We all know Lewes FC was founded in 1885, but how long did it take for a Supporters Club to emerge? Just over 60 years, according to the newspaper archives.
A report from the Sussex Express & County Herald from August 30th 1946 announces the foundation of the Lewes FC Supporters Club, “bringing the Lewes club into line with other major amateur teams”.
The Supporters Club would have “no power or right to interfere in any way with the workings of the Football Club”, the newspaper reported, before going on to state what the main reasons for its existence were:
- To foster an interest in the football club and further these interests in every possible way
- To arrange supporters’ parties for away matches (in this regard the Lewes Club had been singularly lacking to date!)
- To promote social events to assist club funds
- To assist with ground duties
- To arrange distribution of posters and sales of programmes
At least three of those duties are still very much part of the core mission of the Supporters Club today.
The first Supporters Club committee
The newspaper goes on to list the first ever Supporters Club committee, who were:
Chairman – Mr J Morris
Honorary secretary – Mr T Pollard
Committee members – Messrs R Vise, A Hackett, G Stacey, R Reed, E G Witcher and H Patching
The newspaper reported that election of a treasurer was left until the first committee meeting, when rumour has it a young Alan Sayers offered the services of the abacus he still uses to this day…
Supporters Club: know your place
The launch of the Supporters Club was welcomed in the newspaper’s Sports Notes, written under the pseudonym of The Friar. “They know they can have no say in the running of the parent body,” the columnist stated, putting the early Supporters Club upstarts firmly in their place. “But as was pointed out at the meeting this week, some liaison can be maintained between the secretaries of the two clubs.”
The Friar was also keen for the Supporters Club to do their bit in keeping the 1946 Youth Wing in order. He reported he was “glad to hear some reference made to the encroachment by youngsters at the Dripping Pan during matches”.
“Someone said it was ‘undignified’ and I agree,” The Friar continued. “Perhaps the Supporters Club can keep the lads under control now.”
An early start on Equality FC
And while the modern-day board might like to think they got Equality FC rolling in the 2010s, it seems the Supporters Club was well ahead of them back in 1946.
“Of the more interesting suggestions made the other evening, I was particularly struck by the one for encouraging women members,” the sports columnist reported, although his idea of equality was perhaps a little low wattage by today’s standards.
“The women can indeed do so much, especially on the social side,” he noted. “On the other hand, there is no doubt some men welcome the opportunity to roam off on their own for an afternoon.”
Still, there were apparently two women amongst the 34 members at the inaugural meeting “so it looks as is if the club is committed on the point, for good or evil!” The Friar concluded. Now we know why he wrote under a pseudonym…
By the way, we’re still very keen to welcome all supporters to the Supporters Club. Click the button below to join for free.