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Lewis Dark

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Lewis Dark
Dark captaining Heybridge Swifts in 2017.
Personal information
Full name Lewis Kenneth Dark[1]
Date of birth (1989-04-11) 11 April 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Harlow, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder, defender
Youth career
Tottenham Hotspur
2005–2007 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Brentford 3 (0)
2007 → Farnborough (loan) 6 (1)
2008 → Ramsgate (loan) 2 (0)
2008 Wivenhoe Town 1 (0)
2008 Crawley Town 1 (0)
2008 Fisher Athletic (London) 5 (0)
2009 Grays Athletic 0 (0)
2009–2011 Stansted
2011–2012 Redbridge 34 (4)
2012–2014 Maldon & Tiptree 32 (1)
2014–2015 Grays Athletic 4 (0)
2015 Witham Town 22 (0)
2015 VCD Athletic 0 (0)
2015–2016 Thamesmead Town
2016–2018 Heybridge Swifts 62 (0)
2018 Bishop's Stortford 10 (1)
2018–2019 Maldon & Tiptree 20 (0)
2019–2023 Grays Athletic 49 (0)
Managerial career
2022–2023 Grays Athletic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lewis Kenneth Dark (born 10 April 1989) is an English semi-professional footballer who was recently manager of Isthmian League North Division club Grays Athletic.

A central midfielder or defender as a player, Dark began his career at Brentford, for whom he made appearances in the Football League, before dropping into non-League football upon his release in 2008. He entered management with Grays Athletic in 2022.

Playing career

[edit]

Brentford

[edit]

Dark began his career in the academy at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, before joining the Centre of Excellence at League One club Brentford during the 2005 off-season.[3] Towards the end of a disastrous 2006–07 season in League One, manager Scott Fitzgerald left the club after a 3–0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 9 April 2007 confirmed the club's relegation to League Two.[4] Head of Youth Barry Quin took over as caretaker manager until the end of the season and named Dark in his first squad for a match versus Doncaster Rovers on 21 April.[5][6] Dark made his professional debut when he came on for Charlie Ide after 80 minutes of the 3–0 defeat.[6] He made three appearances during the 2006–07 season.[6]

In June 2007, Dark signed a one-year professional contract, with the option for a further year.[7] Under new manager Terry Butcher for the 2007–08 season, Dark found himself out of favour and failed to receive a call into the first team squad during the first half of the campaign.[8] He joined Southern League First Division South & West club Farnborough on a one-month loan on 26 October 2007.[citation needed] Brentford manager Butcher was replaced by his assistant Andy Scott in December 2007,[9] who called Dark into the matchday squad for a league match versus Dagenham & Redbridge on 1 January 2008.[8] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 victory.[8] It was Dark's only involvement in the first team during the 2007–08 season and he moved to Isthmian League Premier Division club Ramsgate on a one-month loan on 1 February 2008.[citation needed] He made two appearances before returning to Brentford when his loan expired.[10] Dark was released by Brentford at the end of the 2007–08 season.[11]

Wivenhoe Town

[edit]

Dark signed for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Wivenhoe Town in September 2008.[12] He only made a single appearance for the club, which came in a 2–1 defeat to Mildenhall Town on 27 September.[13] His stay with the Dragons was brief and he departed the club on 3 October.[citation needed]

Crawley Town

[edit]

Dark joined Conference Premier club Crawley Town on 3 October 2008.[citation needed] He made his debut as an injury time substitute for goalscorer Glenn Wilson in a 4–0 win over Barrow eight days later.[14] It proved to be his only appearance for the Red Devils.[2]

Fisher Athletic London

[edit]

Dark dropped to the Conference South to club for Fisher Athletic London in November 2008 and made five appearances for the club.[15]

Grays Athletic

[edit]

Dark joined Conference Premier club Grays Athletic on non-contract terms in February 2009.[16] He failed to make an appearance for the club and spent a period out injured.[17][18]

Stansted

[edit]

Dark moved to Essex Senior League club Stansted in August 2009.[18] He won the first silverware of his career during the 2009–10 season, with the Blues winning the division title.[19] Dark signed a new deal with the club during the 2010 off-season.[20] Though Stansted finished runners up to Enfield 1893 in the league (after having three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player),[21][22] the Blues won the Essex Senior League Challenge Cup by defeating the new champions 3–0 in the final.[22] Dark left the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[23]

Redbridge

[edit]

Dark joined Isthmian League First Division North club Redbridge on 27 May 2011.[23] He made his competitive debut for the club against AFC Sudbury on 20 August 2011 and scored the Motormen's first goal in a 2–2 draw.[24] Dark made 34 appearances and four goals before departing at the end of the 2011–12 season.[25]

Maldon & Tiptree

[edit]

