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

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Welcome to another summer afternoon at the Dripping Pan and of course a warm welcome to our visitors from Hashtag United.

Someone wiser than me (Aristotle I believe) once said words to the effect that “One swallow does not a summer make, neither does one day. Similarly neither can one day, or a brief space of time, make a man blessed and happy”. You probably get my drift that the Rooks have had a very good week with two wins on the bounce but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves.

We all know that the Isthmian Premier League season is a long and ardous one which will be littered with ups and downs but I am delighted for Craig and the team on how the season has started and how the players have bonded with not only each over but the supporters.

We know that Hashtag will again represent a stiff challenge but let’s hope that we can land a hat-trick of wins and keep this positive buzz going.

Before I sign off in addition to wishing Craig and the team a successful afternoon, let us not forget that the Women’s team start their season tomorrow with an away fixture to AFC Wimbledon. Here’s hoping that Nat Lawrence and her team can get off to a winning start (also best wishes to Hashtag United Women for their opening fixture against Watford).

Returning to summer quotes as Charles Bowden wrote “Summertime is always the best of what might be”. Or if you prefer the works of Paul Weller, don’t let the long hot summer pass you by and get along to the Dripping Pan.

Come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Welcome to the Dripping Pan!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Dripping Pan to all our loyal fans and today’s match Officials. Whether you’ve been with us for years or this is your first time at the Pan, your support is what makes this club so special.

Today, we also welcome the fans, players, and management team of Hashtag United. We hope you enjoy your time at the Pan

What a start to the season!

Opening day at the Pan saw us claim a fantastic 2-0 victory against Chatham Town, setting the tone for what we hope will be a memorable campaign. The atmosphere was electric, and the energy you brought to the stands truly made the difference. We then backed that up with a gritty 1-0 win over Bognor Regis Town on Tuesday night, showing the kind of determination and resilience that we’ll need throughout the season. I can still hear you all now, LEEEEWWWWEEESSS,  LEEEEWWWWEEESSS, LEEEEWWWWEEESSS!

Today’s Opponent

Today, we face Hashtag United, they’ve done amazingly well, building a strong and competitive team in such a short time. I have tremendous respect for what they’ve achieved, and we’re expecting a fiercely contested match. We know today’s game will be a tough one—they’ll come here full of confidence from their win against Canvey Island in the week but we’re ready to keep this momentum going.

The squad is full of confidence, and we’re determined to continue this winning run. But we can’t do it alone, we need every single one of you to get behind the team once again. Your voices, your passion, your deafening support make all the difference. Let’s turn the Pan into a cauldron of noise and make it a place where victory feels inevitable.

Get loud, get behind the lads, and let’s make today a day to remember!

Come on you Rooks!

Pitts

Nelson on Winning Start, Hashtag and Meeting Fans

Craig Nelson says seeing the celebrations among Lewes fans at the full-time whistle at Bognor was just reward for a gritty performance on Tuesday night, and hopes to make it three wins on the bounce when Hashtag arrive at the Pan this weekend.

The Rooks backed up last Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Chatham with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Bognor in midweek.

Eddie Allsopp grabbed the late winner at Nyewood Lane, while Toby Bull had another excellent night between the sticks.

And Pitts insists there’s even more to come from his side as they prepare for Saturday’s 3pm kick off.

“The boys were happy we got the job done,” he said. “We’ve shown over the last two games that we’re hard to break down, demonstrating a lot of grit and determination to get over the line.

“A great finish by Eddie late on, but the boys wouldn’t shy away from saying that they expect better from themselves, and we will continue to hold our high standards. There’s lots of room for improvement going forward, but ultimately we’re really happy.”

‘We can keep this up’
Two wins on the bounce to kick off the new season means Lewes sit second in the Isthmian Premier League. It’s been a rapid start for a managerial set-up and playing squad that are still learning from each other. And the boss isn’t taking anything for granted.

“Our start has been fantastic,” he said. “If you’d said to me six weeks ago you’d play Chatham and Bognor and get six points, I’d have taken your arm off for it.

“We’ve shown lots of moments of good connections between the players, whilst being defensively solid. We need to keep energy levels high. We can’t do anything about the performances in the previous games, so now we can look forward to training and making sure we get it right on Saturday.

“As long as the boys continue to show the dedication and commitment to what we’re trying to achieve here, that they’ve been showing me already, then we can keep this up.”

Hashtag beat Canvey 2-1 on Tuesday to record their first victory of the season, following a 2-0 home defeat to Cray Wanderers at the weekend. The Rooks earned a 3-1 win at the Pan when these sides met in September last year and Pitts expects the home support to again give the Rooks the edge.

