Women's football news
Meet the new Manager of Lewes FC Women at his first home game this weekend.
Supporters will be able to see new Manager Fran Alonso in action on Sunday January 27th when Lewes FC Women play the London Bees at 2pm.
42-year-old Fran, who has been a manager and coach for the last 15 years, has coached Premier League teams such as Southampton and Everton as well as Southampton Women, Everton Ladies and Liverpool Feds. He has also trained famous players like Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott and work alongside the likes of Spurs Manager Mauricio Pochettino and former England manager Sam Allardyce.
The first home match is always a big occasion for new managers and Sunday’s match will offer Fran the opportunity to show the home crowd some new tactics and squad arrangements. Fran said that fans can expect to see significant changes in the way the team plays.
He said: “I think the supporters will notice that the team is taking a different approach to the game on Sunday.They will be able to see the players being braver and more confident in possession, pressing aggressively out of possession and hopefully creating many goal scoring opportunities. I am not saying that we will necessarily win in our first outing together at the Pan but we promise to give it our best shot, so it would be really nice, if the town could turn out to support us at the weekend.”
Marketing Manager Charlie Dobres said: “I think we should be in for a very exciting match as the players seem to be in high spirits at the moment. They’re clearly enjoying the hard work of learning skills and tactics and the extra motivation of knowing that their Manager has coached some really famous names in football.”
As well as being Fran’s first home match as the Manager of Lewes FC Women, the Paddock Singers, will experience a first on Sunday too. They will sing at their first-ever football match and their repertoire, they tell us, will consist of rousing songs, including the classic anthem “Something inside so strong” by Labi Siffre.
Ruth Kerr from the Paddock Singers said: “We’re thrilled to be singing at a Lewes FC Women’s match and are anticipating a fun and lively atmosphere, not dissimilar to our own concerts…but with even more cheering! This will be my first time watching the women’s team, but I follow a good deal of women’s sport, notably tennis and athletics, and have been so happy to see professional tennis players rewarded with equal pay – it’s brilliant to see Lewes FC pioneering the way for equality between the sexes too.”
Local drummers Skull Drummery will add to the atmosphere by drumming the players on and off the pitch and performing at half time. And, as is usual at women’s matches, gourmet burgers and baked potatoes will be available from the club’s two food outlets and there will be Prosecco, cake and Harvey’s at the Rook Inn.
The poster for the London Bees match, by local artist Chris Arran, features, as usual, an inspirational woman from the area where the London Bees play. Singer Amy Winehouse can be seen on the matchday poster, alongside Vicky Carleton from Lewes FC Women.
Tickets to women’s matches cost £8.00 at the gate but can be bought in advance online for just £7.00. Concessions cost £4.00 (or £3.50 online) and children under 16 go free.
Tickets can be bought in advance at LewesFCWomen.com