We are pleased to confirm that despite overnight and current weather conditions the game IS EXPECTED TO GO AHEAD. There has been no significant overnight rain and the pitch at the present time is good. There are no plans for a pitch inspection although with strong winds and rain forecast, we will continue to monitor.

Following recent improvements, supporters now benefit from cover on all four sides of the ground to help keep you dry should it be a wet afternoon. Hope to see you there!

Match Details:

PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION
CRAY VALLEY (PM) v LEWES
SAT 7 DEC 2024 – KICK OFF 15.00pm

VENUE:- THE ARTIC STADIUM, BADGERS SPORTS, MIDDLE PARK AVENUE, ELTHAM, LONDON, SE9 5HP
Please be aware the ground is situated within the new ULEZ zone so certain vehicles could be subject to charge. Limited parking at the ground although there is plenty of free street parking close by.
Nearest train station: Eltham approx 20 minutes walk to the ground.

ADMISSION: - We recommend buying in advance online via Fanbase at no extra cost to you to help reduce your queuing time with fast track entry. Match Day Tickets:
See link here - https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=324
ADULTS - £12, CONCESSIONS (+65) - £7, YOUNG PERSONS 16-17/ STUDENTS WITH ID £7 , CHILDREN 11-15 £5 ,
CHILDREN U11 Free
Cash and Card accepted at Turnstile.

PROGRAMME - £3

MATCH OFFICIALS :-
Referee: Kane Dempster
Assistants: Krystian Kaczala and Christopher Cannon

Our Opponents:
Nickname: The Rooks
Manager: Craig Nelson appointed May 2024
Last Three Seasons:
2023/24 Isthmian Premier 8th
2022/23 Isthmian Premier 6th
2021/22 Isthmian Premier 7th

Lewes currently sit in 5th position on 29 points from 17 games, six points behind the Millers but with a game in hand. After a couple of defeats against Dartford and leaders Dover Athletic they bounced back on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Canvey Island. Top goalscorer is Danny Bassett on 13 of which 11 have been in the league.

Familiar Faces: Two returning players likely to be in Saturdays line up for Lewes having played previously for the Millers are Matthew Attenborough Warren who made 86 appearances scoring 7 times between 2019 and 2022 including the two covid seasons and Calvin Expiteta who made 32 appearances scoring 3 times last season.

One current Cray Valley (PM) player Freddie Parker played for Lewes under previous manager Tony Russell making 18 appearances in season 2020/21 before joining Sevenoaks Town following which he become a Miller in July 2023.

Lewes FC: Extracts from their club history.
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 improved 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. .... All Board positions now are elected by the whole Ownership base. ....

..... In the summer of 2017 the club hit the headlines globally when it announced that it would pay our Men’s and Women’s squads the same – a first for any semi/professional club in the world. Under the Equality FC banner, the club attracted and continues to attract a number of partners who shared the same beliefs and vision for gender equality in sport. ....

..... The club is building a solid foundation on which to build for the future. It has around 3,000 Owners and has gained a great reputation for all its community work and stand-out marketing especially with the continued stance on pay equality and committed stance against the harms of gambling advertisement in football.

Previous Meetings:
The two clubs have not met previously