“When any team comes to the Pan, we’ve got to make it a place they don’t want to be,” he said. “As long as we show what we’ve shown in the last couple games, and our defensive structures good, we can see that we will get moments in the game to put the ball in the net.

“We will prepare the team right and expect three points, but we also know its about the hard work that we’re going to put into the game to make sure we deserve the win. It’ll be a tough game, I don’t think there are any easy games in this league, but at the Pan with the fans behind us, we need to give our all.”

Meet fans in the bar!
Indeed, with just two league games and a handful of pre-season friendlies under his belt, Pitts is beginning to understand why Lewes has such a vocal fanbase.

Reflecting on his time so far, he said: “The fans were amazing on Tuesday. To be so loud throughout the whole of the game in their numbers, along with getting the goal late on, was absolute scenes, and to enjoy it with them after the game was even better.

“Saturday’s home game against Chatham, too, was fantastic, you could really feel the energy in the Pan, and it drives us forward. Long may it continue!

“We’d like to see a few more of them in the bar after the game, for them to get to know the staff and players better too.”

Bull Thanks Analysis Team For Penalty Heroics

New Lewes goalkeeper Toby Bull says the background research done by the Rooks’ analysis team gave him the edge in his crucial penalty save during Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Chatham.

Lewes were a goal up with just seven minutes remaining when Chatham’s Jamie Yila stepped up for what could have been a decisive penalty.

But Bull got his prediction right and dived low to his left to deny the visitors an equaliser.

It would mark the end of a spell of Chatham pressure that Lewes did well to sustain in the second half, and moments later Danny Bassett doubled the Rooks’ lead to secure all three points.

“To begin with I was furious because we gave away penalties in pre-season too,” said Bull after the game.

“Initially I was thinking ‘oh not another one’ but then you get in the zone and start working on how to save it.

“It’s all down to our analysis team – they sent me loads of background research this morning. I looked through it all and obviously wasn’t totally sure who was going to take it until it happened, but I knew what to do.

“His head was up, looking at me and his body shape was right – and the work paid off! I was confident going into the penalty because I knew in my head that if I just stuck to doing the right thing I’d save it. The relief when it stayed in my hands was incredible too!”

Supporters who hang around for a post-match pint in the Rook Inn could hear the Lewes players celebrating their win in the dressing room above.

But Bull insists the focus is already turning to Tuesday’s trip to Bognor.

“We’ll enjoy the game now, it’s our first win as a group and we’ll enjoy tonight,” he said. “But then the focus is straight on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we can pick up another three points but it is going to be difficult. Bognor away for a lot of these boys is quite a long journey but it should be a good contest. They have a nice pitch as well, which will allow us to play how we like.

“I’m looking forward to Tuesday because we can build on this result. In pre-season we played well but didn’t win enough games or score enough goals. Beating this Chatham side showed that we have inside ourselves what we need to dig deep, push through and get wins.”

We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Sussex’s oldest, independent brewery, Harvey’s. The new partnership will see us serving a full range of Harvey’s products throughout the Dripping Pan and coincides with the launch of their new table beer – Sisters – which champions the women inside Harvey’s who have played a significant role in securing their success and sustainability within the industry. 

Alongside Harvey’s we have revamped our cellar, optimised our ability to serve swiftly, and provided a brand-new feel to the Rook Inn, with a new bar set-up. Together, we have also ensured we are more sustainable by reducing our wastage, and that we can deliver amazing-quality beer to all, at every game. This season’s offer will include a wide variety of Harvey’s beers at every Lewes FC home game and a variety of guest beers from other Sussex-based breweries.

Lewes FC Director Joe Short said: “Our agreement with Harvey’s is part of a strategy to continually improve the club’s facilities and the fan experience for supporters at the Dripping Pan. We are a community-owned club, here to serve our fans, and we are delighted Harvey’s have come onboard to help us to deliver that going forward.

“We’re so proud to deepen our partnership with Lewes FC, with our range of beers now being served throughout The Dripping Pan. It’s especially exciting to launch our rebranded ‘Sisters Table Beer’ at a club renowned for its groundbreaking thirst for, and commitment to, gender equality. We say, ‘Cheers to Lewes FC!’

We expect Sisters table beer at 3.4% will be a popular choice amongst fans, while also highlighting the huge and invaluable contribution women make to our football club and sport as a whole.

