This weekend both Lavant First and Reserve Teams have home fixutres in a double header vs Newtown Villa (2.00pm KO) and Bracklesham (4.30pm KO) all at Raughmere Park.

The players will also for the first time be able to use the newly decorated home changing rooms, which first team keeper Neil Sanson and his family have kindly given up their free time and work on the room over the summer holidays. It looks Great. Thank you

Lavant First Team and Reserves have both been drawn away fixtures in the Sussex cup competitions.

The First Team are away to Worthing Reserves scheduled on the 12th October, kick- off 1.30pm in the Sussex Intermediate Challange Cup and the Reserves are away to The Vardar VIP on the 2nd November, kick-off 1.30pm in the Sussex Junior Cup.

Unfortunatley there does not seem to be much information regarding the Worthing FC Reserve Team or development squad and searching further on the net it appears the team has folded right at the start of the season.  But there is nothing mention on the Official Website, just the Rebels Rebels – Unofficial Worthing FC Forum.

If this is the case then the First Team could go into the 3rd round to be played at the beginning of November, away against the winners of the game between Eastbourne United Association Reserves vs Ferring First Team.

We will give you an update once we have spoken to the Sussex FA.

The Reserves face The Vardar VIP who are now in Division II South of the West Sussex League and were last season in the same Division as the Reserves.  The Reserves were unfortunately relegated whilst the Vardar were promoted to Division II after winning the league.  They are yet to play this season , but the Reserves played them three times last season, losing away 5-0 and at home 2-5 in the league and in the Division III South cup narrowly losing at home 3-4, so we know a lot about the side and this fixture will be challanging for Spider’s & Mel’s new emerging team.

31st August Saturday’s Results

East Dean 4 Lavant 4 (Friendly)

Match report to follow

Premier League
Cowfold 1 Bosham 3
Faygate 0 Wittering 1
Henfield 3 West Chiltington 1
Lancing 0 Hunston CC 1
Newtown Villa 1 Upper Beeding 1

Division IV South
Coal Exchange 4 Milland 2
The Crown 7 Lavant Reserves 1
Whyke Utd Res 3 Tangmere 2

To kick-start our season, plus to get all the new players who have newly signed on an opportunity to integrate into the club and get to know the rest of the players from both sides, plus to prepare for the forthcoming LFC Social Events and the Lavant All Round Super STAR Competition, we are kicking off this Saturday with a low key pub tour around Chichester.

The plan is to meet at the Bell Isle pub, West Street for 7.00-7.30pm.
The LFC Entertainments Manager will announce the itinerary between the
Belle Isle and for those who make the end of the evening to Thursday’s Night Club.

(Pre-Season Game)

Lavant attack Petworth’s goal early on in the game

In this first game on the preseason, Lavant started well but Petworth managed to get between the homeside’s midfield and back four putting pressure on the lastline of defence. It was inevitable that in the end the visitors would score and so in the 11^th minute Petworth took the lead after their left-winger got clear space behind the back four and his cross was converted.

Lavant had chances to equalise but were thwarted when Petworth’s ‘keeper made a fine save from a thunderous free-kick from Matt Lyttle on 25 minutes and again from Stu Smith in front of goal13 minutes later. However, when Mike Bartley’s effort hit the bar, the ball eventually fell to debut boy, Pete Caveney who equalised 6 mins from the break.

Mike Bartley on the ball

At the restart, Lavant improved with the midfield picking up runners between themselves and their back four, strikers showing for the ball and an improved passing game and ball retention.

Just as they were getting in the driving seat, they conceded a penalty in the 57^thmin which put them behind again.

With the home side failing to remain together as a unit it left Lavant vulnerable to Petworth’s breakaways and counter-attacks. This resulted in the visitors collecting two further goals in the 62 & 66^th minutes. Caveney hit a consolation goal for the homeside, bagging his second in the78th minute.

Nevertheless it was a good work out with many signs of promise. Fitness, staying together as a unit, tracking players, learning to negate counters,and patient passing being the coach’s learning priorities before the season starts.

Lavant and Petworth battle it out in midfield

Lavant: N.Sanson, S.Eastwood, B.Pergavie, J.Wright, M.Lyttle, J.Sandford, T.Parker, M.Stevens, M.Bartley, S.Smith, P.Caveney. Subs: N.Richards, R.Strachan.

Finally the game was noteable for saying “Goodbye” to two great servants of the club Mike Bartley & Nathan Richards.  We all wish them well with their new careers.

So far we have held two good pre-season sessions on the village green as we prepare for the challanges of the forcoming season.

It was great to see many of last seasons players back at the club as well as a number of new faces who are training with Lavant for the first time.

There is now only one more training session remaining in July, before we begin August with a mixture of our pre-season friendlies and training sessions all listed below.

We are also working hard to try and add an extra Reseve friendly to the ones already confirmed. So watch the website for updates.

League Tables

Following the West Sussex League AGM in mid July the new leagues have been confirmed.  The first team are playing in the Premier league and the Reserves are in Division IV South. Respective League make-ups are listed below:

Premier
Bosham
Cowfold
Faygate Utd
Henfield
Holbrook
Hunston Community Club
Lancing Utd
Lavant
Newtown Villa
Upper Beeding
West Chiltington
West Wittering

Division IV South
Amberley
Bosham Reseves
Bracklesham
Coal Exchange
Harting Reserves
Lake Road Rangers
Lavant Reserves
Lodsworth
Milland
Tangmere Reserves
The Crown FC
Whyke Utd Reserves

The First team again are facing a hard and challanging season to further consolidate their position in the Premier league, hopefully pushing to do better than last season’s 6th place finish.

Whilst the Reserves this season have a fresh challange to gain promotion from Division IV South, with the aim of winning that league.

We are therefore still very keen to further strength both sides before we start this seasons league campaign and we are especially interested in attracting quality local players from around the Chichester, Bognor and local surrounding areas, that want to play regular football.

If you are interested then come along and take part in one of the training sessions.

The philosophy adopted at the club is one of welcoming new players and firstly integrating them into the club as a whole and then secondly inviting them to compete with every other player for a place in either squad.

Please Note:

For every training session please bring football boots/trainers, running shoes and plenty of water/fluids.

Training will start promptly on time each week and for anyone late, then individual & team penalties will apply (so we suggest you arrive in plenty of time to have a chat and a kick about prior to starting).

A register will be taken at each session to record attendance for purposes for judging individuals commitment to the training & fitness, plus for the collection of subs (which are £2 per week for training) and for fines.  The £2 helps with costs for training equipment and towards the weekly hire of the all weather pitch from September which is currently £28 per week.

Pre-Season is about you getting fit!  So the challenge is personal, one of improving week on week.

Training is only once a week, so we rely on each person to also train additionally in between sessions.  Both teams play at a good standard of football which requires players to be very fit.

The location of a training session may also vary, so listen out each week and watch the Website.

Our aim for pre-season is to have fun and get fit.  Best of luck.

During the Season:

From September training reverts back to one session a week on Wednesday nights and starting the 11th September, training also transfers to the Arena Sports Centre, Bognor 3G all weather pitch from 7.45pm to 9pm.

We then remain at the Arena until the end of March 14, after which we revert back to Lavant.

We currently run two sides on Saturdays playing up to intermediate level in the local West Sussex League (Premier and Division IV South respectfully) and are very keen to strengthen both sides. 

So if you are interested in playing for the Club then please come along and take part in one of our pre-season sessions. 

If you are unable to attend, but are still interested in joining the club then please contact David Kent on 01243 780178.