17/9/10

There’s a Party at the Pan tomorrow, and you’re all invited.

The club is hoping to double the average gate this season, and attract an anniversary-echoing 1,250 fans, which should make for a cracking atmosphere.

Gates open at 1pm, and we’re hoping for fans to turn up early. Admission is £10 on the door for adults and kids get in free (up to three, if accompanied by an adult). No need to buy tickets in advance.

There are plenty of kids’ games and stalls to keep them entertained and those in Lewes shirts or red and black will be invited to form a special kids’ Guard of Honour on the Dripping Pan pitch before the game to welcome the players onto the pitch.

For adults there’s live music from Ben Paley and Tab Hunter (on fiddle and guitar) and a choice of fine ales and other refreshments, including the special celebratory Lewes FC ale from Harveys and anything left over from tonight's Beer Festival.

BBC1’s Football Focus cameras will be there to record an episode of their series ‘My Club’ (to be screened on October 2nd), so there’s the chance for Lewes fans to show their support to nearly two million viewers.

We have a guest tannoy announcer, too – John Henty who was one of the presenters at the very start of BBC Radio Sussex, and did the PA at the Goldstone in the 70s. He was also ‘the voice of Palace’ for 20 years at Selhurst Park, the man behind the mic when Eric Cantona did his famous karate kick in 1995.

There will be birthday cake and balloons and at half time a parade of former players will be presented to the fans.

Not forgetting the football of course, with Chelmsford City the visitors to the Pan who are unlikely to be in the mood to party, currently lying in fifth place and aiming to go higher. 

A cracking match in prospect then, with Ibbo’s young team - likely to be bolstered by the return of some players from injury - again pitted against more experienced opponents.

Let’s hope for a huge crowd – and a morale-boosting win, to celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary.

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