Following a vote by the players, it was unanimously agreed to play first team football back on the village green once more.

Last season we never got around to marking out the pitch at the start of the season and then in early winter the river Lavant broke it banks, flooding the village green and as a result all home games were played on the top pitch Raughmere Park.

The pitch is now all marked out and really looks in great shape and is ready to go for Lavant first team’s next home game on the 19th October against Lancing.

Dont forget everyone needs to help on match days erecting and dismantling the goals and fitting the hall window protectors.

5th October Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Cowfold 2 Lavant 1
Henfield 1 Newtown Villa 6
Holbrook 0 West Chiltington 3
Hunston 0 Wittering 1

Division IV South
Bosham Reserves 3 Harting Reserves 1
Bracklesham 1 Tangmere 0
Milland 3 Lake Road Rangers 2
Whyke 2 The Crown 9

Centenary Cup
Lancing 4 Southwater 0
Thakeham Village 0 Upper Beeding 10

Vernon Wentworth Cup
Royal Hove 1 Bosham 3 (AET)

Hampshire Junior B Cup
Sherbourne St John 2 Coal Exchange 7

Take One – Tag steps up to bowl. All ten pins in place

Take Two – Another Strike!

Lavant’s first social of the season had a good turnout with 19 people attending the ten pin bowling wearing their ‘best’ bowling shirt.

Despite their being some shocking shirt/t-shirts, I am pleased to say that Mickey Mouse and Matthew Lyttle were a great combination and deserved the best bowling shirt award.

Fortunately, the quality of the bowling was a lot better than the quality of shirts.  Unfortunately for Jon Wright, he was the only player not to make it past the landmark of 100 falling short by a margin of 15.  Therefore, Wrighty has no challengers when competing for the wooden spoon.

Despite the table saying that Mark finished last, he turned up late and didn’t bowl, therefore as he turned up, he gets the next best set of points available.

Tag topped the table with 222 (bandit) including 5 strikes in a row.

Some say . . . he has a tattoo with his best bowling score.  Some say . . . that his new Christmas range of fragrances includes the great smell of Lavant.  Some say . . . that his heart ticks like a watch and that he was turned down for I’m a celebrity because people have heard of him.  All we know is, he is called Gracie.

Gracie was given the “Lavant FC Bowling Champion 2013/14” trophy and then proceeded to show everybody in the slug and lettuce and anybody that was even willing to look at him.

Neil Sanson and Pete Caveney got the same high score but Neil scored more in his other game so takes 3rd place.

A great night had by all!!  Already looking forward to the next social on Saturday 16th November.

Cowfold 2 Lavant 1

Lavant marked Stuart Eastwoods first game in charge with an away day to league champions Cowfold and with last week’s 3-0 win at Alfold under their belt started brightly.

Lavant looked to capitalise on the areas behind the Cowfold wing backs and stretch their back 3, a better ball in the final third may have seen the Lavant attackers test Matt Beck in the Cowfold goal more frequently but remained relatively untested. As the half drew on, Cowfold started to get a foothold in the game, using their width and long angled balls.

It was on the half hour mark when the first real opportunity of game was had with Cowfold breaking through Lavants leggy midfield, resulting in a strike hitting the underside of the bar and the Lavant back line clearing the rebound.

The second half saw the home side start strongly with their early pressure resulting in a corner. A quality delivery from the Cowfold player catching Lavant keeper Neil Sanson under the ball resulting in an easy finish for Greg Brabon at the back post. Lavant continued to battle with Cowfold looking after the ball well.

The Chichester side eventually fashioned an opening that could have seen the game levelled. Stuart Smith was picked out in the left hand channel and broke in to the box forcing a great save from on rushing Beck and James Sandford was unable to create an opening from the rebound.

The game looking like it had run its course and only 5 minutes remaining Lavant were dealt a cruel blow with the referee awarding a penalty to Cowfold after a fantastic block tackle from Jon Wright, which James Wrigley confidently dispatched. Game over?

Not yet…. Lavant outraged by the decision continued to press and minutes later resulted in a fine strike from Captain James Sandford flying into the top right corner. Lavant were left feeling what could have been but can take heart from their performance.

