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

In today’s issue:

• Live Match Updates
• Boss Talk
• Chairman’s Notes
• Recent Match Review
• Rooks Invade Fort William
• Today’s Opponents: Haringey Borough
• 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.

BOSS TALK

Hugo Langton gives Barry Collins his thoughts ahead of today’s game. Click the play button below to hear the interview:

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good evening and welcome to the Dripping Pan for this evening’s game against Haringey Borough. I’d like to welcome our visitors from North London and hope their journey home is problem free.

I don’t know where to start in trying to explain our home form. Once again on Saturday on the final whistle I felt frustrated that our performance had warranted at least a point, if not all three. We showed a really fighting spirit in the second half but thanks to some good goalkeeping, desperate defending and some controversial decisions, we ended up without any reward.

It’s all very good playing well but at this stage of the season it’s all about the points. Whilst our current form is poor, the teams around us aren’t picking up points either so we know that 10 points would be enough to secure Premier League football next season. One issue is our lack of goals, especially here at the Pan where we last scored more than one goal in a league game back in October in the 3-2 defeat to Cray Wanderers. If our away form was the same as our home form we’d now be in 12th place and safe for another season.

Survival is still in our hands. We have four winnable home games left that would give us 40pts and safety but that needs to start tonight.

The good news is that Gary Noel, Alex Malins and Billy Medlock are all closer to being involved after injury. Charlie Coppola is hoping to return for the final two weeks of the season which would be a great boost for us, but hopefully we will have done the hard work before he returns in April.

Your support on Saturday was fantastic – let’s keep it going tonight.

Come on you Rooks!

Stuart

RECENT MATCH REVIEW

Lewes 1 vs Kingstonian 2, BetVictor Isthmian Premier League, 7th March 2020

Hugo Langton’s side created plenty of chances, but couldn’t turn them into three points against a classy Kingstonian. See the match highlights here:

And here are Hugo’s thoughts on the game:

ROOKS INVADE FORT WILLIAM

Barry Collins on a trip north of the border with a cadre of Rooks fans

If you think we’re having it tough this season, spare a thought for Fort William. Cruelly dubbed Britain’s Worst Football Team by an otherwise brilliant BBC documentary on the club made last season, things haven’t got an awful lot better this year.

That table hasn’t been cropped. Fort William are rock bottom, having secured only 10 points from their 19 games so far in the Scottish Highland League.

There is hope, though. They’re only three points adrift and have nine games in hand on the team above. That’s because the Fort have barely played a home game in the past three months. Sat in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the Fort William pitch is arguably the most picturesque in Britain – but probably also the wettest. The club has got under-soil drainage, but the previous ownership failed to connect it properly, making it about as much use as a bottle of Factor 40 in the dreich (Norm Duncan’s word) winter months.

Still, we’re not idiots. We’d seen the long-range weather patterns and Fort William’s faltering fixture list, which is why we decided to book our trip to the Highlands near the end of the season. Surely matches won’t still be rained off in March?

OK, we’re bloody idiots.

We turned up at the ground at 9:30am, sodden to the skin, more in hope than expectation. We got there just in time for the league to call it off. They hadn’t even bothered sending a referee – the forecast was so awful, it wasn’t worth getting the whistleblower out of bed for.

We were ushered inside the club house and offered hot coffee and sympathy. Board members John Trew and Colin Wood could not have been nicer. We’d booked match hospitality – a three-course meal, all drinks included – and they weren’t about to shove us back out in the rain with our money back in our pockets. “Come back at half two, lads, and have your dinner – we’ll put the rugby on the television for you.” Deal.

These guys know how to do hopsitality – even though it was their first bash! The food was copious, the local ales kept flowing and we couldn’t have been made more welcome.

It wasn’t only the board members who kept us company, either, but the manager and players. And there was a Lewes link there, too. Gaffer Calum MacLean, who’d been talked out of retirement for a third stint as manager, is the cousin of our women’s General Manager, Maggie Murphy. We suspect he’d even borrowed some of her Kappa gear…

After the rugby had finished and a quick tour of the dressing rooms, we were driven back to town by Scott Hunter, part-time striker, part-time web entrepreneur, part-time taxi driver.

Scott had sat with us through dinner, putting up with our inane questions and wincing occasionally as he appeared on the television documentary that was playing in the corner. He didn’t like the fact that the TV cameras had turned Fort William into a “laughing stock”, nor that morning’s national news headlines about the club banning its pack of young, misbehaving “ultras” unless they came with their mum or dad.

