E: info@lewesfc.com © Copyright 2025 Lewes Community Football Club Ltd Invicta finish on a high at the Alcaline Stadium Folkestone Invicta brought the curtain down on the season at the Alcaline Stadium marking the final game on grass after almost 100 years of football at Cheriton Road with a win against the visitors from Sussex Jay Saunders was pitting his wits against Craig Nelson who is due to succeed him as Tonbridge Angels manager at the end of the current season Invicta made 3 changes from our Good Friday defeat at Billericay Town Ade Yusuff and Miquel Scarlett all dropping to the bench and Joel-Michael Odeniran Dan Smith and Matthias Fanimo coming into the XI Dan Smith feeding Evans Kouassi who forced a good save from Toby Bull with a low effort from a tight angle inside the first minute Shae Hutchinson diving to the byline to thread a ball across the face of goal Marcus Sablier tapping home from inches out It took Invicta just 36 seconds from kick off to restore parity at the other end Joe Turner worked the ball wide to Fanimo on the right the wingback finding a ball into space behind Lewes left back Peter Ojemen for Evans Kouassi who pulled it back from a tight angle only for the outstretched leg of Hamilton Antonio to turn it inside the far post Thankfully there were no “ghost goal” shenanigans Andy Morris on hand to fix the issue as he was serenaded by the crowd in the stand behind the goal Having returned from injury to start in Invicta’s back 3 Odeniran was unfortunately forced off after just 25 minutes to be replaced by Nathan Green Just a few moments after the change Invicta struck to take the lead Turner laid the ball in behind Ojemen for Brad Walledge the young midfielder turning the Lewes fullback before poking to ball back into the path of Turner to fire home from 10 yards out Matthias Fanimo saw a shot from distance comfortably saved while Amadou Kassaraté headed wide from 6 yards Invicta’s best chance to extend the lead before we headed in for half time with a 2-1 advantage At half time the players from Folkestone Invicta Women took to the pitch for a lap of honour having secured the SECWFL Kent Division 2 East title in their inaugural season The girls are currently preparing for the Kent Divisional Cup Final against Lydd Town at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Thursday 15th May The second half brought that “end of season” feel with it until Invicta managed to reassert themselves midway thorugh the half Turner and Kouassi both saw shots blocked before a deep cross from Turner to the back post evaded Bull to find Dan Smith who was unable to get a decent purchase to turn it goal bound Substitute Ade Yusuff twisted his fullback to get to the byline his cutback ending up at the feet of Kassaraté who took aim from range but failed to hit the target Invicta had the ball in the net from a corner with about 15 minutes remaining but long after the whistle had gone for a foul somewhere in the penalty area Bobby Unwin came closest to stealing a point for the visitors with a left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area that narrowly missed the top corner Invicta then went close to a third at the other end substitute Miquel Scarlett with what looked like a cross from the right that nearly snuck inside Bull’s near post A big goal kick from Jonny Henly was the final ever kick on the grass pitch at Cheriton Road as the referee brought the afternoon to a close sealing a first win for Jay Saunders and his management team Following the action on the pitch we held out End of Season Awards Presentation in The Dugout Sports Bar both both our senior men’s and women’s teams Keep an eye our for more info on our winners The match was sponsored by the Invicta Meldrews who raised £575.60 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and the British Heart Foundation Evans Kouassi was selected as Man of the Match Invicta now set our sights on Saturday’s trip to Cray Valley PM who have secured a 4th place finish and will visit whichever side finishes third on the following Wednesday in the playoff semi-finals We wish to thank all those who attended Easter Monday and all those who have attended the Alcaline Stadium this season An average attendance of 937 in the Isthmian Premier Division and a total season’s attendance of 20,775 are the highest figures in the club’s history We look forward to being able to welcome supporters back for the start of the new season in August Alcaline Stadium Cheriton Road Folkestone Kent CT19 5JU Majority shareholder Addington Leisure Ltd Lewes FC and Lewes Football Foundation are proud to announce Lewes FC Select U13 Girls have won the National Premier Conference League consisting of nine players from Lewes FC Juniors Rooks U13 Girls along with nine additional players from three other grassroots clubs in Sussex won the title on Wednesday evening after AFC Wimbledon dropped points The league campaign will come to an end this Saturday 3 May with Lewes FC Select hosting Watford at 1pm at the Dripping Pan The game will be followed by a trophy presentation and celebrations This is an exceptional achievement and a huge milestone for our elite-level football development programme This incredible accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and their coaching staff “This season has been exceptional,” said Charlie Rowland “Our U13 Select Girls have not only demonstrated incredible skill and teamwork but also the passion and commitment to push beyond expectations “Their progression in both the Junior Premier League and the National Cup is something extraordinary We will celebrate this weekend and then embrace the challenge of facing Arsenal in the National Cup final we will give a good account of ourselves and we’re confident “I and the rest of the coaching team are immensely proud of the achievements of the girls and we’re eager to continue supporting and celebrating their success.” added: “I’ve loved representing Lewes FC and playing in the Junior Premier League and I’m so proud of how we’ve developed as a team All the hard work the girls have put in has paid off “We are all so excited to get to the National Cup final It’s so cool to play against a big name like Arsenal but we’ll treat the match the same as any team we play – working hard for each other Win or lose we’ll enjoy every minute of this special occasion.” E: info@lewesfc.com Invicta come from behind to end the season with a win at the Alcaline Stadium Lewes FC Women rounded off their season with penalty heroics and a trophy as they beat Brighton Academy in the Sussex Challenge Cup final on Tuesday in front of almost 600 fans Maddie Brant converted Lewes’ fourth successful penalty before Brighton captain Jess Pegram missed the target to trigger jubilant scenes at Lancing Lewes could have won it in normal time but Katie Gilligan and Kayla Ginger both hit the crossbar while Olivia Carpenter had a goal ruled out for offside Nat Lawrence’s side were certainly the more dominant but they couldn’t force a way through the Brighton defence with penalties required to eventually crown the Rooks Champions of Sussex Lewes had just a day to prepare for the final after beating MK Dons 7-0 in the last FA Women’s National League South game of the season on Sunday with Sunday’s hat-trick hero Paula Howells starting alongside the Rooks’ joint-top scorer for the season Carpenter Brighton came out the blocks fast and Lewes were forced to defend deep in the opening throes – but steadily the Rooks worked their way into the game Lois Roche tested Seagulls goalkeeper Lily Murray with a header eight minutes in while Layla Proctor did well to deny Clarabella Hall a clear sight at goal at the other end Carpenter thought she had given the Rooks the lead 28 minutes in when finishing a lovely pass from Howells only for the offside flag to go up against Lewes’ No it was a sign of Lewes’ growing dominance as they sought an opener before the break Carpenter first forced a low save from Murray before Howells caught the keeper napping to go for a spectacular lob Howells and Roche also went close before the whistle The second half was a much more even affair although Lewes still boasted the wealth of the chances while Lane rounded the goalkeeper on 70 minutes only for Rhianna Fowler to block the eventual shot Lewes pressed hard in the final stages and saw their best chance go begging with 13 minutes remaining Gilligan somehow managed to squeeze a shot in from the edge of the area that had Murray – but not the crossbar – beaten The ball pinged out to Ginger but rattled the bar again Murray then denied both Ginger and Carpenter in the dying stages of the match while Moore was called upon to provide calm at the other end as Brighton sought a late Lewes’ faithful support – a few faces of which have been spotted at Plymouth Gwalia and Exeter this season – uprooted from behind one goal to hurry over to the other Ginger and Brant all scored their spot kicks while two Brighton efforts sailed beyond Moore’s goal We’d like to thank the couple of hundred Lewes fans and Lewes Juniors teams who made the journey to Lancing on a work/school night to support the players one last time this season >> Watch the full match here E: info@lewesfc.com Lewes FC can confirm ticket details for the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup Final Lewes FC Women will face Brighton & Hove Albion Women FC Academy on Tuesday 29 April at 7:30pm in Lancing The game will be played at the Sussex FA’s home ground We can now share ticket details as confirmed by the Sussex FA You can buy Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup Final tickets here Culver Road is situated a few minutes walk from Lancing train station and just off the A27 There are three parking bays available for Blue Badge holders on-site The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs and disabled toilets are available on-site E: info@lewesfc.com This last weekend of the season has given us the chance to celebrate our amazing Men’s and Women’s first teams while also allowing us to reflect on an exhilarating Football doesn’t stand still and nor does Lewes FC Our two first teams have achieved steady positions in their respective leagues following difficult pre-seasons the Supporters Club has grown from strength to strength and more kids (and adults!) are playing at the 3G than ever before partner and director for their tireless work in helping our community club thrive we need to go back to the start of the 2024/25 season That’s because it’s important to recognise where the club was ‘at’ last summer Our Men’s team had reached the Fenix Trophy finals in Italy but Our Women’s team suffered the heartbreak of relegation and the shift from being a professional entity to semi-professional six new directors were still being brought up to speed on the complexities of running our community club while we lost our CEO and had to make redundancies elsewhere The club shrank but our determination to deliver on our values remained volunteers and directors recruited two entirely new first teams Craig Nelson and his staff came up from two tiers below the Isthmian Premier League and delivered a five-match winning streak to kick off the season with huge positivity Nat Lawrence and Tim Heal soon got the women competing in the FA Women’s National League South and have steered us to Tuesday’s Sussex Challenge Cup final The progress the players have made over the course of the season has been a joy to behold It is through their financial support and expertise alongside other partnerships and the fact our attendances have remained stable that we have been able to field competitive squads