Twin Terrors Return To Rooks Nest

Andy and Chris, the 21-year old former Watford professionals, have left the Dripping Pan on acrimonious terms more than once, but the pair have been given a fresh chance to fulfil their undoubted potential by Rooks boss Jimmy Quinn.

Chris hasn t been seen at the Dripping Pan since slamming the management and the board of directors 18 months ago, while Andy last wore the red and black jersey during a 1-0 home defeat to Westfield in the FA Vase last November. After the match he became engaged in a heated exchange with his team-mates and promptly left the club for a second time.

But, having lost last year s strike pairing of Warren Bagnall and Richard Hudson, Quinn is ready to bite the bullet and attempt to coax the hidden potential out of the pair.

It s a last chance for the both of them, said Quinn s assistant, Billy Nixon.

They are good footballers who have just lost their way. They re coming up to give it a go and we all hope it works out for them.

We ve always wanted more out of them than they ve been prepared to give. They ve never lasted a full season with us but we re asking them to prove what they can do. We ve never fallen out with them and forgotten about them - we ve kept tabs on them and basically watched them fade away.

The Johnson twins playing a prominent role in a successful Rooks team will no doubt attract attention from the Lewes public, who love to see home-grown players turn out for the Dripping Pan side.

Both lads trained with the club and signed Ryman League forms on Tuesday evening.

We re both hoping it works out. Jimmy (Quinn) just said to get ourselves fit and we can both start afresh, said Chris, who missed almost all of last season with a succession of injuries.

The sort of players we ve got down here, plus me and Andy to get the ball down and play, we should easily be able to hold our own. And if we stay injury free then I hope we can push on.

But as two players appear ready to return to the club, one crowd favourite could be on the way out. Midfield general Paul Stokes, who has made almost 200 appearances for the club in two spells, has been invited to train with Worthing.

When players go onwards and upwards to a bigger club then they go with our best wishes. That goes for Warren, Richard and Paul, added Billy.

But we ve remained on good terms with the players and they ve all said that if things don t work out for them then they ll come back.

Despite the summer time merry-go-round of trying to attract the top players available, Billy insists that this pre-season has been the easiest he can ever remember.

It s the first time me and Jimmy have ever felt relaxed.

Last year was all about trying to persuade the likes of Cable and Bagnall to come down here, but after the success we had last season it s that much easier.

We don t have the resources that other clubs have so we have to cut our cloth accordingly. Some of the players have come to us for less because they recognise this is a good team and it can go places.

Lewes have drawn Slough Town at home in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on September 1, while Ringmer are away to Hastings Town.

In the FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round, Lewes entertain Alton Town with the winners travelling to Wantage Town, while Ringmer host Horsham YMCA with the prize being a trip to Pagham.

Published: 5.7.01 Sussex Newspapers Ltd