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

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A very warm Lewes welcome to our guests from Horsham this evening for what promises to be a great game under the lights.

Horsham sit in fourth place in the table having garnered ten more points than the Rooks having played the same number of games. If Lewes are to make the play offs we have little error for margin and we need a repeat of our performance at the Camping World Community Stadium last month. Horsham have won six out of their seven games since that defeat whilst the Rooks have found problems turning dominance into goals and have dropped down the league.

Hopefully bolstered by a good crowd the team will be lifted to achieving the double against Horsham and keep us in the running for a playoff place.

Whatever the result lets hope for a fantastic evening’s entertainment.

Come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight’s fixture against Horsham. Here are my thoughts from our recent games.

I woke up on the day of the Concord game to the news that four players were out of the game. Ronnie got a bang on the head vs Dulwich, so it was still no good. Luke picked up a calf injury, and Archie and Murts picked up knocks in Oslo, so it wasn’t ideal.

We started the game slowly, but we were still in control. But there was no zip to our play, and then, out of nowhere, the ref gave a pen for a foul that was outside of the box. The goal woke us up, and for the next 30 minutes, I thought we were excellent. Our ball speed was perfect, and they played a shape that meant we had the overload out wide. We put a lot of balls in the box, and Welps could have scored 4-5 in that first half. We got the 2nd goal. Then, without us driving the game, it went a bit flat, so the last 20 minutes were pretty much a non-event. We had only got back from Oslo Thursday, and with low numbers, we looked a bit leggy, but credit to the players, they see the game out with no dramas, and it felt nice to drive home with 3 points.

Alongside Hornchurch, Horsham is the best side in our league for me. Dom has been in this league for 5-6 seasons now, and year after year, he has added to the core group, so now you have a group of players who have played lots of games for the manager, so fully understand what he wants from them. What we do without the ball will determine how this game goes. Horsham is the model for non-league clubs. Great stability on and off the pitch and build year on year. We are going to need to be at our best to win this one. I’m hoping to have one or two back for this game. We need everyone fit because we are in the middle of 5 games in 13 days, so we are going to need everyone to step up.

Enjoy the game!

Tony

Lewes returned to winning ways in the league, as goals from Chris Whelpdale and Ola Ogunwamide saw the Rooks come from behind to beat Concord Rangers 2-1 at the Pan.

Tony Russell made several changes to the side that played in Oslo in the Fenix Trophy on Wednesday, with Ogunwamide returning to the side in place of new signing Walter Figueira and Bradley Pritchard captaining the team in the absence of Ronnie Vint.

Lewes saw plenty of the ball early on but it was the visitors who had the first attempt on goal, Frederick Agyemang stinging the palms of Nathan Harvey from the edge of the area.

Concord were handed an excellent chance to take the lead on 19 minutes, as Harrison Day ran in behind Sam Oguntayo before being fouled by the left-back in the area.

Day took the spot-kick himself, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner to put the visitors 1-0 up.

The Rooks could and arguably should have equalised almost immediately, as the unmarked Whelpdale headed an Oguntayo cross wide at the far post.

Ayo Olukoga was the next player to go close for Lewes, guiding a strike from the edge of the area just wide after patient build-up play.

Lewes finally scored the equaliser their pressure had been threatening on 35 minutes, Oguntayo delivering another superb cross from the left which Whelpdale headed back across Mason Terry and into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Whelpdale went close again minutes later, heading a Sanchez Ming cross against the inside of the post before the ball was hacked off the line by a covering defender.

Concord were struggling to keep tabs on Whelpdale, who headed yet another dangerous cross onto the roof of the net before drawing a smart save from Terry with a close-range strike just before half-time.

Lewes remained on the front foot at the start of the second half and took a deserved lead on 58 minutes, as Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala broke free down the left, despite appeals from the visitors that an attempted clearance had struck his arm, and saw his effort saved by Terry, only for Ogunwamide to roll the rebound into the empty net.

With Lewes having only returned from Oslo on Thursday and Concord having played twice during the week due to a fixture backlog, it was perhaps unsurprising that the tempo of the game slowed and there was very little goalmouth action for much of the second half.

