Welcome to The Dripping Pan for this afternoon’s Isthmian Premier League game against Bognor Regis. Here is your complimentary e-programme.

TO BECOME AN OWNER, CLICK HERE: https://lewesfc.com/become-an-owner/

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to today’s game against Bognor Regis.

Happy New Year to all our supporters, volunteers, players, staff and owners. Let’s hope 2024 is a good year for Lewes FC. Also, a warm welcome to The Rocks of Bognor and the visiting support.

Lewes have had a productive festive season so far with impressive away performances at Whitehawk and league leader’s Hornchurch. Whitehawk had an unbeaten home record lasting almost the whole of 2023 until the Rooks came and burst their bubble by taking all three points in a 2-1 Boxing Day victory. Hornchurch also bosted a proud home record only dropping 4 points this season, before Lewes grabbed a last minute equaliser to snatch a point, stealing a couple more points from them.

Today is a rematch of the first fixture of 2023 when we were comfortable 3-1 winners following a brace from Joe Taylor and a first Rooks goal from Ryan Gondoh. Ryan also won the penalty that set us on our way. This season both Ryan and Marcus Sablier have suffered long term injuries but are now making their way back to playing. There is nothing more dispiriting as a footballer than not being able to play so hopefully we will see them both on the pitch before long.

I have enjoyed Ryan’s company on the terraces and in hospitality over the last couple of months but now he has got me dancing to Town Called Malice in front of visitors and dignitaries, I think it’s time for him to get back on the pitch for everyones sake. Tony please pick him soon!!

Enjoy the game, and come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to today’s fixture against Bognor Regis. Here are my thoughts from our recent games.

Whitehawk

Having played there already this season, we were better prepared this time around. They are unbeaten at home all season, partly because they are a good side but also because their pitch is very different to anything out there. The pitch is heavy, and that slope is a lot bigger when you are on it, so you really have to play it differently from one half to the next. Usually, the toss doesn’t matter, but in this game, it really helps to win the toss, and Will did just that; we turned them around, so we were kicking uphill in the first half. In the first half, we were the better team but were wasteful in the final 3rd. The last bit to round it off wasn’t good enough. Cross or pass, so we struggled to convert good play with chances. We did have one great chance when Ola crossed for Luke, who was unmarked 5 yards out in the middle of the goal only for him to put it over. I was happy at half-time and felt if we just went up 5% they wouldn’t be able to handle it.

We started the 2nd half really well and pinned them in. Chances were now coming, and you felt a goal was around the corner. Woody went through on goal only for the keeper to make a great save, but then Welps popped up with a well-worked goal, and now we are all over them. Deon makes it 2-0, and I thought we would run away with it. Then, out of nowhere, we give them a goal and like all good sides do they put it on us. We had to soak up pressure at the end, but when you look at it. Nathan Harvey didn’t have a save to make the whole game, so that’s full credit to the team to go there and shut a team out that hasn’t lost all season at home. Full credit to our fans. You guys were brilliant from minute one. Watching you guys going mad when we scored was brilliant.

Hornchurch

Well, if we thought the Whitehawks pitch was tricky, the Hornchurch pitch took that to a new level. In all my time in football, that is up there with the worst pitches I have come across. We had to tell the players there is no way we can play any football on this. It was impossible, I felt, for both sets of players as it had the makings of a good game. They have a good manager and some excellent players, which was also hard on them. No one could keep the ball on the pitch. If the ball rolled on the floor, it would be jumping around, so you had players shanking it left, right and centre. It was a shocking game of football. They had one real chance and scored, and we had one real chance and scored. The rest was just two teams fighting for the ball and then banging it.

What I would say before Belgium, we wouldn’t have got anything from the last two games. Belgium has changed us; the group is so close now. Me and Joe can’t help them on pitches like that. It comes down to togetherness, and this group has it. That doesn’t mean you are going to win every game but what that does do is give you a chance to turn draws into win and no points into one because their togetherness means they won’t stop for each other.

Enjoy the game!

Tony.

HALF SEASON TICKETS

It’s that time of year where we are offering fans the chance to save money on tickets for the second-half of the season.

So, once again, we present… the HALF-SEASON TICKET.

There are 13 men’s home matches remaining and 5 home Barclays Women’s Championship games remaining.

£110 gets you all remaining men’s matches (£80, concessions) and it’s £50 for the women’s games (£35, concessions).

