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

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The warmest of Lewes welcomes to the players, staff, officials and supporters of Carshalton and of course to our home supporters.

Tuesday nights under the lights at the Pan always feel a little different from afternoon matches. Last season was littered with home Tuesday night fixtures, but so far we have only played one home evening game in the league, when we saw a great performance rewarded by a 3-1 win against Hastings way back in September.

Tonight’s encounter is as finally balanced as Charles Blondin on the high wire, as 8th placed Lewes take on 9th placed Carshalton.

Whilst Lewes are two points to the better recent form is very similar. In the last five games played, Carshalton have won three and drawn two, whilst the Rooks have one three, drawn one and lost one. All in all we could be in for a cliffhanger tonight.

If you have a penchant for evening games at the Pan, it’s a bit like waiting for buses, because next Tuesday we host Billericay and in February European nights return to the Pan, when we host FC Beveren. We still have to squeeze in the East – West (Sussex) showdown with Horsham.

The business end of the season is fast approaching.

Enjoy the game and come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight’s game against Carshalton. Here are my thoughts from Saturday’s 4-2 win against Margate.

On Saturday I thought we had good 10-15-minute spells in the game, then we would come off it for a bit, then get back on it. By the end of the game, we maybe should have won by more, but coming off the result the week before, it was important we got back on track.

I don’t normally like to single out players, but I must say I thought Kalvin had his best game for us. It wasn’t just his goals. It was what he did off the ball. That is one area we needed to improve him on. It wasn’t the lack of effort that was the problem, it was the lack of understanding of the way we play without the ball that was holding him back.
That was the first time he had put everything together in one game, so I was delighted to see it. When I think of the standard of wide players we have had at Lewes, it’s frightening. The likes of Kalvin, Gondoh, Ola, Tanner, Raz, and Deon. Them players are worth the entry fee on their own!

Tonight’s game will be one of the hardest of the season. When Carshalton are hot, they are one of the best in the league, and have lost one game in seven coming into this. They will come with real pace in the final third and we are going to have to be on our best form to beat them.

This has the makings of a good game. We did a video session last night, so we know what is needed now. It’s just a case of executing what is required.

Keep up the support today and come on you Rooks!

Tony

🎬 "Cut the camera, cut the camera!!"

Inside training this week as we prepare for Margate! 👊#COYR🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/Ee41bTNRrg

— Lewes FC Men (@LewesFCMen) January 26, 2024

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).

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

Get your tickets for our next European game at the Dripping Pan NOW!

Lewes FC vs. KSK Beveren (7:45pm) – 27.02.2024

If Russell’s Rooks win, we confirm our qualification for the knockout rounds in Italy. It promises to be an incredible night!

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

Watch our recent trip to Belgium here:

A quick turnaround from Saturday’s 4-2 home win over Margate as tomorrow we do it all over again at the Dripping Pan against Carshalton. #COYR 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/OQHAo47aC3

— Lewes Social (@LewesSocial) January 29, 2024

• Carshalton is located in the London Borough of Sutton
• The club also field a women’s team playing in the London and South East Regional Women’s Premier Division and have one of the biggest community clubs in England with over 40 junior teams.
• Carshalton Athletic was bestowed with three community club awards throughout 2012 – the South East Regional Community Club of the Year, the Surrey FA Community Club of the Year and the FA National Community Club of the Year, the latter awarded to (the then) club chairman Frank Thompson, youth development officer Paul Williams and club director Kelly Anscombe  by ex-professional footballers Chris Kamara and Martin Keown, plus TV presenter Ben Shepherd.
• In the following year the club won the UEFA silver award for the best grassroots club in Europe, one of the greatest accolades in the club’s history.
• Club Chairman Paul Dipre announced the clubs ambitions to reach the National League by 2025. “The last ten years have put the club is in a very good place organisationally, financially and structurally, its time to push on with our first team ambitions”. Unfortunately, in March 2020, with Carshalton comfortably placed in the playoff positions, the league was curtailed by the COVID pandemic.
• Carshalton currently sit in 9th position, one place behind the Rooks, with 39 points, 5 points off the playoffs.

• Carshalton League Stats Away From Home:
• Drawn from going behind first the most (4)
• Scored the second highest amount of goals in the last 15 minutes (6)
• Conceded the most amount of goals in the first 15 minutes (5)

KWAKU FRIMPONG

Former AFC Wimbledon midfielder has netted 4 times for the Robins this season. The Welsh centre mid has been described as a ‘tough-tackling midfielder’, who also likes to take players on. Expect some battles between him and Penney for the ball.

