Lewes Football Club Women is a women's football club affiliated with Lewes F.C. The club compete in the Women's Championship and play at The Dripping Pan. The team's highest ever league finish was 5th place in the second-tier FA Women's Championship in 2020–21.
History
Lewes Ladies FC was established in 2002 as the women's affiliate of Lewes FC, a not-for-profit club helping pioneer 100% fan and community ownership. The team started playing in the South East Counties football league and within a ten-year period climbed through the pyramid, winning promotion to the fourth-tier FA Women's Premier League in 2012 following an unbeaten season.[2]
In 2017, Lewes became the first professional or semi-professional football club to pay its women's team the same as its men's team as part of their Equality FC initiative.[3]
In 2018, the team was awarded a place in the FA Women's Championship.[4] In September 2019 club director Barry Collins resigned, frustrated at the board's preoccupation with equality campaigning: "I joined a football club and feel like I'm leaving a political party".[5]
^"Lewes Ladies looking for new Coach to work with management team". Lewes F.C. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
^Christenson, Marcus (12 July 2017). "Lewes FC become first professional club to pay women and men equally". The Guardian.
^"Lewes FC Women win a place in the new FA Women's Championship". lewesfc.com.
^"'I joined a football club and feel like I'm leaving a political party' – Collins explains Lewes exit". Nonleaguedaily.com. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
^"Donoghue switches from Brighton to Lewes". ProTalent Sports. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Marrs leaves Gillingham for Brighton Super League challenge". Lewes FC. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Donoghue switches from Brighton to Lewes". Sent Her Forward. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Donoghue switches from Brighton to Lewes". Sent Her Forward. 21 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Thanks and goodbye to John Donoghue". Lewes FC. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Lewes Women part company with Donoghue after poor run". Sussex Express. 14 November 2018.
^"Fran Alonso: Ex-Everton and Southampton coach named new Lewes Women manager". BBC. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Alonso departs as Parker takes up the reins". Lewes FC. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Fran Alonso to manage Celtic Women after Lewes exit". BBC. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"Alonso departs as Parker takes up the reins". Lewes FC. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^"South East Counties Womens League 2003–04". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"South East Counties Womens League 2004–05". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"London & South East Regional Women's League 2005–06". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"London & South East Regional Women's League 2006–07". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2012–13". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2013–14". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2014–15". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2015–16". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2016–17". fulltime-league.thefa.com.
^"FA Women's National League South 2017–18". fulltime-league.thefa.com.