A FOOTBALL club which became the first professional or semi-professional club to pay its women’s team the same as its men’s has made two new signings.

In July last year, in an unprecedented move, Lewes FC established a sustainable model of funding to support the women’s and men’s sides on an equal basis.

The club, formed in 1885, is 100 per cent community owned and is a not-for-profit club.

It is led by directors who are elected by its 1,300 owners.

Now the club has made two new signings.

As part of its elevation to the new FA Women’s Championship, the FA allocated grants to enable it to employ a general manager and a marketing manager for the women’s team.

Jack Heaselden is the new general manager and Rosy Matheson is marketing and development manager.

Jack has been a professional football coach for three and a half years and has a wealth of experience in the women’s game.

He said: “I am passionate about the growth of the women’s game and have been involved in football at all levels, from grassroots football development to working with the Women’s Super League and various national teams.”

Rosy worked for the BBC, the Glasgow School of Art and the Women’s Equality Party.

She said: “Lewes FC is truly committed to equality and the women’s team has gone from strength to strength.

“It would be really fantastic if people could show their support for equal pay in football, and other areas, by coming to our Sunday match days and supporting our women’s team and by buying a £30 ownership share.”

Director Charlie Dobres welcomed the two new appointments.

He said: “We are really happy with our new appointments and ready for the new football season.

“Following our recent promotion to the Championship League, we will now be playing the likes of Spurs, Manchester United and lots of clubs affiliated to major league clubs.

“So we really want people in Sussex to get behind us.

“We’ve already come a long way but with solid support from the local community we might be able to get to the top of this league too at some point.”

Lewes FC is one of the only clubs in the UK where both the men’s and women’s teams play at the same home ground, The Dripping Pan, by the railway station.