Will year of success follow year of change for Lewes FC?

The men’s team enter the second half of their Isthmian premier division campaign in tenth spot and seven points off the play-off places, with games in hand over many sides above them.

They were perhaps fortunate last weekend when floodlight failure meant their derby clash at Whitehawk was abandoned, with the Hawks leading 2-0 well into the second half.

Nelson returned to the Dripping Pan in October after a brief spell at Tonbridge, for whom he left the Rooks last spring.

Ex-Lewes player Bradley Pritchard had taken the reins between Nelson’s two spells but after a bright start to his time as boss, results tailed off.

When Nelson returned, he hinted at growth, but of the steady variety, rather than making any bold promises. “Brick by brick, we’ll do it together,” he said.

The Rooks kick off 2026 with a visit to Burgess Hill tomorrow and a home tussle with Billericay on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile the new year dawns with Lewes Women in contention for honours under Emma Byrne, who ended 2025 by being nominated as Women’s National League southern premier division manager of the month.

The ex-Arsenal and Ireland player has guided the Rooks to three wins in the past six in the league and last time out, they pushed Crystal Palace all the way in the FA Cup before bowing out.

Byrne took over in the summer and Kelly Lindsey, the club’s COO and sporting director, said at the time: “This is more than a managerial appointment – it’s a statement of intent

“We want to be back in the Championship – the new WSL2 – and we know what it takes."

Lewes are eighth in the table but if they can carry on the momentum they have recently built up, a promotion challenge is not out of the question as the club look for a return to the second tier of the women’s game, from which they were relegated in 2024.

They start the new year at home to Exeter at the Pan this Sunday.