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Lewes

About the Dripping Pan – Capacity 3,000 (600 Seats)
Thanks to Lewes FC for providing the following information on the ground:

Lewes’ uniquely named ground ‘The Dripping Pan’, had previously been used by Lewes Priory Cricket Club which continues to play in the fields behind the ground, though the arena itself had been used by the people of Lewes as a centre of recreation as far back as records exist.  The original purpose of the ground is unclear, although local legend suggests that it was part of a salt making industry run by monks from the adjacent Cluniac Priory.

The spoil from the excavation forms the mount behind the ground and both appear in the very earliest maps of Lewes from 1745. The ground may merely be the excavation pit for the mount itself, which has been suggested as the original ‘temporary’ motte and bailey fortress constructed by William the Conqueror’s close ally, William de Warenne, before he developed Lewes Castle on higher ground. An archaeological survey during construction of the new terrace failed to reveal any further insights into either the purpose or the age of the banks. In recent years, the grass banks which used to provide a natural amphitheatre have been replaced by concrete as the club looked to secure ground grading standards.

In 2003 the Philcox Stand was opened behind the west goal and three years later, the 500 seat Rookery Stand replaced the old wooden South Stand which ran virtually the length of the pitch on top of the grass bank.  Last season the Terry Parris open terrace was built at the Ham Lane end, despite the protests of some local residents who opposed the destruction of a section of historic flint wall to make way for emergency access and a turnstile

A “B” grading was secured in April 2008 and work continues on the rest of the ground to ensure it gets the required “A” grade certificate by April 2009.

LewesHow to get to the Dripping Pan
The ground is located very close to the station – in fact I do not think I have visited a ground that is closer. If train is your arrival mechanism come out of the station, turn left and after 50 yards turn left at the roundabout and the ground is straight ahead of you. If you are driving and coming via the A27 from Brighton then take the first Lewes turn off. When you reach the crossroads where Lewes prison is, turn right and follow road down hill. When you reach small roundabout turn left into Southover High Street and follow until you see the ground straight ahead. There is a small pay and display at the stadium, and one the other side of the station.

LewesHow to get a ticket for the Dripping Pan
Crowds are disappointingly low at the stadium and there is no need to book tickets in advance for virtually every game. If you are here to see the local derby with Eastbourne Borough then it would be advisable to purchase in advance by calling the club on 01273 472100. Tickets are £12 for Adults and £8 for Children and this allows you to either stand or sit in the main stand.

Our Last Visit – April 2010 v Dorchester Town
LewesA week ago they were down and out but what a difference seven days can make in football.  Before last Saturday’s game at Worcester, Lewes hadn’t won away for near fifteen months, and trialled Worcester City in 19th (and safety) in the Blue Square South by five points.  Another defeat last Saturday would have left them 8 points behind their nearest rivals with just four games to go.  But instead a win at St Georges Lane, followed up with a home draw to St Albans City had the talk of safety the topic of the day in the “Jungle” at The Dripping Pan today.

Fast forward 90 minutes and Lewes had overhauled the points difference with a magnificent 5-0 win, their biggest home win for many a month.  And with Chelmsford City beating Worcester, Lewes’s fate is now totally in their hands.  And I had been there to witness it….just.

LewesTwo hours prior to kick off I was sitting in Bluewater cinema watching Nanny McPhee with seven girls under the age of ten.  An hour before I was stuck in a traffic jam on the M23 and when Joe Keehan slotted in his thirteenth of the season from the penalty spot in the ninth minute I was still in West Sussex.  But I carried on, which is just what Lewes under the inspirational leadership of Steve “Ibbo” Ibbitson have done since Christmas.  This is a man who reluctantly took the job towards the end of last season when the club were down and out in the Blue Square Premier league, and has carried on with his duties FREE OF CHARGE for the whole of this season.  Yes, here is a man who genuinely loves his club so much that he works for nothing.  And in the past few weeks some of his decisions have been inspirational.

Lewes 5 Dorchester Town 0 – The Dripping Pan – Saturday 17th April
Fortunately Keehan’s penalty was the only bit of action we missed, and we were safely on the Jungle with a beer in hand when Keehan headed home his and Lewes’s second just before the break.  There are few better places to watch football in England on a sunny day than Lewes’s Dripping Pan, and with some wonderful football and a couple of pints of local Harvey’s the afternoon was complete.

LewesTwo became three in 53rd minute when Gradwell scored from close range and five minutes later Breach’s towering header from a corner made it four.  The Lewes Lunatic Fringe went understandably wild at this point as news also filtered through that Chelmsford had taken the lead against Worcester. A final solo effort from Sigere recorded Lewes’s biggest score since a 5-0 win at Bognor Regis in August 2008.  All of this meant that a win against Bath City on Tuesday would keep Lewes in the Blue Square South for another season.  A draw and it may come down to goal difference, but a defeat would mean a few squeaky bottoms next week as Lewes headed off to the sleepy suburbs of Hampton for the final game and an end of season Beach Party.  Let’s just hope that it’s not just the tide that ends up going out.

More photos from the game can be found here.

Lewes 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 – 7th November 2009
Bonfire night in East Sussex is not the same as any other place in the world. Lewes, one of the biggest town’s in Sussex is famous for a number of things. It was the site for England’s biggest avalanche when in 1836 snow from the white chalk cliffs rolled down the hill and killed 8 people. It also suffered an earthquake in 1864 measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale. It is the home of Harvey’s beer, the staple diet of any local and my favourite Friday lunchtime tipple at the Market Porter. And finally, for its bonfire celebrations. Their celebrations are not like anything else seen in the country and it is full of history (see here for more details) is far to complex for my little brain to get around.

LewesBut I was not here for the fireworks fun. I was taking part in an exchange trip – similar to one you used to do in 4th year French apart from I knew I wasn’t getting some thieving little chap who wanted to steal my porn or shag my goldfish. This exchange was a football exchange par excellence…You see Mr Last (EFW fame) had agreed to sponsor the matchball for the Lewes game versus Hampton & Richmond and invited myself and Cynical Dave along for the ride. And in return I was taking Mr Last to his first Premier League game for a decade the following day for West Ham’s game with Everton.

Lewes and West Ham had had similar seasons, struggling to fulfil their potential and spending too much time in the relegation zone of their respective leagues. Was this to be the weekend when it all changed? Well at this point I will hand you over to Danny who takes up the story of the weekend…..

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