Lavant: N. Sanson, N.Latham, B.Purgavie, J.Wright, M.Lyttle, C.Spann, M.Richardson, D.Maclean, D.Knight, S.Smith, J.Sandford (Capt), Subs: J.Lillywhite, P.Caveney, W.Cizisyhsk

5th October Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Cowfold 2 Lavant 1
Henfield 1 Newtown Villa 6
Holbrook 0 West Chiltington 3
Hunston 0 Wittering 1

Division IV South
Bosham Reserves 3 Harting Reserves 1
Bracklesham 1 Tangmere 0
Milland 3 Lake Road Rangers 2
Whyke 2 The Crown 9

Centenary Cup
Lancing 4 Southwater 0
Thakeham Village 0 Upper Beeding 10

Vernon Wentworth Cup
Royal Hove 1 Bosham 3 (AET)

Hampshire Junior B Cup
Sherbourne St John 2 Coal Exchange 7

Alfold 0 Lavant 3

Malcolm Simmonds Cup

After conceding 18 goals in 3 games, it came as a welcomed relief to Lavant to keep a clean sheet and progress to the second round of the cup.

With a new formation, inspired by assistant manager Stuart Eastwood, the visitors seemed stronger in defence and a much greater threat in attack.

Alfold played very attractive football and can consider themselves hard done by when denied a penalty as Matt Lyttle seemed blatantly to handle the ball in the penalty area. Especially when Lavant took the lead in their next attack after this incident; Richard Gabb finally hitting the net on 21 minutes after a goalmouth scramble. Alex Holmes hit the Alfold crossbar and Will Cieszynski’s shot from the rebound was blocked.

Apart from a 10 minutes spell when the homeside pressurised Lavant after the restart including Alfold missing a penalty, the visitors deserved their lead which was increased when striker James Sandford fought off two challengers to unleash a 25yd wonder goal in the 83minutes.

By now the visitors were playing with ten men after midfielder James Brooks limped off injured. But fellow midfielder David Knight sealed the tie with his 96^thminute goal.

The game was also the last match with David Parker as manager. He leaves after 13 yrs at the helm, seeing the team move from a 10 man Reserve Team in Div 5 to the Premier Division. Assistant Stuart Eastwood takes his place.

Lavant: N. Sanson, R.Gabb, M.Richardson, T.Parker, M.Lyttle, W.Ciziszyhsk, J.Brooks, D.Knight, A.Holmes, D.Maclean, J.Sandford (Capt). Subs: R.Strachan

28th September Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Henfield 2 Faygate 0
West Chiltington 2 Newtown Villa 0
Wittering 1 Cowfold 0

Division IV South
Lavant Reserves 3 Bosham Reserves 4
Coal Exchange 3 Tangmere 1
Milland 4 Whyke 2
The Crown 2 Bracklesham 2

Malcomn Simmonds Cup
Alfold 0 Lavant 3
East Dean 1 Bosham 6
Holbrook 0 Upper Beeding 3
Husnton CC 4 Rudwick 1
Lancing 4 Barns Green 0

David Parker steps down as first team manager

It is with GREAT regret that we have to inform you that the football club has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Dave Parker as the first team manager, after being in post for the past thirteen eventful seasons.

As many of you will all be aware Dave retired from his day job as Rector of Lavant in September 2012, but thankfully decided at the time to carry on as our first team manager. However over the past twelve months as he has settled into retirement and following a move to Southsea in Portsmouth, Dave now feels the time is right to hand-over the first team mangers duties to someone new, allowing him to spend more quality retirement time with his lovely wife Edwina, family and friends.

The past thirteen seasons have been truly eventful, with Dave’s, drive, commitment and passion for football and Lavant, propelling the club from obscurity in Division 5 of the West Sussex League to the Premiership, where we are currently today.

Especially memorable to many current and past players of the club will be Dave’s interesting team talks he gave before, during and after each match involving many props and one that comes to mind is a talk involving with a large beef-tomato and a hammer. These will be truly missed.

Another famous characteristic of Dave is that no matter what the score or the teams perforance, he always focused on the positives.

Looking back, when Dave first took charge of the club we were struggling to field a side in the lower Divisions of the West Sussex League, in debt and not even playing our home fixtures within the village, but actually three miles down the road in Chichester. Lavant Football Club was on their last legs and close to folding.

Using the resources available Dave set about stabilizing the club, introducing regular training sessions and using his experience and knowledge as a fully qualified football coach he started to transform the fortunes of the village football club.

Dave then enlisted the help from organisations and people within the village to support the football team returning to play home fixtures within the village.

With Lavant once more playing football on the village green, support and interest for the club went from strength to strength.

