OVERVIEW

LEISTON head to Sussex this weekend to take on Lewes in Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying action with a 3pm kick off writes Craig Cooper.

It will be the Blues third cup game in a row, after they lost 3-0 at home to Banbury United in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend before defeating Walsham-le-Willows 3-0 away from home in midweek in the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Second Round.

Lewes, meanwhile, are 7th in the Isthmian Premier Division, having taken 14 points from their opening nine league matches so far.

Leiston are without Joao Rangel after the Blues player was called up to play for Timor-Leste in the Asia Cup. Eddie Jackson could be fit after picking up an injury against St Ives Town ten days sgo, while Willie Clemons plays his last game before going off to play for Bermuda in World Cup qualifiers.

If today’s game is level at 90 minutes, it will go straight to penalties.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

THE sides met for the first time on the 25th October 2008 in Suffolk, in the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying.

Stefan Cox scored halfway through the first half to put the Sussex side in front at Victory Road, but Leiston levelled through Danny Cunningham just a couple of minutes into the second half. 847 spectators watched the game.

Three days later in the replay in Sussex, the Blues historically won 3-1 at the Dripping Pan, in front of 386 people.

Stuart Boardley and Luke Eagle put Leiston two goals up at the break, and Boardley added his second and the Blues third shortly after the break before Lewes pulled a goal back. But Leiston held firm late on to move into the FA Cup First Round Proper for the first time ever.

The sides didn’t meet again in Sussex until Saturday 13th April 2013, when the Blues won 1-0 in poor weather, with Gareth Heath scoring for Leiston from a corner.

The following season, on the final day of the 2013/2014 season, Lewes beat Leiston 5-1. Emmanuel Osei scored for Steve Ball’s men that day.

The Blues went to Lewes again on Saturday 21st March 2015, with Leiston winning 2-0. Joe Jefford and Heath with both goals.

The final time the teams have met (at Leiston or Lewes) was on Saturday 12th December 2015, with the sides drawing at The Dripping Pan, 1-1. Joe Francis put Leiston in the lead early on but James Fraser’s equaliser in stoppage time saw the Blues come away with only a point.

The winners on Saturday will pick up £2,450 while the losers receive £625.

FACTS ON LEWES

THREE special nature sites are in Lewes; Lewes Downs, Lewes Brooks, and Southerham Works Pit.

There is an Anne of Cleves House in Lewes. This 16th-century timber-framed house was given to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce from Henry VIII. She never actually lived there!

Lewes has football, cricket, rugby, tennis and bowls clubs, as well as a golf club. In 2017, Lewes became the first club in the world to pay their men and women’s teams equally.

Musicians like Herbie Flowers, Arthur Brown, and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane have lived in Lewes.

Lewes FC were established in 1885 and were founder members of the East Sussex League in 1896 and the Sussex County League in 1920. They moved to the Antenian League in 1965 and then to the Isthmian League in 1977.

The club has always played at the Dripping Pan since being formed.

Their record appearance maker is Terry Parris with 662 games to his name while Pip Parris is the club’s leading scorer with 350 goals.

Lewes’ highest attendance is 2,500, which came against Newhaven on Boxing Day 1947, in the Sussex County League.

FORM GUIDE

(League form only, most recent game first)

LEWES: L D L D W
LEISTON: D D W L W

BLUES GAMES IN OCTOBER

Saturday 11th Oct: Stourbridge (Away)
Tuesday 14th Oct: - Royston Town (Away)
Saturday 18th Oct: Barwell (Home)
Tuesday 21st Oct: AFC Sudbury (Home)

MATCH INFORMATION
Lewes v Blues
Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying
Saturday, October 4, 3pm kick off
The Dripping Pan, Mountfield Road, Lewes FC, Sussex, East Sussex, BN7 2XA
Tel: 01273 470820