that have entertained us each week Of course, no partner is more supportive than our amazing fans. Not only have you attended this season in near-record numbers but your positivity has seen us through dark times. From miserable streaks and early cup exits, to two of our players suffering horrific broken legs. Whether it’s dressing up in ball gowns for our season opener or traipsing to Dover on a bitter Tuesday night The Lewes FC Supporters Club has donated around £30,000 to club facilities to improve fan experiences for everyone Our toilet blocks were (finally!) completed despite many while the coffee hatch has greatly relieved congestion in the Rook Inn and pie hatch Even simple things like paying for a bar-standard dishwasher makes a staggering amount of difference on matchdays an enormous thank you is extended to every single staff member and volunteer who has worked so hard to keep the Dripping Pan and 3G running over the course of the season Working and volunteering in football is hard work From Damien and the St Nicholas Day Service The 2024/25 season was also the beginning of a new relationship between Lewes FC and the newly-formed Lewes Football Foundation The relationship continues to flourish and the Foundation have oversight of Lewes FC Juniors and Select teams It is an enormous administrative task to oversee so many teams and the 3G is a hive of community activity thanks to their commitments Lewes FC and Lewes Football Foundation can nurture our club and community so more people can enjoy better football experiences – whether it’s on or off the pitch As we move into the summer and prepare for the 2025/26 season we need to acknowledge how football is changing – in both the men’s and women’s games Many owners and supporters will have witnessed the club’s efforts this spring to source investment in a manner that aligns with our club structure Now the season is over and our staff and board aren’t working on matchday activities week-to-week there is space and time to address our governance Lewes FC is in its 140th year and we all want to ensure it’s here for another 140 Only by working together can we achieve all our goals Enjoy the summer… and see you for pre-season E: info@lewesfc.com Lewes FC Men put on a spectacle on the last day of the Isthmian Premier League season against Cray Wanderers as a league debut goal from Christo Nano was enough to secure a 4-3 win and give Craig Nelson the perfect send off Marcus Sablier’s low finish 25 minutes in got the Rooks level quickly after a goal from Cray’s Soul Kader before Jack Meeres put Lewes in front from a corner with a bullet header Bobby Unwin’s low shot gave the home side a two-goal cushion midway through the second half only for Victor Damyanov to respond two minutes later It was quite the entrance for 16-year-old Nano who came on with seven minutes remaining and within moments had powered home a fourth from 25 yards with his first touch in the league Cray could only manage one more from Joshua Williams before the whistle blew on the 2024/25 season Lewes were looking to end the campaign on a positive note The Rooks were up against a team they had already beaten 3-1 in the reverse fixture back in August There were two changes to the Rooks lineup with Izzy Jones and Hamilton Antonio replaced by Tolu Ladapo and Parish Muirhead with Ezechukwu Ebuzoeme II and Tom Bonner out for Freddie Warwick and Bobby Parkes Toby Bull was forced into the first save of the game on three minutes getting his body in the way of a Kader shot Bull then had to be brave to claw away the ball before Kader got on the end of it which resulted in the pair colliding with each other Lewes had their first shot on 18 minutes via a long-range effort from Unwin but his shot was straight at Cray keeper Shaun Rowley when Kader capitalised on an under-hit back pass from Matt Warren to tap in when a pass from Unwin found Sablier in the box in which he turned brilliantly and powered into the net with conviction to the delight of the home supporters Lewes immediate sought another goal but a curled free kick into the box Soon after there came two great opportunities one after the other first a blocked shot from Alfie Allen and then a blocked cross shot from Warren Lewes’ pressure finally told on 39 minutes with Unwin’s cross powerfully headed home by defender Meeres Shae Hutchinson almost made it three before the break after having a through ball fed to him The Rooks would make it to the break ahead First-half scorer Sablier almost turned provider on 50 minutes but Hutchinson’s effort was well saved by Rowley only for that effort to find the goalkeeper too Centre-back Spinks then went for the spectacular from a corner after being left unmarked in the box as Unwin chopped inside and sent in a low drive that clipped the far post and in – a delightful strike in front of the almost 1,000 supporters at the Pan when Kader dribbled round Bull and squared it to Damyanov who finished from close range to cut the Rooks’ lead Lewes responded well and evidently wanted their two-goal cushion back. Cue Nano’s arrival. The 16-year-old, who made his Rooks debut in the Sussex Senior Cup in October he rifled in a great goal from outside the box Nano’s ended up being crucial as Cray made it 4-3 in the last minute when a shot which cannoned off Bull’s left post fell nicely at the feet of Williams who powered a half-volley home from close range Cray then piled on the pressure in added time as they sought an equaliser but the Rooks defence held firm Lewes secured the three points to give Nelson the perfect send-off Thank you for all your incredible support this season E: info@lewesfc.com Lewes FC can announce our Men’s first-team manager will be leaving the club at the end of the season to join Tonbridge Angels Craig joined Lewes as manager in May 2024 and oversaw a complete overhaul of the squad for the 2024/25 season What followed was the Rooks’ best start to a campaign for over a decade as the team won all five of its opening league matches and went eight games undefeated overall That impressive start saw Craig pick up the Manager of the Month award for August 2024 There was progression in the FA Trophy to the 2nd Round proper injuries to key players saw the Rooks’ form dip toward the end of 2024 The team responded strongly and picked up notable victories in 2025 over Dulwich It’s never easy saying goodbye to a club that has meant so much to me “From the first day I walked through the doors I felt the passion and the pride that runs through every part of Lewes FC and it’s been an honour to be part of that journey or simply seeing the Dripping Pan buzzing on a matchday every experience has helped me grow as a person and as a manager and your belief in what we were trying to build You’re the heartbeat of the club and I’ll always be grateful for the way you backed me and the team through the highs and lows “Lewes will always hold a special place in my heart I leave with nothing but respect and appreciation and I’ll be watching on with pride as the club continues to grow Thank you for everything and Up the Rooks!” Director John Peel says: “We are obviously saddened to lose Craig but we will go our separate ways on extremely good terms and we wish him all the best in his next venture “Craig arrived at the club in an uncertain and challenging time but such is his exceptional talent that his energy invigorated the environment and the performances of his team have exceeded expectations “I’m very proud that our paths have crossed and that he had the opportunity to manage this great club Craig has laid an excellent foundation as we look forward to a period of growth “I would also like to pass my enormous thanks to Danny who are each incredibly talented individuals and a brilliant team of people to work with.” we are hugely disappointed to be losing Craig to Tonbridge Angels our supporters and our owners will be thankful for the job he performed this season and wish him future success in his managerial career the plan was that he would initially recruit a team almost from scratch that would consolidate our position as members of the Isthmian Premier League and from that position of consolidation he could build the team to challenge for the top five in the future “Craig has more than exceeded his brief in his first season which has of course brought him to the attention of clubs higher up the league pyramid “Whilst we are saddened that he won’t be taking the next step of the journey with us he leaves the club in a stronger position than when he joined and provides a fantastic opportunity for his successor.” The club can confirm that it has begun a shortlisting process to appoint a new manager. Any other expressions of interest can be emailed to John Peel at john@lewesfc.com Craig and his team will remain in post for the remaining four games of the season We hope to give him the send-off he deserves on Saturday 26 April when we face Cray Wanderers at the Dripping Pan on the final day of the campaign E: info@lewesfc.com by | Apr 25, 2025 | Front Page Lewes vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 26th April After what seems like a whirlwind Cray Wanderers final game of a momentous first season at a home of their own sees Tim O’Shea’s side head to East Sussex to face Lewes at the Dripping Pan On what promises to be one of the most dramatic final days of the Isthmian Premier season many can remember with three teams vying for the title and one playoff place up for grabs perhaps events at Lewes will be a bit more off the radar but nonetheless with both sides in 12th and 10th respectively it should be a relaxed affair in what is expected to be fine and warm Spring afternoon Cray come into the game after what appeared a tough and gruelling April schedule which included games against Billericay Town Horsham and Dartford and came out of those games with four points which in many ways threw a spanner in the works and kept the race going to the end A case in point on Easter Monday with Dartford in poll position at the top with a two point lead ahead of Billericay Town and Horsham who all had local derby away games Cray despite falling behind and having to little to play for fought back for a merited 2-2 draw with Dartford Frankie Raymond’s penalty and Lateef Adaja’s goal just after half time gave Cray the platform to go toe to toe with the leaders Following the game all three teams at the top have 84 points with Dartford now in 3rd behind Billericay and Horsham who won their games at Canvey and Bognor Regis respectively Cray will be without captain Tom Bonner who has already committed to the club for the 2025-26 season and Eze Ebouzeme through suspension while there are injury concerns for Management Player of the Year Remi Sutton With the pressure off and a squad fairly short in numbers this could give an opportunity for some of the younger squad players to get a start One award yet to be officially claimed is that of Leading Goalscorer which at present is being held by Nyren Clunis with 12 with perhaps Soul Kader on 9 still in with a shout Whatever happens for Cray to finish the season in the top half of the table on 61 points after only having six going into an away game at Cheshunt in late October and be competitive in every game since shows a squad high in team spirit ability and togetherness and with the supporters many of whom are enjoying their first season as part of the Cray Massive every game has been an event as as well as a match and certainly where I am coming from one of the most memorable seasons of all time  Cray do not have the greatest record down at Lewes with the only league win 3-2 in the 2019-20 season technically