Meet the English non-league club just two wins away from European glory in little-known Uefa-backed competition

NON-LEAGUE side Lewes FC have a shot at European glory.

We’re not talking about the Champions League, Europa League or the Conference League for that matter, but a lesser-known competition called the Fenix Trophy.

James Boyes

Lewes FC have a shot at European glory[/caption]

James Boyes

The Rooks booked their spot in the Fenix Trophy finals with a win over Belgian side KSK Beveren last week[/caption]

James Boyes

Lewes will travel to Desenzano del Garda in May[/caption]

Founded three years ago, the Fenix Trophy is a UEFA-backed annual European football competition for semi-professional and amateur clubs.

It was first won by FC United of Manchester – a club set up by Manchester United supporters opposed to Malcolm Glazer’s takeover in 2005.

The Motson-based club beat Prague Raptors in the 2022 final to take home the trophy, becoming the only English side to win a European title that year.

But this time Lewes FC are also gunning for glory.

The Rooks booked their spot in the Fenix Trophy semi-finals with a 4-0 win over Belgian side KSK Beveren last week.

Having topped Group D, Tony Russell’s side will now travel to Italy in May.

Discussing the club’s European campaign, Russell told Sussex World: “Initially, it was a distraction from the league, an unknown and ‘let’s have a go’. Going away to Belgium in December really helped our season. It bonded us.

“It’s an opportunity to do something different. I’ve never been to Oslo. In early May, we’re going to Italy. We’ve now got two games in Italy [in the Finals].”

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The Rooks had already beat KSK Beveren and FC Oslo in the group stages.

They will travel to Oslo for their final group stage game on March 20 before the finals in Italy at the end of the season.

The finals will take place in Desenzano del Garda, Italy, from May 10 to May 12.

For the last two years the final has taken place at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan.

But ahead of the next round, Lewes will be fully focused on their remaining Isthmian Premier League games.

They currently sit 10th in the table, just four points from the play-off positions.

In 2017, Lewes became the first – and only – professional or semi-professional football club in the world to start treating its women footballers the same as its men.

The club’s men’s and women’s teams have the same playing budgets, same pitch and same training facilities.

Lewes is one of the most popular clubs in the Isthmian League with an average attendance of 846 fans.

They play their home games at the Dripping Pan, a 600-seater (3,000 capacity) stadium in East Sussex.

It is widely considered one of the best non-league stadiums in the country.

Earlier this year, manager Russell revealed that the club had brought in close to a six-figure sum through improving and selling players.

Ollie Tanner became one of the club’s biggest departures in 2022 when he joined Championship side Cardiff City in a £50,000 transfer.

Just a few months prior, the winger rejected a move to Tottenham.