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

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Our warmest of Bank Holiday welcomes to everyone at the Pan this afternoon and the players, staff and supporters of Whitehawk. A special welcome to the former players of Lewes and Whitehawk who have been corralled into the picnic seating area by Lewes stalwart Terry Parris.

Of course Craig and the team return to the Pan with their impressive 100% record in tact after a commanding 3-1 win against Cray Wanderers on Saturday.

This has got club statisticians pouring over the club archives to see when the Rooks last started a season so emphatically and it appears this has been the best start in maybe twenty years. The statisticians will also point out that the Rooks finished the 2023/24 Isthmian Premier League season with five straight wins. Therefore victory this afternoon will give us a ten out of ten record in league games.

Nobody is getting carried away (although I believe the Supporters Club may be eyeing up putting their fund raising towards an open top bus!!) as we have a long season ahead and nothing is won in August – well actually I hope that the way this team is setting about their task they are starting to win more and more admirers and we start seeing more of you at the Pan

Anyway lets see if we can make it ten out of ten cats prefer watching the Rooks win at the Dripping Pan over any other Bank Holiday event.

Come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Good afternoon everyone!

It will be a pleasure to welcome you back to the Pan for what promises to be an exhilarating local derby against Whitehawk. There’s a special buzz in the air today, not just because of the rivalry, but also because of the tremendous start we’ve made to the season. Four wins in four games, what a way to begin our journey together!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Dripping Pan to today’s match Officials and the fans, players, and management team of Whitehawk. We hope you enjoy your time at the Pan.

Reflecting on Our Start

Our start to the season has been nothing short of remarkable. The hard work, dedication, and belief that the players have shown are truly paying off. Each match has presented its own challenges, but we’ve faced them head-on, playing with the intensity, flair, and determination that we’ve been striving for since day one. However, while we’re proud of our early achievements, it’s important to stay grounded. Football is about taking one game at a time, building our success brick by brick. We can’t afford to rest on our laurels, we must keep pushing forward, staying focused, and maintaining the standards we’ve set.

Match Review vs Cray Wanderers 

Saturday’s game against Cray Wanderers was truly a tale of two halves. We came away with a 3-1 victory, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

The first half was nothing short of sensational from our side. We took control of the game right from the whistle, and it wasn’t long before the goals started flowing. Eddie Allsopp opened the scoring, netting his third goal in four games with a composed finish that set the tone. Moments later, Danny Basset doubled our lead, capping off a fantastic team move with a clinical strike. Then, just 25 minutes in, Marcus Sablier produced a moment of magic with a 35-yard lob that left their keeper stranded, a goal that will surely be in the conversation for Goal of the Season.

At halftime, we were in a commanding position, leading 3-0, and it looked like we could go on to score even more. However, football is a game of two halves, and the second half was a completely different story.

Credit to Cray Wanderers, they came out with renewed energy and started to put us under real pressure. We were guilty of giving away too many fouls, allowing them to pump the ball into our box and gain momentum. They got one back early in the second half, and from that moment, it was a case of digging deep and showing our character.

Our task was made even tougher when Marcus Sablier was sent off for a second yellow card with 20 minutes left on the clock. Down to ten men, we had to fight tooth and nail to see out the game. It wasn’t all plain sailing, but the lads showed great resilience and determination to hold onto our lead and secure the three points.

In the end, it was another important victory and one that keeps our perfect start to the season intact. We’ll take the positives from the first half and learn from the second, as we prepare for the big derby against Whitehawk.

Thanks to everyone who made the trip to support us, it really makes a difference! Onward and upward.

Today’s Opponent: Whitehawk

Today’s match against Whitehawk is one that we’ve all been eagerly anticipating. Local derbies are always special, filled with passion and emotion. Whitehawk will be a tough side with a strong fighting spirit, and they’ll be coming here determined to disrupt our winning run. We must approach this game with the same intensity and concentration that we’ve shown in our previous matches.

