Hole eyes top scorer prize

Little Common striker Lewis Hole is the Sussex County Football League's leading scorer. Picture courtesy Bobmatt Photography

Lewis Hole has banged in 20 league goals already this season to sit two clear at the top of Sussex County Football League Division Two’s list of leading marksmen.

In fact, Hole has scored more league goals than anyone else in the whole league and having notched 23 in all competitions, he is only 13 away from his magnificent 36-goal haul of the 2009/10 campaign.

He said: “It’s always my target at the beginning of every season (to be the leading scorer). I’ve always got my eyes set on that previous 36 as well, but we’ve only got 11 or 12 games to go so it’s going to be quite a tall order to beat that.”

The son of prolific goalscorer Nigel Hole, it was perhaps no surprise that Lewis played up-front throughout his youth football career at Common.

He operated as a centre-half at times for Sidley United under-18s and later made a few appearances at left-back for the first team. Hole went up-front in a reserve game and has stayed “where I’ve always wanted to play” ever since.

Hole joined Common in 2006, and apart from a spell trying his luck with higher grade Whitehawk and a season back with Sidley, he has stayed at the Recreation Ground ever since.

“I’m happy I at least tried it in the Ryman League (with Whitehawk),” continued Hole, who netted 27 times last term. “I enjoyed my time there and it was a good experience, but I do see myself staying at Little Common now. I’ve known all the people at the club since I was six-years-old and it’s just a nice family club to play for.”

In terms of highlights, Hole singled out the comeback win at home to Bosham on the final day of the 2008/09 season which clinched promotion from Sussex Division Three and victory over champions Littlehampton Town at the end of last term to seal a top three finish in Division Two.

Hole has enjoyed playing alongside several jet-heeled wide players during his time at Common and forming a strike partnership with Steve Morris, who he has known since the age of eight. He also said that player-manager Russell Eldridge was a big factor in his return to the club from Sidley.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Bexhill and works as a claims negotiator for insurance company Hastings Direct, became a father for the first time four months ago.