POST-MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Here’s what happened when the Rooks hosted the Bees on Sunday
MATCH REPORT
Marcus Lee walks us through the key action from Lewes 0 London Bees 0
https://www.lewesfc.com/article/rooks-boss-the-bees-but-settle-for-draw
Photo: James Boyes
Simon Says
Simon Parker gives his verdict on Sunday’s action
Interview: Charlie Dobres
Boyes’ Eye View
Club photographer James Boyes shares his top pics from Sunday’s game
We welcome London Bees to the Dripping Pan.
It’s been a busy start to the year for Lewes. After 13 months in charge, the Lewes FC board accepted the resignation of First Team Manager Fran Alonso. Simon Parker, former assistant manager, has stepped up to take immediate charge, supported by Jesus Cordon. Before joining the Rooks, Simon was First Team Manager at Southampton, where he had a league win rate of 88% in four years.
On the player front we welcome two fantastic new signings: firstly, former Welsh Youth International Ellie Leek, recently of Charlton Athletic. Ellie also gained valuable experienced playing for Le Havre and over a four-year stint at Auburn University in the US.
Before Christmas Lewes also signed Paula Howells, who was told she would never play again after suffering a severe injury on the pitch. Paula has represented England at Under 23 level. Read more here and see the video below.
PROGCAST CONTENTS
Click on the link below to jump straight to that section
- Today’s playlist
- Sponsor a Player
- Charity Collection
- Mascots
- Home Fixtures
- League Table
- Simon Parker
- The Rooks
- Ellie Leek
- Paula Howells
- Chairman’s Notes
- Today’s Opponents
- Matchday Poster
- Women’s Walking Football
- Earthquake Drummers
- LGB Brass Band
- Credits and legal info
TODAY’S PLAYLIST
Today’s soundtrack will be provided LIVE by the fabulous LGB BRASS BAND.
SPONSOR A PLAYER
If you’d like to Sponsor a Player, please contact info@lewesfc.com. You’ll get a photo of yourself with your chosen player and help the Club as we continue our mission to play great football and change the world.
Rooks fan Susie Arlett, who sponsors goalkeeper Faye Baker, says, ‘I support the team because I love the equality, the friendship and the atmosphere. I also love sponsoring Faye Baker – a fantastic goalkeeper and person. I love the fact that I’ve met her parents too!’
A huge thank you to Susie and all our other sponsors (to date) too:
The d’Arienzo family sponsor Sammy Quayle
Joe and Keysha Franchi sponsor Ava Rowbotham
Lord Chunky sponsors Dani Lane
Martin Scott sponsors Katie Rood
MJ Zara Associate sponsor Jess King
Dave Lamb sponsors Zoe Ness.
CHARITY COLLECTION
Today we’re collecting children’s Christmas gifts #LewesFoodBanks, and in particular the Fitzjohn’s Food Bank based at Christ’s Church, Lewes.
We’re requesting that people bring small gifts wrapped and tagged with a suitable age. Ash Head is coordinating the collection and will take the donated presents to the food bank on Monday.
“Incredibly, we have already received five girls’ bikes, around 200 new children’s books and a lovely collection of puddings and mince pies,” Ash says.
Any excess will be shared equally between the three food banks in Lewes next week.
TEAM MASCOTS
Horsham Sparrows under-9 girls are the proud mascots for today’s match.
Horsham Sparrows Under 9 Girls Team was formed due to a large number of Wildcat training members this season for the first time in the club’s history.
Manager Christopher Bradford (a former goalkeeper of Lewes FC, from youth team to senior level) is keen to promote the same philosophy. Whether we win, lose or draw we play with smiles and a positive attitude.
Horsham Sparrows has been providing youth football since 1967 and is currently Horsham’s only Community Charter Club. Providing football for boys and girls of all ages and abilities, it is also represented at senior level by its women’s team too.
Lewes FC Women’s most successful club captain and current Under 18s manager Kelly Newton once played for the Mighty Sparrows!
HOME FIXTURES
LEAGUE TABLE
SIMON PARKER
Good afternoon and welcome to the Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s FA Women’s Championship match against London Bees. I’d like to welcome Lee Burch, his staff, players and supporters.
It’ll be good to get back on the pitch today after some frustrating postponements. Training has been good but you can’t beat a match day for seeing where you are. We’re expecting a tough contest from today’s visitors who en joyed an excellent result away to London City last weekend.
I’d like to thank the staff and volunteers here at Lewes. This week has been challenging and we appreciate the effort that everyone behind the scenes puts in, day in, day out.