Our strategy remains simple: control the game, be clinical in front of goal, and remain solid at the back. With your support from the stands, I’m confident that we can extend our winning streak and give you another performance to be proud of.

Squad Updates

I’m pleased to report that the squad is in good shape heading into today’s game. We’ve had a few knocks and niggles, notably Hamilton Antonio, who will be out for approximately 6 weeks with an injury to his ankle and calf, sustained during the warm up away at Bognor.

I’m thrilled to announce the arrival of two dynamic wingers who are sure to bring excitement to our squad this season. Josh Williams and Tolu Ladapo are both rapid, skillful wingers known for their blistering pace and ability to take on defenders with ease. Their flair on the ball and eye for goal will undoubtedly add a new dimension to our attack. Both players are eager to make an impact, and I have no doubt they’ll have our fans on the edge of their seats every time they’re on the ball.

I want to highlight the contributions of the entire squad. Whether starting, coming off the bench, or supporting from the sidelines, every player has played a role in our success so far. It’s this unity and collective effort that will continue to drive us forward.

Keeping Our Focus

As we’ve seen in these opening weeks, the key to our success lies in our focus and determination. We take it one game at a time, never looking too far ahead, and always striving to improve. The season is long, and while our start has been strong, the real test will be maintaining this level throughout.

Let’s continue to build on this momentum, brick by brick, match by match. I have no doubt that if we remain disciplined and hungry, great things await us.

Together, We Achieve

To our incredible supporters, your energy and passion have been instrumental in our early success. You’ve been the heartbeat of this team, and today, more than ever, we need you to be loud, proud, and behind us every step of the way.

Let’s make today another unforgettable chapter in our journey. Thank you for your support, and let’s keep this winning run going!

Come on you Rooks!

Pitts

Former Rooks to Attend Lewes vs Whitehawk on Bank Holiday Monday

Lewes FC are delighted to welcome a group of former Rooks and Whitehawk players down to the Pan for Monday’s 3pm kick off against the Hawks.

Club legend Terry Parris has organised a group of more than 40 ex-players from both teams to attend the men’s Isthmian Premier League game and meet supporters.

We have multiple generations of Rooks players heading to the Pan, with some going back as far as the invincibles team of 60 years ago.

“We’ll be at the family area by the Philcox Stand,” says Terry. “It will be fun and really good to see these guys. They’re from different generations. Ian Pattenden for instance played in the 1964/65 invisibles season. That’s the team that got promoted to the higher league at the time, and we haven’t looked back since!”

Meeting the supporters is something Terry is keen to continue after welcoming players back in previous seasons. The art of getting everyone together, though, is the difficult task – and that’s what makes Monday’s reunion so special.

“We decided to go ahead with this bank holiday match. A few weeks ago I started to see if guys from both teams could come down, as it’s important to have represented,” he says. “Whitehawk are one of our closest teams, I know a lot of people who played for both, and there’s a lot of history between Lewes and Whitehawk. It’s something I’m sure the fans will love to see this Monday.

“It really shows the community spirit. The guys never really get together like this, and often the only time we do is at funerals. So it’s really important for us to get together and remember the good (and the bad!) times.

“I’m very fortunate to be involved in a great football club where we can make this sort of thing happen, but it’s not easy to get everyone together at the same time. The club has a big community network and we can do this sort of thing. Otherwise there’s no other way of seeing each other – you just lose track as individuals, so a big game like this will be amazing.”

Getting together for a bank holiday game, with more than 1,000 fans expected at the Pan, is likely to rekindle memories of other big matches from down the years. And Terry – who has done pretty much everything at the club over the decades – his looking forward to it.

“It’s been fabulous to see the men’s team develop and to see the women’s team grow, and compete with some big clubs in the country,” he says. “The great thing about the club is it’s a real stadium – to play on that pitch in front of more than 1,000 fans must be fantastic. It’s a wonderful surface but mixed with things like the grass bank and the garden, it’s really unique.”

