Lewes v FC UNITED. 3pm Saturday, 13th July 2019 (Friendly)
Posted: Tue 09 Jul, 2019 10:39 am
Lewes v FC UNITED. 3pm Saturday, 13th July 2019 (Friendly)
'FC United head south for Pre-season trip
FC United confirm that we will head south for a pre-season double header this summer, playing Isthmian League sides Enfield Town FC on Friday 12th July and Lewes FC on Saturday 13th July.
Saturday 13th July; Lewes FC v FC United to be played at the Dripping Pan stadium in Lewes
The following day (after the Enfield game) FC United head to the South coast to take on another fan owned club Lewes FC who finished in 11th place in the Isthmian League last season.
Formed in 1885, Lewes were founder members of the newly formed Conference South League in 2004 but ground grading issues prevented the club from entering the play-offs in each of its first 2 seasons in the league despite 4th place finishes. They carried out the necessary ground work and were promoted to the Conference as Champions in 2008 but manager Steve King and all but one of the squad left the club over the summer and they would only last one season in the top flight of non-league football. In 2011 Lewes were relegated to the Isthmian League and further relegation to the Isthmian Division One South followed in 2016 before promotion back to the Premier division after finishing runners up in 2018.
Having survived a winding up petition during the season, Lewes FC became fan owned in the summer of 2010 after long time owners Martin Elliot and Kevin Powell passed control to a consortium known as Rooks 125 (after the club’s Rooks nickname) and was converted into a Community Benefit Society.
The club hit the national press in 2014 after an idea of constructing corporate beech huts in the ground, which had apparently been suggested by a director as an April fool’s joke, was implemented and supporters could take up a corporate experience with a difference. The club’s Commercial Manager at the time Kevin Miller was quoted in the press; ‘We thought we’d dip our toe into the glamorous world of corporate hospitality. At this level we couldn’t stretch to Premier League-style luxury. That said, our prices are a little more reasonable than the Premier League.’
In 2017 Lewes would again hit the headlines when they launched Equality FC and became the first Pro or Semi-Pro side in the world to commit to equality of pay between their men’s and women’s sides.
Their Women’s side currently plays in Super League 2.
The 3,000 capacity Dripping Pan stadium has been Lewes’s home since the beginning and is one of the oldest continuously played in grounds in the UK. Prior to 1895 the site had been used for cricket with the first recorded match taking place in 1730. The perimeter walls around the ground are listed structures.
Travel with the team:
FC United supporters will be able to travel on the team coach to the fixture with prices set at £60 adults and £40 Under 18s.
There are 37 seats available for supporters to book and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please note that the team will not be staying in London after the Enfield match so supporters booking on the team coach should make their own arrangements for 2 nights accommodation in Brighton.
To book:
Please phone the FC United office on 0161 769 2005 or in person during office hours.
Full payment will be taken immediately and if anyone cancels, refunds will only be given if we manage to allocate your place to someone else.
Provisional itinerary- all timings are subject to change and confirmation:
Friday 12th July: mid-morning coach departure from Manchester (Broadhurst Park and Chorlton Street pick-ups) for the journey down to Enfield Town FC.
Approximately 1 hour after the match depart Enfield for Brighton (arrival due approximately 1am).
Drop off in a central location.
Saturday 13th July: lunch time departure from central location in Brighton to Lewes FC
Approximately 2 hours after the match coach departure back to Brighton
Sunday 14th July: Lunchtime departure from central location in Brighton back to Manchester.'
http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/story.php?story_id=8406