Rooks ramp it up: Lewes head to Kent as pre-season gathers pace
Lewes FC kick off their pre-season schedule with a trip to Rusthall FC this Saturday (July 11).
Craig Nelson’s side head to the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Premier Division side, based just outside Tunbridge Wells, looking to get their preparations underway in style.
Last weekend, a team of Lewes trialists won a warm-up match 2-1 at Chislehurst Glebe. The Kent side, whom Nelson previously managed, are now led by his former Lewes assistants, Frankie Sawyer and Arron Fray.
Rusthall, this weekend’s opponents, are in the same division as Chislehurst Glebe and last season finished 3rd before losing on penalties in the Play-Off Final. They also lifted the SCEFL Challenge Cup for the first time.
The Rustics have only been a Step 5 side for seven seasons, with most of that time spent under the guidance of manager Jimmy Anderson.
Having agreed to continue his tenure, Anderson is entering his ninth season at the helm, during which time he has taken the team back up from the SCEFL Division One, secured survival in the Premier Division and guided them to the brink of Step 4.
Lewes, meanwhile, have had a quiet week on the signings front, with no additions confirmed beyond their seven retained players and three new signings.
More announcements are expected soon, with several players on the periphery of signing set to be involved in this weekend’s friendly.
The Rooks will begin to finalise their plans in upcoming friendlies against Hastings United (Home, 18th July), Gillingham (Home, 21st July), Dorking Wanderers (Home, 21st July) and Bromley (Home, 11th August).
Elsewhere, the club announced this week that Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Lindsey, has departed to become Head of Football Development for the Women’s Super League.
No announcement has yet been made on whether the club is seeking to appoint a new COO.