Saturday 19th November 2022 3pm – The FA Trophy – The Dripping Pan

Welcome to The Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s FA Trophy Second Round Tie against Bognor Regis Town. Here is your complimentary e-programme.

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NOTES FROM THE CHAIR

Good afternoon and welcome to the Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s FA Trophy match against our old friends from down the A27, Bognor Regis Town. I’d like to welcome the fans, players, management and officials from the Rocks and look forward to a great cup match this afternoon.

I’m really pleased that we can watch a game this afternoon after the week we have had. We had no option but to approach the Sussex FA and ask for the game to be moved. We had ten fit players and no opportunity to use any of our Under18s as they had a game themselves and despite asking the Isthmian League to move that game, we were out of luck. The Sussex FA made the decision to postpone the game and we accepted that. We are still awaiting a final decision on what it will be played.

I’ve never experienced an injury crisis as we have at the moment. Tony goes into far more detail in his notes below but to be clear, we simply can’t just put some of our Under18s into our squad for non-Sussex Senior Cup games. Many of them are registered with other senior clubs so cannot play for our senior side. We have been trying to bring short-term cover in, but we have. a limited budget, despite what many people think, and we will not break that budget number. It is what it is and Tony accepts that and works with what he has. It is very easy to be critical of the club, and trust me I see and hear a lot of criticism from various parties and individuals who amplify the problem as they see but never bring forward any solutions.

At times the club can do no right in certain people’s eyes, whether it be queues at the bar, the way we play, our commitment to competitions, the money we supposedly spend on wages or even the pre-match music. I’d said it before and I will say it again, if any fan as a question, concern or an issue, they can approach me, either here at The Pan, via email, phone or any other method and you will always get a straight and honest answer. I have no issue with opinion – as Tony said in his interview with the Sussex Express this week, we all have them, like “armpits” – but when they are based on “errant” facts then it is tiring to keep trying, and unfortunately often failing, to put them right.

Whilst the game on Tuesday being postponed gave us some respite, we still face three more games in the next 11 days after today. We will not take any of these “easy” and want to win every game. You only have to spend 5 minutes in the company of Tony or Joe to fully understand their winning mentality and playing strategy.

The support we’ve had home and away has been superb so let’s get behind the boys today.

Come on you Rooks

Stuart

TONY’S THOUGHTS

Hi everybody. It has certainly been an interesting few days as I am sure you can imagine. The injury situation was made worse after Saturday’s game against Cray Wanderers. Pritchard came off with a hamstring injury and I don’t think he’ll make the game today, and the same with Rhys Murrell-Williamson, after he came off with a groin problem.

We’ve had Johnville, Deshane, and Marcel all ill, and haven’t trained this week, it’ll be very last minute with them. We’re hopeful on one or two of them being available.

Tom Champion wasn’t well either and thankfully he’s much better now. JT got a bang in the eye in last week’s game, it completely closed up, but he’s looking basically okay now.

Deon has been struggling with a hamstring injury, he’s making good progress but he will be out as well. Ronan Silva is out with an achilles and unfortunately that means the end of his loan spell with us now, we’ve spoke with Crawley and he’s had to go back.

So it’s been so tough, we couldn’t train last week leading up to Cray because we didn’t have enough players, so we gave them some rest. With the Under18s also due to play on Tuesday (and we did ask the league to see if they would move the game) we couldn’t even get eleven players, including Roman, fit for the Worthing game. I’m sure a few people weren’t best pleased with that but it is what it is – the Sussex FA made the call, not us.

We trained on Wednesday but plenty of the squad were missing. We’ve been really busy trying to sign players, speaking to the club trying to get bodies in, we’re really low at the moment so hopefully there will be a couple of new boys in on Saturday.

We’re also hopeful that the boys who haven’t been feeling well are feeling better ahead of tomorrow – it’s not ideal preparation and Bognor are a good side. I’ve got nothing but respect for them – I have a lot of time for Robbie Blake (Bognor manager), he’s a real nice guy and I’ve had some good conversations with him, just a really good football man and it’ll be a pleasure to share a line with him.