• Hashtag United Football Club was founded by YouTuber Spencer Carmichael-Brown (Spencer FC) in 2016. It originated as a group of friends who played and filmed five, seven and eleven-a-side exhibition matches which they uploaded on their YouTube channel. The Tags swiftly gained a large following across all their social media pages, aided by playing matches against the likes of Google, the GB Deaf Team and a Manchester City staff team. They often played against teams involving former professional footballers and celebrities. Hashtag continued like this for two years, competing in tours in Spain and the USA, even winning the Wembley Cup in 2017, a competition created by Spencer Carmichael-Brown two years prior. The team included 16-year-old Scott Pollock who was the winner of the Hashtag Academy, a YouTube talent series where thousands of aspiring footballers competed in challenges to narrow down the applicants. Pollock was the last one standing and hence was offered a contract at the club. A year later, Pollock earned a move to professional team, Northampton Town.
• In early 2018, Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta invested in the club and became co-owner. For the 2018/19 season Hashtag United joined the English football league system, playing in the Eastern Senior League Division 1. Manager Jay Devereux was appointed to lead the team up the English football pyramid. The Tags ground-shared with Haringey Borough at the Coles Park Stadium. After a rocky start to the season, Hashtag managed to turn their poor form into two long winning runs and becoming league champions, winning promotion to the Essex Senior League. Prior to the 2019/20 season, Hashtag benefitted greatly from the second season of the Hashtag Academy with several contestants joining the club for the upcoming season, including winner Joshua Osude. However, in March of 2020, the league was unfortunately abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time the Tags were sitting in second place by one point, with three games in hand on league leaders Saffron Walden Town and in two cup semi-finals.
• In the summer of 2020, Hashtag merged with AFC Basildon Women and Forest Glade, allowing them to turn two men’s teams into over 50 teams providing men, women, boys and girls from age five upwards with the opportunity to play football. Despite the heartbreak of the previous season, the Tags came back stronger. They were the league leaders when the season was halted once again, shortly after they made the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. They eventually lost to Braintree Town in a penalty shootout following Braintree’s immediate response to Hashtag’s late goal. However, fortunately for the Tags, they were still awarded promotion to the Isthmian League North due to their points per game record over the last two incomplete seasons.
• In Hashtag’s debut season in the Isthmian League North, they finished in an impressive 8^th before an incredible 21-game winning streak in 2022/23 saw Hashtag crowned champions with 97 points, earning promotion to the Isthmian League Premier. Last season, the Tags achieved a respectable mid-table finish in 13^th place while also reaching the final of the Isthmian League Cup. This season, Hashtag suffered a rocky start with defeat to Cray Wanderers last Saturday but bounced back with a win at Canvey Island on Tuesday. They currently sit in 15^th place after two matches. However, they will be aiming to be in and around the play-offs, and hoping to achieve promotion to the National League South, much like Lewes.

NATHAN SMITH

Nathan Smith plays as a fullback for Hashtag United and in his first season for the Tags he greatly impressed everyone involved with the club. Last season Smith won the players’ player of the season, manager’s player of the season and fans’ player of the season. He also has a very impressive CV with over 600 appearances in the EFL and he currently holds the record for most Football League appearances for Yeovil Town. Smith also has two international caps for Jamaica and despite him being 37 years old is still a massive threat to the teams he faces.

RECENT HEAD TO HEAD

20th Apr 2024	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	2	Hashtag	1
15th Jan 2024	Isthmian Premier League	Hashtag	2	Lewes	3

“Is Boston in Lincolnshire worth visiting?”

Boston United 4 Kettering Town 2

Aside from the usual one or two word answers on TripAdvisor, there is a sensible response online to the question that says “it’s a true hidden gem, nestled in the south of the county, a stone’s throw from both peaceful coastlines and rural bliss”.  Whilst the review from the Official Visitor’s website may be slightly biased, it’s not a bad place to spend a Saturday afternoon if you are here to watch a game.

Visitors can marvel at “The Stump”, the tower of St Botolph’s church which despite its nickname, happens to be the tallest of any parish church in England, the market square is thriving before the slow down at lunch time and if the weather is good, a trip up and down the Witham is popular.  Or, you can head to the Eagle, just across the road from the station and enjoy pints of snakebite for £3.30 and 10 Jäegermeister’s for £5 (although the Aldi equivalent from across the road), which is the well trodden path I’ve followed today, along with a few dozen Kettering Town fans who are warming up for the Pre-Season friendly at the Jakeman stadium, named after North-East Lincolnshire’s most popular chest and throat lozenge, later this afternoon.