Parris: ‘I’m really excited for Craig’
Lewes head into a bank holiday weekend double-header top of the Isthmian Premier League. The Rooks have won all three opening matches under Craig Nelson ahead of Saturday’s clash at Cray. Two days later and Whitehawk come to town.

And Terry says he’s impressed with what he’s seen so far from Pitts and the team.

“I’ve spent some time with Craig and messaged him after our games. I was really impressed with the Hashtag game in particular – not only about how we played but our defensive resilience,” he says.

“Three or four boys really stood out technically. Their ability was equal, if not better, than the opposition. Many of the lads have come from a lower level but Craig has got them together and really worked wonders.

“I’m sure they already have this in-built spirit and it’s helping. They looked fit and organised. I was nervous at the start to be honest because we had a new team and coaching set-up, and pre-season was difficult. But even in pre-season you could see he had a good side together and was working on things.

“I’m really excited for Craig and his team and where the team is going. I’m really pleased with what we’ve seen – and I’m also pleased with the support we’ve given him from us fans. It’s not easy to come in and make an immediate change but the fans have been really good to show Craig their support.”

Keeping Cup to Date with Sustainability!

The Lewes community has a strong stance on sustainability, and we at Lewes FC have for some time been concerned about how much football plays a part in excess refuse, contributing to the unsuitability of the town and of football. We have, therefore, implemented new processes to make football more sustainable.

Last year you might remember us trialing the ‘bring your own cup’ discount scheme, which was a success and very much laid the foundations for this next step. We teamed up with Lewes Town Council to deliver a single-use plastic free environment for the 2024/25 season.

Since the launch of these cups in pre-season, we have already saved approximately 5744 single-use plastic cups from entering the Newhaven incinerator.

The emissions from a single-use plastic cup can be from anywhere between 10g to 30g of CO2. Even if we assume the single-use cups we used to provide were on the lower side of this emissions scale, that’s still 57kg less CO2 pumped into the East Sussex atmosphere already.

In money terms, it might only be six boxes of those flimsy plastic cups but that still totals almost £300. The new scheme dramatically reduces the amount of waste heading to the incinerator and the longer-term environmental impact is much more significant.

The move to help rid our town – your town – of single-use plastic is something we can all be proud of. Thank you for jumping on board.

A new cup costs just £1 at the bar. Once you buy that cup – it’s yours! If you choose to take it home, wash it yourself and bring it to the next match, great! You keep the cost of pints low and save another cup’s worth of plastic being thrown away. If you choose to leave the cup with us, the £1 charge becomes a service charge, so we will clean and prep the cup for use at the next game.

Remember, too, that you can still bring your own cup, horrah! Use the one at the back of your cupboard from last year’s Bonfire, or buy a fresh one at our bar. Just make sure the cup has the half-pint measure on it.

We look forward to seeing you soon, and serving a sturdy pint as we continue to pour sustainably.

Lewes FC Reusable Cups FAQs

1. How have you found your time at Lewes so far?

Absolutely loved it, everyone at the club is brilliant from the players and staff to the fans and all the volunteers. Everyone is so friendly and that is why I think we have started to strongly.

2. How is Pitts different to other managers you’ve played under?

For the little time we’ve been together so far I feel that we have already built a great relationship and that is down to his people skills. He’s not just a brilliant coach who gives incredible detail, but he’s also interested in you as a person. He has built these relationships with all the players so quickly, so for me that is what makes him different to the other mangers I’ve had. This goes for all the staff as well.

3. You’re already a fans favourite with your own chant! “OLEEEE OLEEEEE OLEEEE OLEEEE TOBY BULL BULL BULL TOBY BULLL BULLL BULLL” – How have you found the Lewes support so far?

Haha brilliant! The support has been fantastic and all us players really appreciate it. They have been so welcoming and we can always hear them home and away and it gives us that extra push.

