-16 Isthmian League Division One South championship-winning team.

MATT NEWMAN – Defender/Midfielder

Matt re-joined Invicta from Hythe Town during August 2017 and impressed as a central defender having played predominantly in midfield during his first spell with the club. Part of their 2015-16 championship-winning side, his previous clubs include Chatham, Erith & Belvedere, Ashford Town, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge Angels. Matt earned Players’ Player of the Year for 2018-19.

RONNIE DOLAN – Midfielder

Ronnie was a part of the 2015-16 Isthmian League Division One South championship winning team but has been unlucky with injuries over the past few seasons. He joined Invicta from Hastings United and has also had spells at Ashford Town, Ashford United, Hythe Town and Welling United.

SCOTT HEARD – Midfielder

Scott originally joined Invicta from Whitstable Town during November 2015 and was a part of the 2015-16 Isthmian League Division One South championship-winning team. He re-joined the club from Dagenham & Redbridge during the summer of 2017 having signed for the Daggers in October 2016.

KIERON McCANN – Midfielder

Kieron joined Invicta during the summer of 2017 from Sevenoaks Town. He won Invicta’s Goal of the 2017-18 Season award for his strike from outside the penalty area at home to Billericay Town. He has also played at Chatham, Croydon Athletic, Erith & Belvedere, Whyteleafe and Cray Wanderers.

IRA JACKSON – Forward

Ira joined during January 2019 and hit a first half hat-trick on his full home debut for Invicta against us Rooks.  He has also had spells with Margate, Whitstable Town, Ramsgate, Dover Athletic, Worthing, Leatherhead and Ashford.

ALFIE PAXMAN – Forward

Alfie signed for Invicta in May 2018 from Ramsgate, for whom he scored 30 goals during 2017-18. He emerged from the Rams’ youth set-up and represented Kent at youth level.

JOHAN TER HORST – Forward

Johan attracted lots of interest earlier in his career, and spent three seasons playing for Premiership club Hull City who secured his signature at the end of the 2013-14 season. He re-signed for Invicta from Maidstone United during February 2018 after a loan spell with the club during December 2017.

JERSON DOS SANTOS – Forward

Jerson was born in Angola, and the Portuguese striker spent his early playing days with Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and AFC Wimbledon before joining Grays Athletic in the Isthmian League Premier Division. He has also played for many non-league clubs including in Iceland. The striker signed for Invicta in the summer of 2019 having played pre-season for them during the summer of 2018.

IAN DRAYCOTT – Forward

Ian joined Invicta from Leatherhead during the summer of 2014 and has now scored over 100 goals for the club. He scored 43 goals in 57 appearances in his debut season and then 40 goals in 53 appearances during the championship-winning season of 2015-16. In 2014-15 he shared the Isthmian League Division One South Golden Boot with 34 goals and then won it outright in 2015-16 with 40 league goals. He has also played for Leatherhead, Maidstone United, Lewes, and Bedford Town.

SAM HASLER – Forward

Sam signed for Invicta from Herne Bay in October 2016. He was included in the 2017-18 Bostik League Premier Division team of the season selected by the managers. He has also played for Maidstone United, Erith & Belvedere, and Herne Bay.

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!

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

Our grease-seeking supporters head to South London to watch the Rooks take on Kingstonian

Next up on the Stodgebusters odyssey was a trip to Tolworth where Kingstonian currently lodge with Corinthian Casuals after moving out of the excellent Kingsmeadow. Trips there were always a season highlight due to the proximity of the fantastic Fatboys Cafe just around the corner where we had some really superb pre-match fill ups. Kingsmeadow was a proper ground too with big stands, lots of cover, and a really good bar. The only downside was we always seemed to lose.

Tolworth has a pretty good eating place too, though, called the Broadway Cafe. There are other places nearby but we have never been disappointed with the Broadway on several previous visits so that was to be our first stop en route to King George’s Field.