Next a Reserve team was formed and the Sunday team also returned to play at Lavant.

As the number of teams increased more support for better facilities and equipment were required and Dave once again worked hard on and off the pitch to ensure the resurgence of the village football club continued.

During the Centenary Season in 2010, Lavant Football Club fielded four teams.  Two were now playing in the upper Divisions of the West Sussex League. A Sunday team playing in the top Division of the local Chichester & District Sunday League and an Under 18 youth side.

Today we have two senior teams playing in the West Sussex league.

The club is indebted to him for his continued commitment and drive over the years and he goes down a true managerial legend within the club.

Although Dave is stepping down as first team manager, he has agreed to stay on as the club’s Chairman and will still help out behind the scenes to ensure Lavant FC go from strength to strength in the future, as well as attending the odd home game.

With immediate effect assistant manager Stuart Eastwood has agreed to manage the first team with support from Dave over the next few weeks, whilst Stuart has time to put a new management team in place. The Reserve Management team of Martin Pullen and Mel Millburn remains unchanged.

Over the next few weeks we will keep you informed of any announcements as they happen.

All that now remains is to once more thank Dave for being our manager over the past thirteen seasons and to offer Stuart our support going forward and wish him the best of luck as he steps up to manage the first team going forward.

Nyetimber Pirates 4 Lavant 1

Cententary Cup

In this Cup Tie, Lavant returned to the state they were in two weeks ago. A lack of desire and purpose didn’t help their cause and a hungrier homeside with neat interpassing deserved their passage to round 2.

Poor marking at corner kicks led to Nyetimber’s first goal as unmarked Andy Cox turned the ball back to Sean Williamson who sweetly hit the net with the outside of his foot in the 16^th minutes.

The visitors produced their best move half way through the half but Peter Caveney’s fine finish hit the post. But Nyetimber on the counter then went further ahead when Michael Frangou beat the Lavant defence on 37minutes.

Despite a short lived revival from the visitors at the start of the second half this soon evaporated and Frangou (67minutes) and Williamson again (71minutes) put the game beyond dispute.

Dave Knight forced a fine save from the Pirates Warren Pye and James Sandford pulled back a neatly taken consolation goal just before the final whistle. But Nyetimber can be proud of their Cup upset.

Lavant have a lot to do this season on this showing.

Lavant: N. Sanson, H.Polack, M.Richardson, J.Wright, M.Lyttle(Capt), J.Sandford, J.Brooks, D.Knight, A.Holmes, P.Caveney, S. Smith. Subs: W.Ciziszyhsk, R.Gabb

Nyetimber: Pye;Williamson,Lester,Towers,Frangou Paul;Bann,Cox,Pasterfield,Campbell;Frangou Michael,Wyatt.Subs: Dante,Peach,Dobbs,Walter,Gill.

21st September Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Hunston 2 Holbrook 2
West Chiltington 0 Cowfold 0
Wittering 3 Henfield 0

Division IV South
Tangmere 3 Lavant Reserves 4
Whyke 3 Harting Reserves 2
Lake Side Rangers 3 Bosham Reserves 3

Sussex Intermediate Cup
Lancing 3 goring CC 4
Sompting 4 Upper Beeding 1

Centenary Cup
Nyetimber Pirates 4 Lavant 1
Bosham vs The Sportsman – Home Win
Faygate 3 The Crown FC 2
Coal Exchange 3 Partridge Green 1
Milland 2 Lodsworth 3
Slindfold vs Bracklesham – Home Win

Lads,

Our next social is going to be on Saturday 5th October, meeting at 19:30 at Chi Gate for ten pin bowling.

Few things:
· £1 fine for everybody that turns up after 19:30 (Tag’s watch is final – no arguments!!)
· Dress code: Your best bowling shirt – it must be a shirt with some form or collar
· You need to either text or email me your interest so I can book the relevant amount of lanes by Sunday 15th September.
· We will be having 2 games and it will cost around £10 each (you pay on the night to the bowling lanes)
· This will be the first points going towards the “Lavant All Round SuperSTAR” award
· Your best score over the 2 games will be taken
· After bowling, I’m sure many of us will be going out on the town so you are more than welcome to join us

We normally get at least 20 of us out for this night and it would be great to beat that number and carry on the banter.  Unless you have a VERY good reason (and I don’t mean you are going to your nan’s birthday), you are expected to be there.

