Lewes Football Club celebrates 10 years being fan-owned

On July 8, 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.

This transition happened because the club looked set to go into administration due to financial woes.

But thanks to a local group of fans, who called themselves Rooks125, they transformed the club into a community benefit society, allowing fans of the club to become owners themselves.

Charlie Dobres, one of Lewes FC’s directors, who was a member of Rooks125, said: “The financial crisis was hitting at that point and the club was having problems, as were a lot of clubs.

“It was important to do it – it stopped the club from going bust and if we didn’t do it there would be no Lewes FC.”

Charlie said it was thanks to the hard efforts of the community that the club was ‘reborn’.

“We did not want to let the club go into administration,” he commented.

“Our key priority was that any debt be paid off to local traders. This was the rebirthing of the club – a clean slate.”

He said Lewes FC has always been a community club and over the past ten years it has been a ‘rollercoaster ride, with lots of ups and lots of downs’.

But, he said, it is where it is today thanks to the huge support from the community who ‘believe in what the club is doing’.

“In that ten-year period we have carried a lot of charities on our shirts,” said Charlie.

“We are currently taking on anti-gambling advertising, our women’s team has come on in leaps and bounds – and we are always supporting our teams.

“And that is why we are celebrating today – if anyone would like to give us a birthday present they can donate to our crowdfunding appeal to replace our ageing floodlights.”

To mark the special occasion on Wednesday (July 8), a birthday cake was presented to staff at Lewes Victoria Hospital. The hospital featured on players’ home shirts during the first season back in 2010.

Charlie said the club’s crowdfunding appeal was still on track – with eight days to go – but urged people to show their support in these final days as if the £34,000 is not raised by then, the club cannot use any of the money raised.

The fundraiser has been backed by actor and long-time Lewes FC fan Dave Lamb who is best known as the voice of Come Dine With Me.

Lewes FC is offering rewards in return for donations. These include naming a floodlight and storytime or an interview with players.

Charlie added: “We really appreciate that money is tight out there and people have been so generous.”

To donate, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/lewesfc.

In 2017, Lewes FC became the first, and still only, football club in the world to treat and pay its women’s and men’s teams equally.

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