FOOTBALL CLUB Saturday 27Th October 2018—KO

ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX) FOOTBALL CLUB Todays Match Ball is Sponsored by The Buildbase FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Rd Saturday 27th October 2018—KO 3PM Welcome to the Robert Parker Stadium OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Season 2018/2019 - For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com Ashford Town (Middlesex) Football Club Limited The Robert Parker Stadium, Short Lane, Stanwell, Middlesex, TW19 7BH Tel: 01784 245908. W: www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com E: [email protected] Members of the Southern, Suburban, Isthmian Youth and Greater London Women’s Football Leagues. Affiliated to Middlesex & Surrey FA’s. Company Registration Number: 07904731 Company Limited By Guarantee Club Directory Nick Bailey, Dan Butler, Alan Constable, Paul Blair, Steve Clark, Robert Directors Parker Patrons Mr Ray Dorset, Mr Russell Grant - The Lord of Ashford (Middlesex) President Mr Bob Parker Life Members Mr Alan Constable, Mr Bob Parker, Mr Steve Clark Vice-President Ms. Lynne Morgan, Mr Gareth Coates, Mr Bob Lewis. Chairman Mr Nick Bailey & Mr Alan Constable [email protected] Vice-Chairmen Mr Nick Bailey General Secretary Mr Alan Constable [email protected] Football Secretary Mr Paul Blair [email protected] Finance Director Mr Steve Clark Programme Editor Mr Graham Felce Press Secretary Mr Larry Mansell [email protected] Groundsmen Mr Liam Balmer & Mr Steve Honey Membership Secretary Mr Chris Canderton Webmaster Mr Gareth Coates [email protected] Safety Officer Mr Liam Balmer Welfare Officer Mrs Emma Bailey [email protected] Football Development Officer Mr Ben Murray Mr Daryl Watson, Mr Jamie Brunton, Mr Graham Felce, Mr John Gully Mr Club General Committee Roger King, Miss S Cooley, 1st Team Manager Mr Ben Murray Assistant Manager Mr Mark Green Goalkeeper Coach Mr Steve Honey Physiotherapist Mr Martin O’Connell Kit Manager Mr Chad Beadle Ladies Team Manager Mr Will Boye Youth Team Manager Club Photographer Mr Steve McCarthy @ashfordtownmx @ashfordmiddxlfc @ashfordtnythfc . 2 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com Good Afternoon everyone We have only just finished with the previous round of the FA Trophy and now find ourselves in the dizzy heights of the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy in which our opponents this afternoon are Lewes FC to whom we offer a warm welcome. There is a certain poignancy for us in facing Lewes as they were our opponents for our very first Ryman League match back in the year 2000, following our promotion from the CCL to Division 3 of the Ryman League as it was then. On that day back in August 2000 an exciting tussle ensued which ended 4 -4. Both Lewes and ourselves went on to win promotion to Division 2 at the end of the season and then on to Division One South the following season as part of a re-structure. Our final clash was in the 2003-04 season when we lost at home 2-3, our goals coming from Adam Foulser and Richard Butler and we have never met since until today. Our opponents are currently fellow members of the Bostik League but play in the Premier Division, in which they currently sit in 5th place with 21 points from their opening 12 matches. Their most recent match was in midweek when they won a local derby at Whitehawk by the only goal of the game but it is clear that we face a very tough encounter this afternoon. There is no extra time today, so if the scores are level after 90 minutes, there will be a replay at Lewes on Wednesday evening. We will look to take a coach should that happen when supporters will be welcome. After three matches in eight days, doubtless both Westfield and ourselves will be glad that we are both playing someone different today! After two close encounters in the Trophy, we finally cut loose in the League match last Saturday to win by three goals to nil, courtesy of goals from Mark Bitmead (2) and Kofi Lockhart-Adams. We then had a hiccup on Tuesday evening when we could only draw at Han- worth Villa in the Middlesex Senior Cup, nil-nil and then lost the penalty shoot out 4-5. For much of the match it was Villa keeper Terry Buss, a thorn in our side on more than occasion, who kept us out making some remarkable saves. Doubtless, with today’s game in mind, we did not field a number of key players who will doubtless all be back this afternoon. Barring a replay of today’s match, we are at home again on Tuesday when Horley Town are our visitors in the opening round of the Surrey Senior Cup, kick-off 7.45. Ashford supporters in- tending to come to both games should save their tickets from this afternoon’s match as entrance on Tuesday evening has been reduced to just £2 so long as you can show your entry ticket from today’s. match. 