There’s a blue plaque on the ‘media shed’ next to the main stand at the Dripping Pan. It commemorates the club’s ‘most successful manager’ – Jaqueline Agnew.

‘Aggers’ as she is affectionately known to friends, colleagues and her beloved former players, was the driving force behind the rise and success of Lewes Ladies/Lewes FC Women.

She managed the women’s team for 12 seasons, taking them from their foundation in 2002, through the lower reaches of the Sussex County leagues to the FA Women’s Premier League and the verge of the FA Women’s Championship, a transition she oversaw as a club director in 2016.

She spoke of how teams underestimated ‘Little Lewes’, called her players ‘warriors’ and loved nothing more than beating her closest rivals, Brighton. 

Agnew commanded – and received – absolute loyalty from her players. In return, she fought ferociously off the pitch to ensure her team, and women’s football in a wider sense, received a fair hearing and reached a wider audience.

Club commentweeter Rookmeister, on hearing that Aggers was stepping down: “Players run through walls for Jacquie Agnew. What she has achieved is remarkable, a true force for good at our football club.”

Goalkeeper Michelle Beazley described Agnew as “the best manager I have had in 23 years of club football.”

You can read more about Jacquie’s legacy on the Sent Her Forward blog.