RECENT HEAD TO HEAD

Date	Competition	Home		Away
23/10/23	Isthmian Premier League	Carshalton Athletic	1	Lewes	1
16/08/22	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	2	Carshalton	0
12/02/22	Isthmian Premier League	Carshalton Athletic	1	Lewes	2
02/11/21	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	1	Carshalton Athletic	0
11/01/20	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	0	Carshalton Athletic	1
30/09/19	Isthmian Premier League	Carshalton Athletic	1	Lewes	1

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

ON THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY – 30th JANUARY

My Asian Cup Overflows

Escapism: noun – the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.

I wouldn’t necessarily call a 50-odd hour, 7 game whirlwind trip to the Asian Cup in Qatar, escapism but here I was in very pleasant UK summeresque sunshine, looking forward to a weekend of international football.

The Asian Cup rarely gets the same billing in England as the African Cup of Nations, none more so for this tournament where the two are happening at the same time.  It wasn’t meant to be like this – the fact this is the 2023 Asian Cup gives the game away slightly.

China were the original hosts, with the tournament due to take place in the summer of 2023 but due to the strict regulations introduced by the Chinese government after the COVID-19 pandemic, they withdrew their intention to host in May 2022.  After a second round of bidding took place, Qatar, fresh from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, won the bid and shifted the tournament back to avoid the heat.

All but one of the World Cup stadiums were to be utilised- the 974 Stadium, made of shipping containers had been dismantled and their contents dispatched to their rightful owners.  Two smaller stadiums, with capacities less than 15,000 were added to the roster and despite an initial surge of ticket sales, according to the organisers, it seemed that was a sensible choice.

The tournament was wide open.  Japan arrived as favourites but Jürgen Klinsmann’s South Korea, Australia and the hosts themselves fancied their chances, mixing it up with rank outsiders including Syria, Tajikistan and Hong Kong.  The political element would also be hitting the headlines with Syria, Lebanon and Palestine all taking part in the three week tournament.

The opening game, to be held at the magnificent Lusail Stadium, saw Qatar hosting Lebanon, playing in just their 3rd tournament.  It was scheduled for 9pm initially, giving me plenty of time to get to the game after my flight was scheduled to land at 6:45pm.  Ticket secured, plan in place then the organisers moved kick off forward to 7pm.

I needed a wing and a prayer to make any of the game but I was determined not to miss the opportunity to visit one of the two stadiums I didn’t see a game in during the World Cup.  

90% of the passengers on my flight from Gatwick it seemed were in transit.  As I started the long and lonely walk from the gate to immigration my spirits sank with signs telling me it was an 18 minute walk.  It was 7:01pm, the game had kicked off.  

My saviour, of sorts, came in the form of a golf cart.  An airport worker was cruising the terminal looking for riders so I hopped on and sped down the empty walkways and deposited me at immigration.  

At 7:10 I was on the metro, heading north to Lusail.  Still 0-0.

The train pulled into Lusail at 7:45.  If I was lucky I’d get to see 40 minutes or so.  The station was rammed, with thousands of “fans” heading away from the stadium, many with branded bags of freebies given out by the hosts.  Had I not been here in Qatar for the World Cup I’d be concerned that I had screwed up my timings and the game was over.  But no, the practice it seems in these parts is to grab the freebies and run.  The official attendance will be recorded as 82,490.  By the start of the second half if there was more than half of that in the stadium I’d be stunned.

In theory with so many people departing you’d think getting in would be straight forward? Nope.  The route took me away from the stadium and continued into the horizon.  With a gap in the stewards, I hopped a barrier and joined the throng of exiting spectators as they headed for the metro, before diving off towards the  security checkpoint.

Having come straight from the airport I expected some issues in trying to take my bag in, and so it was.  The guards informed me that no food or drink could be taken in (fair enough), my toothbrush could be used as a weapon and that my pair of converse were a definite no-no as I could wave them around as an insult to people. So, back to the restricted items storage unit, check the bag in, explain why I had a spare pair of shoes and then back to security.

As I entered the stadium and started the long walk up to the cheap seats there was a cheer.  Not deafening to be a Qatar goal but surprisingly loud if it was for Lebanon.  All was revealed when I finally reached my seat.  It was a second goal of the evening for Qatar, scored by Almoez Ali, which had been greeted by a stadium that was now a quarter full at best.  

I simply can’t fathom why.  It’s not like there were other major events or attractions on where everyone was heading to.  It had been the same when I’d seen Qatar face Senegal at the World Cup when the Al Thumama stadium was half empty by the thirty minute mark.