Sitting in the beer garden as various locals murder songs in a lunchtime karaoke session (god knows what time they must have started if they were up singing at 1pm), two fans on the table next to me sat down.

“Are you going to the game today Jack?”

“Yep”

“Why aren’t you wearing your shirt?”

“I’m too fat”

“Can’t you wear a flag instead?”

“Nah, I’m allergic to nylon”

The Pilgrims are preparing for their return to the National League after a remarkable season last time out that saw them promoted via the play-offs after finishing 6th and then beating Alfreton Town and Scunthorpe United on penalties then Brackley Town in the final, all away from home. Their recent history has been them bounced around Step 1 and 2, but it’s with renewed hope and optimism that with stability off the pitch, sustainable progress can be made on it.

This was my first visit to the new ground, having been to York Street when the club was still clinging to a place in the Football League after the financial issues they faced in the wake of the Steve Evans era,  The club’s former ground in the town centre at York Street is still there, being used in recent seasons by Railway Athletic, of the Boston & District League, surprisingly with the floodlights still in place.  

The new ground, opened in 2021, is located a mile and a half south of the town centre on the main road to Spalding, and is at the centre of a mixed retail and residential development, meaning it has plenty of fast-food outlets and NIMBY’s zealously protecting the spaces outside their houses come match day.  For today’s game there was little need for the curtain twitchers to be worried, with only a few hundred leaving the beer gardens in the town centre for football and parking was plentiful.

Every club has a famous fan or two, but at a non-league level they mean so much more.  It’s not hard for a someone in the limelight to pick the most popular clubs these days, thinking more about their social media following than who they follow.  But to follow a Non-League club, and be publicly proud of it, is commendable.  Boston’s famous fan is Sir Jonathan Stafford Nguyen Van-Tam, the former deputy Chief Medical Officer who was a trusted public figure during the COVID crisis.  Van-Tam is no flag waving fan.  He’s a dedicated supporter who thought nothing of dressing as a nun for the Pilgrims final away game of last season at Hereford. Non-League football needs more fancy-dress wearing famous away fans in my opinion.

The visitors from Kettering had endured their own long list of issues over the last couple of decades and currently found themselves recovering from a disappointing season at Step 3 last time around and ground sharing with Step 6 Burton Park Wanderers.

If you are making your first visit to the Jakeman, then get here early.  Not that the walk alongside the A16 is dull, and at times a tad dangerous with no pedestrian pathway but because the Ellenders bar is pretty decent. The walls are adorned with the history of the club, they serve their own beer (Pilgrims Pale) and there’s plenty of seating and big screens for those who want more sport to watch.  

The ground is still three-sided, with the south end laying fallow to grow a stand at some point in the future, although the leaning in lollipop floodlights are keeping a watchful eye on what’s going on behind the fence.  Covered terracing wraps around two sides whilst the Main Stand is as good as you’ll see at this level.

The sides room to the field with a bit of Kasabian and despite some early pressure from the home side, Boston were 3-up within 20 minutes thanks to goals from veteran Adam Marriott’s head, a pile-driver from Jacob Hazel and then a more regular tap in from the striker two minutes later.

Despite the status of the fixture, segregation was in place, with a the 34 (my count) Kettering fans separated from the smattering of Boston fans in the East Stand by what looked like a ground sheet for a tent.  It’s almost offensive to the spirit Non-League that such a measure was needed, or even thought of for a pre-season game against two sides who have no rivalry or local connection in a crowd of 500 or so.  Sense and sensibility is often lacking in our game.

The away fans had something to cheer in the 38th minute when Boston’s over confident attempts to play out from the back were undone by Kettering’s high press and Remaye Campbell was presented with a golden chance to slot home from 12 yards.

Three minutes into the second half and it was 3-2.  Kettering again taking advantage of a defensive lapse, and a Kettering trialilst took full advantage.

The final twenty minutes saw the usual volume of subs with various trialists given a run out but it wasn’t until injury time that the game was finally made safe, Tony Weston scoring for the home side.

As they face their first season back at Step 1, Boston can certainly be proud of what they’ve built off the pitch.  With no clear favourite for the league perhaps this could be a season to remember for the Pilgrims.

In today’s Vox Pop, we asked fans their thoughts on our recent derby day win against Bognor, here are their responses….

