The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fourth Round Qualifying
Saturday 28 October 2006
Player of the Round

Lewes marksman Paul Booth has taken the fans vote for the Player of the Round award in the Fourth Round Qualifying and will be at The FA Cup Final next May along with the other eleven winners who will form our 'Team of The FA Cup'.

Booth polled more than 55% of the votes with over 50,000 people logging on to TheFA.com to make their choice. Booth's closest rival was Billy Turley of Oxford United who took in 38% of the vote.

Lewes made everyone sit up and notice after the mid-table Conference South side upset their higher ranked Sussex neighbours Crawley Town 3-2 away.

Booth scored twice, forced Crawley skipper Ben Judge into conceding an own goal and also had a goal disallowed in an all-action display that earned his side a home First Round tie against League Two side Darlington.

Steve King, the Lewes Manager told TheFA.com he believes his side have enough in their armoury to challenge the North-East side.

"It's fantastic to be at this stage of the competition as once again the town is buzzing, and it's only The FA Cup that has that impact.

"A good cup run can literally secure the future of a club like ours for many two or three years, and we'll be giving it everything we've got against Darlington.

"Paul has scored goals wherever he's been and after taking a while to settle here, he's on fire and we'll be looking to him and the likes of Jean-Michel Sigere and Jamie Cade to provide the firepower for another shock result."

Lewes Football Club was formed in 1885 following a meeting at The Royal Oak Pub, with their Dripping Pan home having played host to football games for as far back as records exist.

Since King toom over as manager in 2003-4, the team won both the Isthmian League Division 1 South and then a series of three play-off matches within a week to gain promotion to the newly formed Nationwide Conference South, thus continuing to build on the dramatic progress seen at the club since 2000, when the team finished a lowly 7th in the Isthmian 3rd Division.

"Darlington have started picking up results again since they appointed Dave Penney" added Steve "and their players will currently be playing for their futures. His record with Doncaster Rovers in the cups was outstanding but we have some players who have been around the block, and others that could easily be playing at a higher level.

"Gary Holloway could have joined a League Two side but didn't want to go full-time this summer, whilst Andy Drury, our right winger should easily be playing at a higher level. Our boys have nothing to lose."

The FA Cup Player of the Round Award, in partnership with E.ON, will see 11 players over the duration of the competition receive £500 of football equipment to donate to a local school of their choice and, crucially, earn a VIP place for themselves and a guest at the 2007 FA Cup Final.

Stay logged on to TheFA.com for all the reaction to the news