July 2017

[Sweder]

Wow, great to see responses from the likes of Barca women.

I also think the tweet "Why women's football is the brilliant blank canvas all brands crave" speaks volumes.

Has there been a sudden surge in share applications, from non-locals? Being a Lewes FC owner could now be an international political statement.

Well spotted, Dan. There is (and always was) a sound economic argument to be made for championing equality. 
Yes, there has been a surge in interest and yes, the club will look to promote ownership - a paltry £30 per year; we're not exactly ordering the Helipad just yet. This was hoped for in the planning stages; the club is a not-for-profit Community-owned entity. Parity has to be paid for, and as has been clearly stated by the BoD, will not be funded by cuts to the men's playing budget. So we do need added income. Sponsors and individuals have already waded in to underwrite the first three seasons.

Another biproduct of the announcement is that women want to play for Lewes. A number of talented players have been in touch. To the manager's credit, he's not about to chuck out the very players who's brave performances and dedication have put the Women on the football map. As the team looks to win promotion to the WSL he will need to strengthen the squad. It looks like we'll take in five new players this term, all with decent playing pedigree and experience, all of whom suit the Lewes Way. 

That said, all the other teams in the FA WPL have strengthened over the summer. As ever in sport, we're running to stand still. The pressure is on the manager and his players to improve on last season, quite tough when you consider the team won a National trophy, an afternoon I'll never forget, even if I do make 89 or beyond. The heat is on.

A rather lovely thing occurred last week. Regency Coaches, operators of Brighton and Hove Buses, got in touch. They love Equality FC - it fits their inclusive ethos and they want to be seen to be a part of it. They've taken back-of-shirt sponsorship (front of shirt is Equality FC) for a tidy if undisclosed sum. They also want to wrap one of their buses (on the Brighton to Lewes route) with Equality FC branding. They do this routinely for other ventures they like the look of, naming each bus after a famous son or daughter of the city. 'Ours' will most likely be called the Jacquie Agnew, after the woman who took the club's women's team from obscurity to the Premier League.

Others are in the pipeline, keen to back this positive and rather timely move. The right thing to do and makes sound economic sense? 
Sounds like a 'win-win' to me.