'Woke' football club beg fans for £120,000 to escape going bust after becoming the only team to pay their women's team the same as their men
The East Sussex side, which has been labelled ' woke ' for providing equal pay for both genders, issued an urgent plea for financial support 'to keep the club running' as they struggle to maintain their ground.
Lewes, described as 'the world's first and only equal football club' are known for being the only side to pay their women the same as the men, having done so since 2017.
In a remarkable appeal, the community owned club admitted they had only 'just' survived last season but need extra cash to maintain their pitch at their stadium The Dripping Ground, pay utility bills develop the club's hospitality.
They revealed that 'cash was tight' and they are dealing with 'financial challenges' after their women's team were relegated from the Women's Championship, the second tier, last year.
They added that despite having a 'better-than-break-even season' last campaign, the next few weeks could be crucial and will 'shape the future' of the club for 'next season and beyond'.
Fans could support them by making becoming an owner, buying a season ticket, sponsoring its teams, or making a donation, the club said.
Lewes announced their equality drive eight years ago and it paid immediate dividends, with the women's side selected for the Women's Championship in the 2018/19 season.
Their 'Equality FC' campaign vowed to 'put an end to the excuses for why such a deep pay disparity has persisted in our sport'.
The women's team will compete in the third tier next season, in the same league as Bournemouth and Watford, while the men feature in the Isthmian Football League's premier division, level seven on the pyramid.
Lewes were handed a £750,000 grant for a new pitch from the Premier League Stadium Fund but the cost of professional women's football has challenged the club.
Financial difficulties largely comes as a result of a reliance of director loans.
Although the women's team have thrived since the equality campaign, it has caused some division at the club
In a blistering resignation letter, former board member Barry Collins wrote: 'I joined a football club and feel like I'm leaving a political party.'
He added: 'The club has become overwhelmed by the single issue of the equality campaign.'
Collins, chair of the their supporters club, told Telegraph Sport he was not 'ideologically opposed to equality' but 'ideologically opposed to spending that much money that the club doesn't have'.
Lewes said their current appeal would be 'the last time we will need to ask for financial support and donations like this' and that they have 'managed to transform our operating budget and our entire management processes.'
They added women's football is in 'severe need of change' due to clubs 'defaulting their league status', while non-league men's football is 'ultra competitive and every penny counts'.
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