View source for Lewes F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club in Sussex, England}}
{{for|the women's team|Lewes F.C. Women}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Lewes
| image = Lewes FC crest.svg
| fullname = Lewes Football Club
| nickname = The Rooks
| founded = 1885
| ground = [[The Dripping Pan]], Lewes
| capacity = 3,000<ref name=NLCD2017>Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) ''Non-League Club Directory 2017'', Tony Williams Publications, p453 {{ISBN|978-1869833695}}</ref>
| chairman = Trevor Wells
| manager = [[Bradley Pritchard]]
| league = {{English football updater|Lewes}}
| season = {{English football updater|Lewes2}}
| position = {{English football updater|Lewes3}}
| website = [http://www.lewesfc.com lewesfc.com]
| pattern_la1=_goldshoulders|pattern_b1=_red_stripes|pattern_ra1=_goldshoulders|pattern_sh1=_white|pattern_so1=_white
| leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FFFFFF
| pattern_la2=_redshoulders|pattern_b2=_red & blackhorizontal|pattern_ra2=_redshoulders|pattern_sh2=|pattern_so2=
| leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=000000|socks2=FF0000
}}[[File:DrippingPan.jpg|thumb|right|Redevelopment work under way at The Dripping Pan]]

'''Lewes Football Club''' is a [[semi-professional]] [[association football|football]] club based in [[Lewes]], [[East Sussex]], England. Established in 1885, they were founder members of the [[East Sussex Football League|East Sussex League]] in 1896 and the [[Southern Combination Football League|Sussex County League]] in 1920, before moving up to the [[Athenian League]] in 1965 and then the [[Isthmian League]] in the 1977. After being founder members of the [[National League South|Conference South]] in 2004, they were promoted to the [[National League (division)|Conference National]], the fifth tier of English football, in 2007. However, they were relegated back to the Conference South after a single season, and were later relegated to the Isthmian League in 2011.

The club have played at [[the Dripping Pan]] since their foundation. The men's first team are currently members of the {{English football updater|Lewes}}, while the [[Lewes F.C. Women|women's team]] play in the {{English football updater-W|Lewes}}.

==History==
[[File:Equality FC badge on Lewes FC women kit.jpg|thumb|Lewes dubbed themselves "Equality FC" to support gender awareness in football]]
The club was established in a meeting at the Royal Oak pub on 23 September 1885.<ref name=H>[https://www.lewesfc.com/about-us/history History] Lewes F.C.</ref> In 1896 they were founder members of the [[East Sussex Football League|East Sussex League]].<ref name=ES1>[http://www.hastingsfootballhistory.co.uk/comps/eastsussex/1890s.html East Sussex League: 1890s] Hastings Football History</ref> The club finished bottom of the league in 1898–99 and again the following season. The league was expanded to two divisions in 1899, with Lewes placed in the Senior Division, going on to finish last for a third consecutive season.<ref name=ES1/> After finishing bottom of the Senior Division again in 1900–01 without winning a match, the club left the league.<ref name=ES2>[http://www.hastingsfootballhistory.co.uk/comps/eastsussex/1900s.html East Sussex League: 1900s] Hastings Football History</ref> They later joined the [[Mid-Sussex Football League|Mid-Sussex League]], entering its Senior Division in 1905.<ref name=CTFC>[http://www.ctfchistory.co.uk/league_part1.htm Part one - pre war] Crawley Town History</ref> The club were Senior Division runners-up in 1907–08 and again in 1909–10 before winning the league in 1910–11.<ref name=CTFC/>

Lewes then left the Mid-Sussex League for a reformed East Sussex League,<ref name=CTFC/><ref name=ES2/><ref name=ES3>[http://www.hastingsfootballhistory.co.uk/comps/eastsussex/1910s.html East Sussex League: 1910s] Hastings Football History</ref> and were runners-up in 1912–13.<ref name=ES3/> Although they finished bottom of the East Sussex League the following season, the club also played in the Mid-Sussex League and won the league title.<ref name=HB>[https://www.dropbox.com/s/zby1gaki86a8yv9/1718%20%20Handbook%20-%20Honours.pdf League Honours] Mid-Sussex League.</ref> After [[World War I]] they spent the 1919–20 season in the [[Brighton, Hove & District Football League|Brighton, Hove & District League]].<ref>[http://www.bwdfl.co.uk/pages/viewpage.html?type=leaguehistory&view=history1919-1920&leaguecups=league 1919–1920 Season] Brighton, Worthing & District League</ref> In 1920 they were founder members of the [[Southern Combination Football League|Sussex County League]].<ref name=FCHD>{{fchd|id=LEWES|name=Lewes}}</ref> The club were runners-up in [[1924–25 Sussex County Football League|1924–25]] and again in [[1933–34 Sussex County Football League|1933–34]] and [[1958–59 Sussex County Football League|1958–59]],<ref name=FCHD/> also winning the League Cup in 1938–39.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111206050530/http://www.sussexcountyleague.com/lgecup/index.htm League Cup] Sussex County League</ref>