Scott was proud to play for his local club, wanted it to be known for something other than losing every game and juvenile delinquents.

Scott – let me tell you this. You’ve every right to be proud of that club, because it’s got heart and good people running it. The results will come and we’ll come back, too. Although we’ll probably do so in August. Just to be on the safe side.

Many thanks to those who held the fort so we could go to Fort William, not least Chairman Stu who gave up his place on the trip to be at the Pan, Dave Evans who stepped into the Secretary’s shoes, Mai in hospitality and Sharon and Jon in the club shop.

TODAY’S OPPONENTS: HARINGEY BOROUGH

It was not until 1970 that a team competed under the name of Haringey Borough when Wood Green Town who had played at Coles Park since 1930 changed their name. A merger with Edmonton FC in 1973 resulted in a brief change of name to Edmonton & Haringey FC until 1976 when the present name was re-adopted.

After the merger with Edmonton the club took Edmonton’s place in the Athenian League, joining Division Two North of the Isthmian League when the latter was disbanded in 1984, and switching to the Spartan League in 1988. Haringey Borough claimed their first trophy in winning the London Senior Cup in 1991.

Briefly renamed Tufnell Park in 1995, the club reverted to the name of Haringey Borough the following year. In 1997 they joined the newly merged Spartan South Midlands League. Relegated in 2007 to Division One, they finished runners-up the following season to bounce straight back to the Premier Division. In 2012 Haringey Borough finished fifth and won the league’s Challenge Trophy.

In 2013 the club were transferred to the Essex Senior League which they won in 2015 to earn promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League. They finished fifth in 2017 but were beaten in the play-offs, going one better the following year, finishing fourth and more importantly beating Heybridge Swifts and Canvey Island to secure promotion to the Premier Division and achieve step 3 status for the first time.

Last season they finished third, going out to Tonbridge Angels in the play-offs. Equally impressive was their first appearance in the First Round of the FA Cup, when they went down 0-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon in front of a record crowd of 2,710.

They currently lie 15th in the table.

MEET THE SQUAD

Tom Loizou – Manager

Tom’s football background is unique. His career began in Cyprus, where he started as a goalkeeper, and later played in midfield, winning practically every club honour going in the KOPA league. His management career started in England in 1993 where he was eventually promoted for a stint as caretaker manager at Leyton Orient. He went on to manage in Japan as well as back in Cyprus, before periods at Cheshunt, and Enfield Town. Tom landed at Haringey Borough FC in 2009 where legend has it he basically runs the club from top to bottom.

Valery Pajetat – Goalkeeper

As last year’s televised FA Cup tie proved, Valery is a very good goalkeeper. To quote his Manager: “I think he is the best goalkeeper in our league, the one above and the one above that.” He signed in the 2017 close season and has won several monthly “Golden Gloves” awards.

Jonathan Miles – Goalkeeper 

Signed on New Years Eve Jonathan was most recently with Ramsgate and his previous clubs include  Ebbsfleet United and Margate after leaving Tottenham Hotspur U18s.

Salvin Kisitu – Defender

Salvin was with Swindon Town and Wrexham as a youngster and most recently with Hythe Town. He is considered as a strong attacking full back. 

Claudio Vilcu – Defender

Claudio signed recently as an experienced central defender who numbers Dinamo Bucharest, Enfield Town, Wealdstone, Kingstonian, Cambridge City, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Wingate & Finchley and FC Romania among his previous clubs. Is he finished yet?

Konstantinos Alexandrou – Defender

Kon is seen by his club as a cultured, cool, ball playing centre-half.  He signed from Cyprus in the summer, looking to make his way in English football as a strong and powerful tackler.

Stelios Dimetriou – Defender

A former Macclesfield Town, St. Mirren and Ross County professional, considered a strong versatile defender and natural leader.

Rakim Richards – Defender/Midfielder

Rakim can play right-back, or at the heart of the defence, or as defensive midfielder. A versatile player for them  since 2010 and most usually to be found in a defensive role.

Scott Durojaiye – Midfielder

Scott rejoined Haringey having moved to Woking towards the end of 2018/19. He has played in Scotland for Falkirk and several other National league sides.

Olumide Oluwatimilehin – Midfielder

Remember Olu? He signed for ‘Boro recently after release by Wingate & Finchley;  previously played for us and Three Bridges.