expunged following the outbreak of Covid with goals that day from Mitchell Nelson Cray also have failed to find the net in the last three trips to Lewes with the last meeting bizarrely the opening game of the 2023-24 season ending in a 0-1 defeat with a Chris Whelpdale goal for the Rooks  Lewes will be under the management for the final time under Craig Nelson who will be taking up the position as Tonbridge Angels boss nest season The Rooks got off to a great start to the season winning the first five matches which included a 3-1 win at Cray (one of only four home league defeats) on 24th August with three goals in ten minutes from Eddie Allsopp and ex-Wands Danny Bassett and Marcus Sablier with Anthony Cook scoring the Wands first league goal at Flamingo Park perhaps the main highlight for a Wands perspective  The team perhaps peaked a little early but like Cray were still in earshot of the playoffs going into March The Rooks last match on Monday was a 1-2 defeat at Folkestone Invicta with Sablier opening the scoring before Invicta won the game with two goals before the half hour  Lewes who are 12th with 55 points at home are traditionally strong and have beaten Chatham Town (2-0) They drew at home to Hastings United (1-1) Bowers & Pitsea (1-1) and Wingate & Finchley (0-0) with defeats to Dover Athletic (1-3) Potters Bar Town (2-3) and Carshalton Athletic (1-3) Away from home Lewes won at Bognor Regis (1-0) Lewes picked up points at Carshalton Athletic Dover Athletic and Cray Valley and lost at Potters Bar Town In the FA Cup Lewes were beaten in the 1st Qualifying Round by Harefield United on penalties and reached the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy beating Bracknell Town and Ashford United before losing at home to AFC Totton Top scorer is Danny Bassett but will be ineligible for the game  For a football experience there are few away days better than a trip to Lewes and to bring the curtain down on the season there makes it an even better way to sign out on an incredible 2024-25 campaign Online tickets:  https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lewesfootballclub2/1340907 The Dripping Pan is at the very start of Mountfield Road turn off the A27 for Lewes and turn right (signposted Rodmell and Piddinghoe) after about a mile at the first set of traffic lights Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout by The Swan pub and turn left Continue along this road and over the mini-roundabout straight into Mountfield Road where the ground is on your right hand side There are two bays in the car park for people with Disability Permits But it should also be noted that this car park does not belong to the club so unfortunately cannot reserve any spaces For direct train services there are half hourly trains at 24 and 54 past the hour which go direct and takes about 1 hr 01 min  Returns are at 25 and 55 back to Victoria You can get services from London Bridge at 15 & 45 past the hour but these require a change at East Croydon Lewes railway station is about a two minute walk from the Dripping Pan turn left and follow the path over the bridge then bear left at the roundabout The Dripping Pan is one of the great away days anywhere in football and if you have time on your hands there is much to see The ground itself is quite unique with its steep banking and legend states the ground gets its name from when the area had a Salt making industry run by monks from Lewes Priory used to dry water from the river to make salf and accounts for the fact the stadium is sunk into the ground For those that like a pre match drink then Lewes is the place for you Similar in many ways to Faversham as it has links to the Brewing industry with the Harveys Brewery a prominent part of the town just by the river Ouse https://www.facebook.com/TheLansdownArms/?locale=en_GB (A very gothic pub with a tree growing out of it and has live music on Saturday with Blues vocalist and guitarist King Size Slim) https://www.thebrewersarmslewes.com/menu https://www.theroyaloaklewes.co.uk/ https://www.thepelhamarms.co.uk/ https://www.rightsofmanlewes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Elephant-Castle-100041728638178/?locale=en_GB https://www.harveys.org.uk/  These all come highly recommended and serve real ales and good food with fresh local produce Please be aware from previous visits and going to the High Street this is a fairly steep and in parts a cobblely climb so make sure you are feeling fit for the walk  For those that like a chippy then the Lewes Fish Bar in the High Street could be what you are looking for Lewes is a historic market town and the county town of East Sussex The town is home to a medieval castle within the South Downs and was used during the Battle of Lewes in 1264 There are remains of Lewes Priory which was part destroyed during the battle and also Wealdon Hall House a timber framed house which is also known as Anne of Cleves House after Henry VIII’s fourth wife although it is a matter of some conjecture whether she actually visited or stayed at the house Lewes is also close to the home of the Glyndebourne classical music festival and every November 5th is home to the largest bonfire night celebrations in the UK The Dripping Pan is one of the more iconic grounds in non-league football and has been their home since 1885 and has also hosted cricket matches and Athletics down the years It is believed to have its name deriving from being used as a salt mine for the now destroyed Lewes Priory the remains of which can be seen adjacent to the ground New Stadium First Team Tickets Club News Contact Us Instagram YouTube Twitter Our club sponsor page The results of the 2025 Lewes FC board elections have been verified by the EMG and Independent Returning Officer The five successful candidates joining the Lewes FC board are: Successful candidates have received an email regarding the next steps of the onboarding process We would like to thank all candidates for standing in this election – being on the board of Lewes FC carries a lot of responsibility and each candidate should be commended for their willingness to sacrifice their time energy and expertise for our community club We would also like to thank the 403 owners who voted in our election – an increase of almost a third from the previous board elections Owners elect directors to serve on the board and make strategic decisions for the benefit of the club and its ownership to the best of their ability the board believes this is the opportune moment to gradually introduce new directors to the challenges and responsibilities that come with running our club The club will hold an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday 1 May at 7pm online and in person at the Rook Inn as are successful and unsuccessful candidates Owners will receive a link to the EGM via email ⁠• Review of 2024/25 season by Lewes Community Football Club chair • Announcement and confirmation of ballot to elect directors E: info@lewesfc.com by | Apr 27, 2025 | Match Day Reports Isthmian Premier – Saturday 26th April – Match Report  Lewes                                                             4 Cray Wanderers                                             3  Cray Wanderers final game of the season saw a trip to Lewes and despite there not being a lot riding on the match both teams served up great entertainment with the home side winning a seven goal thriller Lewes are one of the Wands bogey teams away from home and hadn’t scored at the Dripping Pan in the last three visits but ended that run when Soul Kader benefited from a mistake at the back to score after 23 minutes against the run of play ex-Wand Marcus Sablier levelled two minutes later for Lewes The Rooks took the lead five minutes before half time when Jack Meeres headed in from a corner The second half was an end to end affair with both teams coming close before Bobby Unwin made it 3-1 when he cut inside and shot from the right in the 69th minute Cray though pulled a goal back two minutes later through substitute Victor Damyanov The two goal lead was restored seven minute from time by Christo Nano for Lewes but the Wands again wouldn’t lie down and Josh Williams made it 4-3 in the last minute against one of his former clubs to set up a frantic finish On a bright afternoon and with a noisy and joyous backing from the Cray Massive this promised to be a game with little or no stress riding on it compared to some of the games taking place elsewhere in the league Tim O’Shea was without Tom Bonner and Eze Ebouzeme through suspension and the injured Remi Sutton so began the game with U23s regulars Bobby Parkes and Freddie Warwick brought into the starting lineup this was the last match in charge for Craig Nelson before going on to Tonbridge Angels and made two changes to the side beaten at Folkestone on Monday with Tolu Ladapo and Parish Muirhead in for Izzy Jones and Hamilton Antonio Cray began the game in confident mood and the livelier of the two sides and Soul Kader in the last game of his loan spell from Bromley came close after four minutes down the left of the area with a shot saved by the legs of Toby Bull Josh Williams shot wide of goal and the Wands came close again when a right wing cross from Williams to the far post was headed wide of the right post by Kader The Wands took the lead on 23 minutes after a mistake by Bull with Kader nipping in to roll the ball into the net for his tenth goal in ten matches Lewes though who hadn’t really been in the game levelled two minutes later when Matt Warren set up Marcus Sablier who had a loan spell with Cray from Bromley in the 2022-23 season hit a sweet strike from the edge of the area to make it 1-1 The match went from end to end with Cray still perhaps having the edge and Frankie Raymond was set up by Williams but shot over and then Kader shot wide The Rooks took the lead five minutes before half time after winning a corner down the right and the cross to the near post was glanced in by Jack Meeres So at half time in a game Cray had been in control found themselves 2-1 down The second half went from end to end and Lewes came close to a third goal when Sablier down the left of the area set up Bobby Unwin for a shot that was very well saved one handed by Shaun Rowley diving at the right post Nyren Clunis who finished in the end as the Wands top scorer with twelve goals was unlucky not to add to his total with a curling shot which hit the top of the crossbar Cray were indebted once again to the excellence of Supporters player of the year Rowley who made a fine one handed push over save to deny Shae Hutchinson The Wands continued on the attack and Darion Dowrich put over a fine cross-shot across goal and Kader shot just over In the 69th minute Lewes added a third goal when Unwin cut inside from the right and with space placed a quality shot wide of Rowley and into the bottom left corner Cray though deserved better than a two goal deficit and two minutes later reduced the arrears when down the right Kader once again proved a handful down the right of the area and took the ball round Bull and laid the ball across into the six yard box for substitute Victor Damyanov to notch his second league goal of the season There was a great moment for 16 year old goalkeeper George Clark who replaced Rowley for his Wands debut for the last fifteen/twenty minutes The game continued to be played at breakneck speed and Lewes came close to a fourth when from a right wing cross to the far post Sablier somehow saw his header squirm across goal and past the right post Then Clark did well to hold a shot from Unwin at his near post Lewes made it 4-2 when two substitutes combined as