Best of luck at the weekend for those of you that are playing and I will see you all at The Arena at 19:30 on Wednesday for our next training session.  Do not go to Lavant as you will be a loner doing training by yourself!!!

Alex Holmes battling to win the ball
Photo provided by The Chichester Observer 

Lavant 2 Bosham 2

Lavant bounced back from last week’s heartless 8-1 defeat with a performance that no one could criticise on the grounds of lack of effort.

Bosham played the better polished football but Lavant’s tactical response was spot on, even though the visitors  went ahead from their first corner with Lavant defender Jon Wright unluckily heading into his own goal on 5 minutes.

The homeside maintained their shape and confidence and deserved their equaliser when Alex Holmes shot went in off the bar on 14 minutes after just earlier Pete Caveney had forced a great stop from Stephen Meakrall in the Bosham goal.

Peter Caveney holding off the Bosham defender
Photo provided by The Chichester Observer

To manager David Parker’s exasperation, Lavant lost their tactical shape for a 10 minute period during which predictably Joe Hancock superbly turned home Graeme Dowden’s left wing cross in the 25^th minutes.

The homeside regathered their shape and Meakrall again saved from striker Stuart Smith’s 34^th minute effort. Then right on half time Lavant were denied a stone wall penalty, as Bosham instantly counterattacked earning a themselves a penatly in the confusion.  Thankfully a great save by Lavant keeper Neil Sanson form Hancock’s spot kick, kept the homeside in the game going into half time.

In the second half, Lavant had no lapses in formation and the game evolved into Bosham moving the ball round well and having the most possession while the Homeside defended resolutely and struck on the breaks. From one such break, James Sandford put Lavant level on 64 minutes.

Manager Parker said ” After last week’s performance I was pleased with the mental approach of the team shown by twice coming back from behind and sticking to the plan”.

Lavant: N. Sanson, H.Polack, B.Purgavie, J.Wright, M.Lyttle(Capt), J.Sandford, T.Parker, D.Knight, A.Holmes, P.Caveney, S. Smith. Subs: M.Richardson, W.Ciziszyhsk.

Bosham: Meakrall, Probee, Dowden, Mullen, Hancock Jack, Docherty, Davies, Wilson, Huntley, Hancock Joe (Capt), Hartley. Sub: B.Evans

14th September Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Lavant 2 Bosham 2
Cowfold 3 Lancing 1
Upper Beeding 0 Henfield 2

Sussex Intermediate Cup
Roffey 8 Faygate 0
West Chiltington 1 Newtown Villa 4

Centenary Cup
Alfold 1 Hunston 5

Division IV South
Whyke 2 Lavant Reserves 3
Coal Exchange 3 The Crown 1

Lavant 1 Newtown Villa 8

Newtown richly deserved their win in Lavant’s first league game of the season.The homeside started well until their opponents scored what was a fortunate goal when Gary Clarke finished an Andy Dean cross from a breakaway after 8 minutes.

At this the homeside gave up the ghost. Newtown wanted the win more. Energetic runs off the ball, first to the ball, Villa were everything Lavant were not.The homeside had no heart and were punished for it with goals from Clarke again on 23 mins, Matty Russell converting a free-kick on 34 minutes and playmaker Luke Allen 41 minutes.

The second half carried on in the same vein with goals from Russell’s 49 min spot-kick and another finish 8 minutes later, and Clarke completing his hat-trick on 70 minutes.

James Brook’s pulled one back from the penalty spot on 82minutes but Tom Ide finished the rout just before the final whistle.

It was Lavant’s worst defeat in 12 years of David Parker’s managership. Lavant face Bosham next Saturday and without improvement in attitude will be in for another roasting.

Lavant: N.Sanson, H.Polack, T.Parker, J.Wright, M.Lyttle, M.Neville, |D.Knight, J.Brooks (capt), D.Meadway, P.Caveney, J.Sandford. Subs: S.Smith, M.Price, A.Holmes.

7th September Saturday’s Results

Premier League
Lavant 1 Newtown Villa 8
Faygate 1 West Chiltington 5
Wittering 1 Holbrook 2
Henfield 5 Hunston CC 3

Sussex Intermediate Cup
Hair Razors 2 Bosham 0

Division IV South
Lavant Reserves 6 Bracklesham 2
Coal Exchange 3 The Crown 1

Div IV Cup
Whyke Utd Res 4 Milland 5 AET