Better still, if you buy a SUPER HALF-SEASON TICKET for all 18 matches, we’ve knocked the price down to just £130.

BUY YOURS TODAY

Men’s matches
Lewes FC vs Bognor Regis Town (3pm) – 01.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Potters Bar Town (3pm) – 13.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Horsham (7:45pm) – 23.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Margate (3pm) – 27.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Carshalton Athletic (7:45pm) – 30.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Billericay Town (7:45pm) – 06.02.2024
Lewes FC vs Chatham Town (3pm) – 17.02.2024
Lewes FC vs. KSK Beveren (7:45pm) – 27.02.2024 – FENIX TROPHY
Lewes FC vs Canvey Island (3pm) – 02.03.2024
Lewes FC vs Concord Rangers (3pm) – 23.03.2024
Lewes FC vs Whitehawk (3pm) – 01.04.2024
Lewes FC vs Kingstonian (3pm) – 13.04.2024
Lewes FC vs Hashtag United (3pm) – 20.04.2024

Women’s matches
Lewes FC vs Durham (12pm) – 21.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Reading (2pm) – 28.01.2024
Lewes FC vs Sheffield United (12pm) – 03.03.2024
Lewes FC vs Watford (2pm) – 17.03.2024
Lewes FC vs Crystal Palace (2pm) – 21.04.2024

OUR NEXT EUROPEAN GAME

Get your tickets for our next European game at the Dripping Pan now. If Russell’s Rooks win, we confirm our qualification for the knockout rounds in Italy.

BUY TICKETS HERE: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lewesfootballclub2/1069577

Watch our recent trip to Belgium here:

THE FACTS

• Bognor were founded in1883 and the club became founding members of the West Sussex Football League in 1896, joining the Senior Division.
• The club became Bognor Regis F.C. in 1929 after King George V added the suffix ‘Regis’ to the seaside resort.
• Season 2015-16 saw them miss out on the Ryman Premier title by one point and then lost in the play-offs to Dulwich Hamlet. They did however, also enjoy their best ever run in the FA Trophy by reaching the semi-finals. They beat a number of teams from higher divisions along the way, including Bath City, Maidstone United, Altrincham, Sutton United and Torquay United. But hopes of an appearance at Wembley Stadium were dashed when they were defeated in the semi-final by Grimsby Town, losing 1-0 in the first leg at Nyewood Lane, before also losing the second leg 2-1 at Blundell Park (3-1 on aggregate), despite putting up spirited displays in both legs.
• Season 2016-17 saw them finish in second place for the second season running, but this time they triumphed in the play-offs, beating Wingate & Finchley in the semi-final, before victory over Dulwich Hamlet in the final, to win promotion to the Vanarama National League South for season 2017-18
• Season 2017-18 unfortunately saw the club relegated back to the Isthmian League, with last season being one of consolidation and a mid table finish. However the season did at least bring the excitement of winning the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in 32 years in May at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, with a 2-1 win after extra time against Burgess Hill Town.
• Robbie Blake, the former Premier League striker famous for his exploits up front for Burnley in particular, was handed the manager’s job in March 2022. Previously he had acted as assistant to Jack Pearce.
• In the 2022/23 season, Blake steered his side into the Sussex Senior Cup final at Brighton’s Amex Stadium only to lose on penalties to Worthing. The Rocks finished 14th in the league standings in the same season

ONE TO WATCH?

Isaac Olaniyan

Olaniyan developed through the youth system at AFC Wimbledon, and signed for Bognor in 2022. An exciting player, who scores goals regularly from midfield.

RECENT HEAD TO HEAD

28th Aug 2023	Isthmian Premier League	Bognor	3	Lewes	3
10th Apr 2023	Isthmian Premier League	Bognor	1	Lewes	4
2nd Jan 2023	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	3	Bognor	1
19th Nov 2022	FA Trophy	Lewes	2	Bognor	2

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1976, Jack Pearce became manager at the age of just 26, and went onto hold the position until 2007.

OUR LAST GAME

To find out more, please visit: https://branchingoutadventures.co.uk/

ON THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY – 1st JANUARY

Houston, we have a problem

Despite the efforts of British Airways to ruin his first ever trip to Houston, The Football Tourist was in the Shell Energy Stadium to see the Dynamo’s win a second successive penalty shoot out to progress into the next round of the MLS play-offs.