Whoever you’re here to support, get behind them and enjoy the game.
Simon
THE MIGHTY ROOKS
Meet the 2019-20 Lewes FC Women Squad
In the spotlight
ELLIE LEEK
Welcome to Lewes! How are you settling in?
I’m settling in really well. I knew a handful of the girls before coming here and they truly are a great bunch of girls. Everyone at the club has been amazing and I feel really lucky to be a part of Lewes.
What’s your early feeling for the club and this group of players?
I believe this squad can do some big things in the second half of the season. They’ve played some big clubs and competed. They’ve outplayed the majority of their opponents, it’s just applying that finishing touch that they do everyday in training.
There’s a few Welsh players at the club. I’m guessing you know or have played with one or two?
Well myself, Rhian and Sammy are actually all from the same area in Wales. Me and Rhian are the same age and have been best friends since the age of about 12. All three of us played at Mardy Tigers and then went to Bristol together. I also played in France with Rhian last year.
In a single sentence or phrase, describe yourself as a footballer.
I like to be on ball and have the composure to pick out good passes in the final third and create goal scoring opportunities.
Which footballers, or sports stars, male or female, inspire you?
Dame Kelly Holmes
What attributes do you admire most in them?
Her resilience and mindset
Away from football, what do you like to do to relax?
Spend time with friends and family. I love dogs so will help dog-sit (if anyone needs a dog sitter please be in touch) whenever I can and I also enjoy cooking.
Sticky toffee pudding, ice cream or cheese board?
Cheese board (France was great for this last year 😍)
PAULA HOWELLS
Paula, who has represented England at Under 23 level, talks about her long way back from serious injury.
NOTES FROM THE BIG CHAIR
Lewes FC Chairman Stuart Fuller
Lewes Chairman Stuart Fuller @theballisround
Good afternoon and welcome back to the Dripping Pan for our first game of the New Year. In fact due to the weather, which I will come onto later, this is our first competitive game for over a month. And what a month it has been! Firstly, welcome to the fans, players, management and officials from London Bees – we hope you enjoy our off the field hospitality and wish you a safe journey home.
I should start with a comment on the events from the past week. I am sure many fans would have been shocked to read of the departure of Fran and his subsequent appointment as Head Coach at Celtic Women FC. I read one newspaper article suggesting that everything happened in just a few hours – that certainly wasn’t the case and if the journalists in question would have reached out to the club we could have given them a more truthful version. Fran confirmed with the club that he had spoken to Celtic prior to the game last weekend. We discussed the situation as a board and decided Fran could speak to Celtic.
As a result of those discussions he decided to take the role and the players and the rest of the management team were told on Monday. Fran then travelled to Glasgow on Tuesday and Celtic announced the news at 8pm. In the meantime we spoke with Simon and his team and asked him to step up as interim manager, which he was pleased to do.
It’s a similar situation to what we have dealt with this season on the Men’s side and there’s certainly a benefit to everyone in continuity. Simon has our full support and I am sure you’ll all get behind him.
Of course we are sad to see Fran leave. Personally, I identified him as a stand out coach in 2018 and spent hours with him discussing a strategy for the Women’s side of the club. There’s few more passionate people in the game I’ve met. He was also a big fan of the Men’s team and often came to games, standing on the terraces with our fans having a beer. He will be sorely missed and we all wish him every success in his new role north of the border.
Talking of the north, last Saturday we travelled to Lancashire to take on Blackburn Rovers. The squad stayed overnight to prepare but the effects of Storm Brendan put pay to any football. The postponement leaves us out of pocket as we still have to incur the costs of travel and accommodation and will do so again when we play in the re-arranged game. It’s massively frustrating for everyone involved and should be something the FA looks at – having back up venues (such as Lancing) with 3G pitches for instance as part of the requirements for WSL and the Championship.
This week we held our first board meeting of the New Year and formally welcomed Claire Rafferty onto the board. Claire has huge experience both as a player (Chelsea, West Ham and England) as well as in the “business” of football. She currently works with Chelsea on the commercial side as well as a pundit for various media outlets on the Women’s game. Her experience will be vital to us as we look at our strategy to grow the club on and off the pitch in the coming years.
We’ve got 10 cup finals left this season (as well as our FA Cup campaign starting next week with a home tie against Billericay Town) and every point is vital to us. Your help in providing a great atmosphere especially here at The Pan is vital!
Enjoy the game and Come on you Rooks!