Dark signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Maldon & Tiptree during the 2012 off-season.[26] He was a virtual ever-present during the 2012–13 season,[27] a campaign which saw the Blues finish second in the league and lose to Thamesmead Town in the playoff final.[28][29] Dark made 28 appearances during the 2013–14 season,[30] a campaign in which the Jammers finished out of the playoffs.[29] In June 2014, Dark signed for a third season at the Wallace Binder Ground,[31] but after making five early-season appearances,[32] he departed the club in mid-September 2014.[33]

Return to Grays Athletic

[edit]

Dark re-signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Grays Athletic in mid-September 2014.[33] He made eight appearances before departing in January 2015.[17]

Witham Town

[edit]

Dark signed for Isthmian League Premier Division strugglers Witham Town in January 2015.[34] He made 22 appearances in Town's unsuccessful attempt at retaining their Premier Division status and left at the end of the 2014–15 season.[35]

VCD Athletic and Thamesmead Town

[edit]

In May 2015, Dark joined Isthmian League Premier Division club VCD Athletic.[36] He left the club before the beginning of the 2015–16 season and instead began the campaign with Isthmian League First Division North club Thamesmead Town.[37] He remained at Bayliss Avenue until February 2016.[38]

Heybridge Swifts

[edit]

In late February 2016, Dark signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Heybridge Swifts.[38] During the remainder of the 2015–16 season, he made eight appearances and was a part of the team which lost 1–0 to Concord Rangers in the 2016 Essex Senior Cup Final.[39][40] During the 2017 off-season, Dark was announced as the new club captain and remained a regular in the team until he lost his place in February 2018, due to a foot injury.[41][42][43][44] After making 101 appearances for the club,[44][45] Dark's contract was terminated by mutual consent in April 2018.[42]

Bishop's Stortford

[edit]

On 8 June 2018, it was announced that Dark had joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Bishop's Stortford.[46] He made 10 appearances and scored one goal before departing Woodside Park on 12 October 2018.[47][48]

Return to Maldon & Tiptree

[edit]

In mid-October 2018, Dark returned to Isthmian League North Division club Maldon & Tiptree on a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.[49] He made 24 appearances and helped the club to the 2019 Isthmian League North Division play-off Final, in which the Jammers were defeated on penalties by Heybridge Swifts.[49][50] Dark left the club at the end of the season.[51]

Grays Athletic (third spell)

[edit]

On 4 June 2019, Dark returned to Isthmian League North Division club Grays Athletic for the third time and was announced as club captain.[51] He made 41 appearances during the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons and 18 during 2021–22.[52][53][54][55][56] Following his appointment as manager in April 2022,[57] Dark stepped back from his playing role.[58] A shortage of numbers saw him name himself as a substitute for a league match versus Lowestoft Town on 18 March 2023 and he remained unused during the 2–1 victory.[58]

Managerial career

[edit]

On 25 April 2022, Dark was appointed manager of Isthmian League North Division club Grays Athletic.[57] He presided over a 2022–23 season which ended with defeat in the North Division play-off semi-finals.[59] He also guided the team to the final of the Essex Thame-Side Trophy, which was lost 3–2 to Bowers & Pitsea.[60] Dark's resignation from the role was announced on 1 May 2023.[61]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 2006–07[6] League One 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2007–08[62] League Two 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Ramsgate (loan) 2007–08[10] Isthmian League Premier Division 2 0 — — — 2 0
Wivenhoe Town 2008–09[13] Eastern Counties League Premier Division 1 0 — — — 1 0
Crawley Town 2008–09[63] Conference Premier 1 0 — — — 1 0
Fisher Athletic London 2008–09[15] Conference South 5 0 — — — 5 0
Redbridge 2011–12[25] Isthmian League First Division North 34 4 0 0 — 0 0 34 4
Maldon & Tiptree 2013–14[30] Isthmian League First Division North 27 1 1 0 — 0 0 28 1
2014–15[32] 5 0 — — — 5 0
Total 32 1 1 0 — 0 0 33 1
Grays Athletic 2014–15[17] Isthmian League Premier Division 4 0 — — 4[a] 0 8 0
Witham Town 2014–15[35] Isthmian League Premier Division 22 0 — — — 22 0
Heybridge Swifts 2015–16[39] Isthmian League First Division North 7 0 — — 1[b] 0 8 0
2016–17[43] 33 0 3 1 — 2[c] 0 38 1
2017–18[44] Isthmian League North Division 22 1 7 0 — 13[d] 0 42 1
Total 62 1 10 1 — 16 0 88 2
Bishop's Stortford 2018–19[47] Isthmian League Premier Division 10 1 0 0 — 0 0 10 1
Maldon & Tiptree 2018–19[49] Isthmian League North Division 20 0 — — 4[e] 0 24 0
Total 52 1 1 0 — 4 0 57 0
Grays Athletic 2019–20[52] Isthmian League North Division 24 0 2 0 — 8[f] 0 34 0
2020–21[53] 4 0 2 0 — 1[g] 0 7 0
2021–22[56] 17 0 0 0 — 1[h] 0 18 0
2022–23[58] 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Total 49 0 4 0 — 14 0 67 0
Career total 225 3 15 1 0 0 32 0 272 7
  1. ^ 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Essex Senior Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in Essex Senior Cup
  3. ^ 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup
  4. ^ 9 appearances in FA Trophy, 3 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Essex Senior Cup
  5. ^ 2 appearances in Isthmian League North Division play-offs, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Essex Senior Cup
  6. ^ 3 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 3 appearances in Essex Senior Cup, 2 appearances in FA Trophy
  7. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy
  8. ^ Appearance in Isthmian League Cup

