I've just read that Lewes are not allowed to compete in the Play-offs

[1066gull]

Because they have to do some stadium development to the Dripping Pan.

Why?

I find that very harsh for any club, let alone Lewes.

Can someone help me out on this why this has come about

 

[jevs]

I'm sure that there's a rule that was bought in a few years ago saying that planning permission either had to have been submitted or approved by 1st April for the ground improvements in order to get promotion.

As far as i'm aware, Lewes are fully aware of the rules and didn't comply with them.

I do stand to be corrected on this though

There are quite a few ground improvements needed if the ground is to be bought up to conference standards.

For one, home and away supporters need to be segregated. To do this, toilets and catering need to be provided for the away supporters and they'd need a different entrance to the home supporters....at present, the two sets of fans are kept apart by a set of steps but luckily, most of the banter is good humoured.

I'm sure there's a few other things too

 

[Jam The Man]

similar situation as last year for Lewes then...

lack of local input of funds from a council that doesn't care about sport probably...

 

[jevs]

similar situation as last year for Lewes then...

lack of local input of funds from a council that doesn't care about sport probably...

I think it's being funded privately....possibly by local builders Philcox. Again....might be wrong on that.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I think the success of Lewes FC has taken everyone by surprise. The plans are in place to get the Dripping Pan up to Conference standards, but the work hasn't yet been done.

Before they first got the "double promotion" into Conference South, I had a conversation with one of their directors who was talking about a five year project to get into the Conference proper. They achieved a play-off position in their first year. And now they've gone and done it again in year two.

A terrific club, with a terrific squad and great fans who just need to be patient, I guess.

 

[A Melbourne Albion Supporter]

They can ground share with us

One club will have a great stadium for the level of football they are at, the other will have a below par stadium.

You chose which one is which

 

[Grendel]

First things first, Lewes haven't been denied entry into the play-offs yet as a decision on their ground isn't being made until April 20th. The Cambridge City manager has stated that the league will allow Cambridge to take part in the play-offs despite not having the necessary 10 year lease on their ground, so there's hope that Lewes may also be allowed to.

I'm sure that there's a rule that was bought in a few years ago saying that planning permission either had to have been submitted or approved by 1st April for the ground improvements in order to get promotion.

As far as i'm aware, Lewes are fully aware of the rules and didn't comply with them.

I do stand to be corrected on this though

Ground improvements have to be completed by April 1st in order to be allowed into the play-offs. Lewes FC have planning permission and funding in place to make the necessary improvements to the Pan, but due to delays in raising the money required, work isn't starting until 23rd April. From what I've heard, the board are hoping for a dispensation as work should be completed in time for the start of the new season.

I think it's being funded privately....possibly by local builders Philcox. Again....might be wrong on that.

50% of the cost (I think it's £125,000 but I'm not 100% sure on that) is being met by a grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund. Lewes FC have to match that amount themselves.

 

[Superseagull]

Shame LDC could not have spent £65K on Lewes FC ground improvments rather than taking our planning application to the high court.

 

[1066gull]

They can ground share with us

One club will have a great stadium for the level of football they are at, the other will have a below par stadium.

You chose which one is which

I was thinking excatly that about Falmer.

If Reading can share with London Irish, why cannot we share with Lewis? Everyone knows Falmer is in Lewes with the stadium slap bang on the border.

Maybe it could be a propersition(sp) we offer to LDC if they back down?

 

[Grendel]

I can't see any reason why Lewes FC would want to ground share with us, be it at Withdean or Falmer.

 

[maffew]

Everyone knows Falmer is in Lewes

:thud:

 

[1066gull]

:thud:

What?

 

[Cian]

What?

*hands Audrey a f***ing map book*

Theres a town called Lewes, theres a government district called Lewes. Falmer is only in one of them. The football club is in the other.

 

[1066gull]

You know what I mean. Falmer is slap bang in the middle of Lews District and Brighton & Hove Council with the town of Falmer in the Lewes District itself.

 

[maffew]

You know what I mean. Falmer is slap bang in the middle of Lews District and Brighton & Hove Council with the town of Falmer in the Lewes District itself.

whats that egg?


edit: just clicked it

 

[Blackadder]

Shame LDC could not have spent £65K on Lewes FC ground improvments rather than taking our planning application to the high court.

What a sensible post!

I believe thats what they call a WIN/WIN situation!

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

Conference grounds must have the ability to be segregated, but the rule is enforced at the clubs and polices discretion. My local club Grays usually have mixed terracing, but have a section that is segregated for big matches, such as against Canvey

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

There are quite a few ground improvements needed if the ground is to be bought up to conference standards.

For one, home and away supporters need to be segregated. To do this, toilets and catering need to be provided for the away supporters and they'd need a different entrance to the home supporters....at present, the two sets of fans are kept apart by a set of steps but luckily, most of the banter is good humoured.

I'm sure there's a few other things too

1. I thought home and away fans didn't have to be segregated below the Football League and certainly not down at Lewes's level. Is this new? I went to see Crawley a number of years ago at Town Mead and home and away supporters were all mixed in together. It got interesting at times because Crawley had a bit of an "element". I know Crawley segregated their fans from the Weymouth ones on the Falmer day in 2004 but I thought that was just because of the numbers expected up from Weymouth.

2. What ground improvements are Lewes planning. I know they plan to rebuild the Main Stand, but are they planning to put in an equivalent terrace to the Southover End and terrace the grass bank on the side?

 

[The Large One]

Perhaps Roz can stop breaking any of her limbs when visiting the Dripping Pan then.

 

[Grendel]

1. I thought home and away fans didn't have to be segregated below the Football League and certainly not down at Lewes's level. Is this new? I went to see Crawley a number of years ago at Town Mead and home and away supporters were all mixed in together. It got interesting at times because Crawley had a bit of an "element". I know Crawley segregated their fans from the Weymouth ones on the Falmer day in 2004 but I thought that was just because of the numbers expected up from Weymouth.

2. What ground improvements are Lewes planning. I know they plan to rebuild the Main Stand, but are they planning to put in an equivalent terrace to the Southover End and terrace the grass bank on the side?

Clubs have to have the ability to segregate fans if necessary at Conference level. By playing in Conference South, Lewes are deemed to be attempting to gain promotion to the Conference hence they have to be able to demonstrate that they could enforce segregation if they were to promoted. Currently, The Dripping Pan doesn't meet the requirements for Lewes to remain in Conference South, let alone be promoted.

I'm not sure what the current plans are, but the original plans for the redevelopment were to demolish the current seated stand, to be replaced by a new 500 capacity all seated stand with terracing either side. Turnstiles at the Ham lane end of the ground, and terracing behind the far goal which would be used as the "away" end if required. The other bank would eventually have to be either levelled or have another stand built into it were Lewes to gain promotion.