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
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

Brentford

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.[9] Brentford manager Butcher was replaced by his assistant Andy Scott in December 2007,[10] 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.[9] He made two appearances before returning to Brentford when his loan expired.[11] Dark was released by Brentford at the end of the 2007–08 season.[12]

Wivenhoe Town

Dark signed for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Wivenhoe Town in September 2008.[13] He only made a single appearance for the club, which came in a 2–1 defeat to Mildenhall Town on 27 September.[14] His stay with the Dragons was brief and he departed the club on 3 October.[9]

Crawley Town

Dark joined Conference Premier club Crawley Town on 3 October 2008.[9] He made his debut as an injury time substitute for goalscorer Glenn Wilson in a 4–0 win over Barrow eight days later.[15] It proved to be his only appearance for the Red Devils.[2]

Fisher Athletic London

Dark dropped to the Conference South to club for Fisher Athletic London in November 2008 and made five appearances for the club.[16]

Grays Athletic

Dark joined Conference Premier club Grays Athletic on non-contract terms in February 2009.[17] He failed to make an appearance for the club and spent a period out injured.[18][19]

Stansted

Dark moved to Essex Senior League club Stansted in August 2009.[19] He won the first silverware of his career during the 2009–10 season, with the Blues winning the division title.[20] Dark signed a new deal with the club during the 2010 off-season.[21] Though Stansted finished runners up to Enfield 1893 in the league (after having three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player),[22][23] the Blues won the Essex Senior League Challenge Cup by defeating the new champions 3–0 in the final.[23] Dark left the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[24]

Redbridge

Dark joined Isthmian League First Division North club Redbridge on 27 May 2011.[24] 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.[25] Dark made 34 appearances and four goals before departing at the end of the 2011–12 season.[26]

Maldon & Tiptree

Dark signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Maldon & Tiptree during the 2012 off-season.[27] He was a virtual ever-present during the 2012–13 season,[28] a campaign which saw the Blues finish second in the league and lose to Thamesmead Town in the playoff final.[29][30] Dark made 28 appearances during the 2013–14 season,[31] a campaign in which the Jammers finished out of the playoffs.[30] In June 2014, Dark signed for a third season at the Wallace Binder Ground,[32] but after making five early-season appearances,[33] he departed the club in mid-September 2014.[34]

Return to Grays Athletic

Dark re-signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Grays Athletic in mid-September 2014.[34] He made eight appearances before departing in January 2015.[18]

Witham Town

Dark signed for Isthmian League Premier Division strugglers Witham Town in January 2015.[35] 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.[36]

VCD Athletic and Thamesmead Town

In May 2015, Dark joined Isthmian League Premier Division club VCD Athletic.[37] 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.[38] He remained at Bayliss Avenue until February 2016.[39]

Heybridge Swifts

In late February 2016, Dark signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Heybridge Swifts.[39] 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.[40][41] 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.[42][43][44][45] After making 101 appearances for the club,[45][46] Dark's contract was terminated by mutual consent in April 2018.[43]

Bishop's Stortford

On 8 June 2018, it was announced that Dark had joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Bishop's Stortford.[47] He made 10 appearances and scored one goal before departing Woodside Park on 12 October 2018.[48][49]

Return to Maldon & Tiptree

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.[50] 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.[50][51] Dark left the club at the end of the season.[52]

Grays Athletic (third spell)

On 4 June 2019, Dark returned to Isthmian League North Division club Grays Athletic for the third time and was announced as club captain.[52] He made 41 appearances during the COVID-19-affected 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons and 18 during 2021–22.[53][54][55][56][57] Following his appointment as manager in April 2022,[58] Dark stepped back from his playing role.[59] 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.[59]

Managerial career

On 25 April 2022, Dark was appointed manager of Isthmian League North Division club Grays Athletic.[58] He presided over a 2022–23 season which ended with defeat in the North Division play-off semi-finals.[60] He also guided the team to the final of the Essex Thame-Side Trophy, which was lost 3–2 to Bowers & Pitsea.[61] Dark's resignation from the role was announced on 1 May 2023.[62]

Career statistics

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[63] 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[11] Isthmian League Premier Division 2 0 — — — 2 0
Wivenhoe Town 2008–09[14] Eastern Counties League Premier Division 1 0 — — — 1 0
Crawley Town 2008–09[64] Conference Premier 1 0 — — — 1 0
Fisher Athletic London 2008–09[16] Conference South 5 0 — — — 5 0
Redbridge 2011–12[26] Isthmian League First Division North 34 4 0 0 — 0 0 34 4
Maldon & Tiptree 2013–14[31] Isthmian League First Division North 27 1 1 0 — 0 0 28 1
2014–15[33] 5 0 — — — 5 0
Total 32 1 1 0 — 0 0 33 1
Grays Athletic 2014–15[18] Isthmian League Premier Division 4 0 — — 4[lower-alpha 1] 0 8 0
Witham Town 2014–15[36] Isthmian League Premier Division 22 0 — — — 22 0
Heybridge Swifts 2015–16[40] Isthmian League First Division North 7 0 — — 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 8 0
2016–17[44] 33 0 3 1 — 2[lower-alpha 3] 0 38 1
2017–18[45] Isthmian League North Division 22 1 7 0 — 13[lower-alpha 4] 0 42 1
Total 62 1 10 1 — 16 0 88 2
Bishop's Stortford 2018–19[48] Isthmian League Premier Division 10 1 0 0 — 0 0 10 1
Maldon & Tiptree 2018–19[50] Isthmian League North Division 20 0 — — 4[lower-alpha 5] 0 24 0
Total 52 1 1 0 — 4 0 57 0
Grays Athletic 2019–20[53] Isthmian League North Division 24 0 2 0 — 8[lower-alpha 6] 0 34 0
2020–21[54] 4 0 2 0 — 1[lower-alpha 7] 0 7 0
2021–22[57] 17 0 0 0 — 1[lower-alpha 8] 0 18 0
2022–23[59] 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

Stansted

References

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