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

You get:
– Matches LIVE streamed
– One share/one vote
– Discounts in Lewes & online
– Downloadable Share Certificate, Owner’s App and Gift Box

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

Good evening to everyone at the Dripping Pan tonight and a warm Lewes welcome to our visitors from Cheshunt.

It is over five weeks since our Mens side last had a home league match when we earned a draw against Ramsgate in an entertaining match. The Rooks started that match very brightly and could have been two goals to the good within the first ten minutes. Unfortunately thereafter circumstances conspired against us and we were faced with a string of away fixtures and the verve and confidence that the team had displayed in early season evaporated as we fell to the foot of the form table.

With both form and confidence gone it was decided that a change was needed and hence we welcome Craig Nelson (Pitts) back to the dugout for his second spell as manager. The decision to replace Bradley Pritchard was both difficult and heartbreaking. Bradley has been a magnificent servant to the club both as player and manager and I am confident his time will come again.

Following a really difficult five weeks I hope that we can now all get together to support Pitts and the team in getting back to winning ways. The road ahead remains tough and lots of hard work will be required but I feel we have the right ingredients to finish the season in the top half of the table. There is an awful lot of football still to be played.

I hope all Rooks fans will join me in expressing thanks to Bradley and his coaching team as well as supporting Pitts and his coaches in getting the season back on track.

Come on you Rooks!

Trevor

Pitts Returns

Lewes FC are delighted to welcome Craig Nelson back as First Team Manager; Pitts returns to the club after departing last summer to take up an opportunity at Tonbridge Angels in the National League South, and comes back after the departure of Bradley Pritchard and his team. The club would like to massively thank Bradley, and his assistants Nathan White and Ben Austin, for their contributions and hard work put in during their time at the club, and to say that they are welcome back anytime at the Pan.

Pitts spoke to the club upon his return, saying:
‘We started something special here last season, it got cut short because I got an opportunity at a higher level, but then now returning it’s trying to piece back together what we started to hopefully put that project together.’

In regards to immediate aims, Craig said:
‘I need to come in and assess the current squad, [Tonbridge] played against them in preseason and I thought they were a good attacking bunch and kept the ball really well; it’s just about going through this transition which will be difficult for all involved, there will be emotions going through all the boys as well, so it’s about picking them up and giving them a platform to carry on playing football in front of such an amazing crowd. It will also be making some changes that may need to be made that will hopefully make us structurally sound and able to start winning games of football.’

Please give Pitts a warm welcome back this evening, show your full support for him and his team, and hopefully we can get off to the right start.

Louis Rogers: Rogers joined the Rooks from Hastings United in summer 2025. Known for his sharp reflexes and excellent shot-stopping ability, he spent several years as first-choice keeper at Hastings, playing a key role in their promotion push. Louis brings leadership, composure, and a commanding presence to the Lewes backline as he steps up to the Isthmian Premier League once again.

Ryan Bernal: An athletic right back, Bernal joins the Rooks after impressing in the Combined Counties League. Quick and confident going forward, Ryan provides attacking width while maintaining strong defensive discipline. A promising addition to the squad, he will look to make the right flank his own.

Clement Asiedu: Left back Asiedu is a young, dynamic defender with an eye for joining the attack. A product of the Volenti Academy he represented Crystal Palace as a youth player. Clem joined Cray Valley PM after a breakout season at Horsham YM.

Jack Burchell: A ball-playing centre back, 21-year-old defender Burchell came through the academy at Watford before joining Eastbourne Borough in October 2022, going on to play 26 times in the Vanarama National League South under Danny Bloor in 2022/23. He joined the Welling in July 2023 after impressing on trial during pre-season and proved to be a mainstay in defence, playing a vital part in the side’s successful survival bid in 2023/24.

Antonio Morgan: A young up-and-coming full-back, Morgans joins the Rooks from Tonbridge Angels where he played under current gaffer Pitts for a time. Antonio is fast, direct, and tricky on the ball, and has displayed enough talent to earn several call ups for the Antigua & Barbuda national team.

Arezki Hamouchene: A tricky left-sided player with flair and pace, Hamouchene spent 14 years with Millwall, joining their youth setup at 7 years old. Spent the 24/25 season with Cray Wanderers and Erith Town from whom he joins the Rooks.

Jabari Christmas: A creative midfielder with flair and vision, Christmas was a product of the renowned Kinetic Academy and featured for QPR U18’s before joining Chatham. His ability to unlock defences and strike from distance gives the Rooks another option in central areas.

