Gary's best and worst...and The Dripping WET Pan

Gary also awards his own version of Michelin stars in respect of the all-important burgers!

At home games you can't miss Gary '“ you'll invariably find him just inside the main entrance, behind a table stacked with programmes. The 52-year-old works for the Royal Mail. He used to be a regular at Chelsea but saw the error of his ways about nine years or so ago and gave up the expensive commute to Stamford Bridge to discover the joys of supporting Lewes FC.

Right from the start he was always one of the first in line when volunteers were needed. He told me, "When my late Dad was still with us we used to steward the traffic on big match days. I've also manned the kiosk to sell tickets, sold the Golden Goal and even written match reports and done plenty of things that I can't even remember now.'

One thing he does remember is his favourite Rooks result. "It was here at the Dripping Pan a few seasons ago. Redbridge put four goals past us before the lads turned it around and won 5-4. Astonishing stuff."

On his travels, Gary's rates Blue Square South Dorchester's ground as the best he's encountered.

But what about the worst? "That has to be Clapton. There was a burnt-out car that formed the only seating on one side of the pitch. In our progress up the non-league pyramid we've left them some way behind so maybe things have improved there now."

And the best grub? Gary nominated the burgers at Grays as 'superb' on both visits by the Rooks in FA Cup and FA Trophy action respectively this season although he reckons Horsham's came a close second.

Gary (along with Cathy Feltham) sponsor prolific striker Paul Booth for this season. But they didn't just put the 50 sponsorship fee into the Lewes FC pot '“ they went and bought Mr Booth a new pair of football boots as well.

As Gary puts it. "It looks as though Boothy will finish the season as the top striker in the whole of Blue Square South so we reckon giving him the boots to get the job done is the proper thing to do. Mind you, come the end of April we might ask for them back so we can put them in the trophy cabinet!"

On the Thursday morning before the Saturday game against Bognor last week, the heavens opened with a deluge of Biblical proportions.

The Dripping Pan became a lake. Club Director Kevin Fingerneissl rushed down to the ground and was astonished at the size of the inundation.

"My first thought was that there was no way the water would be gone in just 48 hours and the match would surely have to be postponed", he told me. But indeed the water did disappear and by Saturday afternoon the pitch was looking in really excellent condition.

Kevin says it's all down to the care and attention that goes into keeping the pitch in tip top condition. "Our groundsman Roger Feltham and his staff give up masses of his time in looking after the grass and it's largely down to their efforts that the Pan has such a good playing surface these days.

He added, "We also have access to some modern machinery and methods that helps us with the maintenance and drainage. In hindsight, though, given that we lost the game, it might have been better to have the left Pan fit for the ducks for the day!

We were not able to contact Ross Scamardella, caretaker manager of Hailsham Town, until after deadline on Thursday. When we did make contact, he predicted a 2-0 win for Manchester United over Manchester City in this week's Battle of the Bosses