4. Who is your favourite goalkeeper of all time?

Iker Casillas

5. Do you have any pre match rituals?

I always put my left glove on first

6. Who’s the joker in the dressing room?

Haha there a few!James Jeffrey is such a wind up merchant and Malachi Morris because he comes up with the most random stuff!

7. You upload some quality content on Instagram for anyone that doesn’t know, how did you get into that?

I kind of just fell into it. I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a glove brand who are very good on social media and they invited me to join some of there sessions and I thought I might as well post my own bits and have been fortune now that it has taken off, with the help of them, and can now call it a job and something that I love doing.

8. Who is the most underrated player in the team? – Asked by Fin Smith

Hmmm that’s a tough one! Parish and Alfie maybe, as they didn’t start the first game, but since then, they’ve been excellent.

• Whitehawk Football Club was founded under the name Whitehawk & Manor Farm Old Boys in 1945 just after the conclusion of World War Two. This name relates to the Brighton Boys’ club from Whitehawk who were too old to continue to play in the youth league. In their first season they won the league and cup double of the Brighton Junior Cup and the Hove & Worthing Cup.
• After many years of coming so close, Whitehawk finally won the Sussex County League Division 1 in 2009/10 and earned promotion to the Isthmian League Division 1 South under joint managers George Parris and former Lewes manager Darren Freeman. In their first season in the league, Whitehawk were in the title race but ended up finishing third and losing on penalties in the play-offs against Leatherhead. However, in their second season in the division, the Hawks became Isthmian League Division 1 South champions and they also won the Sussex Senior Cup, beating Crawley Down at the Amex Stadium and the Sussex Community Shield in August. The club’s request to play the 2012/13 season at the Withdean Stadium whilst they redeveloped the Enclosed Ground was turned down by the Isthmian League as they were concerned that the club wouldn’t return to east Brighton. In this season, Whitehawk achieved their second promotion in two years, winning the Isthmian League Premier and progressing to the Conference South (now the National League South).
• Whitehawk struggled in their first season in the conference, eventually sacking manager Darren Freeman in January of 2014. Freeman was replaced by Steve King who managed to keep them up with a dramatic late equaliser on the final day of the season against Sutton United relegating Hayes & Yeading instead. In their second season in the division, the Hawks experienced their most successful season ever, finishing 4^th and earning a place in the play-off semi-final in which they beat Basingstoke Town in the second leg following a 1-1 draw at the Enclosed Ground, therefore progressing to the play-off final. Whitehawk faced Boreham Wood in the final who they lost to in extra time at Boreham Wood’s ground, denying them of a fourth promotion in six seasons. Following their play-off heartbreak, Whitehawk won the Sussex Senior Cup again with a 5-0 victory over our Rooks in the final, the biggest margin of victory in the final since 1937. In the 2015/16 season, Whitehawk reached the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in the club’s history. A dramatic 5-3 win over Lincoln City sent the Hawks to the second round where they suffered defeat to League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge in extra time of the replay after drawing 1-1 at the Enclosed Ground. Had they won this, Whitehawk would have faced Everton at Goodison Park. In February 2016, the club sacked manager Steve King after he saw them drop from 3^rd to 13^th in 13 matches. King was replaced by caretaker manager Pablo Asensio who turned the Hawks’ season around, taking them to the play-offs again where they unfortunately lost to Ebbsfleet United on penalties in the second leg of the semi-final. After these successful few months, Asensio was promoted to permanent manager for the 2016/17 season. However, he was replaced by Richard Hill just eight games into the season, having only won one match. Whitehawk managed to reach the first round of the FA Cup for a second successive season and in a bizarre turn of events, didn’t make the second round. The score was level and in the last second, Javier Favarel scored a 30-yard volley. However, the referee blew for full time while the ball was sailing through the air and therefore the goal did not stand. The Hawks went on to lose the replay 3-0. In the 2017/18 season, Whitehawk suffered their third ever relegation and dropped back down to the Isthmian League Premier after a very successful five-season stint in the National League South (formerly Conference South).
• Whitehawk suffered a second relegation in a row in 2018/19, dropping into the Isthmian League South where they would remain until 2022/23 when they gained promotion back to the Isthmian League Premier. Last season, the Hawks finished a solid 9^th just two points off Lewes in 8^th. After four games, Whitehawk sit in 16^th on just four points following a 2-1 win over Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday and a 3-3 draw with Dulwich Hamlet last weekend. However, as we all know, form goes out the window in a derby so expect a tough match