Eddie Allsopp set up Christo Nano who had only been on for a minute who from the edge of the area saw his shot go in at the left post although Clark almost got his hands to the shot Cray would not give up though and another substitute George Brooke down the left cut into the box and hoisted a ball towards the near post which hit the post diverting the ball away from Bull and came to Williams who rifled home his ninth goal for the Wands in the 89th minute With five minutes extra added on Cray went forward looking for a goal to make it 4-4 and Brooke came close with a shot from the edge of the area which Bull got down to save Cray couldn’t quite pull it round but can be happy overall with the season to finish in 10th place on 61 points and nowhere near the relegation places and were competitive in every game played during this first momentous season playing at a ground of their own for the first time The players and staff have been superb but a special word in closing for the Cray Massive who especially since December have been magnificent especially on their travels and the sound of songs and drums I’m sure would have reverberated up the High Street and to the Castle and I wish you all a Happy Summer and a chance to clear throats and go again with the drums Cray Wanderers:         Shaun Rowley (George Clark Lewes FC supports the Lewes Football Foundation, which represents all our community football teams here in Lewes, bringing them all under one unified umbrella. They also manage bookings for The Rookery 3G pitch on Ham Lane The Foundation’s vision is of a Lewes where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthier lifestyle and feel connected to the community through football The teams include Lewes Juniors boys and girls which is comprised of 21 football teams (over 300 players aged under seven-17 years) Saturday Rooks drop-in sessions (under 6-10 years and under 11-18 years) and the Lewes Vets – both men’s and women’s teams of players aged over 35 years • To find out more about Lewes FC Vets, walking football, football therapy and Saturday Morning Rooks sessions, email here  • To find out more about Lewes FC Juniors, email secretary Jane Phipps at Lewes Juniors • To hire the 3G pitch, email The Rookery 3G or email Lewes Football Foundation We are very grateful to the almost 70 volunteer coaches managers and committee members who work to deliver community football to Lewes www.lewesfootballfoundation.org  Lewes Football Foundation is a non-profit company limited by guarantee (registered number 15904877) E: info@lewesfc.com Invicta host Lewes for our final home fixture of the 2025/26 season We bring the curtain down on the 2024/25 Isthmian Premier Division season at the Alcaline Stadium on Easter Monday as Invicta welcome Lewes Monday will be our final fixture on the grass pitch at Cheriton Road balloon making and a magician at the Alcaline Stadium for Monday’s match Following the match we will be holding our End of Season Awards Presentation in The Dugout Sports Bar Awards will be presented to both out men’s and women’s 1st teams for the 2024/25 seasons Our women’s team will also be presented with their SECWFL Kent Division 2 East trophy Supports can vote online for Supporters’ Player of the Season and the Invicta TV goal of the season With Bowers & Pitsea already relegated the final 3 relegation spots at the bottom of the Isthmian Premier Division were settled on Saturday Hastings United & Hendon all failed to win while Dulwich Hamlet secured an injury time victory over Canvey Island all 3 sides still chasing the title won on Friday leaving them separated by 2 points with 2 games to go with Billericay Town and Horsham hoping to pounce if they slip Dartford will take on 2 sides in the top 10 with Cray Wanderers (a) and Carshalton Athletic (h) Billericay take on Canvey Island (a) and Cheshunt (h) who are both now safe from the drop while Horsham face relegated Bognor Regis (a) and 8th placed Hashtag United (h) Cray Valley need just 2 more points to secure themselves an away playoff spot while Dover and Chichester City battle to join them Dover sit 2 points above Chichester heading into Easter Monday with the 2 sides set to meet in Sussex on the final day of the season Ramsgate secured the Isthmian South East title on Friday with a 4-0 win at Hythe confirming their promotion to the Premier Division the playoffs have already been set with Sittingbourne to host Merstham and Margate to travel to Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday 29th April before the final on Friday 2nd May Brentwood Town are just 2 points from securing the Isthmian North title and promotion to the Premier Division Waltham Abbey have already secured a playoff place and Brightlingsea Regent need 2 more points to join them Bury Town and Felixstowe & Walton United Welling United joined Aveley in being relegated from the National League South on Friday with defeat at home to Maidstone St Albans City currently occupy the final relegation place in the National South Enfield Town need just 1 more point to secure another season at step 2 Jay Saunders spoke following our Good Friday defeat to Billericay: “I’ve just said to the boys really important for me now that they do their recovery look after themselves and we try and go out on a win in the last home game Obviously it’s been a tough season and it’s not ended the way anyone wanted at the club really important now we get a good attitude we take the positives from today and try and take them into Lewes obviously the pitch makes it difficult but we’ll look forward to it We’ll try and go out with a win and obviously it’s the last home game on the grass at the ground so it’s really important for me that we go out with a positive result.” You can see the full interview with Jay here: Invicta are likely to head into Easter Monday with a similar squad to that which travelled to Billericay on Good Friday Manager Jay Saunders said defender Joel-Michael Odeniran has an “outside chance” having been on the bench but not featured at Billericay Lewes had a flying start to the season that saw them top of the Isthmian Premier Division in mi-October after 10 games but a poor end to 2024 saw The Rooks drop into mid-table with home and away 3-1 wins last season and a goalless draw on Boxing Day this season Lewes made the trip to the Alcaline Stadium on Good Friday last season Jay Saunders will be coming up against his successor as Tonbridge Angels manager on Monday with Craig Nelson due to take over at Longmead Stadium at the end of the season Nelson joined Lewes from SCEFL side Glebe last summer after leading them to the playoffs Lewes top goalscorer Danny Bassett looks set to miss the match having received an 8-month ban from the FA but Shae Hutchinson has stepped up to the mark in recent weeks and comes into the game having found the net in his last 2 appearances The 24 year old is a product of the Norwich City academy and has previously featured for Braintree Supporters can pay on the gate for this fixture or purchase online in advance from our online ticket shop Charlie Prescott and Adrian Dawkes from Seasiders Radio will be there to bring you live radio commentary from the Alcaline Stadium The Dugout Sports Bar will be open from 11:30am Food and refreshments will also be available from the food truck inside the stadium located between The Dugout and the Folkestone Bowls Club building We have four fanzone bars around the ground serving draught beer one beside the tea hut window and one beside the disability shelter The Dugout Sports Bar will be open from 11:30am showing all of the days live sport The 2024/25 season for Lewes Juniors U13 Rooks Girls will go down in history after the team capped off a remarkable campaign on Saturday to win the Sussex County Women and Girls Football League U13s Premier League with a 100% record Their 2-0 victory against Crawley and Maidenbower cemented their status as true Invincibles marking a milestone achievement for the club with the girls preparing to compete in the Champions Cup final against Lindfield Lionesses on Thursday 15 May at the Dripping Pan (6:30pm kick off) The final whistle blew on a league season of dominance on Saturday with the girls winning all 12 of their matches to top the table in style This extraordinary feat is a first for a girls U13 team in the league showcasing their exceptional talent and unwavering determination the team displayed formidable attacking prowess Their defensive solidity was equally remarkable with just six conceded “This is an incredible achievement for the girls,” said Charlie Rowland and skill have been evident throughout the season To go unbeaten is a testament to their hard work and commitment The team’s success is a source of immense pride for Lewes Juniors and the wider community Team captain Primrose Rowland said: “We work so hard as a team; we all want to improve every week and continue to raise our standards I’m so proud to be captain of this fantastic group of girls To be making memories like this with my friends is so special.” The team is looking forward to a Champions Cup final now the league is over The cup final will be a tough game against a strong Lindfield Lionesses team and will take place at the Dripping Pan on Thursday 15 May (6:30pm) Spectator information about attending the game will be issued shortly as part of wider plans for the Lewes Football Foundation’s Pan Siro weekend of activities the girls will celebrate this historic season before planning for the 2025/26 campaign where they will go and take on the boys in the Sussex Sunday League E: info@lewesfc.com Sussex County Land Trust announces fundraising programTuesday Land trust involved in six active projectsFriday Fourth Street open space campaign ends year on high noteFriday Sussex County Council focuses on open spaceFriday Celebrating farmland preservation program Friday Cannon-Maston House restoration gets underwaySaturday Sussex Land Trust: More access, countywide preservationTuesday Sussex council, land trust approve Hopkins agreementFriday Rotary will build accessible playground Friday Sussex Land Trust opens Phase 1 of Hudson ParkThursday The Sussex County Land Trust received a major contribution of $50,000 from the Delaware Ornithological Society in support of the Ard Na Greine property – an 88-acre open space along the Georgetown-Lewes Trail in Lewes The remarkable donation was made possible in large part thanks to the 2024 Delaware Bird-A-Thon fundraising efforts of Sue Gruver and the Road Runners a dedicated Sussex County birding team whose passion for conservation continues to inspire others across the state Irish Gaelic for “the rise that catches the sun,” is one of the last remaining undeveloped tracts in the Lewes area which flows into Canary Creek and the Great Marsh the property will offer public access from the trail and a future parking area with plans for passive recreation and native habitat restoration “This is grassroots conservation at its best,” said Sara M executive director of the Sussex County Land Trust “The Delaware Ornithological Society’s $50,000 donation from last year’s bird-a-thon is an extraordinary investment in Sussex County’s natural heritage – and will help us attract additional support for this $9 million preservation project.” The funds raised and donated by DOS will directly support the acquisition and restoration of the property A master plan will be developed to convert current farm fields into native habitat and DOS will serve as a key stakeholder in the planning process The 2025 Delaware Bird-A-Thon continues through Sunday Birders of all ages and experience levels are invited to to identify