Old Quality League

Above: Bad Habits, winners of the Golden Owl, celebrating with Owlsbury United following victory in the Only with Love Masters 9s Competition.

We Build Friendship Here

Sunday afternoon

Down at the 3G

Playing Football Together

We Build Friendship Here

We face one another

As our bodies decay

The spectre of sickness and death is upon us

We Build Friendship Here

Can we get fitter?

Maybe, maybe not….

Can we run faster?

Maybe, maybe not…

We Build Friendship Here

Can we learn to pass?

To talk kindly?

To listen?

To read each other and the game?

We Build Friendship Here

Scoring matters, yes, it is good

But the score is not the win

The victory is us, still playing each time

Together

That’s how We Build Friendship Here

Old Quality League – Season 2024-25

League Structure

This season, Lewes FC Vets will run both an Over-35s and an Over-45s League on Sundays between 4:00–6:00 pm, from September to May.

The season will likely conclude with one or two tournaments—in previous years, one has been held at The Dripping Pan.

A Different Kind of Veterans’ Football

The Old Quality League offers high-quality football for veteran players while upholding the Lewes FC Vets values of compassion, fairness, and inclusivity.

  • We strive for the most enjoyable and well-organised football experience for older players.

  • Each category will feature 4–6 teams.

Conduct – The Old Quality Spirit

All players are expected to adhere to the club-player contract—by playing in an OQL game, players automatically agree to this contract.

At the heart of the Old Quality Spirit is:
✅ No slide tackles ("Stay on Your Feet!")
✅ Respecting our poem – We Build Friendship Here

Our Philosophy: “Don’t Be a D**k.”

Players must avoid:
❌ Shithousery
❌ Verbal altercations
❌ Unnecessary physical aggression

We all have responsibilities beyond football—physical or psychological assaults have no place in our game.

Unlike FA-registered leagues, we don’t have formal disciplinary back-up—we only have each other, so kindness matters more than any individual decision on the pitch.

🚨 Players who don’t follow this philosophy will not be allowed to play in the Old Quality League.

📌 Referees are encouraged to use sin bins and cards liberally to help players who struggle with this approach.

Players must be willing to resolve conflicts, take responsibility for mistakes, and shake hands at the end of the game.

At the same time, we encourage competitiveness, fun, and joyful engagement with the game.
✅ Wit, humour, and repartee are always welcome.
✅ Consensual hugs and gentlemanly conduct are highly encouraged.
✅ It’s all about nurturing the Old Quality Spirit.

🟡 We Build Friendship Here. ⚫

Nuts & Bolts

  • Match Fees: £100 per team per game

  • Where the Money Goes: Any surplus (after 3G fees and referee costs) supports the Lewes Football Foundation, helping community football teams and facility improvements at the 3G.

Team Responsibilities

📌 Team managers must:

  • Pass on League communications.

  • Confirm team availability by Thursday before each game.

  • Cooperate in resolving disciplinary issues (see our Conflict Resolution and Refereeing Policy here).

📌 Teams must:

  • Take turns reading the poem – all players should arrive on time for this.

  • Prioritise player welfare – if a player is injured, care for them on the pitch.

  • Provide a first-aider for their team.

  • Supply a linesman for games.

  • Retrieve balls that go over the fence and return them to storage after the match.

  • Wear smart, uniform kits – teams should take pride in their appearance.

Game Format & Substitutions

  • Matches will have breaks at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and halftime.

  • Teams should share rolling substitutions fairly among a maximum squad of 16 players, all of league-appropriate age.