CHARLIE WALKER

Brighton-born Charlie Walker was playing in parks in Division 2 of the Brighton, Hove & District League in 2009/10 for a team managed by his friend’s dad. After scoring 120 goals in 3 seasons, Walker was noticed by the chairman of Shoreham and thus signed. After one and a half seasons with Shoreham, Walker joined Lancing half-way through the 2011/12 season before immediately signing dual registration terms with Whitehawk just one month later. He only made one appearance for Whitehawk before returning to Lancing for whom he scored 21 goals before going back to Whitehawk. Walker scored six times for Whitehawk in 10 appearances in 2011/12, helping them win the Isthmian League Premier Division. After unsuccessful spells with Luton Town and on loan at Boreham Wood,
Charlie Walker joined Aldershot Town in 2015. He was their top scorer in his
first season at the club with 14 goals. In June 2018, Walker signed for
Eastbourne Borough and scored 42 goals in 5 seasons before returning to
Whitehawk for the 2023/24 season in which he scored 24 goals. So far this
season, Charlie Walker has already scored two goals in the league and one in pre-season.

RECENT HEAD TO HEAD

1st April 2024	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	1	Whitehawk	1
26th Dec 2023	Isthmian Premier League	Whitehawk	1	Lewes	2
18th Nov 2023	FA Trophy	Whitehawk	3	Lewes	1
2nd Mar 2019	Isthmian Premier League	Lewes	1	Whitehawk	3
23rd Oct 2018	Isthmian Premier League	Whitehawk	0	Lewes	1

In today’s Vox Pop, we asked fans their thoughts on our fantastic start to the season, here are their responses…

“Parish Muirhead is the Lewes Pirlo” – @prdx.pedz

“Will say exceptional if we win tomorrow” – Ollie Audis

“Rad Times Express” – Rich Hanscomb

“Perfect going 5 for 5 today” – Ollie Smith

“GREAT RESULTS LADS! This game should be tasty” – JayMadeIt

“Completely exceeded my expectations. Before the start of the season I’d have probably taken a win and a draw from the first 4, so massive credit to Pitts and the boys” – Perry Anderson

“CANT START A FIRE” – Joseph

“Unreal!” – RenosFootballPage

“LA BOSH – Excellent start from the lads” – James Campbell

“BRING ON THE NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH” – Ollie Horton

“Pinch me I’m dreaming!” – Fletcher

“100% Rooks! A glorious start to what could be a fun season” – Chris Sallis

“Stunning to be honest, never saw it coming but long may it continue” – Dave

“Great performances, especially against Chatham” – Ale

“Heaven” – Benny

It’s all Greek to me

In December, the Greek authorities ruled that all Super League games would be played behind closed doors, for the foreseeable future after escalating violence between clubs which culminated in a police officer being killed in a volleyball match between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.  Trouble was never too far away at football games, especially when any of the big four met.  Back in October, the game between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned after a flare hit Juankar, one of the away side’s substitutes warming up on the touchline.

After two months of discussions between the authorities and the clubs, the ban was lifted in February, but strict criteria and heavy sanctions introduced in a bid to combat any further problems.  Fans were welcome back into the stadiums, although the new rules saw away fans banned at most of the topflight grounds, whilst any objects thrown onto the pitch during a game would result in matches being abandoned and stadium closed.