Roman Michael-Persil – Midfielder

Their first signing of 2020 from Potters Bar Town, a winger who has been with several Isthmian clubs after moving on from Tottenham Hotspur U21s.

Georgios Aresti – Midfielder

Cypriot-born 24 year-old Giorgos has previously played for AEK Athens, Glyfada FC, Enosis Neon Paralimni, Ayia Napa FC, and  Doxa Katokopias. He joined Boro from  Ethnikos last July and is a former U21 international.

Anthos Solomou  – Midfielder

A  former Greek Cypriot international who played in the Champions League for Apoel Nicosia in 2011/12. Anthos is considered a versatile all rounder playing on the right.

Jorge Djassi-Sambu – Midfielder

Jorge is a free-scoring midfielder you’ll remember coming on as a sub against AFC Wimbledon on telly last year donning his trademark dark glasses. Ask him after today’s game. A midfield powerhouse now in 6th season with ‘Boro.

Romoluwa Akinola – Midfielder

Described as two-footed with energy to burn who glides around the pitch with a silky smooth touch! Rom was released by QPR in summer of 2018 and had a season in Swedish football before returning to join ‘Boro in the summer.

Michael Ademiluyi – Midfielder/Forward

Michael was the outstanding offensive player for ‘Boro in last year’s televised narrow Cup defeat to Wimbledon. A flying winger signed from Thamesmead Town in the 2017 close season, long term injury limited last season’s appearances.

Anthony McDonald – Forward

Anthony is in his 8th season with Haringey who regard him as an excellent finisher, and is a first team regular although appearances have been interrupted by injuries.

Daniel Akindayini – Forward

Daniel is a much travelled striker signed from Cheshunt in mid-December who opened his account   with a fine strike at Enfield on Boxing Day.

Chidubem Onokwai – Forward

A strong, powerful, quick centre-forward, previously with last season’s Step 4 Divisional Champions Hayes & Yeading United.

STODGEBUSTERS ON TOUR

Our carbohydrated crew pay visits to Wingate & Finchley and Enfield Town

WINGATE & FINCHLEY

After the recent disastrous run of results a couple of the Stodgebusters made the seismic decision to give personal activities priority over a trip to Summers Lane. Maybe they fancied a day at Dunelm Mill. So it was left to PJ and Turnstile Alan to fly the flag, albeit without a proper Stodgebuster brunch.

Without the possibility of a cheap groupsave ticket PJ reluctantly decided to drive the 88 miles to the ground. At least it was a lovely sunny day for it. (Little did we know what was coming later.)

We thought it might well be called off due to the amount of rain that had fallen, but no news was good news. One immediate problem was that the M23 Northbound was closed all weekend. So we thought we would take the A22 up through East Grinstead. Alan parked up in the large free car park in Uckfield at midday and was soon joined by PJ. Why doesn’t Lewes have a free car park like that? It was at this point that we found out the M25 was shut near the M23 junction due to a tragic accident. So another change of plan meant a drive up through Tunbridge Wells and onto the M25 that way and take the Dartford tunnel route with all its inherent delays. What a palaver. All this and trying to keep an eye on Twitter in case it was called off. Why do we do it? Because we are Rooks fans.

As it happened, the tunnel wasn’t too bad but the last handful of miles to the ground was very slow and in teeming rain and hail. It was 2.25 when PJ finally parked up outside the ground in sunshine again.

The pitch was very wet but in surprisingly good condition as we gave it a sideways glance on the way to the food counter. An excellent tray of freshly cooked chips for PJ, but someone on the W&F catering needs to realise that you shouldn’t leave the condiments out in the rain! Chips without salt is like Morecambe without Wise, and it was a mission impossible trying to get damp salt out of the shaker. PJ gave up, unscrewed the lid and put a few lumps into his hands and crushed it over his chips. He was happy.

We had been disappointed to hear of the departure of Dayshonne the day before. We liked him as he always gave 100%. The fact it was to local rivals Worthing made it worse. But at least it meant Ronnie Conlon made the starting eleven. It wasn’t a great start as one of the new signings, Francis-Adeyinka pulled up with an injury after just four minutes, but he was replaced by Teagan Freeman, a very promising talent.

Then in the seventh minute Ronnie got the ball wide on the left, cut inside and hit a fantastic shot from 25 yards into the top corner of the net. We were right behind it. What a beauty! Dayshonne who? The weather couldn’t make up its mind what it wanted to do. From sunshine it went to very dark clouds, then heavy rain, hail and back to sunshine again, by which time some of the supporters had made a bee line for the stand.