3 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com . 4 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com . 5 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com LEWES FC CLUB HISTORY The Early Years Lewes Football Club was formed following a meeting at The Royal Oak pub on 23 September 1885. For the first eight years, the players wore light green shirts which were de- signed to reflect the scenery of the surrounding South Downs, but black and red finally became the club colours in 1893. The club has played at the Dripping Pan ever since, apart from a couple of seasons prior to the First World War when the club was banished to the ad- joining Convent Field. The early years of the club produced only mediocre results and successes were few and far between. In 1920, Lewes became found- er members of the Sussex County League. 1960s Progress was slow and despite four runners-up plac- es, by the 1960s Lewes had only one Sussex RUR Cup win to their name. In 1965, the club’s fortunes changed dramatically, winning the County League title for the first time with a massive nine-point lead over runners-up Lancing, as well as both the RUR and Sussex Senior Cups. Lewes became members of the Athenian League and after winning the Division 2 title in 1968, promotion to the Premier Division was gained just two years . 6 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com later when the Division 1 title was snatched from Boreham Wood, with a further Sussex Senior Cup tri- umph added in 1971. Six years later, the club en- tered the newly expanded Isthmian League. 1980s Promotion to Division 1 soon followed although two sixth-place finishes in 1982 and 1989 were the high- est positions attained in Division 1. During that time, Lewes reached the final of the Sussex Senior Cup on three occasions, and won the trophy in 1984/85. 1990s Disaster struck in 1990/91 when Lewes were relegat- ed for the first time in their history. An immediate re- turn as runners-up to Purfleet followed, but that suc- cess was short-lived and relegation in successive years meant that by the 1994/95 season the club was down in Division Three. The slide continued and the first season in the base- ment division would have been the last in the league if it hadn’t been for Cove who conveniently propped- up the league and saved Lewes from automatic de- motion. The club survived rather than thrived until the 1998/99 season when Jimmy Quinn joined as manager, and at the first attempt missed out on promotion by just one place. Midway through the 1999/2000 season Martin Elliott and a new board of Directors stepped in and immediately the fortunes of the club began to improve, with the capture of the Sussex Senior+44 (0)1784 Cup 430000 in 2001 or [email protected] following victory over Bognor Regis. 7 For all the latest club news, visit our website at www.ashfordtownmiddlesexfc.com Naughties (2000s) There was mixed news on the pitch. The pinnacle of the Men's team's achievement, and what a pinnacle, was to gain promotion to the top of the non-League pyramid in 2007/8. However, the Rooks only lasted one season in the top flight as the Global Credit Cri- sis hit and funds dried up. The Rooks' new economic reality saw them drop down the divisions. However, a brand new Women's team was started by Jacquie Agnew and underwent a dramatic rise form park football to the Women's Combination. A New Dawn (2010s) Behind the scenes, a group of six supporters calling themselves Rooks125 were working hard to take the club into community ownership having witnessed the serious financial problems that had befallen the club, despite the owners' best efforts. Finally on July 8th 2010, Lewes FC was officially transferred out of private ownership into a mass- ownership Community Benefit Society called Lewes Community Football Club, consisting of benefactors and members of the former Management Committee. The six members of Rooks125 formed the inaugural Executive Board, working as volunteers to install im- proved working practices and procedures during the season before planning to open up the wider ownership of LCFC to all the club’s supporters in 2011/12. The first chairman of the Community Club was ap- pointed in 2013 with club legend Terry Parris taking up the position.

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