I intended to get my money’s worth anyway – my ticket, the most expensive of the seven games I’d go to had cost me £18.  Qatar’s squad were very unusually for today’s international game, all drawn from domestic clubs whilst Lebanon had the novelty of an English player on the bench, AFC Wimbledon’s Omar Bugiel.

According to FIFA Rankings, this was 58th v 107th, and it showed.  Both teams seemed goal shy, preferring possession than attack.  It took a good ten minutes after my arrival to see the first shot, by which time another few thousand fans had departed.  The introduction of Bugiel did provide Lebanon with their greatest threat on goal and twice he came close.  But with six minutes of injury time played, Qatar scored their third when Akram Afif drilled home from 10 yards.

We kept on going and the additional ten minutes played turned out to be a saviour.  Despite the long walking route set out by the organisers to the metro, by the time I got there the crowds had all but gone and by 10:30pm I was back at base camp opposite the Education City stadium.

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

The makers of this kit, Stanno, I’ve genuinely never heard of, and if they’re all like this it’s not hard to see why. Not bad, necessarily, just plain as you like – not even a weird sponsor logo to brighten things up, just white on red. A big decline from last season’s spider web vibe, but at least it’s pretty clean by virtue of being boring. 6/10

Away

More of the same, just in a different colour. The obnoxiously bright yellow doesn’t do much to change the otherwise boring design you could see on a Sunday league’s finest sportsdirect template. Boring kit, boring review. 5/10

As things stand, our under 18’s are second in the table behind Worthing, after Thursday night’s 3-2 home defeat against the league leaders. Our current top goal scorer is Harley Dawson, with 9 goals in 8 appearances.

The Rooks were back in action on Thursday night, after over a month without a game. Worthing took the lead in the 8th minute, after a goal mouth scramble, with Stan Berry eventually slotting the ball into the net. Lewes quickly bounced back just minutes after, after a fantastic looping through ball by right back Luigi Santos put Harley Dawson through on goal, who took the ball round the keeper to make it 1-1. Late into the first half, an incredible volley was struck outside the box, for our number 1 Michael Wickramasinghe to pull off an incredible save, and received a round of applause from the 61 fans in attendance. Worthing scored again just before the end of the half, with a fantastic strike from Freddie Chester, from just outside of the box, into the top right hand corner to make it 2-1 to Worthing at HT.

The second half saw both Worthing and Lewes with spells of possession, as both sides tried to gain control of the game. Lewes equalised in the middle of the half, after a goalkeeper error allowed Dawson to slot home once again. As the game was nearing a close, it was Worthing who secured the win, after some clever passes and dribbles into the box, Berry once again dealt Lewes a blow, to make it 3-2 to Worthing. Lewes came close to finding an equaliser, as keeper Luca Allen lost the ball to Dawson, whose shot was blocked by a defenders ankle in the way of the goal, denying the Rooks from finding an equaliser to make it 3-3. The game finished 3-2 to Worthing, but the Rooks can take positives from their performance, as we now focus on our next game against Horsham YMCA, at the Dripping Pan, Thursday (1st Feb) at 7:45PM. Come down and support our young Rooks!

For more information on our U18’s, please visit: https://fulltime.thefa.com/table.html?league=854276820&selectedSeason=247163682&selectedDivision=960625557&selectedCompetition=0&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_153605376

How was last season?
It took until the 22^nd October until the club won their first league game, an impressive 3-0 win at Canvey Island. A few days later they beat Brightlingsea Regent 5-0, but they only won one more game before the end of the year.  At this stage, they looked doomed and were in the relegation zone but after they lost 5-0 to us at the end of January they won five of the last eight to lift themselves out of trouble.  Whilst results then were hit and miss, they won three of their last four games to secure Isthmian Premier League football for another season.

Isthmian League Premier Division – 16^th – P 42 W 12 D 12 L 18 GS 53 GA 64 GD -11 PTS 48

• FA Cup – Second Qualifying Round – Hendon (A) 1-3
• FA Trophy – First Round Proper – Uxbridge (A) 2-4
• London Senior Cup – Semi-Final– Haringey Borough (A) 0-1
• Isthmian League Cup – Third Round – Hullbridge Sports (A) 2-3

When did we last meet Wingate & Finchley?
We kicked off our campaign last season with a 1-1 draw at Wingate & Finchley with our goal coming from midfielder Ronan Silva (remember him?) in the 51^st minute, before Ryan Kearney equalising in the 58^th minute on an absolutely roasting afternoon.

