Cover - Viva Lewes

Photograph: James Boyes
King of the Pan
Lewes manager Steve King wants more of the same in 2008
As I write this, just before Christmas, Lewes are facing their tenth away
game out of eleven. In all my time in football I’ve never heard anything
like it.
In one way, it’s easier to play away, because other teams tend to come at
you in front of their own fans. This gives us more space to play our passing
game when we do have possession, and leaves them open to counter
attacks when their moves break down. And we’ve done well. I’m proud
of our away record: we’ve got the best in the league, having won seven
games. Having said that, so many away games on the trot has been hard
on everyone. It’s not just the grind of all that travel: the players like playing
at home, because they’ve got everything they’re used to around them,
they know the pitch, and they’re playing in front of 700 home fans, cheering
them on, instead of the 17 or so we sometimes get away. It isn’t easy
for the club, either. We need the gate receipts from home games, because
that’s what pays for everything.
It was my target to be in the top five or so at Christmas, and as I write
we’re three points clear at the top of the league. So when people ask me
if I’ve got any New Year’s resolutions, I tell them I haven’t. Just to carry
on the way we’re going. Every season has a beginning, a middle and an
end, and we’ve reached the middle of the middle on top of the table.
There’s a long way to go before the end of the season, and it’s important
we carry on getting things right. Don’t expect it to be a breeze, because
in this league there isn’t much difference in the standard between the top
W W W. V I V A L E W E S . C O M
f O O t b A L L
and the bottom: every game is a
contest; every game needs guts
and effort to win it. I don’t think
there’s a team in the top three
which won’t end up losing six or
eight games.
A lot of people will be looking
at the goalscoring charts, seeing
Paul Booth at the top with
22, and thinking our league
position has been all down to
him. Boothy’s been magnificent
– most strikers would settle for
that in the whole season – but
I want to stress it’s been a real
team effort. I’m pleased with
everyone, from the front to the
back, and I wouldn’t want to single
anyone out for praise.
Finally, some good news: Siggy
(Jean-Michel Sigère) has recovered
from his long-term injury
and just needs to get a bit
of match practice now to get
up to pace. With Matt Groves
winning November Player of
the Month and Boothy on such
top scoring form, this gives me
a positive problem up front, because
I have to accommodate
having three of the best strikers
in the league in the same squad.
I don’t think any of the other
managers would mind having
that sort of problem, though.
And all three are definitely going
to play their part: it’s going
to be all hands on deck to try to
make sure the second half of our
season is as successful as the first
half has been. V
Home games in January:
5th v Basingstoke
19th v Hampton & Richmond
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