I’d cautiously monitored the situation in Greece, hovering over the cancel button for my flights.  The post regular season play-off fixtures hadn’t been drawn but with the three Athens clubs and the two from Thessaloniki involved in a six team round robin tournament to determine who would be champions and who would qualify for European competition, the risk of trouble could raise its head at any point.

The draw of games had been kind, with Panathinaikos and AEK at home on my day of arrival with kick off times staggered so I could easy get between the two games via public transport.  A third game, AEK B’s second division match against Levadeiakos at their Serafeideion Stadium, near the airport was a possible lunch time starter if my flight was on time (alas it didn’t).

But for me the main event was an opportunity to visit the vintage beauty of the Apóstolos Nikolaidis, home of one of the best match day experiences in European, nay dare I say, World football. Gate 13.  A steep, wide wall of noise.  Intimidating, raw, dedicated.

It did seem strange that tickets didn’t go on sale until four days before the game, my relentless checking the ticketing website finally rewarding me with a smattering of seats in one block of the ground.  I could finally relax that I wouldn’t be turning up empty handed.

I’d booked a hotel close to the ground, which was also a few minutes’ walk from the metro stop from the airport.  Three hours before kick-off, with the temperature already hitting 30 degrees, the merchandise sellers were already out in force.  The side streets around the ground were covered in Panathinaikos graffiti, marking the territory in green and black.  The bars and restaurants were starting to fill up, but I had a couple of hours on the roof of my hotel to top up my tan before I wandered back to soak up the match day atmosphere.

Alas, despite the wall-to-wall sunshine and the temperature nudging the 30s the swimming pool at my hotel was shut.  “Unfortunately, it is not yet May sir.  It is too cold to sit on the roof”.  It was also too cold for the air conditioning to be switched.  Next best option, a good book and a large souvlaki and chips at one of the bars near the ground.

I got chatting to the waiter and he mentioned how lucky I was to have got a ticket, what with Gate 13 being closed.  Closed? What, when and how?  He wasn’t sure of all the detail, but he knew that many of the hardcore fans would be boycotting the game in protest of whatever sanctions had been imposed on the club.

The stadium from the outside is all barbed wire, broken glass, graffiti and rawness, and it’s beautiful.  The club had installed modern bar code readers, shoehorned into the narrow gates.  Clubs were supposed to be checking the IDs on tickets based on the new rules, something the Italians had successfully put in place.  Here, a cursory look at the ticket on my phone was good enough to pass.  A brief pat down and I was in.

With Gate 13, closed, the capacity of the Apóstolos Nikolaidis had been reduced to around 8,000 for the visit of Championship Playoff group make weights Lamia (fun fact, in Greek mythology Lamia was a child-eating monster who had an affair with Zeus), who came into the game against Panathinaikos on 34 points, half of what leaders PAOK had, and 14 points behind 5th place Aris.

The ground looked so strange with one end completely empty.  The rest of the stadium was basking in sunshine and rammed.  The section I was in had a nice touch of allowing kids to sit on the edge of the pitch, their legs dangling down and signs asking for various player’s shirts.

It was a strange atmosphere without Gate 13.  It had the feel of a pre-season game, polite applause, lots of families, nothing like what I’d expected. Pockets of fans tried to raise the atmosphere and a brief altercation between some home supporters behind the goal got us all excited although a terrible back pass from Panathinakos defender Giannis gave Slivka Vykintas an opportunity for Lamia to take a shock lead.  That did the trick as all of a sudden everyone was on their feet, cheering and clapping the team as they sheepishly returned to the centre circle. 

Fans new each other, adults looked out for children, a guy carried €5 beers on a tray above his head, passing them back up into fans who passed their money the other way, it was like being back at football with my dad when I was a small boy.

Panathinaikos boss Fatih Terim shed his jacket, untucked his shirt and started to rant.  He looked like an angry Grandad, berating his grandchildren for playing football on his freshly mowed lawn.