He always has his sides well-coached, well-drilled, and I do think it will be a really good game. I’ve watched some video, I’ve been to watch them, they have high energy, high-press, attack in numbers, very similar to us really.

So I think it will make for a really good game, I’m looking forward to what will be two good sides going at it. From our perspective it’s just a ridiculous amount of games in the schedule at the moment it’s taking its toll on the squad.

I felt even at Cray we looked really lethargic in the second-half. It’s hard for the boys because they’re working on the side of playing twice a week and it’s a lot to ask of them. I’m glad the boys have had some rest this week because it’ll be a high energy game against Bognor, and a hard one.

Get behind the boys this afternoon and Come On You Rooks!

Tony

OUR FA TROPHY RECORD IN 5 ESSENTIAL FACTS

• Today is the 88th game we have played in the FA Trophy since we first entered the competition back in 1974 when we faced Crawley Town, beating them 2-0 to set up a tie against today’s visitors Bognor Regis Town, the one and only previous occasion the two sides have met in the Trophy.
• This season is the first time in four years that we have won a tie in the competition – our last victory before the penalty victory at Chesham United was here in 2018 against Merthyr Town, with goals from James Hammond and Luke Blewden.
• We’ve scored 145 goals in the competition, conceding 163. Our record win is 5-2 against Canterbury City back in 1981, whilst our record defeat (6-1) came at Oxford City in 2014.
• The furthest we have gone in the competition was in 2003 when we reached the Third Round, before losing 8-5 here to Weymouth. We also shared 10 goals with Wembley back in 2002, winning 6-4.
• We’ve never played anyone more three times (excluding replays) – with Harlow Town, Dunstable Town and Bishop’s Stortford the teams we have met the most.

LEWES 0 CRAY WANDERERS 0 – SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

Lewes were forced to settle for a point against ten-man Cray Wanderers at the Pan, as an entertaining game ended in a 0-0 draw, reports Tom Harper, pictures from James Boyes.

Tony Russell named an unchanged side after Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Folkestone Invicta, with the Rooks looking to continue their unbeaten run and close the gap on the play-off places.

Cray made a bright start to the game and could have taken an early lead through Dan Bassett, who intercepted a loose pass from Tom Champion on the edge of the area before drawing a smart save from Lewis Carey.

Lewes started to see more of the ball as the half progressed but were struggling to turn this into clear-cut chances, a Bradley Pritchard strike from inside the six-yard box that went wide being the closest they came to opening the scoring early on

Pritchard was taking up some dangerous positions running in behind Joe Taylor and forced Shaun Rowley into action from a tight angle as the Rooks pushed for a breakthrough.

The visitors finished the half strongly, with Carey having to be alert to help an overhit cross from Kellen Fisher over the bar, before racing off his line minutes later to deny Bassett after the dangerous winger had been played through on goal.

Lewes made a bright start to the second half, Razz Coleman De-Graft running in behind before being denied by Rowley from a difficult angle.

Cray continued to look dangerous in the final third though, with Carey reacting well to palm away a dangerous low centre from Bassett and then pushing another mis-hit cross, this time from Sinn’kaye Christie, over the bar.

The visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game and Nyren Clunis was the next player to go close, making space for himself in the box before slicing his effort wide with only Carey to beat.

The Cray pressure continued, Carey once again making a fine save, diving to his right to keep out a powerful long-range strike from Harrison Sodje.

Lewes soon enjoyed some brief respite, De-Graft cutting inside from the left before seeing his strike deflected narrowly wide of the near post.

The visitors dealt well with the resulting corner and launched a swift counter-attack, which ended with Bassett playing Ben Krauhaus in behind and Carey having to be quick off his line again to save well.

The Rooks were handed an advantage on 64 minutes as Cray were reduced to ten men, Mitch Chapman shown a straight red card for lunging into a challenge on Tyrique Hyde.

Lewes looked to make the most of their numerical advantage immediately, Rowley saving well from De-Graft, whose influence on the game was growing with each passing minute.

Despite being a man down, the visitors continued to pose a threat on the break, and saw Bassett head a Nyren Clunis cross wide when well placed in front of goal.

