Lewes Football Club

What Lewes Football Club does

Lewes Football Club (Lewes Community Football Club Ltd) is a community-owned football club founded in 1885 and based at The Dripping Pan in Lewes, East Sussex, England. The club fields both a men's first team (Isthmian Premier League) and a women's first team, and in 2017 became the first professional or semi-professional club in the world to allocate equal playing budgets, training facilities, and resources across both squads via its #EqualityFC initiative. Since July 2010 it has operated as a Community Benefit Society, with approximately 2,500 owners across 40 countries holding one-member-one-vote shares and electing one-third of the board each year; the entity wholly owns Lewes (2000) FC Ltd, which in turn holds the football operations, and in 2024 it spun out the Lewes Football Foundation to unify grassroots community football.

Revenue is generated through a diversified portfolio of streams: annual and lifetime fan ownership subscriptions (£50-£1,000), match tickets and season tickets (Super, Men's, Women's tiers), tiered sponsorship packages ranging from £200 matchball sponsorships to £10,000 beach hut hospitality, merchandise via the Kitlocker e-commerce store, facility hire of the FIFA-approved 3G pitch (The Rookery) and Rook Inn bar, and donations such as the 12th Player Fund. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across TicketTailor (ticketing/streaming), Kitlocker (retail), PayPal (donations), and direct local sales for sponsorship. The club's technology footprint is modest — a WordPress website with live match streaming, a digital scoreboard sponsored by Xero, solar panels on the South Stand generating 36,000 kWh/year, and a hybrid grass pitch funded by a £750,000 Premier League grant in 2022 — and it integrates with commodity third-party SaaS rather than proprietary infrastructure.

The club's customer base spans football fans and local supporters, 300+ youth footballers in Lewes Juniors, 26+ SisterShips women's organisations, and local Sussex SMB sponsors; key strategic partners include Harveys (main sponsor and brewery), Hope+Glory (kit supplier), Xero, CAGA (anti-gambling), and a network of equality-focused charities (Fawcett Society, Women In Sport, CALM, Football For Future). Ownership is capped at £1 nominal share liability per member, eliminating takeover risk and aligning all surplus reinvestment with the club's stated social purpose.

Name

Lewes Football Club

Legal name

Lewes Community Football Club Ltd

Website

https://lewesfc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lewes Football Club is a community-owned, fan-governed football club founded in 1885 in Lewes, England, operating men's and women's first teams under the pioneering #EqualityFC gender-equal budget model. It serves 2,500+ owners across 40 countries, local Sussex fans, youth footballers, and SMB sponsors via ownership shares, tickets, sponsorship, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Football Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Event Promotion & Ticketing (MPAGAMAH), Sports Hospitality & Premium Experiences (VIP, Suites, Fan Zones) (MPAGAMAJ)

Keywords

• Community football club
• Fan ownership shares
• Matchday ticketing
• Football sponsorship packages
• Women's football

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewes

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership/Ownership subscriptions: Annual and lifetime ownership packages ranging from £50-£1,000 providing voting rights, match streaming, discounts, and merchandise benefits
2. Matchday revenue: Ticket sales, food and beverage at The Dripping Pan, beach hut hospitality, and merchandise during home matches
3. Sponsorship packages: Multiple sponsorship tiers from matchball (£200) to beach hut (£10,000), pitchboards, scoreboard advertising, and player sponsorships
4. Merchandise sales: Online store and physical shop selling clothing, accessories, and memorabilia
5. Facilities hire: Hiring of 3G pitch, The Dripping Pan pitch, Rook Inn bar space, and meeting/event venues
6. Donations and fundraising: 12th Player Funds for squad strengthening, Dual Careers Programme, and general club donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lewes FC operates semi-professional men's and women's football teams and sells the associated matchday experience: match tickets, season tickets, beach hut hospitality, sponsorship packages, club merchandise, and fan ownership subscriptions. The club also hires its 3G pitch, stadium, and Rook Inn bar to community and commercial users via the Lewes Football Foundation.