There’s been a lot of criticism for the formats of the recent Rugby and Cricket World Cups which seemed to last forever.  There was a joke that some of the best English rugby players playing in the domestic game in late October weren’t even born when the tournament in France started.  Whilst it isn’t strictly true for the MLS in the United States, the expansion of the end of season games has probably gone a step too far in trying to elongate the season and keep the fan interest alive.  The top nine clubs in each of the two divisions, or conferences, out of 29 sides who took part in the regular season. In the Eastern Conference, FC Cincinnati finished top of the pile, with a 26 point difference to Charlotte in the final play-off spot.

In the Western Conference, the top spot wasn’t decided until the final weeks of the season, with St Louis City winning the division in their first season as a MLS club.  Houston Dynamo finished fourth, but only five points off top spot.

Aside from the “wild card round” which isn’t a wild card at all – it is simply a play-off between the 8th and 9th place sides, all sides enter the play offs at the same stage. Games are played as a 3 match series, with any drawn games settled by penalties. Only two of the first round games went to a third, deciding game and one of those who be in Houston as the Dynamo faced Real Salt Lake for the right to play Sporting Kansas City in the next round.

Fortune favours the Football Tourist sometimes and I was in Houston for a work conference.  Always trying to save my employer money, I requested to travel on Saturday, where the flights were half the price they would be on Sunday or Monday.  At the time of booking there was the possibility of a Dynamo final play-off game – all I needed was for them to lose at Real Salt Lake in the second game.  And they did, losing 5-4 on penalties.

My hotel was a 10 minute walk from the Shell Energy Stadium and even better, had two highly rated taprooms on its doorstep.  My flight would land in Houston at 1.30pm, leaving plenty of time before the 5pm kick off.  In fact, we all know that in the US just because everyone says it is a 5pm kick-off, it will be 10 minutes, or more, later before they get all the pomp and circumstance out of the way.

All good, until at 5pm on Friday, 15 hours before departure, BA emailed me to say they had cancelled my flight for “service operability issues”, which often translates to “we haven’t sold enough seats so we aren’t going to run a loss making service”.  They did kindly rebook me on a new flight, which now required a change in Dallas.  I would arrive in Houston at 5.30pm.

If I could exit the plane quickly, get a cab, tip him to ride like the wind and dump my bags at the hotel I could possibly make the start of the second half.  Not ideal but at least I’d get there for some of the game.

Alas, whilst the flight landed on time in Dallas, and we were boarded on the flight to Houston early, we sat on the tarmac for nearly an hour.  The flight time was just 44 minutes, but we spent longer waiting to take off, then taxiing to the stand on arrival than the time in the air.

The taxi driver did what he can, and Real Salt Lake did their part too, with Diego Luna equalising Corey Baird’s first half strike, taking the game to penalties.  The stewards on the gate at the stadium allowed me in, although it was very surprising to see so many fans leaving before the penalties.  

The Shell Energy Stadium is on the edge of Downtown Houston, just a five minute walk from the Baseball stadium, Minute Maid Park.  It opened in 2012 as a 22,000 capacity stadium and was designed with some unique features, none more so than the west stand which as a unique part roof thing going on, and superb views of the Houston skyline from the south stand.  I simply ran into the nearest entrance and found myself right on the edge of the El Battalion, the hardcore Dynamo fans.

Penalties would be taken in front of these fans and they made it as uncomfortable as possible for the Real Salt Lake players, with bottles of water, handily passed out by a sponsor, were being thrown onto the pitch.  The visitors took first, successfully, as too were the next three, making it 2-2.  Luna’s spot kit was then saved, giving Dynamo the advantage, but when Nelson Quinones missed for Houston, it was 4-4 with one more to take.  Daniel Musovski stepped up for the visitors and his spot kick was tipped onto the post and it bounced to safety.

The weight of 17,000 fans fell on 24 year old Griffin Dorsey’s shoulders and he didn’t disappoint.  The fans went wild, streamers, water, beer and shoes (!) all flew through the air.  The orange dry ice pumped out from the front of the stand (sorry, no pyros here), Diesel the Fox mascot moonwalked across the penalty area and Real Salt Lake trooped off.

The club progressed, hoping still to “do the double” having beaten Inter Miami in the Open Cup final in September.  It has been too long since Dynamo won the MLS Cup (2007) but could this be their year once again?  Only (more) time will tell and it will be another month before that would be determined, some 7 weeks after the play-offs started.