The Rooks managed the remainder of the encounter comfortably and came close to adding a spectacular third goal late on, as Marcus Sablier sent a long-range half-volley just wide.

This was a deserved win for Lewes, who will hope to build on it when they welcome Horsham to the Pan on Tuesday, kick-off at 7.45pm.

Lewes: Harvey, Ming, Elliott, Penney, Oguntayo, Olukoga, Pritchard, Sablier, Ogunwamide (Gondoh 84), Lumbombo-Kalala (Figueira 76), Whelpdale (Wood 89).

Unused Subs: Murtagh, Dreher.

Booked: Ming.

Concord Rangers: Terry, Hasley, Martin (Rusoke 46), Steward, Dupray, Allen, Bland, Mbonkwi (Deslandes 54), Agyemang, Day (Desa 61), Ifeanyi.

Unused Subs: Apat, Burton.

Booked: Terry, Dupray.

Attendance: 970

• Although Horsham Football Club can trace its roots back to 1871, the playing of matches depended entirely on the availability of enough players to form a side and it wasn’t until the club reformed in 1881 that fixtures were played on a more regular basis.
• A founding member of the Sussex County FA and the West Sussex Senior League, of which the club were crowned champions three years running at the start of the 20^th century, progress continued to be made as Horsham secured Queen Street as its permanent home in 1904 where they would remain until 2008.
• In 1963, Horsham found themselves placed in Division One of the Athenian League following the decision to absorb the Corinthian and Delphian leagues to create a new three-tiered structure of the Athenian. After a mass exodus of players, Horsham were forced to rebuild with a young, local team that would peak at 4^th place in 1964/65 only to become the first Horsham side ever to be relegated the following season. Under coach Pat Tobin, the team was rebuilt once more and this reaped dividends in 1966/67 when the club hosted Swindon Town in the first round of the FA Cup in front of a record 7,134 crowd.
• Progress was made under the management of Peter Evans from 1990, during which time the club reached the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, though under his replacement, John Yems, Horsham once again propped up the entire league in 1993/4 leading to the appointment of former captain Mark Dunk as manager. He led his side to the Division Three championship in 1995/96, narrowly missing out on a second successive promotion before departing in 1997.
• Three years of lower mid-table obscurity followed before former Crawley Town boss John Maggs took over as manager in January 2000, taking a struggling side out of the relegation zone to Division Two runners-up in three seasons and a play-off final appearance against Bromley in 2004/05. Promotion to the Premier Division was achieved the following season with another runners-up finish and the club went on to establish itself as a consistent performer, even challenging for a place in Conference South in 2007/8 before ending up 11^th. The Hornets made history in 2007/08 by reaching the second round proper of the FA Cup and taking eventual League One champions Swansea City to a replay, with both matches shown live on Sky TV.
• Having sold their ground for redevelopment at the end of the season, Horsham played at Worthing during 2008/09 and again reached the fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup where they took Conference side Stevenage Borough to a replay before ending an injury-ravaged year in thirteenth place. Season 2009/10 saw a return to Horsham, entering into a groundshare agreement with their old neighbours Horsham YMCA as their quest for a new ground continued, but fortunes were on the wane and an acute overhaul of the club’s finances in 2011 resulted in the departure of Maggs and virtually the entire playing squad.
• After a season-long battle with Eastbourne Town in the Sussex County League, which Horsham hadn’t competed in since 1951, Horsham took the title by eleven points to secure a record-equalling 8^th County League title, thus securing an immediate return to the Isthmian League. During that 2015/16 campaign, the club recorded a club record 97 points whilst conceding the fewest goals in their history (22). Off the pitch the club finally got the news it longed for when, on March 21st 2017, a revised ground application was submitted and overwhelmingly approved by HDC, meaning work could finally begin on constructing a new community stadium off the Worthing Road.
• Hopes that the club might start the 2018/19 campaign in the new ground went unfulfilled but the disappointment didn’t seem to affect the players who turned their temporary home into something of a fortress, losing just four matches in all competitions. From early December, the Hornets never dropped below fourth place, eventually finishing as runners-up to Cray Wanderers and securing their deserved promotion via a play-off final victory over Ashford United to return to the Premier Division after an absence of seven years.
• However, the joy of this success was in stark contrast to that felt when Club President Frank King passed away just weeks before his beloved Hornets finally took ownership of their fabulous new ground. But the players did his memory proud, confounding expectations by occupying one of the play-off spots for much of 2019/2020, topping the division on more than one occasion, whilst also reaching the last four of the Isthmian League Cup for the first time, only for the campaign – as it would also be in 2020/21 – declared null and void due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Although it ultimately counted for nothing, their standing of 6^th place at the premature conclusion to the season represented the highest finish in the club’s history
• The 2021/22 season was the first fully completed campaign at the new ground and although a lengthy injury list soon put to any hopes of another promotion, there was plenty to celebrate in the cups as the Hornets overcame the odds to battle through to only their fourth appearance in the FA Cup first round. A 2-0 loss in Cumbria put paid to the heroics but the team would end the season with silverware after beating Margate 4-0 to earn the Isthmian League Cup (Velocity Trophy) for the first time in their history.
• By contrast, last season produced little cup success although early exits in each of the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Velocity Trophy focussed the minds on an improved league placing, which was achieved with a best-ever 7^th. In addition, the club topped the division’s attendance charts with an average of 920.