Stuart
WHO ARE YA?
London Bees
Player profile: Bonnie Harwood
Bonnie Horwood is has worked with manager Lee Burch at all three of his clubs over his managerial career. Horwood brings an experienced head to a youthful Bees side and is at the heartbeat of the action in both defence and attack. She scored her first goal for the club in the Conti Cup triumph over rivals London City Lionesses, with a superb free kick.
The Bees number eight is dangerous from free-kicks and has made the most appearances out of anyone in the squad so far this term. Her experience is instrumental to the Bees and she will certainly be one to watch this afternoon.
LONDON BEES SQUAD
- Sarah Quantrill (GK)
- Ellie Wilson
- Megan Alexander
- Hayley West
- Georgia Roberts
- Billie Brooks
- Lauren Pickett
- Bonnie Horwood
- Brooke Nunn
- Rosie Kmita
- Courtnay Ward Chambers
- Taylor O’Leary
- Georgie Giddings
- Megan Lynch (GK)
- Nicola Gibson
- Nikita Whinnett
- Mathilda Finburgh
- Molly Dench
- Connie Forman
- Flo Gamby
- Amelia Hazard
- Merrick Will
- Faye Hazelton (GK)
MATCHDAY POSTER
Each of our 2019/20 season home match posters will feature an Inspirational Women. Our latest is Simone de Beauvoir.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) was a French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist and social theorist.
De Beauvoir wrote novels, essays, biographies, autobiography and monographs on philosophy, politics, and social issues. She was known for her 1949 treatise The Second Sex, a detailed analysis of women’s oppression; and for her novels, including She Came to Stay and The Mandarins.
She wrote popular travel diaries about time spent in the United States and China and published essays and fiction rigorously, especially throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
De Beauvoir was also known for her open, lifelong relationship with French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.
(Information sourced from Wikipedia.com)
WOMEN’S WALKING FOOTBALL
Sign up to Women’s Walking Football, which takes place every Tuesday. Contact info@lewesfc.com for more details.
EARTHQUAKE DRUMMERS
We are delighted to welcome EarthQuake Drummers to the Dripping Pan today.
This skilful band of ne’er-do-wells can be seen across the county and the country, performing at festivals and events, not least tassels-deep in the Lewes Bonfire celebrations.
LEWES, GLYNDE & BEDDINGHAM BRASS BRAND
We welcome LGB Brass to the Dripping Pan
LGB Brass is an active and popular band based in Lewes, the county town of East Sussex.
They have around 50 members from across East and West Sussex, attracted by the band’s friendly atmosphere and high standard of music. As well as the main band, there is a training band of young learners who are preparing to move into the main band.
Repertoire and booking
LGB Brass have a large and varied repertoire. You will hear traditional marches, music from film and stage, virtuoso solo items and the best from the modern brass repertoire.
FILMING AT MATCHES
Today there may be film crews in the ground, filming on behalf of Lewes Football Club and other media organisations. The filming is usually for Lewes FC marketing purposes, to show what a matchday looks/sounds like and to generally promote what we do. There may also be film crews from media organisations who will use their footage in news reports, and crews for a documentary about Lewes FC Women, Reds. Lewes Football Club respectfully asks for your permission to be filmed. If you do not want to be filmed, please let the crew know directly and they will oblige. Thanks for your cooperation in helping to build a successful club.
CREDITS AND LEGAL INFO
The FA Women’s Championship strongly supports 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 President Terry Parris
Chairman Stuart Fuller
Directors Ed Briggs, Barry Collins, Charlie Dobres, Stuart Fuller, John Peel, Eddie Ramsden, Jon Ruben, Galia Orme, Roger Warner
Steve Keegan, Karen Dobres, Claire Rafferty, Michelle Bowie*
* Directors seconded onto the board
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.
General Manager Maggie Murphy
Assistant GM Lynne Burrell
Marketing Officer Maggie Murphy
Head Coach Simon Parker
Assistant Coach Jesus Cordon
Goalkeeping Coach Lee Callender
S&C Coach Andrea Gillardoni
Team Psychologist Chelsea Orme
Data Analyst Adam Chilcott
Kit Wrangler Joe Gander
DS Coach Lewis Singleton
U18s Manager Kelly Newton
U18s Coaches Charlie Carter, Greg Cross
Web Editor Stuart Fuller
Progcast Editor Robin Mannering
Additional content Ash Head
Progcast designer Barry Collins
Club Photographer James Boyes