Perri Iandolo: A technically gifted central midfielder, Perri spent his formative years with Maidstone.  Perri is known for his range of passing and ability to dictate tempo in midfield and most recently played with club legend Bradley Pritchard at Phoenix Sports.

Devonte West: Operating on the right flank, West is a young, powerful winger with explosive pace and a keen eye for goal. A product of the London grassroots scene, Devonte joins us from Hollands & Blair and adds an exciting dimension to the Rooks’ attacking play.

Billie Clark: A right-sided midfielder or winger, Clark joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 before moving on to Reading in August 2023. Comfortable hugging the touchline or drifting inside, Billie offers pace and a dangerous delivery from wide areas.

Parish Muirhead: Returning to the club after a spell at Carshalton Athletic, Muirhead is a strong and tempo-dictating central midfielder, known for his game knowledge and passing ability. Parish has experience working under manager Craig Nelson and has earned several call-ups to the Grenada National Team.

Cameron Andrews: The 20-year-old midfielder came through Welling United’s Academy and made his league debut in October 2024, going on to make  eight appearances in the National League South in 2024/25. Cameron ended the 2024/25 on loan at Phoenix Sports with former manager Bradley Pritchard. Joined the Rooks in September 2025.

Kaan Bennett: A clinical centre forward, Bennett is known for his movement and finishing ability. Kaan was a product of the Colchester United youth system before serious injury halted his progress. Kaan’s intelligent positioning and eye for goal make him a key figure in Lewes’ frontline.

Jordan Maguire-Drew: A marquee signing for the Rooks, Maguire-Drew is a creative forward who started his career at Brighton & Hove Albion and went on to feature for Lincoln City, Leyton Orient, and Grimsby Town. Known for his technical ability and set-piece prowess, Jordan brings EFL experience and proven quality to Lewes’ attacking options.

Muirhead returns

Lewes FC are pleased to welcome Parish Muirhead back to the club; Parish played under Craig Nelson here last season, and reunites with the gaffer after starting the season at Carshalton Athletic. A strong central midfielder, P has been praised for his work ethic, game knowledge, and especially his passing game, notching up 11 assists last season as well as one goal. Muirhead progressed massively here last season, so much so that he got his first international call up for Grenada, and now is a regular in that team. Welcome back, P!

Plenty of Squad Shifts

Since it has been a while since the last progcast, there have been a lot of squad movements to note: Firstly, along with Muirhead’s return, we would like to welcome Tito Salaam and Lukas Franzen-Jones to the club. Tito is a young up-and-coming centre back, standing at an impressive 6’5 at just 18 years old, and has played at Crawley Down Gatwick and is part of Sutton United’s squad as he joins the Rooks on a dual-registration basis. Lukas is an experienced striker, joining the club from Leatherhead where he notched up 15 goals last season. He has also played at Lancing, where he grabbed 28 goals in 23/24 as the Yellows competed for a playoff place at Step 4. We welcome Tito and Lukas to the club, as well as welcoming back Jordan Maguire-Drew, who returns after a short loan with Chichester City.

As always with incomings, there must be outgoings, so we would like to say goodbye to, and thank, Charlie Walker, Finlay Chadwick, Ian Gayle, Will Harley, and Daniel Bowry, who have all left the club.

Cheshunt FC

• Cheshunt Football Club, nicknamed ‘the Ambers’, was formed in 1880 but folded in 1931, leaving a gap for a new club to fill. The current club was founded in 1946 and made national headlines four years later when they knocked holders Bromley out of the Amateur Cup in front of a still-record 5000 spectators.
• After switching between leagues for almost 20 years, the Ambers joined the Athenian League in 1964, the same division that their predecessor competed in.
• The 1970s was an impressive era for the club as new manager John Drabwell spearheaded Cheshunt’s success, winning the London Charity Cup, Athenian League and Cup double and gaining promotion to the Isthmian League. The Ambers also reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in 1978 for the only time in the club’s history.
• Cheshunt went through a turbulent period in the 1980s, with takeovers and withdrawals nearly collapsing the club. This caused them to drop to the Spartan League before returning to the Isthmian six years later.
• Back-to-back promotions were achieved in 2002-03 and 2003-04, seemingly coming out of nowhere after many years of mid-to-low table finishes. After a year in the Isthmian Premier and three in the Isthmian South Premier, Cheshunt suffered relegation to the Isthmian Division One North, in which they would spend the following ten seasons.
• However, the Ambers’ fortunes turned around in 2018 with the signing of Craig Edwards as first team manager. Edwards avoided relegation in the second half of the 2017-18 season before running wild in the following season, finishing third and defeating Bracknell Town in the play-off final, winning promotion back to the Isthmian Premier.
• The Covid pandemic followed with the next two seasons being abandoned with Cheshunt sitting just above relegation when the former was curtailed and in 2nd place when the latter was.
• An impressive FA Trophy run in 2021-22 saw the Ambers make it all the way to the fifth round, before losing to eventual National League champions Stockport County in a hard-fought 1-0 defeat. That same season, Cheshunt managed a 5th place finish in the league and won promotion through the play-offs to the highest they have ever been in the football pyramid – the National League South (Step 2).
• This success was short-lived, however, as the Ambers fell back to the Isthmian Premier the following season. Since then, Cheshunt have had a tough time back in the division, finishing in 18th and 15th place in their two seasons in the division.
• With a much better start to the current season, with Cheshunt sitting in 7th place after 12 games, things are looking up, and you’d best believe the Ambers will be chasing the play-offs this season so expect a very strong performance from the away side tonight.

