Viva Lewes Issue #143 August 2018

ON THIS MONTH: FOOTBALL
The rise of the Rookettes
Bring on Man United
For the first time in
its history, Lewes
FC is celebrating a
double-promotion
season, as the men’s
team move up to the
Bostik Premier and
the women’s team have
been selected to join
the new FA Women’s
Championship.
At the beginning of
July, as pre-season
training is about to
start, women’s manager John Donoghue tells us
his thoughts on the challenges ahead.
“All the players have had off-season plans, which
should kick them on in terms of match fitness. I’m
a big believer that what happens outside matches
really matters.
Joining the FA Women’s Championship took a
lot of work. We went to Wembley a few times.
Lots of people had different roles, and application
coordinator Glenda Thomas pulled it together.
Our success wasn’t just about what’s happening on
the pitch, it’s about the support around it. Lewes
has excellent, accessible facilities and there is so
much back-up from the board for Equality FC.
They looked at our financial status. And Unlock
the Gate, our campaign to increase attendance,
worked really well in our favour.
In terms of facilities, we’ve had to make some
changes. For example: separate changing for
women refs; a separate space for drug testing;
somewhere for filming to take place by the pitch.
We’ll have an indoor strength and development
unit (Portakabin!). And this year there will be
definite fixtures, which means we will have access
to another 3G pitch (in Lancing) as back-up, when
weather has previously meant cancelling games.
Photo by Katie Vandyck
In terms of the
team, so far, we’re
reregistering players
from last season
and beyond. We’ve
announced Charley
Boswell and Lucy
Somes as new signings,
and there will be
more players who add
value to an already
good squad. Some are
joining us pre-season
on a trial basis.
I’m most looking forward to the fact that Lewes will
be playing the top-name teams in the country, like
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
The greatest challenges are that the Championship
players are stronger and are used to playing at a
higher level every week. We’ll be playing against
professional and international players. But we go
as a collective. Those who haven’t experienced it
will get support from those who have.
I’m really optimistic about attendances. If we
can get 450 to a Cardiff game at the end of last
season, it will be even better when we’re playing
Manchester United at home. And we’ve got Jack
Heaselden starting as our General Manager, and
Rosy Matheson as Development Manager. Both
roles focus on crucial aspects of developing the
team and the club.
In terms of kit, we’ve got fantastic new sponsors,
Kappa, who are thinking creatively about their logo
and how we might use that for Equality FC.” EC
The women’s season begins 18/19th August with
the Continental Cup. FA Women’s Championship
league fixtures begin 8/9th Sept. August home
friendlies: v Watford, July 29th, 2pm; v Chichester
City Ladies Sunday Aug 5th, 2pm; v West Ham 12th,
2pm. Dripping Pan, £3.
37