Bassett went close again minutes later, cutting inside from the right before seeing his shot from a central position pushed wide by Carey.

Lewes soon enjoyed their best spell of the game as they pushed for a winner heading into the final ten minutes, Rowley reacting superbly to turn a deflected De-Graft strike behind for a corner.

He made another fine save to deny substitute Deshane Dalling soon after, as a loose ball inadvertently played the winger through on goal.

Fellow substitute Jack Skinner was the next player to go close, volleying straight at Rowley after Joe Taylor had helped a Marcel Elva-Fountaine cross into his path.

Lewes enjoyed a lot of possession during six minutes of injury-time but were unable to create another opportunity and could even have been on the end of a late sucker punch, as Anthony Cook saw his long-range effort go narrowly wide, leaving both sides to settle for a point.

DALE HURLEY STEPS DOWN AS UNDER18s MANAGER

Last week the club announced that Dale has decided to resign as our Under18s manager.We would like to thank Dale for his efforts over the years in coaching our pathway with lots of success along the way. Dale stepped down after the game against Horsham on November 10.

CEO, Maggie Murphy, had this to say: “Dale has been an integral part of our boys’ set up for eight whole seasons. The club is incredibly grateful for his years of dedication and commitment and many thousands of unseen hours of hard work.”

“He has helped the U18 boys win leagues and trophies, but more importantly helped support the growth of our young men on their own journeys. Dale is very passionate about supporting his players as they find their way in football and life.”

“We wish Dale the best of luck on his own coaching journey as well, and look forward to see him at the Dripping Pan in the future.”

Dale himself, has released the following statement.

Firstly, a massive thank you to everybody that has been involved in the last 8 years. From cutting the grass to cooking the post match roasties, without you non-league football wouldn’t exist.

More specifically thank you to Maggie, Stuart and John who have really believed in the Boys u18’s and have trusted me in this position for such a long time. Thank you to Kev Brook and Barry Collins who in particular were instrumental in the earlier years of us building this great reputation.

To Craig, Jake and Jacob, all the hours we put in; analysing opposition, planning training, preparing the squads for games, washing kit, organising lifts and all the moments on the touchline. Thank you, without you three we wouldn’t have been as successful as we have been.

I have worked with some incredible players that have earned this club the reputation it deserves as having one of the best youth teams in Sussex. Some players have gone on to play professional football, some now play locally, but with us, you always gave your all and that’s all we ever asked.

We’ve created some incredible moments, winning the league on goal difference on the last day of the season, winning back to back county cups, reaching the FA Youth Cup 1st round proper 5 times in the last 6 seasons, and if it wasn’t for a Global Pandemic I have no doubt we would have won the quadruple in 2020.

The opportunity to be assistant manager under Hugo Langton and part of Tony’s staff last season has helped broaden my knowledge of non league football and will help me vastly in the future.

The time has come to step away and allow somebody else the opportunity to create some of the memories we did.

Thank you to everyone at Lewes FC. I’ll be back one day.

Dale has combined his role with the club this season with his joint first team manager role at Lancing, working with former U18s manager Alex Walsh.

The club would also like to thank U18 coaches Jake Le Grange, Jacob Baitup and Craig Stevens for all their hard work and commitment to the U18s team. All three have also decided to step down with immediate effect. We wish them the best on their next steps in football.

INTRODUCING OUR VISITORS – BOGNOR REGIS TOWN

THE HISTORY

THE SQUAD

THE RECENT FORM

THE HEAD TO HEAD RECORD

18th Apr 2022	Isthmian Premier League	Bognor Regis Tn	1	Lewes	0
1st Jan 2022	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	2	Bognor Regis Tn	0
26th Feb 2020	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	0	Bognor Regis Tn	1
26th Dec 2018	Isthmian Premier League	Bognor Regis Tn	2	Lewis	2
27th Aug 2018	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	3	Bognor Regis Tn	3
26th Dec 2015	Isthmian Premier League	Bognor Regis Tn	4	Lewes	0

THE LAST VISIT HERE – 1st JANUARY 2022

ON THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY – 19th NOVEMBER

IF YOU DON’T ASK….

