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]
Managerial history
Name
Nationality
From
To
Ref.
Jacquie Agnew
England
2002
June 2014
[6][7][8]
John Donoghue
England
June 2014
November 2018
[9][10][11]
Fran Alonso
Spain
December 2018
January 2020
[12][13][14]
Simon Parker
England
January 2020
October 2021
[15][16]
Scott Booth
Scotland
May 2022
April 2024
[17]
Natalie Lawrence
England
July 2024
Present
[18]
Current squad
As of 23 August 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^"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.
^"Rooks part company with Simon Parker – Lewes Community Football Club". lewesfc.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^"Scott Booth to depart at end of season – Lewes Community Football Club". lewesfc.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^"Nat Lawrence appointed Women's First Team Manager – Lewes Community Football Club". lewesfc.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^"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.