£90,000 bonanza for Lewes

THE magnificent Lewes Rooks made history at the Dripping Pan on Monday by progressing into the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their 116 year history.

THE magnificent Lewes Rooks made history at the Dripping Pan on Monday by progressing into the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their 116 year history.

The kick-off had to be put back 15 minutes as the biggest crowd Lewes had seen for years packed into the ground.

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In the event, 1,802 delirious fans saw Lewes beat Mangotsfield 2-0.

And the Rooks now face a lucrative draw against second division Stoke City. They have home advantage but, on safety grounds, will play away at Stoke on Sunday, November 18.

They are one of the smallest clubs left in the Cup.

And the adventure has almost certainly guaranteed them something in the region of 90,000 even if luck deserts them against a side who play five divisions above them.

The 20,000 they receive for progressing into the FA Cup proper is a handy addition to the 26,000 the club had already won for reaching the fourth qualifying stage.

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And they could rake in as much as 45,000 as their share of the gate money from their clash with Stoke.

What will they do with the sort of cash that could transform them as a club?

A number of debts could be paid off but the priority appears to be getting the club s Dripping Pan ground up to the required standard for promotion to Ryman League Division One.

There is a project to build a new stand behind the far goal and the club also wants to improve its existing stand, club house, turnstiles and changing rooms.

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Said Lewes MP Norman Baker after the match: 'I am delighted. It is fantastic for the town. Watch out Brighton and Hove Albion!

And Lewes Mayor, Cllr John Webber, in a congratulatory letter to the club, said: 'What a team! Every one of them was a hero steady at the back, chasing everything in midfield and all those lovely little pushes into open space near goal.

'Jimmy Quinn and his team have done a great job in building a team that works so well together, keeps thinking, is patient, has a game plan and sticks to to it, and certainly on Monday night was fitter than its opponents.

'The town is proud of you all.

l Reports and more pictures: Pages 55 and 56.