On a freezing cold evening in January, after our original home date in December was frozen off, the Rooks raced to a 4-0 first half lead, thanks to goals from Deon Moore, Joe Taylor double (one from the spot) and Ryan Gondoh, although the visitors had centre-back Michael Olarewaju red carded on the half hour mark.  Wingate & Finchley put in a strong shift in the second half, and it was only in the 90^th minute when Lewes added a fifth with a superb effort from Rhys Murrell-Williams.

Our last six meetings

W 1 D 3 L 2 GS 11 GA 10

About The Maurice Rebak Stadium
The Maurice Rebak Stadium, named after one of the founders of the club is a pretty decent ground in pleasant surroundings. The main stand, notable for its art-deco curves and glass holds around 400 and is raised above ground level so that you get a nice, elevated view of the game. In front of  is some uncovered terracing, backed by a hedge.

On the opposite side of the pitch is a very narrow covered terrace which allows away fans to huddle together a create a bit of a noise.  There is a decent sized covered terrace to the left, behind the goal but at the other end there is very little room at the other end and it is just hard standing.

The bar is a decent size and his hidden under the main stand, with food served to the left of the entrance.

How to get to The Maurice Rebak Stadium
The ground is actually relatively straight forward to find – the issue is the traffic!  Head up the A23/M23 then head into London on the A2 and pass under the Blackwall Tunnel.  Follow the A12 until it reaches the A406 North Circular at The Redbridge Roundabout and follow this west0wards (anti-clockwise).  Stay on the A406 until you pass by the BP garage where the road reduces to two lanes.  At the junction with the A1000 (East Finchley) leave the road.   

At the end of the slip road turn left at the lights. Go straight over the next set of lights, then after 100m pass through another set of lights.  Then at the next set of lights turn right into Summers Lane. The ground is a few hundred metres down on the right-hand side.  Do NOT park in the rugby club next door as you may get locked in, instead use street parking.  Distance from Lewes is 94 miles and should take around 2 hours to drive.

The nearest station is New Southgate in Travelcard Zone 4, approximately 1.5 miles from the ground.

At the top of the station steps take the right-hand gangway which brings you onto Station Road. Head left up Station Road towards bus stop. The regular 382 service to Millbrook Park goes via Summers Lane and takes about 5-10 minutes. You will need to alight at the Woodgrange Avenue stop, which is a short walk to the ground. 

The nearest Underground station is West Finchley Station (Northern Line – High Barnet branch).

The station is a 10/15-minute walk away from the Ground. Alternatively go to East Finchley Station and get a 263 bus heading North towards Barnet. Get off at the bus stop just after Summers Lane traffic lights.

Admission at The Maurice Rebak Stadium
Admission last season was £12 for adults, £6 for concessions (senior citizens and students), Under18s are admitted free of charge.  

Fancy a beer?
The nearest pub to the ground is the Elephant Inn on the corner of Ballards Lane and Hutton Grove (on the walk from West Finchley tube) which has some decent beers and a Thai restaurant upstairs.  The Tally Ho is your nearest Wetherspoons, located as Finchley High Road splits just north of the ground but I’d imagine a fair few fans will head for the Bohemia in High Road, known for its excellent selection of craft beers.

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. When League champions Manchester United hosted Isthmian League Walthamstow Avenue there was only one expected winner – but the unexpected happened. In front of a 34,748 Old Trafford crowd the non-leaguers held their own and came away with a 1-1 draw. The replay the following Thursday attracted a crowd of 49,119 – it was played at Highbury – but the dream ended for the non-leaguers with United winning 5-2. 
2. In an article printed in The Times on this day in 1999 England manager Glenn Hoddle gave his views on reincarnation and his belief that people born disabled were paying for sins committed in a previous life. Condemned by every right-minded person three days later he became the ex-England manager.
3. The 35 Football League and FA Cup matches played on Saturday 30th January 1937 ended in 25 home wins and 10 draws – not one away side managed a victory.
4. One of the greatest giantkilling acts in FA Cup history – mid-table Southern League side Yeovil Town beat mighty Sunderland 2-1 on the famous sloping Huish pitch. More amazingly still they effectively did it with only 10 fit players when winger Jack Hargreaves was injured after only 10 minutes and was only a passenger after that – no subs in those days. A crowd of 17,000 saw Yeovil score through player-manager Alec Stock and Eric Bryant with Jackie Robinson scoring for Sunderland.
5. On this day in 2016 our away game at Hendon fell foul of the weather.