James Hammond

The Hornets beat off interest from a number of clubs to secure James’ signature this summer, following his decision to leave Eastbourne Borough after three years with the National League South side. A busy midfielder, ‘Hammo’ made his senior debut as a 16 year old at Peacehaven & Telscombe from whom he joined Lewes in 2015, going on to make almost 200 appearances and helping the Rooks to promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2017. Since joining Borough in 2020, he had made more than a century of appearances in The Sports’ engine room, including an FA Cup 1st round tie with Blackpool and a play-off quarter-final. With 10 goals so far this season, will Hammond add to his tally tonight?

RECENT HEAD TO HEAD

24th Feb 2024	Isthmian Premier League	Horsham	1	Lewes	3
14th Feb 2023	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	1	Horsham	1
13th Sep 2022	Isthmian Premier League	Horsham	2	Lewes	0
27th Dec 2021	Isthmian Premier League	Horsham	1	Lewes	3
30th Aug 2021	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	0	Horsham	0

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

ON THIS DAY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY – 26th March

I canarini non riescono a trovare la loro canzone

Frosinone, like many provincial towns in Italy, enjoys a stunning location.  Surrounded on three sides by the Ernici and Lepini mountains, in what is known as the Valle Latina (“The Latin Valley”), there’s few better vistas on a sunny day that the view from the old town across the surrounding area.  However, arrive on a misty evening, where you are doing circuits of the tiny one-way alley ways of said old town looking for a parking space, it isn’t so serene and beautiful.

We’d headed south from Terni, down the A1 and finally located our hotel.  There was a spooky feel about the deserted streets when we headed out for dinner.  We’d got a recommendation from someone to go to A La Rosa, a family run restaurant on our route back from the pub.  It was 8.30pm and one table was taken.  We went in but whether it was our half-arsed attempts to speak Italian, or the fact they simply wanted an easy Saturday night, the answer to our request for a table for two (or twenty, twenty-two or two hundred) was that they were fully booked.  A sweeping gesture with a hand over the empty restaurant hardly reassured us that it was true.  We went next door.  They had pasta and that was good enough for us.

Sunday morning dawned and the mist still hung over the elevated old town.  The BBC weather app said it would clear and we’d have a beautiful sunny late morning.  By 10:45am when we parked a short walk from Stadio Benito Stirp the clouds were slowly drifting over the mountain tops, revealing a stunning blue sky.

The fan stalls were in operation, the food vans serving up porchetta roles and grilling beef steaks, adding colour to the aroma of the Sunday lunchtime kick off.  Fans milled around, enjoying the sunshine and the relaxed atmosphere.  It was a million miles away from some of the scenes we see back in England.  Danny and I debated whether 12.30pm on a Sunday was the perfect kick-off time.  Early enough to get back home for a proper Sunday lunch and an afternoon stroll in day light, or even get to another game (naturally).