In the last Vox Pop of 2023, we asked Lewes fans for their favourite Lewes moment of 2023. Here are their responses…

“Away to Folkestone. Last minute goal!! – Chris Sallis

“Kingstonian away, as the late summer sun set, it looked like anything was possible for 23/24” – Hugo Edwards

“Limbs at Folkestone away last season” – Hugo Hottinger

“Stan getting on the board!!” – Pete Smith

“Razz hat trick 2-3 away win at Canvey; & the 1-3 away win in Beveren where Nat was mascot” – Chris Roberts

“Hampton and Richmond Borough FA Cup win. Round 1 felt possible then” – Ollie Audis

“My personal favourite is the Oslo game!!” – Ollie Horton

“Bognor away, 4-1 win with a red card” – Lucas Warner

“Last season – Bognor away. This season – Antwerp/Beveren” – Perry Anderson

“Whitehawk limbs” – James Campbell

“Nothing will top watching Lewes in Europe, although closer to home the 4-1 win at Bognor was class” – Benjamin Cook

“Whitehawk or Bognor last season” – Fin Smith

“Krafty’s finish v Man United in the 1/4 finals of the FA Cup … but assuming you mean the men’s team, it has to be the minute’s applause for our Dave Evans. It felt like the whole club came together in that moment to remember a great Lewes man.” – Rookmeister

“Canvey Island away was great fun, even if we didn’t quite make the playoffs.” – Mike W

“Favourite Lewes memory? Bonfire night obvs” – Lewes Bonfire

“Beveren” – Jon R

“Trip to Belgium to support the Rooks” – Ibis Guyton

“It’s really recent but defo Boxing Day” – Joseph

KIT CLASH BY HARVEY LOCK

In this segment of the Progcast, we welcome young Harvey Lock, who throughout the rest of this season, plans to rate each Isthmian Premier team’s home and away kit, as we all know we’ve seen some unique kits during our time…

Home

Mne of the more iconic colourways of this level. The classic green and white is unique, often classy, and almost always pretty good. The addition of a few yellow accents are slightly odd, but they just about get away with it. The specsavers sponsor being gone does remove some points, as it fit perfectly, but the new one is pretty good so it keeps the same vibe. Clean, classic, cool. 7/10

Away

Definitely interesting. Going for a traffic cone vibe by the looks of it, orange and black is definitely distinct, but otherwise the actual design is unfortunately the same template as the home kit. The badge is also still green and white, a pet peeve on away kits, as it makes the badge stick out way too much. Still, not terrible, but not one you’d rush to get at the club shop. 5/10

THE LEAGUE TABLE AND FORM

ON THE ROAD TO…CRAY WANDERERS- SATURDAY 6th JANUARY

How was last season?
After avoiding relegation in 2021/22 by the narrowest of margins, last season proved to be a huge success for Cray Wanderers, albeit ultimately ending in penalty heartache.  Neil Smith assembled a strong squad, with the owners opening up the purse strings and was rewarded win some good early season form but it was around Christmas that the goals started to flow, including 17 in four games.  At half-time in the game against the Rooks at Bromley in January, holding a 2-0 lead, Cray topped the table for the first time.  However, two second half goals saw them drop 2 points, and four further points from five games saw them slip down the table.

However, the team rediscovered their form in the final weeks of the season, winning seven and drawing two of their last ten games.  On the final day of the season they had to avoid defeat at Haringey Borough and hope Lewes couldn’t win at Canvey by a significant margin.  As it transpired Cray’s draw saw Lewes have the chance to leapfrog them into the final play-off spot but it wasn’t to be for the Rooks as they missed out by two goals.

In the play-off semi-final at Hornchurch Cray came from 2-0 down to force extra-time before ultimately losing 4-2 on penalties.  Smith has once again been busy in pre-season strengthening the squad and Cray will look to be in the mix at the top of the table.

Isthmian Premier League – 5^th – P 42 W 20 D 14 L 8 GS 78 GA 48 GD +30 PTS 674

• FA Cup – First Qualifying Round – Bognor Regis Town (H) 0-4 in a replay
• FA Trophy –  Third Qualifying Round – Hanwell Town (A) 1-3
• Kent Senior Cup – First Round – Sheppey United (A) 0-4
• Isthmian League Cup –  Did not enter

When did we last meet Cray Wanderers?
It was a case of honours even last season as Cray came to The Dripping Pan in November with a game plan to grab a point and it worked, the resulting 0-0 won’t live too long in the collective memories of those there.