After finishing as runners-up in [[1963–64 Sussex County Football League|1963–64]], Lewes won the Sussex County League title the [[1964–65 Sussex County Football League|following season]] and moved up to Division Two of the [[Athenian League]].<ref name=FCHD/> They were Division Two champions in 1967–68, earning promotion to Division One. After a third-place finish in their first season in Division One, the club won the division the following season (on goal average) and were promoted to the Premier Division.<ref name=FCHD/> In 1977 they transferred to Division Two of the [[Isthmian League]], in which they finished as runners-up in [[1979–80 Isthmian League|1979–80]] to earn promotion to Division One.<ref name=FCHD/>

Lewes remained in Division One of the Isthmian League until being relegated to Division Two at the end of the [[1990–91 Isthmian League|1990–91 season]]. Although they were promoted back to Division One the [[1991–92 Isthmian League|following season]] after finishing as runners-up in Division Two, they were relegated again in [[1992–93 Isthmian League|1992–93]] and again in [[1993–94 Isthmian League|1993–94]], dropping into Division Three.<ref name=FCHD/> The club were Division Three runners-up in [[2000–01 Isthmian League|2000–01]] and were promoted to Division Two.<ref name=FCHD/> The [[2001–02 FA Cup|following season]] saw the club reach the first round of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time; drawn at home to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], the match was moved to the [[Bet365 Stadium|Britannia Stadium]] with Stoke winning 2–0.<ref name=FCHD/> The club finished [[2001–02 Isthmian League|the season]] by winning the Division Two title to secure promotion to Division One South;<ref name=FCHD/>

After winning the Division One South title in [[2003–04 Isthmian League|2003–04]], Lewes entered a series of play-offs for promotion to the newly formed [[National League South|Conference South]]; they defeated [[Yeading F.C.|Yeading]] 1–0, [[Basingstoke Town F.C.|Basingstoke Town]] 4–1 and [[Kingstonian F.C.|Kingstonian]] 1–0 to earn a place in the new sixth tier division.<ref name=FCHD/> Although the club finished fourth in the Conference South in its [[2004–05 Football Conference|inaugural season]], they were prevented from taking part in the promotion play-offs as the Dripping Pan did not meet the standards required for the Conference National.<ref>[https://www.fchd.info/lghist/conf2005.htm 2004–05 Football Conference] Football Club History Database</ref> Another fourth-place finish in [[2005–06 Football Conference|2005–06]] saw the club again denied the opportunity to participate in the play-offs.

In [[2006–07 FA Cup|2006–07]] Lewes reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 4–1 at home to [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]].<ref name=FCHD/> The [[2007–08 FA Cup|following season]] saw another first round appearance, ending in a 3–0 defeat at [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]. After winning the Conference South title at the end of the season, the club were promoted to the Conference National, having carried out works on the Dripping Pan. However, after winning the title, manager Steve King and all-but-one of the first team squad left the club.<ref>[http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/959-March-2009/3123-lewes-pay-for-success Lewes pay for success] When Saturday Comes, 12 March 2009</ref> The [[2008–09 Football Conference|following season]] saw them finish bottom of the Conference National, resulting in relegation back to the Conference South.<ref name=FCHD/> In 2010 the club was bought for £1 by six fans and turned into a community-owned initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything You Need to Know About Lewes FC |url=https://www.lyleandscott.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lewes-fc?srsltid=AfmBOooRrNN7Y5_BuvsRMKlhm-0SRMxFYseMlZfvBzBQVf3EVldx4YXl |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Lyle & Scott |language=en}}</ref>

In [[2010–11 Football Conference|2010–11]] Lewes were relegated to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, where they played until being relegated to Division One South at the end of the [[2015–16 Isthmian League|2015–16 season]].<ref name=FCHD/> In July 2017 the club became the first professional or semi-professional football club to pay its women's team the same as its men's team.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/12/lewes-fc-first-club-equal-pay-men-women Lewes FC become first professional club to pay women and men equally] The Guardian, 12 July 2017</ref> They were Division One South runners-up in [[2017–18 Isthmian League|2017–18]], earning promotion back to the Premier Division.