Honours

[edit]

Stansted

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lewis Dark". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b Lewis Dark at Soccerbase
  3. ^ "Bees put faith in young guns". Kingston Guardian. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Boss Fitzgerald leaves Brentford". BBC Sport. 10 April 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Bees Seek New Management Team". Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "Games played by Lewis Dark in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Monty And Lewis Put Pen To Paper". brentfordfc.co.uk. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Lewis Dark Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Caretaker keen on Bees job". football.co.uk. 23 December 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  10. ^ a b "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Dark Lewis Kenneth". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Andy On Players". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Former Bees set to give Dragons fans a real buzz". Wivenhoe Town F.C. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2008.
  13. ^ a b "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Dark Lewis". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Lewis Dark Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Blue Square Conference South guide – Fisher Athletic". Archived from the original on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Grays bring in Quistin and Dark". BBC Sport. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "Statistics: Grays Athletic". www.graysath-online.com. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Stansted Hand Full Credit To Crows". NonLeagueDaily.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Premier Division : League Table". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Players Commit To Stansted – Despite Interest From Elsewhere". NonLeagueDaily.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  21. ^ "Premier Division : League Table". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  22. ^ a b c "Stansted FC win the Essex Senior League Cup". Hertsandessexobserver.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Redbridge Name Signings". AFC Sudbury. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  24. ^ "Sendall's Magic Helps Earn Redbridge Point – 1st Team". Redbridge Football Club. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  25. ^ a b "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Dark Lewis Kenneth". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  26. ^ "Maldon and Tiptree sign new players". Maldon and Burnham Standard. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  27. ^ "1st Team – The Team". Maldon & Tiptree FC. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  28. ^ "Thamesmead spot on to reach Ryman Premier". Bexley Times. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  29. ^ a b Maldon & Tiptree F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  30. ^ a b "Maldon & Tiptree | Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2013–2014". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Busy, Busy Spillane". pitchero.com. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  32. ^ a b "Lewis Dark – The Jammers – The Team". Maldon & Tiptree FC. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Dark Added to Grays Squad". pitchero.com. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Witham Town boost squad by bringing in trio". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  35. ^ a b "lewis dark – Witham Town 1st Team – The Team". Witham Town Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  36. ^ "Two more for the Vickers". VCD Athletic Football Club. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  37. ^ "Welcome to Thamesmead FC". www.thamesmeadtownfc.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Saturday's Transfer List". The Ryman Isthmian Football League. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  39. ^ a b "Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2015–2016". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  40. ^ "BBC Essex Senior Cup Final: Concord Rangers 1 – 0 Heybridge Swifts". Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Announcement | Lewis Dark has been announced as Club Captain for 2017/18". @officialswifts. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  42. ^ a b "Lewis Dark leaves Swifts by mutual consent". Heybridge Swifts. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2016–2017". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  44. ^ a b c "Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2017–2018". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  45. ^ "Announcement | Lewis Dark has made his 100th appearance". @officialheybridgeswifts. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  46. ^ "Dark start for Flint". BSFC. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  47. ^ a b "Bishop's Stortford | Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2018–2019". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Dark leaves Blues". BSFC. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  49. ^ a b c "Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2018–2019". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  50. ^ "Bostik League North Division Play-off Final | Maldon & Tiptree 2 – 2 Heybridge Swifts | 2018–2019". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  51. ^ a b "Lewis Dark Signs For The Blues". Grays Athletic Football Club. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  52. ^ a b "Grays Athletic | Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2019–2020". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  53. ^ a b "Grays Athletic | Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2020–2021". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  54. ^ "FA Announcement: Season Termination". www.graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  55. ^ "Football season declared null and void for lower-league teams". Kent Online. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  56. ^ a b "Grays Athletic | Appearances | Lewis Dark | 2021–2022". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  57. ^ a b "Dark Looking Forward To Bright Times". graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  58. ^ a b c "Battling Blues sink Trawlerboys". www.graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  59. ^ "Match Report: Proud night for Blues as one decision finishes season". graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  60. ^ "Blues undone at the last in cup final". graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  61. ^ "Lewis Dark To Leave Manager's Role With The Blues". graysathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  62. ^ "Games played by Lewis Dark in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  63. ^ "Games played by Lewis Dark in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
[edit]
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