We filled our bags full of football tat just as the Torino fans turned up.  Despite the early start, and the 450-mile journey from Turin, they had sold out their allocation and were in good voice as we entered the stadium.  The view from our seats was stunning.  Up there with my wedding day, almost.  Snow-peaked mountains, framed by a brilliant blue sky above the stands on three sides.  Add in our porchetta rolls filling an elevenses hole this was the best day ever.

The Stadio Benito Stirp is a fantastic stadium, despite being rather modest in size.  A capacity of just over 16,000, with one main stand, with its steel legs setting it apart from the rest of the ground that was one continuous wrap around.  The redevelopment of the old municipal ground, known as the Matusa, started as far back as the mid-1980s but due to a lack of cash, and need as the club played in Serie C, wasn’t completed until 2017, just after the club had tasted Serie A football for the first time.  After returning for another season in 2018-19, they were relegated but were promoted as champions of Serie B again last season.

Desperate to avoid a swift return for the third time to Serie B, the club strengthened their squad in the summer and came into the game against Torino sitting nicely in mid-table, one point and one place behind the visitors.  The club anthem rang out around the ground as the two teams emerged into the sunshine.  We joined in, twirling our scarves above our heads like there was no tomorrow.

“What do you want from this game Stu?” Danny asked.  I’m a simple man so I just wanted a sending off, a penalty and a controversial VAR decision.  What I didn’t expect was to see all, or in fact, none happen in the space of 30 first half seconds.

The game started cautiously with the away side slightly shading it, but our gaze was still on the stunning backdrop when the Torino bench were furious that Frosinone’s Anthony Oyono remained on the pitch, having been booked early doors then flying into a second tackle high and late.  But Torino’s ire turned to fortune a few minutes later when Kaio Jorge appeared to be pulled to the ground in the area as he was clean through.  The referee initially gave the Frosinone player a yellow for diving but on the advice of the VAR team, he was summoned to the pitch side monitor.  A minute later he sprinted across the pitch but didn’t give the penalty, instead awarding Torino a free kick for an alleged foul in the build-up.  Jorge’s yellow still stood.

We changed ends at half-time in true non-League fashion, with a different perspective of a similarly stunning backdrop of mountains.  Torino looked the most likely to break the deadlock but never really without troubling Stefano Turati in the Frosinone goal.  They did have the ball in the back of the net in injury time, but the flag was already up.

The full-time whilst saw the players take the applause of the fans before they headed off for their Sunday roast.  We wandered back to the car, still in awe of the surroundings we found ourselves in before we headed back up the road to our final game of the weekend, a tasty Serie D encounter in the village of Genzano di Roma.  Ciao, Frosinone, my new Italian mistress.

ON THE ROAD TO…FOLKESTONE INVICTA

How was last season?
After another summer of big spending, it came as a surprise to most that Folkestone started off the season so badly.  At the halfway point of the season they sat down in 13^th place and veteran manager Neil Cugley moved upstairs, as the club brought in Roland Edge.  Results improved and for a couple weeks in March they flirted with the play-offs before a poor run of just four points from their final eight games saw them finish in 12^th.  Rumours of upheavals in the board room and numerous high-profile (and high paid) players leaving means it’s uncertain to what this season holds for them.

Isthmian League Premier – 12^th – P 42 W 18 D 5 L 19 GS 73 GA 65 GD +8 PTS 59

• FA Cup – Fourth Qualifying Round – Merthyr Town (A) 1-2
• FA Trophy – Third Qualifying Round – Leiston (H) 1-1 – Lost on penalties 4-1
• Kent Senior Cup – First Round – Cray Valley Paper Mills (A) 1-3
• Isthmian League Cup – Fourth Round – Margate (A) 0-1

When did we last meet Folkestone Invicta?
The Rooks did the double over Invicta last season, albeit in two close games.  At the Pan in November, it ended 3-2 with all five goals coming in the first half.  Joe Taylor gave the Rooks the lead in the 14^th minute only for Robbie Dolan to equalise three minutes later.  The lead lasted barely 60 seconds before Rhys Murrell-Williamson restored the lead.  Taylor added a second before former Rook Ian Draycott made it 3-2 just before the break.

