Lewes will complete the final step in a remarkable rise from obscurity should they clinch promotion from National League division one this season.

It is only six years since Lewes were playing regional league hockey and were considered mere minnows to Sussex rivals East Grinstead.

These days Lewes are the leading team in Sussex, they are currently the 12th top side in the country and the likes of the once-mighty Indian Gymkhana are considered underdogs when they visit the county town of East Sussex.

Manager Peter Boyse believes the club's excellent facilities at the Southdown Club have had a huge impact on the club's meteoric rise, but an excellent clutch of players coming through at the same time has been equally important.

Half the current side are Lewes born and bred, and among them are the highly influential Boyse brothers, Jeremy and Alistair, the manager's sons.

Alistair has one full Great Britain cap, but controversially decided to quit international hockey after playing in the Junior World Cup in 1997.

Elder brother Jeremy, the team captain, is fiery, but a hugely talented and versatile player.

Both have had spells at East Grinstead, but returned to play fundamental roles in the 96-year-old club's rise.

Squeeze

It all began in 1993-94 season when Lewes were promoted to the Southern Premier. In their second season there, they qualified for the National League via the end-of-season play-offs although they relied on goal difference to squeeze through their pool.

In their first season in the National League, Lewes endured a terrible time before Christmas, rooted to the foot of the table, but turned things around in the second half of the campaign to finish 11th.

The next season they finished sixth and last year they came third to earn a place in the restructured division one.

Since then, the glory days have continued. Lewes have lost just two of their opening ten games, have beaten East Grinstead twice along the way and are currently second, with promotion to the premier division in their sights.

Peter Boyse said: "In reality, we could not have imagined we would get to this stage.

"But with the facilities and the players we have attracted because of the facilities, I am not surprised we have got to where we are.

"It has taken six seasons to get where we are now from the Kent and Sussex Regional League and that coincides exactly with the building of our own Astroturf. It left us with a good pitch, with clubhouse facilities to match.

"That gave us the impetus to go on. But also we got together a very good side."

Apart from the Boyse brothers, midfielder Simon Owen played for Wales in this year's European Championships and Ben Hawes has just been called up for the England under-21 squad to go to a training camp in Barcelona in January as part of their preparation for the European Championships.

Others have also played their part, including Sean Rowland, the former Great Britain goalkeeper, who was in the side that got to the play-offs, and also the current coach Paul Degg, who joined the club last season.

Boyse said: "Paul is an extremely good coach, He is the England ladies' under-16s coach and also the Sussex county coach. He has brought a new vision to the club in terms of our abilities.

Policy

"We also have a youth policy and we have junior hockey which starts at a very young age.

"We have a number of youngsters within that youth set-up who I hope will go on to play for the first team."

Boyse is not surprised by the club's success and he is hoping it will continue with promotion to the premier English hockey league.

He said: "I always thought the club had the backing, the potential and the ability to do what it has done.

"I have been surprised by the speed or the rise since 1993, but not really at what we have achieved.

"We would like to have a crack at the premier division now.

"We would like to win our league this year and I don't see why we can't."

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