George Nunn

George Nunn first joined Cheshunt in the 2022-23 season on loan from Chelsea. The forward later signed for Derby County and was loaned out to many clubs over the following years before returning to Cheshunt on a permanent contract this summer. Nunn has impressed for the Ambers this season, starting in all but two of their league games and scoring two goals.

Sat 12 Apr 2025	Isthmian Premier	Cheshunt	1-2	Lewes	Att. 305
Sat 4 Jan 2025	Isthmian Premier	Lewes	2-2	Cheshunt	Att. 802
Sat 6 Apr 2024	Isthmian Premier	Cheshunt	4-0	Lewes	Att. 335
Sat 16 Dec 2023	Isthmian Premier	Lewes	2-1	Cheshunt	Att. 726
Sat 9 Apr 2022	Isthmian Premier	Cheshunt	2-2	Lewes	Att. 325

We generally have mixed results against the Ambers, winning only 3 of our last 8 encounters with the Hertfordshire outfit. Our last game against them was one of Pitts’ final away matches in his first spell with the club, and was one of precious few wins we picked up away from home, thanks to goals from Shae Hutchinson and Danny Bassett to snatch the win in a comeback.

HOME

I’m fairly sure the Ambers are using the same kits as last season, which is a good choice in my opinion as I’m a fan of this pair. Starting with the home strip, using the iconic amber and black that is a traditional colour from when Cheshunt was a youth team called Crossbrook Sports. The diamond pattern is pretty sleek, and the sponsor fits in well to make a pretty solid strip. 8/10

AWAY

The away kit is a different design, which is actually quite uncommon at this level, but maybe not quite as nice as the home one. The sky blue is also traditional, dating all the way back to the 30s when the club was founded, and is paired with some darker blue accents. This is a pretty bog standard kit all things considered, and it will be rated as such. 6/10

to Cray Valley PM

Who are they?: Cray Valley PM are one half of the Cray derby along with old friends Cray Wanderers, and are currently sitting just above the relegation zone in the Isthmian Prem after a great first season in the division. The Millers have had to deal with something of a squad exodus after last season, and will be primed for a good game against the Rooks as both teams try to stop a poor run of form.

How do we get there?: The nearest train station to the Millers’ ground is Eltham, which is about 1km (20 mins walk) away from the ground. Buses to the ground are also frequent and easy, with the 160 stopping right outside the ground. Mottingham station is also not too far away, being about 1.3km (25 mins walk) from the ground.

What’s around?: The Millers play out of the Badgers Sports Ground in Eltham, which has a grass pitch and a capacity of 1550. On your way to the ground, any travelling Rooks would likely pass through Eltham town centre, where there are quite a few options for refreshments. The Park Tavern and The Rusty Bucket are two I’ve heard recommendations of before.

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 Trevor Wells, John Peel, Stan Lahood, Jim Cheek, Roger Warner, Ben Hall, Lisa Emery
Club Secretary John Peel

COO Kelly Lindsey
Fan Engagement Manager Shrey Nilvarna
Social Media Team Stan Lahood, Tom Mason, Daniel Lloyd, Luke Underhill, Joe Warsop-Davies

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
First team Coach Elyon Marshall-Katung
Goalkeeping Coach Sheikh Ceesay
Under-18s Manager Dale Hurley

Golden Rook Rob Read
Web Editor Shrey Nilvarna

Progcast Editors Stan Lahood, Harvey Lock, Charlie Sundaram

Club Photographer James Boyes