==Stadium==
[[Image:leweseastbourne2009.jpg|thumb|right|The Dripping Pan. Lewes vs Eastbourne Borough on 1 January 2009]]

The club have played at [[the Dripping Pan]] since their formation,<ref name=H/> although they temporarily relocated to the Convent Field adjacent to the Dripping Pan for the two seasons immediately before [[World War I]].<ref name=NLCD2017/>

==Current squad==
{{updated|11 June 2025}}<ref>[https://lewesfc.com/teams/mens-1st-team/ Men's Team] Lewes F.C.</ref>
{{Football squad start|nonumber=y}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Louis Rogers}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jack Enkh - long term injury}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Daniel Bowrey}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Finlay Chadwick}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Clement Asiedu}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ian Gayle}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=Y|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Devonte West}}
{{fs mid|nonumber=y}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=POR|pos=MF|name=Hamilton Antonio}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Shae Hutchinson}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tolu Ladapo]]}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Perri Iandolo}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Malachi Morris}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Danny Bassett|other=currently unavailable}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Lewis Finney}}
{{Fs player|nonumber=y|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Ollie Starkey}}
{{fs end}}

==Honours==
*'''National League'''
**Conference South champions 2007–08
*'''Isthmian League'''
**Division One South champions 2003–04
**Division Two champions 2001–02
*'''Athenian League'''
**Division 1 champions 1969–70
**Division 2 champions 1967–68
*'''Sussex County League'''
**Champions 1964–65
**League Cup winners 1938–39
*'''Mid-Sussex League'''
**Champions 1910–11, 1913–14
**Montgomery Cup winners 1908–09, 1910–11<ref name=HB/>
*'''[[Sussex Senior Challenge Cup]]'''
**Winners 1964–65, 1970–71, 1984–85, 2000–01, 2005–06<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304012558/http://www.sussexcountyleague.com/senior/index.htm Senior Cup] Sussex County League</ref>
*'''[[Sussex RUR Cup]]'''
**Winners 1961–62, 1962–63, 1964–65<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304012550/http://www.sussexcountyleague.com/rurcup/index.htm RUR Cup] Sussex County League</ref>
*'''Sussex Floodlight Cup'''
**Winners 1976–77
*'''Supporters Direct Shield'''
**Winners 2012–13

==Records==
*Best [[FA Cup]] performance: First round, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2007–08<ref name=FCHD/>
*Best [[FA Trophy]] performance: Third round, 2002–03, 2003–04<ref name=FCHD/>
*Best [[FA Vase]] performance: Quarter-finals, 2001–02<ref name=FCHD/>
*Best [[FA Amateur Cup]] performance: Second round, 1967–68<ref name=FCHD/>
*Record attendance: 2,500 vs [[Newhaven F.C.|Newhaven]], Sussex County League, 26 December 1947<ref name=NLCD2017/>
*Most appearances: Terry Parris, 662<ref name=NLCD2017/>
*Most goals: Pip Parris, 350<ref name=NLCD2017/>
*Record transfer fee paid: £2,000 for Matt Allen<ref name=NLCD2017/>

==See also==
*{{c|Lewes F.C. players}}
*{{c|Lewes F.C. managers}}
*[[Lewes F.C. Women]]
*[[Football in Sussex]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{oweb|http://www.lewesfc.com}}

{{Isthmian League}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lewes F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Football clubs in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Fan-owned football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1885]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Lewes]]
[[Category:East Sussex Football League]]
[[Category:Mid-Sussex Football League]]
[[Category:Brighton, Hove & District Football League]]
[[Category:Southern Combination Football League]]
[[Category:Athenian League]]
[[Category:Isthmian League clubs]]
[[Category:National League (English football) clubs]]