as many bird species as possible in a 24-hour period while raising funds for local conservation initiatives “Birding is about more than just counting species – it’s about protecting the places they depend on,” said Joe Francis “We’re proud to partner with the Sussex County Land Trust on this meaningful project and we invite the community to join us again this May for conservation.” To learn more, go to dosbirds.org/conservation/bird-a-thon and sclandtrust.org. The 2025 Lewes FC board elections are now underway There are five vacancies available on the Lewes Community Football Club board The window to vote runs from today (16 April) to midnight on 24 April Owners can vote online using this form Only active owners can vote and you are required to include your name and email address linked to your ownership If you’re under 16 years of age you will not be eligible to vote Owners are able to vote for up to five candidates The following 14 candidates are standing in this year’s board elections The order of the candidates was drawn fairly and with independent oversight Please click on their names to read their statements: Sasha Hartman Sinclair Spencer Helaine de Grange Eloise Cheary Miranda Kemp Zoe Brough Sean McLoud Lisa Emery Felicity Webster Guy Hedderwick Jim Cheek Pete Bull Roger Warner John Peel The five candidates receiving the most votes will be elected to the board All appointments to the board are subject to passing the FA’s Owners & Directors Test and adherence to the Club’s Election Policy Vote here As there are more candidates standing than available places on the board an online hustings will take place at 7pm on Thursday 17 April The hustings are a chance for all candidates to address and make their pitch to the ownership Owners are encouraged to attend the hustings and also read each candidate’s statement (above) • The Zoom link for this event is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83147056267 We are dedicated to operating an open and free hustings. As part of the hustings, owners can submit questions that may be asked to all candidates. Due to the number of candidates running in this election, we cannot promise we will ask all submitted questions. We ask owners to send any questions they might have for all candidates to HR@lewesfc.com by 3pm on Thursday Please make sure they are applicable to all candidates There will be an opportunity to send questions to specific candidates after the hustings Lewes Community Football Club will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Thursday 1 May at 7pm online and in the Rook Inn to formally confirm the election of new board members Lewes Community Football Club Limited constitution Board Membership and Conduct Policy Lewes Community Football Club Limited Election Policy E: info@lewesfc.com Voting is now underway for the 2025 Lewes FC Values Awards owner or anyone else closely connected to our club community who have gone above and beyond over the last 12 months We launched the awards to huge success last year and now we’re back for more Vote here Voting ends at midnight on Tuesday 15 April There are three nominees in each award and you can read more about their amazing work below: Sarah Harvey – Sarah’s ambition is not born out of ego but from an unshakable belief that her dreams are within reach and she’s willing to chase them relentlessly Sarah is a woman who wakes up each day with fierce determination Her sport isn’t just a pastime—it’s a passion that she’s dedicated her life to and every movement is calculated Sarah sets goals that seem impossible to others there’s no doubt that with grit and persistence She’s not just competing against others; she’s in a constant battle with herself striving to be the best version of who she can be Lewes Junior Rooks – Under 13 Girls – The remarkable achievements of Lewes FC Juniors U13 Girls should be something we all celebrate finishing the season unbeaten as league champions and earning a well-deserved spot in the County Cup final and dedication of the players and their coaching staff (Charlie Rowland and Ben Larribeau Wade) Joe Short and Shrey Nilvarna – At the beginning of this season there was a big gap in club communications due to relegation and the loss of staff members Shrey has gone above and beyond to revamp the club’s social media content creatively integrating our players into daily content All this outside of his day-to-day job description where he has delivered excellent comms for fan engagement Joe has worked tirelessly behind the scenes on a daily basis to deliver our website updates and support the directors in all ownership comms as well as diligently driving media outlets to cover news at Lewes FC All this while overseeing other pillars in the club created a media department and have a structure for the future Zoe Smith – Zoe has publicly opened up about having endometriosis in an effort to raise awareness of the condition and explain to her teammates what it’s about which means sufferers often don’t even understand what it is It has taken a huge amount of bravery and strength for Zoe to speak out but to be so forthcoming with the impact on herself in an attempt to raise awareness and ensure that others are better informed Kelly Lindsey – Kelly returned to the club last summer and her commitment to Lewes FC and our community is undeniable She took on the role of COO at a time when the club ecosystem needed her personality at the helm She fights for the voices of each person to be heard She has done this in so many ways and has now taken on the enormous task of getting Lewes FC through the most challenging time Her dedication to our club and the commitment to our vision is second to none she said “we stand on the shoulders of those before us Kelly stands on the shoulders of those giants and builds on that work with grace and ease She has taken our club through an incredibly challenging period staff and volunteers all up with her – no one else could have done this Tim Heal and Ryan Sullivan – Tim and Ryan are long-term members of Lewes FC growing and changing as the years have progressed rising to new challenges and taking on new tasks and roles in their stride They are amazing people who get on with the task at hand They showed incredible mental strength and resilience at the beginning of this season when they took on the the challenge of running the whole preseason for the Women’s first team while manager Nat was away coaching New Zealand They worked hard to ensure players were recruited properly and made to feel welcome during a period of immense change for the club They both worked tirelessly to ensure the team was in the best possible position to compete from the first match of the campaign Terry Morton – Terry is a comfort and a constant to this club He works tirelessly to maintain the 3G pitch so that it is of the best standard for our men’s and women’s first teams and the Lewes Football Foundation teams He volunteers his time on matchdays and is an ever-present at the Pan even when he is recovering from an impromptu operation The fact he cycles miles in the depths of winter just to attend games and to volunteer is amazing but he also takes a lot of responsibility on he takes on additional volunteers from other organisations he assists with the most random of tasks and he does it all with a warm smile Anthony Kalume – Tony is a driving force at Lewes FC and has been incredible with all that he brings to the community garden He takes a hands-on approach to ensure that the garden is always a site of prosperity his efforts in securing funding are second to none This enables people to keep coming and secures the longevity of projects centred around the garden He also volunteers on matchdays in the club shop Tony’s service to the club is something that Lewes FC can be proud of it enables the club to consistently invite our community in and dedicates a huge amount of time and attention to building a better future He also works with club staff to create ambitious and exciting events to broaden the club’s community presence Lewes Football Foundation leaders – A collective vision to bring together all our community members under one roof is no easy task and perseverance to take on this project and overcome all the hurdles along the way is invaluable to the Lewes FC community We cannot be a community club without these voluntary efforts and commitment to the greater purpose of football Establishing the Foundation has not been easy The founding members have brought their energy and collective effort to move the Foundation forward and collaborate positively with the club while creating new opportunities for more people to benefit from football The 3G is a hive of activity and it is thanks to the vision of the Foundation leaders that this has been possible Paul Denny – Paul has been a volunteer for many years helping with different duties around the club on match days Paul’s volunteer duties this season have focused on hospitality for Men’s and Women’s first-team matches He arrives at the Pan long before the gates open and is still there long after the final whistle has blown The club gets such amazing feedback from anyone who Paul interacts with and he is a shining light in the boardroom for all-important guests to the club He is such a dedicated and kind-hearted person who the club and his community value very much Barry Haffenden – Barry is an unsung hero who eschews the limelight purveying goods both at the Pan and sending out parcels to fans the world over the shop was only open for Men’s games; he opened it for Women’s and U18s games putting around £58,000 over 10 years into the club’s coffers He has acted as volunteer coordinator for all Men’s home match days putting in countless hours to ensure enhanced fan experiences He is responsible for volunteers being at every match covering essential roles and has worked pretty much every role – including cooking the players’ meals and serving as linesman Barry has been a stalwart member of the LFC Supporters Club committee He raises incalculable funds through golf days and sponsored walks which ultimately have found their way back to the club in the form of construction Maintenance volunteers – A group of volunteers that turn up every Thursday to complete maintenance projects around the Pan and 3G pitch Their work allows the club to be more financially sustainable The volunteers deserve recognition individually for everything that they bring to the club and the hours of hard work that they endure to make sure that all is running like clockwork in the background We are so lucky to have such a dedicated group of individuals supporting the club sociable and create a vibrant and engaging space They have also recently taken on the support of vulnerable people and they are always there to put a smile on your face if things are a little stressful Clara Larribeau Wade – Clara has negotiated Lewes FC Juniors’ first-of-its-kind sponsorship agreement with the UK’s #1 period underwear and sportswear brand every player received a free pair of WUKA period pants to support them in staying active and confident during their periods Research shows that one in two girls drop out of sports after primary school with 71% avoiding physical activities during their periods Clara’s vision to secure this partnership is a testament to her commitment to breaking down barriers to girls’ participation in football Bambi Burks – Actively collaborating with local organisations creating social events which foster awareness and promote social change Bambi has been integral to Lewes FC’s actions on matters that reflect the club’s values In a recent collaboration with the University