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

In today’s issue:

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:

IN MEMORY OF JOE ARNOLD

At today’s game we will be holding a one-minute silence in memory of Joseph Robert Arnold who passed away aged 29 in tragic circumstances less than two weeks ago. Joe was the youngest son of David and Barbara Arnold, who are Life Members of Lewes FC in recognition of their long-time invaluable voluntary service to the Club.

Barbara is best-known as our lady of the raffle. For this match she has suspended the raffle and asks instead that everyone donates generously to today’s collection on behalf of the mental illness charity, MIND.

 Joe Arnold was a frequent spectator at Lewes FC games and as a nipper used to roll down the Dripping Pan banks. He was also a keen footballer and played for Bridge View, Peacehaven, Plumpton and Ringmer before becoming a Sussex Sunday League player with the Tally Ho team.

Tomorrow all Sussex Sunday League games will remember Joe with a one- minute silence before kick-off. 

TODAY’S CHARITY PARTNER

In the ground today you will see collections taking place for the mental health charity, MIND.

Every year, one in four of us will suffer from a mental health problem. MIND is there to listen, give support and advice, and fight your corner, but the charity relies on donations to keep doing its great work, so please give generously. Click here to find out how MIND can help if you or a friend or family member are suffering from poor mental health.

You’ll also see the players taking the field with their shirts worn back-to-front this afternoon. This is in support of Mind’s ‘Have Your Mate’s Back’ campaign, which encourages people to spot if friends are acting differently, and to give them a call or drop them a text to check if they are OK. Small acts of caring can make a massive difference.

TOMORROW AT THE PAN

We will be laying on a variety of different attractions in support of the FA’s brilliant #HeadsUp campaign at tomorrow’s game, when Lewes women take on the Millwall Lionessses. The campaign is dedicated to helping people experiencing troubles with mental wellbeing, via the power of the beautiful game.

We’ve partnered with local fitness studio SoulFit to offer head, neck and shoulder massages in one of our beach huts – perfect for a half time de-stress. Soulfit will also be limbering the crowd up with a series of stretch and unity routines.

Author and journalist John-Paul Flintoff will be doing a talk in the Rook Inn before the game at 1.15pm about dealing with a breakdown, and all the good and bad that he’s experienced. Stay tuned also to our social medias, where our players and back-office team will be sharing some of their best stories about football and its positive effects on the mind.

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good afternoon and welcome to the Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s Isthmian Premier League game against Cheshunt. I’d like to welcome the fans, players, management and officials of our visitors from Hertfordshire on what I believe is their first ever visit to us. We hope that you enjoy our off the field hospitality and a safe journey home.

Last Saturday’s defeat at Corinthian-Casuals was a hard one to take. We had so many chances to score but continued our poor run of form in front of goal, missing some golden chances. I think the 40 or so Rooks fans who made the journey could see the script playing out in the second half, and sure enough Casuals scored to take all three points despite us having another hatful of chances in the final ten minutes.

Scoring goals has been a big problem for us this season and as we enter the final third of the campaign we need to start finding the net. We have only had nine different goal-scorers this season in all competitions which simply isn’t good enough. Ross and Tony have brought in Tony Mendy and Tony Halsey in the last couple of weeks to try to give us more threat up front but we also need the rest of the team to be weighing in with their fair share too. Only Leon, from our current defenders, has scored this season and that was back in November against today’s opponents.

Goals win games – it is as simple as that, and our aim is still to finish as high up the table as we can. We can already see the table splitting into different sections. At the top it seems it is a three-way battle between Worthing, Folkestone and Hornchurch. Ross and I went to watch the Urchins play Cheshunt on Wednesday night, and of course we welcome them here next Wednesday and they are a very strong attacking team, now bolstered by the signing of Jamie Cureton!

Then we have the play-off hopefuls from Cray Wanderers in 3rd down to 10th place Leatherhead. A small group of four sit squarely in mid-table and then there is the bottom eight, which includes ourselves and Cheshunt, separated by 12 points. We have to play six of the eight starting today, and our aim is to take points from each of those games. We’ve lost seven league games by a single goal this season – the difference a goal-scorer in those games would have made!

