Not every football club sets out to change the game, but Lewes FC did just that—by making history as the first and only team in the world to pay their male and female players equally.
It was a bold move that earned them global praise. Now, though, that same trailblazing club is in real trouble and is turning to its fans for help in what could be a last-ditch effort to survive.
Lewes FC Appeals for Urgent Support from Fans
Lewes FC, based in East Sussex, has sent out an emotional SOS to their community.
They’re trying to raise £120,000 to stay afloat and keep day-to-day operations going.
The club, run by its supporters, says without an injection of funds soon, it may not be able to maintain its stadium—The Dripping Pan—cover basic bills, or sustain its hospitality services.
In their words, they barely made it through last season, and despite having a slightly positive financial year, they admit the coming weeks could determine the fate of the club.
The Price of Equality
Since 2017, Lewes has been celebrated as a beacon for equality in football.
Their “Equality FC” campaign led them to introduce equal pay across both men’s and women’s teams—an unprecedented move in professional football.
It was a powerful statement against gender pay gaps in sport, and it earned their women’s team a spot in the Women’s Championship for the 2018/19 season.
But equality hasn’t come cheap.
Despite the boost in reputation and visibility, the financial burden has grown, especially as the women’s team now prepares to compete in the third tier after being relegated last season.
Meanwhile, the men continue in the seventh-tier Isthmian League.
Funding Troubles and Deep Divisions
The club recently secured a £750,000 grant from the Premier League Stadium Fund to build a new pitch.
Yet that money can’t be used for ongoing operational costs.
The reality is, Lewes FC is heavily dependent on director loans, and the model is proving to be unsustainable.
Behind the scenes, not everyone agrees on the club’s direction.
Former board member Barry Collins resigned with a scathing letter, claiming Lewes had become more of a political cause than a football club.
While he emphasized he wasn’t against equality itself, he was strongly opposed to pouring money into projects the club couldn’t financially sustain.
A Call to Action for the Football Community
Despite the internal rifts, the club insists this latest crowdfunding appeal will be the last of its kind.
Management claims to have restructured finances and operations and says they’re working toward a more sustainable future.
They’re urging fans to step up—either by becoming an owner, buying season tickets, sponsoring a team, or making donations.
Lewes also highlighted a broader issue: the financial instability plaguing women’s football.
They noted how common it has become for clubs to drop out of leagues due to funding problems.
At the same time, non-league men’s football is so fiercely competitive that even the smallest budget shortfall can be devastating.
So, What’s Next for Lewes FC?
Right now, the club’s future hangs in the balance.
If they can rally enough support and secure the £120,000 they need, they might just make it through the storm.
But if help doesn’t arrive quickly, Lewes FC’s ambitious journey toward equality in football could be cut short.
As the club puts it, the next few weeks will shape not only the upcoming season—but the long-term future of one of football’s most unique and visionary institutions.