of Brighton Bambi transformed the Rook Inn to create an art exhibition that positively impacted the local community and spread awareness of this important work building rapport and engaging the community She has also led on Lewes FC’s sustainability initiatives with the Town Council to remove single-use plastic from our environment as well as maintaining a keen focus on the long-term sustainability agenda of this club Nick Tigg – Nick is a Lewes Town Councillor and has worked closely with the club to launch a material change of lasting benefit and societal change The football club’s sustainability initiative to remove single-use plastic matchdays by using the Town Hall’s reusable cups in pre-season 2024 made it possible for Lewes FC to reach its vision This has also brought the club closer to other enterprises in Lewes fostered better relationships with other purpose-driven organisations E: info@lewesfc.com A debate is raging over the future of a council building used for art exhibitions as public services in the Sussex town are squeezed a record number of people had crossed the threshold of Southover House to look at works by Picasso and Grayson Perry For 18 months, the former council office building has housed a pop-up outpost of Charleston the former home of key members of the Bloomsbury group District councillors are to decide on Thursday whether to pull the plug or extend the lease on the site for another 25 years A fresh lease would allow for a collaboration with three prestigious cultural institutions; the Victoria and Albert Museum the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate While many who live in Lewes and the surrounding area at the foot of the South Downs hope that Charleston wins the day members of a vociferous local campaign group are dismayed to see a council property given over to what one told the Observer he regards as an old-fashioned “legacy” Other protesters have argued that the site should be given instead to the NHS or to a youth organisation – or perhaps used to create much-needed housing A few angry fly posters have encouraged local people to rise up and “Evict the Charleston Scroungers” urging the council to give health professionals the keys to Southover House which they claim has “inexplicably been given to a group of ­undeserving ­conceptual artists” knows that some will be against a longer lease but said he hopes the district council will see the risk of ending the self-funded cultural project after “an amazingly successful first 18 months” The leader of the Green-led Lewes district council but one of the most important things to me is the amazing job they’ve done of exposing our young people to what the arts can be especially when the government funding for this area has dropped away,” she said we would be doing something that really makes a ­difference without any grant ­funding or national funding and yet with some great partnerships.” Charleston, the historic home of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant took over the 23,000 sq metre site when the district council offices moved to Newhaven Southover House in Lewes has housed a pop-up outpost of Charleston Photograph: Lewis Ronald/The Charleston TrustWithin a few months at a cost of less than £1m – raised largely from local donations – it set up a venue that now attracts about 2,000 visitors a week and runs an educational partnership with the neighbouring further education ­college due to a monthly “pay what you can” scheme At the heart of the row is the ­popular image of the Bloomsbury group as an entitled cluster of ­indolent ­aesthetes although largely well-born and London-raised had all turned their backs on ­respectable society and material ­comfort to ­pursue art ­learning and their radical theories in peace Woolf was anti-authority and evangelised for public access to books and art into our libraries and let them tell us how to read is to destroy the spirit of freedom which is the breath of those sanctuaries.” Nicholson said the factors being weighed in the renewal decision are the likely benefits to the town’s economy and the work planned to make the site accessible to low-income families “We don’t want to sell off our assets if we don’t have to,” she added “If we can do something for the public good I’ve heard people asking why this shouldn’t be a place for our youth or perhaps new council houses but we looked at converting it into housing – and we’d have to spend a lot to make it acceptable Charleston House in Firle where key members of the Bloomsbury group lived close to the home of Woolf and her husband was once a centre for discussion and creativity in the 1920s and 30s and is now the custodian of the Bloomsbury collection of art Among its portraits is one of another regular guest the philosopher and economist John Maynard Keynes “When Keynes was conceiving what later became the Arts Council he lived at Charleston and then at nearby Tilton,” said Hepburn “He was thinking of towns like Lewes when he wrote: ‘Certainly in every blitzed town in this country one hopes that the local authority will make provision for a central group of buildings for drama and music and art There could be no better memorial of a war to save the freedom of the spirit of the individual.’ Now the new arts centre he dreamed of might be about to happen.” A plan to develop the site as the National Bloomsbury Gallery agreed with directors of the three national museums would see large Bloomsbury group collections being taken out of London storage for ­display Hepburn might well use Woolf’s own words this week when he tries to persuade Lewes to secure a building he argues will bring ­treasure to their doorstep “Never pretend that the things you haven’t got are not worth having,” Woolf wrote This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media We are thrilled to announce the official opening of the Lewes FC Board Election Nomination Process in advance of the upcoming elections in April 2025 we believe this is an exciting opportunity to further enhance the diversity and strategic direction of our Board This is your chance to be a part of the leadership team that will shape the future of Lewes FC If you’re passionate about Lewes FC and would like to contribute to the club’s governance we encourage you to submit your nomination by the deadline please send a brief statement outlining your background and reasons for wanting to join the Board of Directors 7PM: Online Hustings: Candidates will take part in a Q&A session allowing the Lewes FC community to engage directly with potential Board members • 16-24 April: Voting Period: The confirmed voting period will run until midnight on 24 April Candidates wishing to stand for election must submit an election address outlining why they wish to serve on the Board and what they hope to achieve if elected Please ensure your election address is no longer than 500 words and include a shorter summary for publication Each candidate must also provide the name of a proposer and a seconder both of whom must also be owners of Lewes Community Football Club Limited You can begin submitting your nomination until the midnight on 15 April, here! Diversity is at the heart of everything we do at Lewes FC We are especially keen to hear from diverse candidates with a broad range of professional experience A diverse Board is crucial for better decision-making and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the club Our commitment is to build a high-performing and strategic leadership team that collaborates effectively to secure the future of Lewes FC we are striving for a 50/50 gender balance on our Board We strongly encourage women to put themselves forward for election as we believe an inclusive leadership team fosters a vibrant and impactful club culture Our election process is designed to support new candidates by aligning their skills with the strategic goals of the Board and the best fit for each candidate’s unique expertise If you’re unsure about the role or need guidance as you prepare your nomination Current Board members and the COO are available to discuss how your skills and experience can contribute to the club’s future vision candidates’ election addresses will be circulated to owners and published on the club’s website on Wednesday 16 April 2025 If there are more candidates than available vacancies Voting will take place from 16 April 2025 to midnight on 24 April 2025 Owners will receive a link to vote and may vote for up to five candidates If there are fewer or the same number of candidates as vacancies all duly nominated candidates will be elected unopposed we will hold an online hustings on the evening of Thursday 17 April 2025 where you will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates before casting your vote If you apply for the board but cannot attend the hustings please notify us Please review the attached documents prior to submitting your nomination for the Board to ensure you follow all relevant policies: Please note that all appointments to the Board are subject to passing the FA’s Owners & Directors Test and adherence to the club’s Election Policy All Directors operate under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and have a responsibility to contribute their skills and expertise for the benefit of the club in order to fulfil the club’s strategy Lewes FC directors act in a voluntary capacity and are not remunerated for their work Please note that if you are under 16 years of age We look forward to receiving your nominations and working together to build the future of Lewes FC Let’s shape the future of Lewes FC – together E: info@lewesfc.com The small county town of Lewes in East Sussex is home to many literary revolutionaries celebrated poets John Agard and Grace Nichols It has been community-owned since 2010 when a group of fans saved it from financial ruin by mutualising it the club has also celebrated football’s place in modern culture producing stand-out matchday posters from pastiches of famous album covers (remember those?) the club decided against boring Corporate Boxes and instead installed four Beach Huts overlooking the pitch a literary prize seemed like an obvious next step The Rooker Prize began as a hypothetical discussion at the club’s 2021 Christmas party – you know the kind of discission we mean But it was an idea just too good to not do the UK’s most innovative and democratic literary competition was born The winner receives an hour’s feedback/coaching session at Hachette UK’s offices in London where their entry will be discussed with an experienced editor plus £250 to go to the charity of their choice who previously chaired the Booker Prize judging panel too The Rooker Prize is sponsored by award-winning podcast hosts, successful musicians, writers and actors Gary Kemp & Guy Pratt of The Rockonteurs, as well as publishers Hachette UKwho are keen to break new ground and challenge established thinking in publishing The Rockonteurs is the UK’s most popular music podcast and as Guy Pratt explains He adds: “I’m also proud to support my brilliant local club in any way.” The only condition for entry is that you are an owner of Lewes Football Club. But that’s easy, as anyone in the world can sign up for their single share (from just £5/month or £50 annual) right here. If you know someone who would thrive writing 250 words of a novel • Type your 250-word opening to a novel and the book title • Then send the attachment via email to Karen@lewesfc.com with the subject line: ROOKER PRIZE ENTRY and put your name and contact details in the email • The winner will be announced on Friday 18 April and the prize presented at half-time