We will continue to assess players who can add strength to the squad and ensure that the final few weeks of the season aren’t spent looking at other club’s results and not just our own. Whilst I can understand the frustration from some fans who want to see us playing better, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the club is in the best possible position and playing within budget.

Last week we heard the tragic news that David and Barbara Arnold’s son Joe had died in a house fire. As a club we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Arnolds. In honour of Joe’s memory we will be collecting on behalf of MIND today so, please if you can spare any change put it in the collection buckets around the ground. Our thoughts are with the whole family at this difficult time.

Enjoy the game and Come On You Rooks!

Stuart

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TWO YOUNG ROOKS ANSWER ENGLAND’S CALL

The Lewes Under-18s are having another great season, resulting in international recognition for two of our young stars

Max Blencowe (left) and Brad Santos with their England shirts

On Saturday 25th January the English Schools FA hosted Australia Schools in a warm up fixture as preparation for the Centenary Shield, hosted in Northern Ireland later this season.

Part of the England squad are two of our very own youth team, Brad Santos and Max Blencowe. The duo, who are part of Dale Hurley’s Under-18s squad, went through a series of regional trials before playing in a North v South fixture to decide the final squad that will represent England when they face Scotland, Wales and hosts Northern Ireland.

During the trial process another young Rook, full-back Shane Harper, was also part of the concluding North v South trial fixture before the final squad was announced.

The fixture vs Australia ended in a 1-1 draw and was closely contested. Blencowe started at full-back and Santos on the wing.

Furthermore, no fewer than ten of our youth team will be playing away to Devon this Sunday as the Sussex Representative Under-18 squad play in the National Counties Cup semi-final, kick off at 2pm.

Taylor Seymour, James Beresford, Ben Whitmore, Max Blencowe, Nic D’arienzo, Shane Harper, Dan Ferreira, Tegan Freeman, Conrad Honore, Brad Santos, Mitch Hewens, Jay Popham and Louis Veneti have all represented Sussex Under-18s this season.

A busy schedule awaits the Lewes Under-18’s in the second part of the season as they are currently second in the league with two games in hand and have 11 still to play. The young Rooks are also in the County Cup semi-final where they will face Montpellier Villa at home and have an League Cup quarter-final vs Bracknell Town away.

TODAY’S OPPONENTS: CHESHUNT

The original Cheshunt Football Club was formed around 1880, being founder members of the Southern Amateur League in 1907, and joining the Athenian League in 1919. They disbanded in 1931.

The modern club was established in July 1946, joining the London League and winning Division One two years running in 1948 and 1949, and stepping up to the Premier Division which they won at the first attempt in 1950. The club joined the Delphian League in 1951, returned to the London League in 1955, were founder members of the Aetolian League in 1959, switched to the Spartan League in 1962 which they won at the first attempt, and joined the Athenian League in 1964.

They finished runners-up in their second season in the Athenian League Division Two, winning promotion to Division One which they won in 1968 to step up to the Premier Division. They won the Mithras Cup in 1970, the London Charity Cup in 1974, the East Anglian Cup in 1975 and the Athenian League Cup in both 1975 and 1976.

Cheshunt joined Division Two of the Isthmian League in 1977, winning promotion to Division One in 1982, but suffered relegation in 1984. They dropped back to the Spartan League in 1987, regained promotion to Division Three of the Isthmian League in 1993 (alongside winning the Spartan League Cup).

They finished second in their first season and were promoted to Division Two; were relegated in 1998, and made an immediate return to Division Two after finishing third in 1999. In 2003 they won Division Two and were promoted to Division One. A third-place finish the following year saw them promoted to the Premier Division. They were reprieved from relegation the following season when Hornchurch folded, and were transferred to the Southern League Premier Division. Relegation in 2008 saw them placed in Division One North of the Isthmian League.

League reorganisation saw Cheshunt placed in the South Central Division last season. Finishing third, they defeated Marlow 2-1 and Bracknell Town 3-0 in the play-offs to win promotion back to the Premier Division. They are currently 20th in the table.