Tolworth station is very handy for the cafe and the ground. But as Turnstile Alan was going to drive we thought we would grab a lift with him rather than risk the trains. He is cheaper too. Complete with yellow jacket, Alan picked up Roly in Polegate, PJ and Gary the Badge at Lewes Prison and finally Malcolm in Carden Avenue, Brighton for the journey north. PJ handed around the Mintoes and conversations about the game commenced.

We weren’t too confident. We never seem to do well against Kingstonian. Gary even spoke about a four-nil defeat. Others weren’t so doom-laden but overall we felt a defeat was very possible due to the horrendous injury list and lack of a proper striker. We talk about all kinds of things on our journeys and television usually crops up. But the conversation took an unexpected twist when one of the party admitted to watching Naked Attraction. Imagine a Stodgebuster appearing on there. Although it’s probably best not to.

The journey was a breeze until we hit the A3 and the turn off for Tolworth Broadway. It’s a very busy shopping street and the last parking space outside the cafe was nicked just seconds before we got there. Never mind, the Iceland car park just around the corner would have to do.

The Broadway cafe is everything we look for. It is bright, absolutely spotless and all cooking is done in full view of the customers. Oh, and it’s cheap. Five pounds eighty for a Full English including a cup of tea can’t be moaned at. Orders were taken and the food was served up by a very smart young man in a proper shirt, tie and waistcoat. He wouldn’t have looked out of place at a wedding.

Yet again the food was excellent and we made off back to car readying ourselves for the challenge of the dreaded Tolworth Roundabout. It’s a four-lane roundabout and being in the right lane at the right time is crucial. If not then you’ve had it.  It’s always very busy and, generally, other drivers are about as sympathetic as Sebastian Vettel in a Grand Prix and won’t let you in.

It’s probably ok if you are a local and use it every day, but twice a year users like us tend to get it wrong. We have never done it first time. Ever. Even if you do get the right exit and lane the tiny slip road to the ground is only 20 yards further on and easily missed (as PJ can testify) and then it’s about two miles until the next roundabout to come back and have another go! Anyway, Alan was all pumped up for this attempt and out we went into the chaos. It was all looking good until we got about a third of the way round.

“Right lane, right lane !!……….ahhhhhh……. ****!!! ”.

We couldn’t get across and were forced down the wrong exit. A three-point turn in someone’s driveway and we were back with only a simple left to negotiate and the slip road. We will do it next time.

King Georges Field doesn’t compare with their old ground at Kingsmeadow but concessions start at 60 rather than the usual 65. So that was a bonus for us hard-up supporters. The team news wasn’t great. Hammo had failed a fitness test. He is one of our lynchpins and would be missed. It was a very young team with Tegan Freeman making his debut.

It all started off quite nicely. One up after Charlie got on the end of a Dayshonne cross. But Kingstonian gradually got on the front foot and pushed us back. Nathan made a couple of excellent saves but it was no surprise when they deservedly equalised. We had a bit of a go at the start of the second half but Kings reasserted control and looked the more likely to score. And they duly did. We rarely threatened, and soon one of our corners ended up in a breakaway and the ball was in our own net for 3-1 not ten seconds later.

All very disappointing. Plenty of effort and plenty of possession from a very patched up team but simply not good enough. Without a proper front man we are toothless. We think our only really serious attempt on target was the goal. Kingstonian knocked the ball around well but they were pretty dodgy at the back. If only we could have got amongst them more.

We trudged dejectedly around the pitch towards the exit but were stopped in our tracks by the steward insisting that the gate stayed shut until all players were off the pitch. They weren’t hurrying either. We thought it was a little unnecessary and it certainly didn’t help our mood.

The conversation inevitably turned to the game. It was probably the right result. We had plenty of the ball but couldn’t find a final pass. They looked more dangerous throughout.

Those amongst us that like that sort of thing were home for Strictly, but PJ, NOT liking that sort of thing got home and immediately got all togged up for Nevill Bonfire.

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