Non-league Ashton United have submitted a, presumably VERY tongue in cheek, loan bid for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, according to the BBC website.

Haaland, who has scored 23 goals in all competitions for City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, won’t be featuring in Qatar after Norway failed to qualify, so City’s local ‘rivals’ have asked if they could have him on a 28-day loan deal.

Boss Michael Clegg is hoping the potential to come on the club’s Christmas do in Newcastle could help sway the Norwegian’s mind.

“We’re in the hunt for a striker so we thought why not,” boss Michael Clegg told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It’s been hard for any of the teams in our league to get any momentum so I’m sure slotting the big man in would only help us climb the table. I’m sure he’d hit the ground running and I’d be hoping for a minimum of six goals a half from him.

THE FINAL RANKINGS UPSIDE DOWN – NO. 205 GIBRALTAR

It is a bit unfair that Gibraltar are ranked so low simply because they’ve not yet had the opportunity to play enough ranking games. The nation was accepted by UEFA as their 50th member back in 2014, becoming the second smallest nation in Europe behind San Marino – rumours of Vatican City’s potential application would supercede both of them. Prior to that they made a few appearances at the Island Games, despite not being an island, winning the tournament in 2007.

Despite getting the nod from UEFA, FIFA continued to ignore their requests to become a full member of the world football club, primarily because of opposition from Spain. That meant whilst the nation could play in European friendlies and qualifying matched for the European Championships. They played their first international against Slovakia, in Faro (Portugal) in November 2013, earning a very credible 0-0 draw, winning their first game the following summer with a 1-0 victory over Malta.

On 26 September 2014, it was announced that Gibraltar’s application for FIFA membership was denied, with president Sepp Blatter stating that Gibraltar is ineligible because it is not an independent country. This was despite FIFA at the time including 22 members that are not independent countries, including five in UEFA (Faroe Islands and the four Home Nations of the United Kingdom). Their case was taken to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and finally on the 13 May 2016, Gibraltar was accepted as a member of FIFA with a vote of 172 to 12 in favour. Gibraltar became FIFA’s 211th member.

They lost all ten qualifying games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup including a 9-0 defeat to Belgium, whilst in the new UEFA Nations League they recorded two wins in their Group D competition against San Marino and Liechtenstein, the latter back in 2020 the last win the nation has recorded.

Initially, they had to play their qualifying games away from Gibraltar, preferring to use Faro’s stadium (not sure why Spain wouldn’t allow them to play there?) until the necessary improvement work had been carried out at the Victoria Stadium, on the edge of the airport runway in time for the 2018/19 Nations League. However, further work required to increase the stadium to a minimum of 5,000 is due to start in 2023 which will require them once again to head to Portugal.

The current squad is almost exclusively made up of players from the Gibraltar’s National League, with Lincoln Red Imps and Europa – 14 of the most recent squad of 22 came from those two clubs. There are two current English-based players in the squad – 22 year old Louie Annesley from Blackburn Rovers and Stourbridge’s Reece Styche.

SAYONARA SAN SIRO – THE FOOTBALL TOURIST IN MILAN

There are a few stadiums in the world that every fan should try to visit at least once.  Wembley, Camp Nou, The Westfalonstadion, Velodrome and of course, The Dripping Pan.  But one that should now go to the top of the list is the San Siro, home to the Milanese brothers AC and Internationale.  The Stadio Guiseppe Meazza, to give it its full name, is slated for demolition after the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, one hundred years after it first opened, with a new stadium site already being prepared next door.

I’d been lucky enough to have seen a few games in the cathedral of Italian football over the years, the highlight being a Milanese derby which ended 6-0 to AC a few years ago.  Whilst you can never call the stadium “comfortable” to watch a game in (one of the reasons for the new stadium), you cannot ever knock the atmosphere.

This may seem a little hard to believe but a ticket for the game versus Spezia on Saturday night cost LESS than entry at the Dripping Pan.  Whilst the most expensive seats, almost within touching distance of the multi-millionaire players go on sale for hundreds of Euro, a seat in the third tier for this game was €14.  Sounds a bargain doesn’t it? Read on for the downside.

