Hampton & Richmond Borough

Escape to Victory

Hampton and Richmond 1-2 Lewes (24:04:10)

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Now I know how Liverpool and Fulham felt last week. Talk about an "arduous" journey to Hampton for this, the last game of the regular Conference South season. Cynical Dave, Big Deaks and I had to walk (walk!) to Brighton Station. Board a train to Clapham Junction before changing trains (changing trains!) to get to Hampton. We then had to walk (yet again) to the Beveree, home to Hampton and Richmond Borough FC. I'm exhausted just thinking about it again.

It was 1hr 34minutes that we certainly won't be getting back. If you've ever experienced an equally epic journey to a football match then feel free to chip in on the comments section underneath this article. No pain, no gain though as they say. We simply had to be there for this one. If Lewes were to win this they'd avoid relegation, anything less and we'd have to rely on Worcester not winning against Eastleigh. There were lots of other permutations which I won't bore you with - yet.

For the price of a seat at Stamford Bridge, EFW sponsored the matchball. In return we were granted free entry, beer, food and the chance to hobnob around in the boardroom for the day. Oh, did I mention our friends from Hampton had laid on a beach party for the day? They had. It was hard not to let out a little wee of excitement. This match had everything going for it. What could possibly go wrong?

EFW has a bit of history with Hampton which you can read about HERE and THERE. So we were amongst friends as we pulled up to the ground, following a swift bevington or three in the Worlds End pub down the road. Friends from both teams that is. All season the EFW team has made up the vast majority of the away support but today over 150 travelling Rooks had swooped down on TW12.

I even had my lucky pre-match meal.

A warm welcome to today's match ball sponsors. Oh, it's us.

The teams enter the pitch to an Argentina '78 type ticker tape reception.

Biggest away support for Lewes for two years. The other two and half thousand were at the bar.

Kevin 'James Alexander Gordon' Brook keeps the masses updated with events at St George's Lane.

Not much occurred on the pitch during an understandably cagey first half. Off it fans used various social networking methods to find out how Worcester were getting on. 0-1 to Eastleigh (relax), then 1-1 (tense up again), then 2-1 Worcester (panic).

Cue half time and a chance to relax in the boardroom over a cup of tea served up by Alan Devonshire's wife. Vice President Elwyn Edmunds entertained the troops with a string of gags and swipe at Sir Stanley Matthews - no left foot apparently. News from Worcester meant that as things stood, the Rooks were going down. Time for an emergency custard cream.

I'm not saying my words in the shells of the home board of Directors had anything to do with events on the pitch but before you could say "Dan'll Fix It" Lewes had scored twice within five minutes of the restart. 19 goal Joe Keehan and on loan sensation Rob Gradwell both scored causing pandemonium amongst the visiting support. Lawyers should note I'm joking of course. I had coffee not tea.

Anyone for rugby? Man with bald head (at top of photo) has a quick ciggie before throwing the ball back into the line-out.

Look! I told you, it's him. It's actual Alan Devonshire.

Back of the (patched up) net.

What on earth is that on the pitch?

So 1-2 to Lewes and that is how it finished they pulled one back just play with our nerves one last time*. *Actually, for a full explanation on their goal, have a look at the comments section below. Just as well because Worcester also won (4-1). It was hard to get all misty eyed as fans and players celebrated like it was 1999. The win meant Lewes had gained 13 points from the last six matches. A run that included two away wins having previously not won on the road all chuffing season. It was genuinely a great escape. That will be two great escapes in 2009/10 having survived a winding up order earlier in the campaign. And relax.

Back in the boardroom, living legend Alan Simpson told stories about Brian Clough and Jimmy Greaves over a few glasses of red wine and Big Deaks and Cynical Dave let the match officials have their cake and eat it without giving them an ear bashing for once. Then we joined the masses in the clubhouse for a battleships worth of beer. Mr Fuller got an exclusive chat with his hero Alan Devonshire and all was well with the world.

And so the curtain came down on The Rooks Conference South season. One in which I've brought you reports on the road from *deep breath* Braintree, St Albans, Bromley, Leatherhead, Wealdstone, Weston-Super-Mare, Eastleigh, Maidenhead, Staines, Kidderminster, Weymouth, Basingstoke, Bishop's Stortford and now Hampton and Richmond. I hope that some of the magic of following Lewes has come across, even if you've no interest in the team. Enormous thanks to Big Deaks, Cynical Dave and Stuart Fuller for providing the funnies, everybody we've met on the way and to the LFC management duo of Steve Ibbitson and Jason Hopkinson who deserve the last word for doing it all for free and with a smile. Cheers!

Before we go. Lets do it shall we. Lets relive the moment that Lewes FC defied all the odds and stayed up. Pull up a chair Lewes fans as I take you through it...

Ibbo (bottom right) looks on as Hampton defender Dean Wells makes himself look a silly goose with a woeful backpass. Lewes striker Gradders Graddwell picks the loose ball up, rounds keeper Matt Lovett and....

....pops it into the patched up net to give the Rooks a 2-0 lead. The crowd go mad.....

.....the players have a well deserved cuddle.....

....and we've done it! We are staying up! Good old life!

My hero! Mr Fuller looks on as Danny salutes his hero Ibbo with a pint.

For more photos from the day CLICK ME

The Ball is Round report

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