MEET THE SQUAD

Craig Edwards – Manager

A former professional boxer, Craig was appointed Cheshunt manager in January 2018 in time to steer them clear of trouble, and set promotion as his target for the following term. They met it in a play-off final win. Craig was inducted into the Isthmian League Radio Show Hall of Fame in 2017.

Harry Girling – Goalkeeper

21 year ool Harry signed from Millwall FC and has been with the club for three seasons. Harry is valued for his shot-stopping, his distribution setting the Ambers onto the front foot, and his ability to launch a dead ball kick into the final third.

Ibrahim Diallo –  Defender 

Ibs joined the Ambers at the start of this season having previously played at Burgess Hill, Billericay, & Wealdstone. Learned his football in Paris, he plays a wing-back role venturing forward, and has contributed important goals drifting into the box.

Tanasheh Abrahams – Defender

Tan is a left sided player with plenty of Isthmian Premier experience with Dulwich Hamlet, Staines, Wingate Finchley, and has also played abroad with Ferroviarro and Mamelodi Sundowns on loan from Barnet.

Taylor McKenzie – Defender

Taylor played professionally for Notts County after a youth career with Spurs , Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday. He signed for the Ambers from Enfield Town.

Sean Cronin – Defender

Welsh-born Sean started out at Cardiff City and has also played in the Welsh Premier league for Neath FC. He is a lifelong Swansea City fan, and has also played at Grays Athletic, Wealdstone, and signed from Wingate & Finchley. Sean also has international credentials having played for Wales at U18, 19 and 23 level. 

Jamie Reynolds – Defender

Jamie is a product of theTottenham Hotspur Academy, a left wing-back. He is valued by Cheshunt as a player who rarely wastes a pass.

Ola Williams – Defender

Ola was signed at the beginning of this season from rivals Wingate & Finchley, a versatile player who can play on both sides of the pitch and at full back or further forward as a wide midfielder.

Mo Camara – Defender/Midfielder

Mo is equally at home at centre-half or centre-midfield, and has contributed goals through winning headers with late runs. Like his mate Ibs, Mo is another Parisian.

Joe Re – Midfielder

Joe is a Hertfordshire player who made it through the youth set-ups locally to secure a place in the Nottingham Forest Academy.  He joined Cheshunt in 2018 and was a regular starter in the promotion winning team last season.

Amadou Kassarate  – Midfielder

A Senegal U20 International, Amadou has played professional football in Scotland  (Dumbarton & Stanraer) and in Greece, and has a wealth of experience. This is his second spell at Cheshunt, having made appearances at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Ethan Nelson Roberts – Midfielder

A former AFC Wimbledon Youth player, captain of the academy, Ethan is energetic and combative in midfield. He made one appearance for Wimbledon in the EFL trophy before seeking first team football elsewhere. He  joined  Cheshunt this season.

Tommie Hession Harris – Midfielder

Signed from Tonbridge Angels this season, Tommie has added an extra level of energy to central midfield and is their chief spoiler breaking up opposition attacks.  Tommie learnt his trade via the Spurs and Southend academies, before travelling to California to study and play on the US West Coast.

Taylor Miles – Midfielder

Cheshunt re-signed Taylor the other day on a month`s loan from Vanarama National League South side St Albans City. Taylor has played for a number of teams at a higher level: Chelmsford City, Concord Rangers, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans City, Braintree Town and Lincoln City.

Khalifa Jabbie – Midfielder

Khalifa made his full international debut for Sierra Leone in March 2011 against Niger in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match. He has played at pro level in Sweden, Turkey and Sierra Leone, and joined Cheshunt last November.

Ryan Moss – Forward

Ryan is an experienced striker starting to find the net regularly as he settles into the side, having joined the club in November last year.  Ryan has a wealth of experience having kissed the badge at Dorchester, Bashley, AFC Totton, Havant & Waterlooville, Kingstonian, Margate, Dulwich Hamlet, Hampton & Richmond, and Harrow Borough.