Whilst my trip to Brescia had been a solo effort, the rest of the Fuller clan were meeting me in Milan in time for some pasta and calcio.  A trip to the San Siro used to involve a crowded metro journey and then either a tram ride along Via Simone Stratico, or a swift walk along the edge of the racetrack.  But the opening of a new metro line (line 5) in 2015 deposits you right on the doorstep of the ground, with your first sight as you exit the station the stadium rising majestically as you come up the escalators with the unique roof looking as it is sitting perilously on top of four giant cylinders.

If, like us, you think in normal English football fans terms about rocking up 10 minutes before kick-off and being in your seat before the game starts then don’t.  Fans tend to arrive around an hour before kick-off, savouring the show put on by the ultras in the middle tier of the South (Blue) stand.  Sure, we had no delays in going through a security check, having our passports checked against our tickets and negotiating very slim turnstiles but then we had to ascend the south face of the stadium.  The good news is in those corner cylinders are ramps that gently climb up.  The bad news is as the gradient is relatively low, you must do around 30 laps of the towers before you finally arrive at the concourse, eroding that 10 minutes we had on entering the stadium.

We still had 30 more rows of seats to climb before we found our seats.  So whilst a €14 may seem a bargain, it also comes with a guaranteed weight loss programme whether you like it or not.  The Ultras were located just below us which meant we could hear them but not really see them, aside from the coordinated flag waving.  When they bounced around in unison you felt stand shake.  At the far end, in the upper tier were a few hundred Spezia fans, who had made the three hour journey from the town, located on the Liguria, halfway between Pisa and Genoa.  They had been allocated the whole tier, which made them feel a bit isolated but they were enjoying the occasion by the looks of it.

Italian football has gone through a shift of power in recent seasons with the star of Juventus fading at the expense of the resurgent Napoli and the new upstarts, Atalanta.  Both Milanese clubs have had mixed fortunes – AC Milan won their 19^th Serie A title last season, grabbing the crown from Inter, who also won their 19^th title in 2020/21.  But this season it has been all about Napoli, still unbeaten and 8 points clear.  But a win tonight against struggling Spezia would lift the Rossoneri (the red and blacks) into the top four.

The English interest was in Fikayo Tomori, a former Chelsea youngster who after loan spells at Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City and Derby County, was signed by AC Milan in 2021.  The youngster had three caps for Gareth Southgate’s side and was fancied to get a World Cup squad place (unfortunately he was left out as too was Roma’s Chris Smalling).

Being responsible parents, we sent the youngsters off to the bar to get the beers and sat back and watched an excellent game unfold.  Whilst it was hard at times to make out the individual players from such a height, the elevated position gave us the opportunity to watch the match unfold in widescreen mode.  The Spezia keeper kept his side in the game in the opening exchanges but he was powerless to stop Milan taking the lead in the 21^st minute when Hernandez controlled a through ball and volleyed into the net. Naturally, we then had to sit and wait for over 5 minutes which VAR checked the goal before the Ultras could explode into life again to celebrate the goal.

Spezia, against the run of play, equalised on the hour mark – the goal scorer was Daniel Maldini, son of the great Milan defender Paolo and on-loan from AC.  The youngster didn’t celebrate although the rest of his team mates, the bench and the fans high up in the stands most certainly did.

Despite numerous chances, fantastic saves and the woodwork coming to the rescue, Milan couldn’t find a winner. We prepared to make an exit for the long walk down and we had no sooner left our seats when Olivier Giroud volleyed home a Tonali cross deep into injury time to score the winner.  The veteran striker whipped off his shirt, displaying an impressive six physic for his age and was promptly given a second yellow by the referee, who managed to book seven players in a 16 minute period at the end of the game.

We took the easier option of the stairs down the middle of the towers and got on the metro before the masses.  Value for money?  Absolutely.  AC Milan, like most Italian clubs have an online ticket shop, in English, and tickets can either be printed at home or you can use the QR code on your phone.  Don’t expect many frills or luxuries but do expect plenty of noise, atmosphere and memories.  With plenty of cheap flights from the UK and hundreds of hotel options, a trip to Milan before the San Siro closes its doors for the last time is a must.