“TEAM HAS CHARACTER” – James Campbell

“TASTES LIKE PROMOTION” – Dom Budgen

“Game wasn’t amazing but the late winner limbs were excellent. Warren MOTM” – Perry Anderson

“Absolutely mental” – Joe

“Cold” – Tom Berry

“Massive win” – Txxvi.20

“Awesome! That last 10 mins! Eddies on fire your defence is terrified!!” – Kelvin

“Performance wasn’t as good as Chatham but that fighting edge was something we all loved – Fin Smith

“Top, top, top banana” – Rich Hanscomb

Home

This is a weird strip. the honeycomb dot pattern mixed with the bright yellow and blue doesn’t really work, and after looking at it for 90 minutes I fear it may strain some eyes. The sleeves and shorts are a nice blue at least, and the white badge and sponsor take away from the distracting pattern – although they are sponsored by UFL, which is seemingly a worse version of FIFA that’s not even out yet, so not the best case for a high rating here. 3/10

Away

I couldn’t find a new away kit so far this season, so I’m going to use the 23/24 one here; and if they choose not to release a new strip this season, I can’t blame them, because this is bloody phenomenal. The light blue and white lightning bolt pattern is superb, and the deep red accents and shorts are unique but they work so, so well. Whatever adidas come up with this season will almost certainly unfortunately be a downgrade, but since I can’t find one yet, they get away with a fantastic score. 9/10

GK

Special mention this week to the goalkeeper kit, not for any reason relating to the kit itself, but just for the fact that part of Jack Giddens’ deal for moving down to the Tags was the fact he wanted to design it – which I simply thought was quite funny. The kit itself is just fine. 6/10

A new season got underway last week, with plenty of new faces and old, as the first two matchdays gave fans the first inklings of how the next 9 months of their clubs might look. We welcomed (and welcomed back) Dover Athletic and Dartford due to relegation, Bowers & Pitsea, Cray Valley PM, and Chichester City thanks to promotion, and Hendon because of a lateral move from the Southern League, and on the whole, it was a decent start for the new teams this year. 
 
Dartford got things underway in good fashion, seeing off newly promoted Cray Valley PM 2-1 thanks to a goal either side of half time, but the promoted team gave a good account of themselves with some good football being played all round. Not to be outdone, however, Dover gave us the most notable result of the week with their 8-0 thumping of Potters Bar, putting the entire league on notice in the first game. This was the first game in the Isthmian Premier won by 8 goals since Worthing beat Harlow Town 9-1 in 2018/19 season, and the first 8-0 since Bognor beat Burgess Hill Town by that scoreline, also in the 18/19 season. 
 
Two more newcomers this season battled in their first game, as Hendon came back from 1-0 down at half time to beat Bowers and Pitsea 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Kai Brosnan, the Dons’ most exciting talent. In another comeback, Chichester City became the only promoted side to win their first game, rallying again from 1-0 down to beat Canvey Island 2-1, the winner scored by Joe Moore. 
 
It was a mixed bag for the Sussex teams on the opening weekend; a Sussex derby between Hastings and Horsham saw Danny Bloor’s U’s run out 2-0 victors, Lewes saw off promotion favourites Chatham Town 2-0 in a disciplined first performance under new manager Craig Nelson, Bognor came into the game too late to narrowly lose 3-2 to Cheshunt, some solid defending from the Ambers defying the comeback, and Whitehawk were unconvincing as they were beaten 3-0 by a strong looking Billericay side. 
 
Elsewhere, Wingate & Finchley beat Dulwich Hamlet 3-2 in a game that really sprung to life in the second half, with an 89th minute winner from Ryan Lowe getting The Blues off to a good start, Cray Wanderers beat Hashtag United 2-0 in another solid performance, and Carshalton and Folkestone gave us the only draw of the opening weekend, that game ending 1-1. 

About Cray Wanderers Football Club

Founded – 1860

Manager – Neil Smith

Best league position – 5th in Isthmian Premier – 22/23

Best FA Cup run – Fourth Qualifying Round in 05/06 – Lost away to Grays Athletic 2-0

Ground: Flamingo Park

Ground capacity – 2,500 (299 seated)

Position last season: 17th

How to get to Flamingo Park
By car:

By train:

Lewes > London Bridge > New Eltham

Admission at Flamingo Park?

Fancy a beer?
https://festandrevel.co.uk/venues/pope-street/ – Opposite New Eltham station.

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
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 Craig Nelson
Assistant manager Danny Oakins
First team coach Bryan Nzinga
First team coach Frankie Sawyer
Goalkeeping coach Sheikh Ceesay
S&G Coach Arron Fray
Under-18s Manager Jon Miller

Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Shrey Nilvarna
Progcast Editor Stan Lahood

Progcast Assistant Editors Harvey Lock and Charlie Sundaram

Club Photographer James Boyes