Lewes FC Women Celebrate Sussex Challenge Cup Victory
Frederik Hvillum
Lewes FC Women secured the Sussex Challenge Cup this week after a tense penalty shootout win against Brighton Academy, crowning a season of rebuilding with silverware. The victory marks a significant achievement for a team that faced relegation from the Championship last season.
"The celebrations were wild," said Lewes FC Director Joe Short. "Remember, Lewes FC Women were relegated from the Championship last season, meaning Nat Lawrence and her coaching staff had to recruit an entire new team. To finish it off with a 7-0 win in the last league game on Sunday, and then a cup victory two days later, is really special."
The final's penalty shootout provided a dramatic conclusion to the cup run, with Short describing the atmosphere: "I was behind the goal with what must have been 150 Lewes FC fans all cheering on the players. It was a nervy shootout, but Emily Moore is a great goalkeeper and tough to beat."
Confidence at the spot was key to Lewes' triumph. "We already won a shootout earlier in the season in the FA Cup and have very confident penalty takers in Paula Howells and Olivia Carpenter, who put us on the path to victory," Short explained.
The cup journey saw consistent progress throughout. "We've grown into the Sussex Challenge Cup this season. We beat Bognor Regis 2-0 in the quarter-finals and then edged Saltdean 2-0 in the semi-finals," said Short. The semi-final victory featured late goals from Kayla Ginger and Maddie Brant in the 89th and 90th minutes.
Behind the scenes, technology has played a crucial role in the team's development. "Veo have been great this season. The technology has helped our women's team develop as a unit and as individuals over the course of the season," Short noted. "Having a professional level of analytics means the players and coaches can develop, which gives our fans and owners better matchday experiences."
For Lewes FC, the cup victory represents more than just silverware. "It's a great step for the players and coaching staff after a long season that started from scratch in the summer. It shows we're moving in the right direction and have created a platform for growth," Short emphasized.
The club's community-oriented approach has strengthened throughout the season. "As the season has progressed the players have become more involved in our community, too, and contributed to coaching the juniors teams, and raising awareness for causes like our Equal FA Cup campaign and endometriosis awareness," added Short.
Looking ahead, the club sees this success as a foundation for future achievements. "The cup win and the fact we held firm in the FA Women's National League South means we have a springboard to push forward next season. If we can improve our club governance and unlock our potential then there's no limit to how far Lewes FC Women and our exciting junior teams can go."