DIDN’T WE USED TO PLAY THEM? DORKING FC

Whilst Dorking Wanderers can lay claim to one of the most impressive rises through the leagues in Non-League football in recent years, the club that shared a name, and a town with them suffered a reverse of fortunes, sliding down the leagues until they ceased to exist five years ago.

Dorking FC were formed in 1880, gaining the nickname of The Chicks due to their club badge, representing a large, football-playing chicken. The club were founder members of the Surrey County Senior League in 1922, and moved in 1956 to Meadowbank Park in the centre of the town, which today is home to Dorking Wanderers.

The club joined the Corinthian league in 1956 and then the Athenian League in 1963. The club merged with Guildford City of the Southern League in 1974 to form Guildford & Dorking United, with Meadowbank as the home ground. However, after just two seasons, the club collapsed in mid-season, with another club being formed called Dorking Town in 1977 to complete its predecessor’s remaining games before joining the Surrey Senior League in 1977–78. In 1983, by then playing in the Isthmian League, the club reverted its name to Dorking F.C.

In the 1992–93 season, they reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history losing out 3–2 to Peter Shilton’s Plymouth Argyle.

In the 2004–05 season, they played in the Isthmian League Division Two and gained promotion in 2005/ to Division 1 South of Isthmian League but sadly got relegated in the first season

In 2003 the two clubs met in the preliminary round of the FA Cup at Meadowbank with the Rooks winning 5-3.

Lee Newman reacted quickly to drill home a rebound from Peter Adeniyi’s 33rd-minute shot and added his second nine minutes later, a penalty after Marc Whiteman had been brought down by Wayne Jenkins.

Jean Serge Nusungu gave Dorking a lifeline with a header on the stroke of half-time and Lewes were stunned by Stewart Vaughan’s equaliser four minutes after the break. Captain Marc Cable put the Rooks back in front with a firm downward header from Dwain Clarke’s corner after 69 minutes. Cable was then penalised for a foul on Nusungu that allowed Steve Coyle to level from the spot with 15 minutes to play. In stoppage time, Junior Kadi converted the third penalty of the match after a foul on Julian Curnow, then Luke Fontana curled a beauty in from the edge of the box.

The rise of Dorking Wanderers ultimately led to the demise of Dorking. The oldest football club in Surrey limped along, whilst their new neighbours rose up through the leagues, eventually deciding to call it a day in 2017. One of the reasons was the state of the Meadowbank stadium, which was deemed unsafe in 2002/03.

During the close season in 2014, it was announced that Dorking would share with Horley Town F.C. until the Meadowbank Stadium was once again fit for use. In. March 2016, it was announced that Dorking would groundshare with local rivals Dorking Wanderers FC at the latter’s Westhumble ground until Meadowbank was ready in August 2017. However, the club decided that it simply couldn’t continue operations in the summer of 2017 and so over 135 years of history ceased.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

You can sponsor the player of your choice, subject to availability, for the 2022/23 season and get your name in lights, plus a home or away shirt signed by your player and presented to you at a home game. Contact Shrey for more details at Shrey@lewesfc.com.

PLAYER	SPONSOR	PLAYER	SPONSOR
Lewis Carey	Susie Arlett	Jack Skinner	
Tom Carlse	Michael McDowell	Johnville Renee	
Marcel Elva-Fountaine		Rhys Murrell-Williamson	Trevor Norwood
Kenny Yao		Deshane Dalling	
Tom Champion	Tom, Alice & Russ Mould	Razz Coleman De-Graft	The Ouse
Will Salmon		Deon Moore	
Mitchell Nelson	Billy Beauzile	Joe Taylor	Stuart Fuller
Ayo Olukoga		Fraser Middleton-Tozer	
Bradley Pritchard		Finley Jenkins	
Alfie Young		Jamie Mascoll	
Tyrique Hyde			

THE 2022/23 ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON

THE 2022/23 ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PARTNERS

ON THE ROAD TO…POTTERS BAR TOWN – TUES 22nd NOVEMBER

About The Latern Stadium
The Latern Stadium is well-appointed and pleasant ground to visit.  The main stand is a four-row affair that runs around half the way down one side of the pitch, resplendent in the club’s blue and red colours.  Behind the stand is a decent-sized clubhouse, upgraded in the summer.  There’s a small covered stand in between the two dug-outs on the far side of the ground whilst behind one goal is another small covered area. An interesting bit of trivia for you – the turnstiles came from the Old Wembley Stadium.