In a stormy affair down at Folkestone Deon Moore was the hero, scoring a 90^th minute winner.  Moore had put Lewes ahead in the 36^th minute only for Scott Heard to equalise in the 73^rd minute.  Ten minutes later Heard was sent off for a late challenge on Ryan Gondoh which infuriated the home fans and bench, but not as much as when Moore netted the winner deep in injury time.

Our last six meetings

W 4 D 1 L 1 GS 6 GA 10

About The Alcaline Stadium
Without a doubt, one of the best Non-League grounds…depending on when you visit.  The steep open terrace at the Cricket Ground end offers superb views of the North Downs and Kent countryside, perfect for the early or late season game.  In the winter it offers little respite from the driving wind and rain.  At the far end is a great six-step terrace with a low roof that allows you to generate a great atmosphere.

The hardcore Invicta fans stand on a terrace behind the dugouts, which also has the Aladdin’s Cave of a programme and memorabilia shop – worth the admission fee on its own.  On the same side in the corner is the changing room block that also has a bar upstairs.  On the entrance side is the main bar and one of the best cafes around, with an imaginative menu and cooked fresh to order.  The area in front is paved and has seats so you don’t miss any of the action whilst waiting. 

The 400 seat Brain Merryman Stand, aka The Grandad’s Stand probably offers the worst views in the ground, and that’s a bit harsh but just shows how good it is elsewhere to watch the game and the countryside.

How to get to The Alcaline Stadium
It’s a fair old trek down to Folkestone Invicta but it is certainly worth the journey.  Head up the A23/M23 then anti-clockwise on the M25.  At junction 5 stay on the road as it becomes the M26.  This will then become the M20 and you need to stay on this until junction 13, then head south onto the A20 (Cherry Garden Avenue). At the traffic lights, turn left onto the A2034 (Cheriton Road), pass the Harvey Grammar School and Stripes club – the ground is next left before Morrisons’ supermarket, opposite the cemetery. Some car parking is available at the ground, with street parking around Cherry Garden Avenue your alternative option.  Journey time for the 100-mile trip is around an hour and a half assuming the traffic is good. 

There is an alternative route cross-country for those averse to the British motorway system that involves following slow-moving vehicles down country lanes which is 40 miles shorter but may take around the same time.

If you are coming by rail then disembark at Folkestone West (Folkestone Central is about same distance from ground). On leaving the station follow Station Road right and take left onto Beachborough Road, then right onto Cheriton Road. The ground is visible on the left-hand side of the road, immediately after the Harvey Grammar School.  It is around a 2-hour slog by train, either up to London Victoria and then out again or via Hampden Park and Ashford International.

Admission at The Alcaline Stadium
Admission last season was £12 for adults, £8 for concessions (senior citizens and students), Under18s £3 and accompanied under 5s are admitted free of charge.  

Fancy a beer?
There’s very few pubs within walking distance of the ground, although there is the Park Inn Hotel opposite Folkestone Central.  However, get into the town centre early and head down to the harbour-side for some excellent offerings on The Stade including The Royal George, The Ship Inn and The Mariner.

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
Chair Trevor Wells
Directors Priscila Aldridge, Jen Kerrison, Tom McJennett, Joe Short, Stan Lahood, Steve Watts, John Peel, Trevor Wells, Ben Hall
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. Twelve years later on March 26th 2008 a 32-year-old David Beckham won his 100th England cap. A LA Galaxy player at the time, the 32 year old lasted 63 minutes of what was a disappointing 1-0 friendly defeat in France before being substituted.
2. A week after the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy was stolen in London a dog named Pickles found the missing trophy in Beulah Hill in Upper Norwood in South London.
3. Chesterfield 4-4 Grimsby with the attendance 4,444. What were the odds of that happening!
4. Ian Botham was best known as a cricketer but on this day in 1980 he made his debut as a footballer for Scunthorpe United, coming on as a sub in the Division 4 match at Bournemouth. He couldn’t be described as a footballing legend at the Old Show Ground – he didn’t make his starting debut for another 2 years (and that a 7-2 home defeat by Wigan) and in all played for Scunthorpe in 11 League matches and an FA Cup tie.
5. Chris Whelpdale scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory for Peterborough United against Leicester City.