Product overview

Lewes Community Football Club operates a diversified portfolio of products and services centred around its community football operations at The Dripping Pan stadium. The club's core offerings include match tickets and season tickets (Men's, Women's, and Super packages) for fixtures at its venue. Sponsorship packages range from individual matchball sponsorship (£200) to comprehensive beach hut hospitality (£10,000) and pitchboard advertising. The club also offers fan ownership membership tiers (Owner, OwnerPlus, Lifetime, Junior), facility rentals for the 3G pitch and main stadium, and merchandise through its Kitlocker partnership. The club's EqualityFC initiative and #SeeUsAsWeAre campaign represent social impact products promoting gender equality in football.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Match Tickets Individual matchday tickets for men's and women's first team fixtures at The Dripping Pan, purchased through the TicketTailor platform.
• Season Tickets Season ticket packages including Super (men's and women's), Men's First Team, and Women's First Team, covering league games plus special events with early bird pricing.
• Fan Ownership Shares Community ownership shares in Lewes Community Football Club with options including Owner (£50/year digital), OwnerPlus (£100/year with gift box), Lifetime (£1,000 one-time), and Junior Ownership for under-16s. Benefits include live streaming, voting rights, discounts, and town hall access.
• Sponsorship Packages Tiered sponsorship packages including matchball (£200), match sponsorship (£300), pitchboard advertising (£1,500-£3,000), scoreboard advertising (£100-£250), player sponsorship (£300), beach hut sponsorship (£10,000), travel partner, main stand, impact plinth, and training shirt/shorts opportunities.
• Beach Hut Hospitality Four themed beach huts in the north-west corner of The Dripping Pan, each accommodating up to 6 adults with access to Philcox Bar and Fries Hut, bookable per match through TicketTailor.
• Club Merchandise Club merchandise including water bottles, reusable cups, caps, t-shirts, scarves, beanies, shirts, baby gifts, and specialty items such as English Soap Company soap. Available online through Kitlocker and at the club shop.
• 3G Pitch Hire (The Rookery) FIFA-approved floodlit full-size 3G all-weather pitch hire managed by Lewes Football Foundation, available for whole pitch or hourly bookings for community teams and commercial use.
• The Dripping Pan Stadium Hire Main stadium hire at the end of each season including changing rooms and Rook Inn bar access, available for small-sided tournaments or full 11-a-side games under the lights.
• Rook Inn Bar Hire Venue hire for meetings, parties, workshops, exhibitions, and celebrations, with options for space-only hire or full bar hire with event support.
• Junior Football Program (Lewes Football Foundation) Community football teams including Lewes Juniors boys and girls (21 teams, over 300 players aged U7-U17), walking football, football therapy, Saturday Rooks drop-in sessions, and Lewes Vets teams, managed through Lewes Football Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% of fans deeply engaged with football's societal impact due to Lewes FC influence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HarveyscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain sponsor of the club. Local Lewes brewery providing changing selection of craft beers at the ground. Aligns with club's commitment to local suppliers.
• Hope+GlorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKit supplier providing club's playing kits and merchandise. Regular supplier mentioned alongside main sponsor.
• XerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing digital scoreboard. Accountancy software company partnering on business improvement initiatives.
• Playing Field AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting the club's marketing and communications efforts.
• CAGAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnti-gambling campaign organization. Partner in the club's anti-gamblification of football campaign.
• WASH Foundation / Who Gives A CrapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to raise awareness for clean water and sanitation access, supporting women's dignity and equality globally.
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health charity partnership supporting player and fan wellbeing initiatives.
• Football For FutureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability organization supporting the club's green initiatives and carbon footprint review.
• Co-WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSussex women in business network. Supporting equality mission and promoting women's networking opportunities.
• Brighton Women's CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's empowerment organization sharing mission to reduce gender inequality. Active SisterShip partner.
• The Girls NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity connecting teenage girls with positive female role models. Partner in inspiring young women through football.
• Women In SportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity ensuring all women and girls have opportunity to take part in sport. Mutual campaign for change.
• Sussex PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice force supporting gender equality campaign and promoting careers for women in policing.
• The Fawcett SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's leading gender equality charity. Supporting club's work on gender equality in sport (research shows only 19% of sport CEOs are women).
• Charlotte ColbertminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSussex-based artist created #SeeUsAsWeAre special edition kit and campaign featuring her iconic eye artwork.
• Lewes Football FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit company managing community football (Lewes Juniors, walking football, Vets teams) and The Rookery 3G pitch bookings. Launched 2024.
• East Sussex CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution using the 3G pitch for student sports programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wrexham AFC: Welsh club with celebrity-investor backing (Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds) that has rapidly commercialised at lower-league level. Useful comparator for sponsorship scale and brand-led growth at a similar on-pitch tier, though its ownership model differs.

Direct peers

• FC United of Manchester: Fan-owned community football club founded in 2005 by disaffected Manchester United supporters, structured as a community benefit society with one-member-one-vote. Directly comparable governance model and lower-league commercial profile to Lewes FC.
• Exeter City FC: One of the UK's largest fan-owned football clubs, majority owned by the Exeter City Supporters' Trust. Comparable lower-league men's operation and fan-ownership ethos to Lewes FC.
• Chester FC: Community-owned phoenix club formed after Chester City was expelled from the league. Operates at non-league level with a supporter-led ownership structure analogous to Lewes FC.
• AFC Wimbledon: Famous fan-owned English football club formed in 2002 by supporters to re-establish Wimbledon FC. The closest analogue to Lewes FC in combining community ownership with semi-professional men's and women's teams playing at lower-league levels.
• Forest Green Rovers: Lower-league English club widely recognised as the world's greenest football club, with solar-powered stadium and vegan catering. Closest peer on the sustainability / purpose-driven differentiation axis that Lewes FC also emphasises.
• Ebbsfleet United: Fan-owned non-league club that pioneered the MyFootballClub mass-ownership model. Direct comparator on the democratic, multi-country ownership GTM that Lewes FC also employs.

Regional players

• Brighton & Hove Albion Women: Women's team attached to a Premier League club operating in the same Sussex/South East catchment as Lewes FC. Comparable women's football product and overlapping fanbase in the region, though commercially backed by a top-flight men's club.
• Dartford FC: Kent-based club competing in the Isthmian Premier League, the same division as Lewes FC's men's team. Direct on-pitch comparator and shared regional catchment in the South East of England.

Others

• Supporters Direct: UK organisation promoting fan and community ownership of football clubs. Relevant ecosystem peer given Lewes FC's community benefit society structure and the broader cooperative-ownership movement it sits within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lewesfcmen
• Xx.com/LewesFCMen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lewes Football Club