How to get to The Latern Stadium
The ground is located close to junction 24 of the M25, meaning you have a choice as to whether to head clockwise or anti-clockwise when you reach junction 7 from heading up to M23.  In terms of distance, it is within a mile either way (98/99 miles from Lewes and around 2 hours) so it will depend purely on the traffic – perhaps go clockwise on the way there, anti-clockwise on the way back so that you can claim to have done a complete circuit in a day!

From the M25 junction 24 head north on Southgate Road until the junction with the A1000 and take a right into the High Street.  After the BP garage on the left, take the next left in The Walk.  The entrance to the ground is 100 yards on the right-hand side.  It is street parking for everyone.

The nearest railway station is Potters Bar which is on the line from Kings Cross (around 17 minutes journey) or Moorgate (around 35 mins).  From the station the ground is a 10-minute walk away – The Walk is opposite the station and simply head eastwards, taking the path on the left after 500 metres to the ground.

Admission at The Latern Stadium
Admission this season is £12 for adults, £8 for concessions (senior citizens and students), under 16s are admitted for £1.  The club still offer free season tickets to anyone, subject to a £25 admin fee (to stop away fans taking advantage of free admission I would imagine).

Fancy a beer?
The nearest pub to the ground is The Admiral Byng in Darkes Lane which is a decent sized Wetherspoons.  The Old Manor is an attractive looking pub almost next door to the station and is definitely worth a visit for their good selection of beers.  There is a Harvester (The Oakmere) in the High Street about a five-minute walk from the ground.

TODAY’S TEAMS

LEGAL AND CREDITS

“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
Chair Stuart Fuller
Directors Willa Bailey, Tim Bradshaw, Ed Briggs, Scott Currie, Stuart Fuller, Andy Gowland, Lucy Mills, John Peel, Sally Taplin, Trevor Wells
Chief Executive Officer Maggie Murphy
Club Secretary John Peel
Fan Engagement Manager Shrey Nilvarna
Youth Secretary Ryan Sullivan
Operations Manager James Barker

Equality FC Campaign Manager Karen Dobres
Communication Manager Jack Towers
Commercial Manager Steph McLaughlin

Life Members
Peter Brook, Dorothy Brook RIP, Vic Blunt, Pat Dartnell, Gary Elphick, Gordon Fowlie, Peter Hiscox RIP, Billy Nixon, Derrick Parris RIP, 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 Tony Russell
Assistant manager Joe Vines
First team coach Nathan White
First team physio Toni Miller
Goalkeeping coach Grant Hall
Match logistics Clive Burgess & Vikram Dogra
First Team Performance Analyst Henderson Russell

Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Stuart Fuller
Progcast Editor Stuart Fuller, Ashley Adamson-Edwards and Stan Lahood
Club Photographer James Boyes

NEXT UP AT THE DRIPPING PAN

SATURDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2022 3pm

THE ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWERS:

1. Wigan Athletic
2. Jamie Brotherton
3. Heybridge Swifts
4. Steve Brown
5. The Raven Hotel in Shrewsbury was the unlikely setting for a bit of footballing history. The FA Cup 1st Round tie between Sheffield FC and Shropshire Wanderers had ended in 0-0 draws at the Bramall Lane cricket ground (as it was then) and in the replay at the Shrewsbury Race Course. Rather than have a second replay the teams decided during an after-match meal to decide the winners by a toss of a coin. That was the only time an FA Cup tie has been decided by a toss of a coin – Sheffield calling correctly and progressing to the Second Round