at the women’s match on Sunday 27 April (International Crow and Raven Appreciation Day) We’d also like to express our thanks and gratitude to Karen for overseeing this amazing project Enquiries to Karen@lewesfc.com with the subject line: ROOKER Please send entries to Karen@lewesfc.com with the subject line: ROOKER PRIZE ENTRY E: info@lewesfc.com The Lewes FC community has received five nominations across two awards ceremonies for our activities during the 2024/25 season We are nominated twice in the prestigious Football Business Awards: We have also received three nominations in the inaugural Festival of Women’s Football Awards: Our impact work is not geared up to win awards but it is a welcome recognition of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers Lewes FC and Who Gives A Crap hosted a footBALL at the start of the season where supporters were encouraged to attend a match in ball gowns and tuxedos >> Buy Lewes FC kits here The strong of Lewes FC’s partnership with Who Gives A Crap comes from the toilet paper company’s dedication to delivering impact WGAC donates 50% of all profits to WASH (Water and Hygiene) initiatives via the Crap Foundation This supports organisations that improve access to water and sanitation in developing countries – an issue that has a particularly adverse effect on women and girls See Us As We Are sought to continue Lewes FC’s groundbreaking Equality FC initiative and demand women footballers, fans, and the culture of the women’s game be seen on their own terms – not as a lesser version of the men’s game. The campaign aimed to draw new audiences to the game particularly women who have felt historically unwelcome in the world of football Commercialising a previously untapped space: the women’s preseason the front of the women’s preseason shirts was sold to Colbert whose distinctive “eye” motif symbolises visibility and a reimagined cultural lens for women’s football The sponsorship package included bespoke kits and poster designs that were distributed around Lewes and featured in matchday programmes >> Buy See Us As We Are x Lewes FC kit here the Lewes FC vegetable garden – affectionately known as Brad’s Pitt – has flourished above the “eye” that sits in the corner of the Dripping Pan Tony and the gang have worked tirelessly over the season to improve the garden’s layout and invite more volunteers to the group. The garden produces seasonal vegetables and fruit trees are set to be planted Players who earn Player of the Match awards receive freshly-harvested veg as a reward so long as something’s ripe for harvest alongside our flower garden and solar panels is a cornerstone of Lewes FC’s sustainability and environmental commitments and helped inspire our reusable cups scheme launched in the summer Further plans for the vegetable garden include developing better pollinating spaces for bees and butterflies while maintaining the ‘wild’ homes that attract all levels of nature during the season (and with excellent views of the Pan!) The Festival of Women’s Football Awards takes place on Wednesday 23 April in Charing Cross The Football Business Awards takes place on Friday 9 May at The Brewery Lewes FC extends a special thank you to Kitlocker for bringing both our See Us As We Are and WGAC away shirt designs to life with care and precision The See Us As We Are shirts and tracksuits produced in collaboration with Colbert’s studio became not only standout visual symbols of the campaign but also cherished pieces of wearable protest embraced by players and fans alike Our WGAC away shirt is now an iconic design Despite facing a challenging preseason—marked by relegation the departure of most of the women’s squad and coaching staff the club’s values have remained resolute over the course of the season While it was a risk to build campaigns around newly forming teams the visual power of Charlotte’s work and the integrity of Lewes FC’s mission kept the momentum alive E: info@lewesfc.com as part of the FA’s Green Football Weekend we are hosting Lewes Sustainability across two home games on 22 and 23 March The weekend will showcase Lewes’ commitment to sustainability in football to ensure future generations can watch and partake in the game we all love the club will bring together local businesses and enterprises to explore and celebrate what it means to be an environmentally and socially sustainable business in Lewes Last season Lewes took part in Veganuary to huge acclaim we want to widen the net beyond matchday hospitality to address issues that affect the day-to-day lives of Lewesians Our event will provide the opportunity for our local businesses to ask questions share best practice and explore the possibilities of becoming more sustainable within the Lewes ecosystem “Here at Lewes FC we’re striving to be as sustainable as possible in everything we do,” says director Joe Short “From sustainable finances and work practices to looking after our environment We’re in the middle of the chain and have a responsibility to not only source sustainable products but dispose of them properly too.” says: “We hope to foster some meaningful connections and insightful discussions on the future of sustainable business “We want to demystify sustainability as we bring together industry leaders and sustainability professionals to explore innovative strategies for balancing profit with purpose This is an opportunity to discover simple and effective solutions and to build valuable relationships locally that drive environmental and social impact.” E: info@lewesfc.com Dartford suffered defeat for the second consecutive road trip after Marcus Sablier netted twice late on for Lewes As the 1,022 supporters enjoyed the beautiful weather in East Sussex initial hopes were high for Dartford fans when Olly Box was denied an early goal by an excellent save from Toby Bull (4) in all honesty the visitors struggled to get going at The Dripping Pan it wasn’t long before Jacob Marsden was called into action to save two long-range efforts in quick succession at the other end Ady Pennock would surely have been disappointed to see his side go behind in the 28th minute when Danny Bassett broke the deadlock with a header after a period of good play from the hosts And the lively Marcus Sablier should have doubled the lead for The Rooks two minutes later only for Jacob Marsden pull off a terrific save to thwart him The Dartford boss would have been pleased with how his team responded at the start of the second-half as Olly Box forced Toby Bull into a routine save (51) Denzelle Olopade followed that up with a long-range drive which Bull saved before the visitors did draw level via Michael Olarewaju’s first goal of the season seconds later (52) Bull saved well to prevent Sam Odaudu from putting the Darts ahead on the hour as they pushed higher up the pitch in an effort to carve out the winner Ady Pennock then replaced Samir Carruthers and Olly Box with Jeremiah Pinder and Eddie Dsane (68) before going on to swap Samuel Okoye with Tyler Christian-Law (80) and Josh Hill and Hayden Bullas with Luther Williams and Louis Dunne in a final double swap (81) the game swung in the favour of the hosts as they capitalised on forced errors on the pitch Marcus Sablier put Lewes ahead somewhat against the run of play (80) before completing his brace deep into stoppage time to secure the victory for the hosts (90+6) Together with today’s scores in the Isthmian Premier League the result means that it’s as you were in the table Josh Hill and Co will be disappointed with the fact that they’ve conceded three goals in each of the last two away fixtures they will dust themselves down and go again next weekend as the battle in the top five continues to heat up Match Photos Gallery GrassbanksDartfordKentDA1 1RTUnited Kingdom Telephone: 01322 299991Email: info@dartfordfc.com Dartford FC prides itself on being a community club wholly committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination and we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach we remind all supporters that anyone using discriminatory or abusive language will be asked to leave the stadium immediately and will face future punishment We are delighted to announce the Lewes FC Values Awards are back for another year The awards are designed to recognise a player These awards do not replace the traditional awards issued to players at the end of the season We are asking anyone from the Lewes FC community to send us nominations via this form for people you think deserve to be recognised in the 2025 Lewes FC Values awards All you have to do is share your nomination’s: VOTE HERE This panel will create a shortlist to be put out to a public vote We expect to announce the winners at the end of our last home game of the season on 27 April vs MK Dons Ambition: For those who have realised success or created impact through meeting challenging goals Example: A player who performs above expectations on the pitch An owner who suggests and helps deliver an idea that moves the club forward won the Ambition Award for her amazing work for Lewes FC Women our female players wouldn’t get anywhere near the visibility they currently do Grace went above and beyond for the team in the 2023/24 Bravery: For those who have shown mental or moral strength to take on a difficult challenge Example: A director taking on a new role without any prior experience A volunteer coach using their own platform to support the future of youth football and its purpose won the bravery award for stepping up and leading the first team near the start of the 2023/24 season when Scott Booth was unable to be there for personal reasons She demonstrated all the club’s values all in one go but especially bravery when it was so last minute and a crucial stage of the season Community: For those who have contributed to the wider Lewes FC community Example: A staff member who volunteers their time at the club or with an associated charity or community team Last year Richard Horton won the community award for his outstanding work with Lewes Juniors U9 Girls He quickly did the FA training courses to be a coach and grew the number of girls taking part in training from just six to 17 Dedication: For those who have been focused and persistent in committing to a task or role or staff member who gives up their time and energy every week making a significant difference to club and/or community operations through their work won the dedication award for covering practically every role at Lewes FC bar lacing up his boots and playing for the Men’s first team Whilst he originally covered roles for the short term he ended up doing them for a large part of the season even when his own plate was full and he had his own job to deliver Equality and Empowerment: For those who have worked hard and delivered success in championing club principles around equality Example: A member of staff who runs impactful workshops for players or staff A fan who calls out inappropriate behaviour at a game Someone within out community who promotes equality and diversity Last year Karen Dobres won the equality and empowerment award for her tireless efforts around equality in football Karen was able to network and spread our message like no one else drawing people in and including everyone in Lewes FC E: info@lewesfc.com Food waste collections could start from as soon as September in Brighton and Hove if the council’s cabinet approves a proposal in a fortnight’s time A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet has recommended a phased introduction to food waste collections in the autumn the only options for food waste recycling in Brighton and Hove are either to