We looked quite comfortable but in the 25th minute a cross to the far post was knocked back into the box and it fell just perfect for a home player to swivel and force home.

The Rooks enjoyed the early possession in the sun at the start of the second half. A Hammo shot hit the hand of a Wingate defender in the area but the referee waved away the appeals. Teagan Freeman was flattened by a nasty challenge that saw the Wingate player receive only a yellow card when red looked more appropriate.

Wingate had their chances though. Nathan made a good save and we think there was one effort cleared off the line. Right at the death a wickedly dipping Hammo free-kick forced the home keeper into making a good save and tipping over.

One all. Not a bad result against a team also struggling near the bottom and signs of improvement all round. We had enjoyed ourselves. At least it was better than a trip to Dunelm Mill.

ENFIELD TOWN

Strictly speaking this would be Stodgebuster on Tour as only PJ answered the roll call for this one. All the others had decided to give Enfield a miss. Gary had decided to watch some insignificant cup match on the telly between Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s reserve teams. Roly works on a Wednesday and needs his beauty sleep so it would be too late getting home for him, whereas PJ is easily beautiful enough already and committed himself to the journey. It’s a rubbish drive on a weekday evening so PJ jumped on the 4.45 Victoria train from Lewes.  

It was a bit of a nuisance having to pay the full whack for a ticket but what the hell? This is Lewes FC. It was a pleasant enough journey to Victoria, albeit being the almost inevitable ten minutes late, followed by a Victoria line tube to Seven Sisters. The tube was, as always, heaving with standing room only. It was probably a perfect environment for this Coronavirus thing that’s kicking about at the moment. Us Lewes folk are a tough breed though and it takes more than a bad dose of flu to stop us. Another change to the Overground at Seven Sisters, and a fifteen minute journey to Enfield Town went seamlessly. PJ still hadn’t seen another Rooks fan so far. This was unusual. We usually bump into a few familiar faces on the way. Was he the only one going?

It’s about a fifteen minute walk to the stadium and one must not miss the alleyway between the houses in Ladysmith Road or it’s a much longer walk.

There were a few familiar faces in the ground but we were down to the serious hardcore supporters. Time to sample the food. PJ plumped for a £3.50 bacon roll. The two rashers of bacon were excellent although the roll they came in felt about three days old so only scored a 6 for quality and 5 for value on the renowned Stodgebuster Scale.

As seems to be the case at the moment we had another couple of new names in the squad. Brandon Diau, on loan from Kidderminster, and Nick Dembele from Cambridge City. Brandon started up front, and to say he is a big lad is a bit of an understatement. He even made Ross Standen look short. We’ve had big men up front before but they have been sadly lacking in the skill department. But Brandon’s first few touches looked very promising. He won everything in the air and held the ball up and laid it off well. Just what we have been missing.

The Enfield defence resorted to fouling him a lot to try and stop him winning the ball. Enfield had started off looking the stronger team but Lewes found their way into the game and on 39 minutes a lovely pass from Ronnie split the defence and put Aaron Cosgrave through on goal. He calmly sidestepped the onrushing keeper and rolled the ball into the unguarded net. Woo Hoo! We held on till half time quite comfortably.

We looked quite comfortable for most of the second half. Enfield were struggling to make any headway. There was an almighty scramble in the Enfield six yard area when it looked like we must score but somehow a combination of the keepers desperate outstretched arm and the crossbar prevented it going two-nil.

The half wore on and still Lewes looked the more likely to score. We were beginning to think we could win this. What an unexpected three points this would be. The turning point was on 70 minutes. Ronnie was subbed and on came the other new signing Nick Dembele. Unfortunately his first contribution was a foul in a dangerous position. Over came the perfectly flighted free kick onto the head of one of the home players who thumped it home under pressure. We could still have won it after this but, to be fair, so could have Enfield.

A point. Probably an unexpected point and a result we would probably have taken before kick off. But we were close to all three…

PJ headed for the station, chatting with an Enfield fan who stated that they should have wrapped the game up in the first 20 minutes (huh????!) but Lewes would survive on that performance.

The journey back to Victoria was very swift. Too swift really as the next Lewes train was nearly an hour away, so it was time for a large hot chocolate, a cheese and onion sandwich and a Crunchie while watching the world go by.

The train got back to Lewes at 1.25am. That’s not everyones cup of tea but not a problem to a hardcore Lewes supporter.

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