Lewes confirm third new signing while three depart

Goalkeeper Lewis Carey has rejoined the Rooks from manager Tony Russell's former club Cray Wanderers.

The stopper made 53 appearances during his single year at The Dripping Pan and won Lewes Player of the Year award for 2018-19.

Carey left the Rooks to join the Wands and helped the Kent outfit to a second-place finish in the curtailed 2019-20 campaign.

The goalkeeper made 54 appearances in all competitions during his time at Cray.

Russell said: "Lew is a brilliant goal keeper, full stop, but it is the other side of his game that is so pivotal to how we want to play as a team.

"I want to bring my philosophy to Lewes and with Lew's distribution it makes that task a whole lot easier.

"Lew has been telling me, and some of the players, all about the club and the fans so I know he is excited to come back."

Chair Stuart Fuller added: "Lewis is a fantastic keeper, and has ball distribution that would put most outfield players to shame.

"We are delighted to bring him back to the Pan and I know that the fans will look forward to seeing him between the sticks again."

Carey will take over goalkeeping duties from Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke, who has joined Whitehawk.

Stroomberg-Clarke made over 50 appearances in all competitions for the Rooks, following his debut as a 17-year-old at Leatherhead in 2015.

The academy graduate appeared 11 times for Lewes in the abandoned 2020-21 season.

The Rooks have also confirmed that Ronnie Conlon will join Stroomberg-Clarke at Whitehawk.

Conlon, another academy graduate, made his Lewes debut in April 2015 and went on to appear over 150 times for the Rooks.

Christian Frimpong has also departed the club. Frimpong made 16 appearances following his arrival at The Dripping Pan in February 2020.

The club have wished the trio well in their future endeavours