compost at home or use a community scheme About 10 million tonnes of food is estimated to be wasted across Britain every year all councils will be expected to have weekly food waste recycling services – a requirement brought in by the Environment Act 2021 When the council set its budget in February the cabinet member for net zero and environmental services said that £1.2 million would be allocated to bringing in food waste collections The council is also working to expand its recycling capacity to include plastic pots Other councils across Sussex are also working towards introducing food waste recycling before the government’s deadline Most councils including neighbouring Lewes District Council as well as Adur and Worthing councils are looking to start weekly food waste collections from next March the food waste will be sent for composting The cabinet is due to meet at 2pm at Hove Town Hall Can’t even get the basic collections right so this is just the same stuff that Southern Water dump into the sea They need to get right what they do now before adding to the service The thing is they can’t not do it now National legislation means that if they don’t start it by March next year the council won’t be meeting the new legal requirements Politicians in the city have been slightly mischievous with how they present the introduction of collections and expanded recycling collections making out it’s down their their political will and suggesting it’s something the other parties didn’t have The reality is that the new laws nationally are behind it and the council have been given millions of funding from the government to make the changes they need to make it happen – enough money to make changes at the depot the caddies that people will get to put food waste in Think we all know though that this council’s ability to collect things is dismal – so there is zero confidence how this will pan out in reality I have to say I doubt the efficacy of this new system when our mixed recycling has only been collected once since Christmas and our glass not at all I hope for the best but experience a complete lack of regular service Is it to much effort to walk your glass to one of many glass bins situated in both Lewes Rd & Upper Lewes Rd All our rubbish and recycling has been collected according to plan for years The only thing I want to happen is for more things to be recycled e Take the batteries to your local supermarket – the other items are due to be collected by the council later this month and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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Lewes FC have won the Environmental Sustainability Award 2024 at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards – a recognition of our community working hard to make the Dripping Pan and our surroundings more sustainable The award recognised Lewes FC’s continual pursuit of sustainable activities with our reusable cups scheme and stadium gardens central to the win The cups scheme has helped us dramatically reduce plastic waste We estimate supporters have saved more than 12,000 single-use plastic cups from being thrown away already this season our community gardens continue to flourish Brad’s Pit has a remarkable army of volunteers who cut nurture and harvest vegetables throughout the year nestled between the Philcox Stand and the main stand comes to life in the spring and was the perfect backdrop for our men’s player photoshoots We’re one of the few clubs in the country with solar panels on our stadium roof we’re supportive of car chargers and bike racks in Mountfield Road car park and our ‘pay what you like’ model for old merchandise means nothing goes to waste “Being at the awards was a real eye-opener to the amazing work other people within the Sussex community are doing,” says director Joe Short “We’re not alone in trying to be more sustainable at the Dripping Pan The other nominees – Shoreham Football Club and 5 Ways Netball Club – deserve huge credit for the work they’re doing I was really impressed with what they’re doing If more institutions can think more about their local sustainability efforts then we can all contribute to wider societal change.” Lewes FC would like to thank our wonderful community garden group which works tirelessly to cultivate Brad’s Pit and the flower garden We would also like to extend our thanks to Lewes Town Council Green United and Harvey’s Brewery for getting our reusable cups scheme up and running to the Lewes FC Supporters Club for funding a washer in the Rook Inn that enables us to wash it seems our ‘radishal’ ways are getting even more attention locally focuses on cultivation throughout the town of Lewes nurtured by journalists Sarah Bayliss and Ruth Thomson The beautifully illustrated paperback includes a section our very own Brad’s Pit You can buy a copy for £16.50 at various fairs around town and at Lewes FC Men vs Dulwich Hamlet on 10 December and Lewes FC Men vs Chichester on Saturday 14 December E: info@lewesfc.com Lewes FC are delighted to announce the signing of two new players to Craig Nelson’s men’s first team ahead of Saturday’s home tie with Horsham Lewis Finney joins the club from Haywards Heath Town FC having scored 24 goals in 26 games this season The playmaker has plenty of experience playing in East Sussex and joins the Rooks following a successful stint at Haywards Heath Hassocks and Eastbourne Town during his career He memorably scored 49 goals in 42 appearances for Lancing in the curtailed 2019/20 SCFL Premier Division season arrives at the Dripping Pan from Northwood via Rayners Lane Jalloh has previously played for the likes of Dulwich Hamlet Hayes & Yeading and Havant & Waterlooville and will complement Pitts’ offensive options Lewes face Horsham at the Dripping Pan on Saturday (3pm) and tickets are still available online at a discount compared to paying on the gate we would urge supporters to arrive earlier than they usually might Buy Lewes FC vs Horsham tickets E: info@lewesfc.com Lewes FC would like to remind supporters that our home clash with Carshalton over the Easter weekend has been moved to Friday 8 April (Good Friday) >> Lewes FC vs Carshalton tickets E: info@lewesfc.com Dartford are heading to the Dripping Pan to take on Lewes in the Isthmian Premier this weekend The Darts travel to Sussex after getting back to winning ways last time out Now they will be determined to pick up maximum points and put their previous away day defeat behind them Lewes set the early pace this season but have since dropped to mid-table The Rooks look set for another campaign in the Isthmian Premier barring an incredible late surge into the playoffs Dartford’s main aim is to keep pressure on table toppers Billericay Town Victory at the Dripping Pan will return Adrian Pennock’s side back to the summit should the leaders fall to defeat at home against Chichester City Pennock’s decisions paid off big time last weekend in the dramatic late win at Princes Park The Dartford boss described the game as “a great advert for the league” when speaking to Dartford FC TV after the victory Looking to bounce back from the loss at Cheshunt the Darts hosted third place Horsham with both sides challenging for the league title The tough fixture was a test for a Dartford side who had seen their tremendous 21 league game unbeaten run ended a week earlier Interview courtesy of Dartford FC TV the reliable Luther Williams was named as a substitute and in came George Whitefield against fellow title challengers Horsham Samir Carruthers made way for Louis Dunne in midfield Eddie Dsane had to be patient and wait his turn to be introduced later in the match Dartford faced adversity in the first half with the visitors the better side Jake Elliott deservedly put Horsham in front before Jacob Marsden and his crossbar kept the Darts in the game Dartford’s Callum Jones had his penalty save In the second half Pennock brought on Carruthers and Jez Pinder to gain some midfield control as well as Eddie Dsane to help push for a leveller Those changes were significant as explained by Pennock: “Our fitness levels told; we kept knocking on the door and our second half performance was excellent I think the first half we were just going a little bit too long The introduction of Carruthers aided Dartford’s passing game A low cross by Sam Odaudu found Whitefield to tap in at the far post for the equaliser Carruthers sent in a free kick and Dsane was there to score the winner The Darts are now unbeaten at Princes Park since October spanning 11 games Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV Despite defeat on the road a fortnight ago the Darts had been on a brilliant run of eight consecutive away victories in the Isthmian Premier Pennock and company will be hoping to start another winning streak on Saturday but to do that Dartford will need all the help they can get Pennock commented: “Lewes is a very tough place to go to but we want our supporters to be backing us because they were excellent again (last weekend).” A home win against Lewes in November turned out to be the fifth match unbeaten in Dartford’s long undefeated spell A dominant display against the Rooks ended in a 2-0 triumph After a number of squandered chances by the Darts Olly Box opened the scoring in the first half Just before an hour was played Whitefield put daylight between the hosts and the visitors Lewes were later reduced to ten men after Ethan Kaiser received a second yellow card Dartford last visited the Dripping Pan over 14 years ago in a match that ended all square Tony Burman’s side had to leave it late to rescue a point after Paul Olima put Lewes in front Tom Bonner hit a low drive to level in injury time The only other visit was back in January 1983 when Dartford won a F.A Trophy first round tie 2-0 The Darts went on to reach the last eight without conceding a goal Highlights courtesy of the late sonytino Lewes won their opening six games and seven of their first nine to start the campaign as the pacesetters Sitting top of the table with 20 points from a possible 24 gave the Rooks optimism since then they tasted victory just three times in the league over the next 23 games The Rooks finally won back-to-back Isthmian Premier games again to end February and begin March In their last home fixture Lewes beat Hendon 1-0 Danny Bassett scored an early goal to earn the hosts maximum points Last weekend they went to Dulwich Hamlet and claimed a 3-1 win after coming from behind but three second half goals made sure Lewes came away with another three points Ollie Starkey and a late brace from Bassett sent the Sussex club home happy Dartford wins: 3 / Lewes wins: 0 / Draws: 1 Dartford 2 – 0 Lewes (23/11/2024 – Isthmian Premier)Dartford 3 – 0 Lewes (26/03/2011 – National South)Lewes 1 – 1 Dartford (30/10/2010 – National South)Lewes 0 – 2 Dartford (15/01/1983 – F.A Trophy) Dartford have won their last three on this day all in the Kent Senior Cup and in each season went on to lift the county cup A Jordan Greenidge brace saw off Dover Athletic 2-1 three years ago Ronnie Vint and George Sykes scored in another 2-1 win this time against Greenwich Borough in 2016 the Darts swept aside Whitstable Town 6-1 with goals from Danny Harris Dartford’s last road trip in the league was in 2009 when Brendon Cass netted in a 1-1 draw with Bury Ton in the Isthmian Division One North title winning campaign Dartford are unbeaten in their last 12 games on this day winning nine and drawing three The last defeat was in 1969 and that is only the third loss in 27 games on the 8 March or abusive language will be asked to leave the stadium immediately and will face future punishment.