Lewes 1-1 Thamesmead Town
Dripping Pan
30/11/13
Att: 567
After a trip to Twerton Park the week prior it was time to make another trip to a 'must-visit' ground in Non-League football. The morning of the game I'd still been very much undecided as to where to go, before settling on the Dripping Pan. The name of the ground, not a literal pan that drips. A surprisingly long journey later I was walking the extremely short walk to the ground. Daftly I'd decided to arrive exceedingly early to look at Priory of St Pancras next to the ground, thinking that'd kill some time. In truth, while interesting, I looked for about 2 minutes before heading into the ground.
Lewes FC are infamous, perhaps around the world for a couple of reasons, following promotion to the Conference in the 2005/6 season, the club finances began to hit dire straights. By the end of 2009 the club had been dealt with three winding up petitions, fed up with this the fans rallied to make a difference. In July 2010, they officially became a community owned club, and now anyone that wishes to say they own a football club can do so by buying a £30 share in Lewes FC. There's also the slight matter of their Match Posters and the reason I spent more than I'd planned to on this trip. Just have a look at this gallery and say you don't want to purchase one!
Now for the ground, a bizarre complex nestled beneath the south downs, creating that truly rural feel. The origins of the name are somewhat strange, apparently as a result of the monks that lived on the priory using the lake that was once here (or nearby) to extract minerals. The excavation of the area meant the creation of the mount behind the goal (from which the first couple of photo's are taken) along with the grass banking that makes this fine venue so unique. Entry to the ground is from behind the Philcox Stand, a 2003 build. This terrace has an almost continental feel, with its arching roof and terracing down to the pitch, running a third of behind the goal. It is rather 'cosy' at this end with all the key amenities being little more than a few footsteps away in the Club Shop, Bar, Toilets and Tea Bar. You couldn't contrast the two sides much more if you tried. One is a path, built on the top of the banking, offering a nice view over the ground. The other the 2006 built, 500 seat main stand, complete with luminescent lighting at the front. The final end is the 2008 built Terry Parris Terrace. Think Wuppertal, just smaller and lacking in Ultras. To top the ground off are those stereotypical Non-League floodlights.
The game was one of those, that if you're a neutral, you wonder why all those around you are getting slightly irate at their team. While neither side were fantastic, it wasn't the kind of game that you'd rather whip out a pillow, have a nap and hope that you wake up in time to see the only shot on target. Rather there was plenty of attacking opportunities, in a fairly equal encounter, with Lewes only Salvaging a point in Second half injury time. Saying that, you couldn't have moaned if the visitors took all three points with their resolute defending. Neither looked like they'll run away with the league, but I'd bet on my sample of one whole game both will finish within a couple of places of each other, and even then that'll be nearer to the top than the bottom of the league.
Lewes FC are infamous, perhaps around the world for a couple of reasons, following promotion to the Conference in the 2005/6 season, the club finances began to hit dire straights. By the end of 2009 the club had been dealt with three winding up petitions, fed up with this the fans rallied to make a difference. In July 2010, they officially became a community owned club, and now anyone that wishes to say they own a football club can do so by buying a £30 share in Lewes FC. There's also the slight matter of their Match Posters and the reason I spent more than I'd planned to on this trip. Just have a look at this gallery and say you don't want to purchase one!
Now for the ground, a bizarre complex nestled beneath the south downs, creating that truly rural feel. The origins of the name are somewhat strange, apparently as a result of the monks that lived on the priory using the lake that was once here (or nearby) to extract minerals. The excavation of the area meant the creation of the mount behind the goal (from which the first couple of photo's are taken) along with the grass banking that makes this fine venue so unique. Entry to the ground is from behind the Philcox Stand, a 2003 build. This terrace has an almost continental feel, with its arching roof and terracing down to the pitch, running a third of behind the goal. It is rather 'cosy' at this end with all the key amenities being little more than a few footsteps away in the Club Shop, Bar, Toilets and Tea Bar. You couldn't contrast the two sides much more if you tried. One is a path, built on the top of the banking, offering a nice view over the ground. The other the 2006 built, 500 seat main stand, complete with luminescent lighting at the front. The final end is the 2008 built Terry Parris Terrace. Think Wuppertal, just smaller and lacking in Ultras. To top the ground off are those stereotypical Non-League floodlights.
The game was one of those, that if you're a neutral, you wonder why all those around you are getting slightly irate at their team. While neither side were fantastic, it wasn't the kind of game that you'd rather whip out a pillow, have a nap and hope that you wake up in time to see the only shot on target. Rather there was plenty of attacking opportunities, in a fairly equal encounter, with Lewes only Salvaging a point in Second half injury time. Saying that, you couldn't have moaned if the visitors took all three points with their resolute defending. Neither looked like they'll run away with the league, but I'd bet on my sample of one whole game both will finish within a couple of places of each other, and even then that'll be nearer to the top than the bottom of the league.