The return game in January saw Cray dominate in the first half, scoring twice through Tom Derry and Dajon Golding (of course) but the Rooks came out firing and a superb goal on the break by Ryan Gondoh and Joe Taylor mugging the Cray defence before blasting home from close range saw the final score 2-2 being a fair result.

Our last six meetings

W 1 D 2 L 3 GS 8 GA 10

About Hayes Lane
Cray Wanderers will still be calling Bromley’s Hayes Lane home for a few more season whilst their new ground at Flamingo Park in Sidcup is built. Not that they are suffering too much at Hayes Lane as the Conference National side has invested heavily in the ground in recent years including the construction of the new stand behind the goal which wouldn’t look out of the place in the Football League and contains the impressive Broomfields bar and food concessions.  At the far end covered terracing remains.  At one side is the modern looking John Fiorini (Main) Stand. This covered all seated stand doesn’t have any supporting pillars and sits astride the half way line whilst opposite is a decent sized, quite steep terrace.  One of the better grounds we visit on our travels that’s for sure.

How to get to Hayes Lane
Exit the M25 at Junction 4 and take the A21 towards Bromley and London. After five miles for left at the traffic lights onto the A232 towards Croydon/Sutton. At the 2nd set of traffic lights turn right into Baston Road (B265). Continue straight on this road through Hayes. The road becomes Hayes Lane and after the mini roundabout the entrance to the ground is down on the right. There is a small car park at the ground, otherwise street parking. Total travel time from Lewes for the 53-mile trip from Lewes is around an hour and twenty minutes.

The ground is a fifteen-minute walk from Bromley South station (not North which is miles away!), frequently served by trains from London Victoria which is in zone 5. Simply head right out of the station, cross the road and walk down Westmoreland Road, taking the first left into Hayes Road and following this all the way down to Hayes Lane where the ground is opposite you. Journey time is around 90 minutes.  Alternatively, a number of buses run past the ground including the 314 from Eltham, 146 from Bromley Town centre and 119 from East Croydon which takes around the same time as the train but obviously much cheaper.

Admission at Hayes Lane
Admission last season was £12 for adults, £6 for concessions (senior citizens, students and Under18s), and accompanied under 16s are £2.  

Fancy a beer?
Bromley town centre is a fifteen-minute walk away and has plenty of drinking establishments for all tastes.  Opposite Bromley South Station is the popular Richmal Crompton pub, whilst The Tigers Head on the walk towards the ground is a good bet.  For craft beer fans, the Star and Garter in the Old High Street is recommended.

Legals 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
Interim Chair Trevor Wells
Directors Priscila Aldridge, Willa Bailey, Tim Bradshaw, Ed Briggs, Andy Gowland, John Peel, Trevor Wells
Chief Executive Officer Maggie Murphy
Club Secretary John Peel
Fan Engagement Manager Shrey Nilvarna
Operations Manager Damian Watts

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 Charlie Himbury
Match logistics Vikram Dogra
First Team Performance Analyst Henderson Russell
Under-18s Manager Jon Miller

Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Stuart Fuller
Progcast Editor Stan Lahood
Club Photographer James Boyes

TODAY’S QUIZ ANSWERS

1. Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny didn’t enjoy the best of starts to 2015. The Pole was at fault for both Southampton goals in the Gunners 2-0 defeat at St Mary’s in the Premier League and after the match he was caught smoking in the showers for which he was fined £20,000.
2. In the New Year Honours list Stanley Matthews became the first professional footballer to be awarded a knighthood while still a player. His only League appearance in 1964/65 was also his last, against Fulham on 6th February 1965, shortly after his 50th birthday. He had made his League debut in 1932 but in later years said that he regretted retiring so early, believing he could have played on for another couple of years!
3. George Camsell of Second Division Middlesbrough scored in his 12th consecutive League match, a 5-2 defeat of Port Vale at Ayresome Park.. That’s an achievement in itself but what was even more remarkable was that in those 12 matches he scored 29 goals with a goalscoring run of 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 2, 4, 5, 2, and 3.
4. Three – Will Salmon, Bradley Pritchard and Ayo Olukoga
5. Tom Phipp