Zack Newton – Forward

Zack signed for Cheshunt from Horsham this season, and has also played for Welling, and Worthing. He is said to be prepared to shoot on sight, with 2 goals in 14 outings this season.

Reece Beckles-Richards – Forward

Reece is an international, having represented Antigua & Barbuda , and is on loan from Wealdstone FC until February, so he may have disappeared by now.

Norman Wabo – Forward

Cheshunt have borrowed Norman from Dartford for a month. The 19 year-old who started his career at Southend United, joined the Darts from the Shrimpers in the summer.

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 – £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!

NATHAN STROOMBERG-CLARKE

HOME: THE SOUL STEPPERS

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

STODGEBUSTERS: A DOUBLE SERVING

We catch up with our intrepid diet dodgers as they make trips to Haringey Borough and Peacehaven & Telscombe

HARINGEY

Sometimes our journeys around the country supporting the Rooks can be full of highs and equally they can be full of lows. Very rarely can this happen on the same day, but Haringey Borough on January 4th 2020 was one such day.

It all started well enough with the Stodgebusters (minus Malcolm who cried off the day before) meeting up at Lewes for the 10-45 train to Victoria. We got as far as Wivelsfield when it was announced that there was a trespasser on the line. The power was turned off and we sat at Wivelsfield for what seemed to be forever. The train we were on was only going to Gatwick we were told. As we limped into Haywards Heath we changed to an adjacent platform for a Victoria service. This train was rather busy and we found ourselves sitting in first class with some of the Ladies team who were on a beano to London. Apparently they were all being entertained by a mystery benefactor to a three course meal which sounded right up the Stodgebusters street. Maybe we should tag on alongside them? But no, we would stick with the original plan.

After exchanging pleasantries with them an announcement came through that our train would terminate at East Croydon. After catching our third train of the morning we arrived at Victoria 45 minutes late. It was also announced that passengers would be able to claim a FULL refund on their fare. After putting in our claim we have been awarded £4-40 each. Thanks Southern!

Ignoring our bursting bladders we set off hot foot to the Tube for the next stage of our journey. The Victoria line to Finsbury Park was followed by a swift change and we were soon at Wood Green ready for lunch.

The Kantin Kitchen was our cafe of choice last season and it didn’t let us down. Once again the food was excellent and in spite of Southern doing their best to ruin our day we still had time for another round of hot drinks. 

The final stage of the journey involved catching a W3 bus to the ground and one had just pulled up as we crossed the road. Happy days!

We arrived at the ground in plenty of time for our usual chinwag with the other travelling Rooks and then it was down to business. This would be a tough game although the home team were hovering around mid table unable to replicate their highs of last season. We all agreed a draw would be very acceptable particularly after our disappointing loss at Horsham three days earlier. The first half saw few chances at either end and we were happy enough to get to half time goalless. 

As the second half got under way the temperature behind the goal started to plummet but the action on the pitch was hotting up. The home number 7 got himself sent off after getting a bit over excited when he thought his team should have had a penalty and told the referee what he thought about him. You can see on the highlights he kicked open a gate as he stormed off the pitch. The Haringey keeper seemed a decent bloke who didn’t mind a bit of banter with the fans behind the goal. He remarked that the manager would not be happy! In truth another Haringey player could also have been sent off for sarcastically applauding another decision by the poor old referee.

In the middle of all this lack of discipline Charlie lashed in a decent strike which beat the keeper all ends up. Some reports stated that it was Dayshonne that had scored and it was even confirmed in Sunday’s Non League Paper.

Haringey huffed and puffed trying to get back into the game but the Rooks would not be breached with the returning Stacey Freeman outstanding. 

At the final whistle the officials were given a chorus of jeers and boos by the locals while the Lewes fans celebrated behind the goal. Don’t you just love 1-0 away wins?

As we trooped out of the ground a W3 bus had just pulled up to take us back to Wood Green and we were back at Victoria in plenty of time to catch the 18-16 train back to Lewes. Southern had done their best to ruin our day earlier but we had a brilliant result to cheer us up. Southern redeemed themselves slightly by getting us back to Lewes on time.

PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE

So after all the trauma in the league we had a chance to forget about that for an evening and get into the semi finals of the Sussex Senior Cup and a tie against Eastbourne Borough. Despite the recent poor form and lack of goals Peacehaven, being two leagues below Lewes, certainly made us the warm favourites to progress. Surely we could score against them?

This game had been postponed a fortnight earlier but the Stodgebusters plan remained the same. Gary, Roly and Steve all met up at PJ’s place at 5.30. Malcolm had cried off sick again with Coronavirus or something and Turnstile Alan couldn’t do the agreed time to eat beforehand but would meet us at the ground. After a bit of Car Tetris on PJ’s driveway we piled into his trusty old Galaxy and it spluttered into life.

5.30 is not a good time to travel. We had a choice of three routes. Through the town and through the tunnel? No thanks. That’s always backed up. Brighton Road to Ashcombe and along the bypass perhaps? That’s not great either when you get to Southerham where three lanes go into one. We plumped for the old C7 to Newhaven. The scenic route. Well, it would have been scenic if it weren’t dark. What a good choice we made. Apart from the inevitable delay getting around the Newhaven one way system it was quite painless and we pulled into the restaurant car park before 6pm.

We had chosen the Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery in Peacehaven for our pre-match nourishment, a place much visited by Gary the Badge. PJ is also an occasional customer there but prefers the Saltdean branch of the same restaurant a couple of miles up the road.

To be honest, the quality of the food at these places is generally good but has been known to be a bit variable. The whole carvery layout looked very nice. Everything looked nice and fresh. PJ went for the turkey while the others selected beef. Then it was the game of getting back to the table without losing a roast potato en-route. Oh dear… the beef was as tough as old boots and hard to cut without a chainsaw. PJ meanwhile was totally happy with his perfectly cooked turkey and let the others know it, while also helpfully suggesting that maybe we should have gone to Saltdean. Roly complained and was supplied with a replacement portion of turkey but Gary and Steve heroically soldiered on with the beef to the bitter end.  

A short drive back along the coast road and we got the last space in the club car park. We popped into the bar for a while to bandy some words with all the usual suspects who follow the Rooks on their travels. Golden Goal Ethel had shown up too, complete with three minders making sure she didn’t start any trouble.

Now this was a surprise. Lewes had put out a full strength team. We were reasonably confident of getting a result despite the recent scoring woes.

Lewes started brightly but Peacehaven gradually grew into the game as the half progressed. They should have taken the lead after Nathan had parried a shot but the follow up was headed against the post with the goal gaping.

The game turned just before half time when Lewis Taylor was shown a straight red card for allegedly stamping on a home team player. It was all too far away for us to see what happened. It was likewise for the Peacehaven keeper but it didn’t stop him running the full length of the pitch to stick his oar in. We let him know what we thought of his actions.

Down to ten men it dawned on us that it might not be our night when Leon was tripped in the box and what looked a clear penalty was simply waved away.

Into the second half and within minutes a good Peacehaven move ended up being crashed into the Lewes net. We feared the worst now.

Lewes didn’t give up though. They kept battling and made several chances which went very close. Peacehaven were being pushed back and only getting the occasional counter attack. Another good shout for a penalty was ignored when Billy was bundled over in the six yard area when challenging for a loose ball.

It was all Lewes but all rather desperate. Near the end we thought we had equalised as a Leon Redwood cross was bundled in by someone in a crowded area. But no. The linesman had seen an offside infringement somewhere. It really wasn’t our night.

A final effort from Leon was well saved and from the resulting corner Frankie could only put the ball over.

We trudged dejectedly towards the exit as the final whistle blew and the Peacehaven players celebrated like they had won the World Cup, the Champions League and the Grand National all at once.

Yet another huge disappointment in what is becoming a hugely disappointing season. But we hadn’t played well. Too many loose passes. Too many wrong decisions. More worryingly perhaps was the fact that, yet again, we hadn’t scored. The phrase Lewes Nil is getting used far too often for our liking.

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