The lead lasted just three minutes. Gnezda Cerin Adam superbly volleyed in from close range after a clever cross to the far post from Willian.  From that moment onwards, there was only going to be one winner, although the home side were made to work hard to break down a stubborn Lamia defence who were more than happy with a point.

They got their chance in the 60^th minute when Bernard superbly executed a free kick from twenty-five yards out.  With three minutes to go the Brazilian midfielder grabbed his second and made the game safe. Panathinaikos had 22 shots on goal to the visitors 5 – a dominant display.

I took the opportunity to beat the crowds onto the metro and head off towards Nea Filadelfeia for AEK’s game with Aris.  The absence of the ultras had made it a very different match day experience to the one I was hoping for but instead I saw the community side of the club, the one that’s the living heartbeat of this small area in one of the craziest cities in the world.

Home

I want to preface this by saying I’m not sure if the Hawks have produced any new kits this year, so apologies if I’ve missed them; but this home kit isn’t bad. Their iconic red is clean, if a bit plain – certainly not as unique as the year they had a massive hawk on the front, but the flashes of gold along the shoulders and on the chest is very nice – although the shoulder pattern being repeats of the Kappa logo is a bit odd. The white of the badge matches the white sponsor logo, and it all comes together to make an adequate strip. 6/10

Away

Just as clean as the home kit, the all-white lets them get away with the lack of details a bit more – the difference of the sponsor being a very vibrant red makes it stand out a lot more, but there’s not much else to say about this one in all honesty. Does the job, much like it’s home counterpart, but won’t be remembered. 6/10

There was a large variety of scores in this weekend’s Isthmian fixtures, as all the teams began to properly settle into the season and the table began to take shape; Dover again gave us the most entertaining game of the week, unless you’re a Chichester fan, as they beat the Lilywhites 5-2, George Nikaj storming into an early lead for the Golden Boot now sitting on 7 goals. His nearest competitor is Luke Wanadio on 5, but his goal couldn’t help Dulwich avoid a 3-1 defeat against Chatham, with the Chats seemingly now getting some rhythm thanks to their second convincing win in a row. One team who haven’t quite got going the way people would have thought has been Billericay, and again they faltered against a fairly impressive Cheshunt side, drawing 1-1.

The Sussex teams again provided a mixed bag; Lewes continued their 100% start with a 3-1 win against Cray Wanderers, including a fantastic 35-yard effort from Marcus Sablier as the Rooks continue their honeymoon period under Craig Nelson. Hastings suffered their first defeat of the season, Danny Bloor’s side coming undone in a 2-0 loss to a revitalised Potters Bar side. Bognor Regis came back from 2 goals down for the second week in a row to draw 2-2, as Hendon’s impressive start back in the Isthmian stumbled in the second half thanks to some impressive spirit from the Rocks. Horsham and Whitehawk both also claimed three points, the Hawks notching up their first win thanks to late drama against Bowers and Pitsea to win 2-1, and Horsham taking apart a very lacklustre Hashtag United side 4-1, who themselves continue their rough start.

Dartford continued their attempt to bounce straight back with a solid 1-0 win against Carshalton, with Eddie Dsane grabbing his first for the club, but their Kent compatriots didn’t fair as well, with Folkestone falling to a 1-0 loss against Cray Valley, who continue to be the surprise package of the season so far, and Canvey Island fell to their 4th successive defeat against Wingate and Finchley, another late late goal from the Blues rounding off a great performance, but leaving Canvey rooted to the bottom of the table.

About Harefield United

Harefield United Football Club are based in Harefield in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The club is the oldest in Middlesex. They are affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association and are currently members of the Combined Counties Premier North Division as of the 2022–2023 season, having left the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of the 2021–2022 season

Ground: Preston Park, Breakspear Road North, Harefield UB9 6NE

Nearest train station: Rickmansworth

How to get there from the 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