Merrick Anthony James-Lewis (born 21 May 1992) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays for Eastern Counties League Division One South club Tower Hamlets as a central midfielder.

Merrick James-Lewis
James-Lewis in action for Walton Casuals
Personal information
Full name Merrick Anthony James-Lewis
Date of birth (1992-05-21) 21 May 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Lambeth, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Tower Hamlets
Youth career
Fulham
0000–2010 Southend United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Southend United 1 (0)
2011Braintree Town (loan) 4 (0)
2011Braintree Town (loan) 3 (0)
2011–2012Bishop's Stortford (loan) 5 (0)
2012Carshalton Athletic (loan) 10 (0)
2012 Colchester United 0 (0)
Concord Rangers
2013 Canvey Island 1 (0)
2013 Ebbsfleet United 0 (0)
2013 Farnborough 7 (0)
2013–2014 Walton & Hersham
2014 Crawley Down Gatwick 7 (?)
2014 Cray Wanderers
2014 Staines Town 19 (0)
2014 Walton Casuals
2014–2015 Grays Athletic 5 (0)
2015 Walton Casuals
2015 Maldon & Tiptree 5 (0)
2015 Tooting & Mitcham United
2015 Heybridge Swifts 1 (0)
2015–2016 Merstham 9 (0)
2016 Canvey Island 5 (1)
2016 Farnborough 3 (0)
2016 Enfield Town 0 (0)
2016 AFC Uckfield Town 4 (0)
2016 Thamesmead Town
2016–2017 Hendon 4 (0)
2017 Thamesmead Town 0 (0)
2017 Walton Casuals 5 (0)
2017 Herne Bay 1 (0)
2018 Thamesmead Town 7 (0)
2018 Egham Town 4 (0)
2020 Lewes 5 (0)
2020 South Park 3 (1)
2021 Haywards Heath Town 0 (0)
2021 Sutton Common Rovers 3 (0)
2021–2022 East Grinstead Town 14 (1)
2022 Corinthian-Casuals 2 (0)
2023– Tower Hamlets 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:30, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

He has also played for Southend United, Braintree Town, Bishop's Stortford, Carshalton Athletic, Colchester United, Concord Rangers, Canvey Island, Ebbsfleet United, Farnborough, Walton & Hersham, Crawley Down Gatwick, Cray Wanderers, Staines Town, Grays Athletic, Maldon & Tiptree, Tooting & Mitcham United, Heybridge Swifts, Merstham, Enfield Town, Uckfield Town, Thamesmead Town, Hendon and Herne Bay.

Career

edit

Southend United

edit

James-Lewis came through Southend United's youth system, signing a professional contract with the club in August 2010, having previously been with Fulham.[2][3] He joined Conference South club Braintree Town on loan in March 2011, for the remainder of the 2010–11 season.[4][5]

The following season, he went out on loan to Braintree Town again in August, having been promoted to the Conference National. He was recalled on 19 September, due to a lack of first-team opportunities, having made just four appearances.[6] James-Lewis made his professional début for Southend on 24 September 2011, coming on as a substitute for Ryan Leonard in the 79th minute in their 4–0 away win at Rotherham United.[7]

On 16 March 2012, it was announced that James-Lewis would join Carshalton Athletic on a month's loan.[8]

On 18 May, James-Lewis was one of eleven players to be released at the end of their contract.[9]

Colchester United

edit

After his release, he went on trial with Southend's rivals Colchester United, playing in a pre-season friendly against Heybridge Swifts.[10] Following a successful trial with the club he was given an initial deal on 30 July 2012.[11] Having made A handful of appearances for the U's, James-Lewis was released by Colchester following the expiration of his contract.[12]

Non-League

edit

2013 onwards

edit

In February 2013 James-Lewis was signed by Canvey Island, after being on the books of island neighbours Concord Rangers.[13] He made just one appearance for The Gulls, away to Lowestoft Town.[14] On 2 April 2013, he signed for Conference side Ebbsfleet United on a short-term contract until the end of the season. He was featured on the bench for the club's 1–1 draw with Barrow on 4 April.[15][16]

Farnborough manager Spencer Day snapped him up prior to the 2013–14 season, following a successful summer trial alongside Tyrone Berry.[17] They were both released following a disappointing FA Cup defeat to Eastbourne Borough on 1 October 2013.[18] The following month he was added to Walton & Hersham caretaker boss James Cameron's squad,[19] before switching to Crawley Down Gatwick in January 2014[20] and Cray Wanderers in February 2014.[21]

Ahead of the 2014–15 Football Conference season he was handed a chance at Staines Town by manager Marcus Gayle,[22] In early October after 11 games he was gone,[23] being questioned his commitment on both match days and training ground by Gayle.[24] By the summer he had put pen to paper at Walton Casuals in October 2014,[25] Grays Athletic in December 2014,[26] and Walton Casuals again in January 2015.[27]

2015–16 proved to be yet another much-travelled season, starting off at Maldon & Tiptree in June.[28] Shortly after the season kicked off, he featured for Tooting & Mitcham United on 22 August 2015,[29] and in October he switched to Heybridge Swifts.[30] He played only once for The Swifts, in a 3–1 win at Bury Town.[31][32] Further moves include Merstham in October 2015,[33][34] and returns to Canvey Island in January 2016[14][35][36] and Farnborough in March 2016.[37]

2016 onwards

edit

He signed for AFC Uckfield Town in October 2016,[38] after leaving Enfield Town without making any competitive appearances.[39][40] In November 2016 he moved to Thamesmead Town,[41] and Hendon in December 2016.[42] He reportedly returned to Thamesmead Town in February 2017,[43] but never featured in a matchday squad list before returning to Walton Casuals for a third spell on deadline day.[44] Despite committing to the club for the 2017–18 season, he failed to make an appearance for the club and joined Herne Bay in October.[45] The spell with The Bay also was short-lived as he only made one appearance. The season opening round of 2018–19 saw him return to Thamesmead Town. Following the club going into creditors voluntary administration in October 2018,[46] he signed for Egham Town of Isthmian League South Central Division in November.[47]

In September 2020, James-Lewis joined Lewes, where he made five appearances in the Isthmian League Premier Division[48] before, in October, moving on to South Park, making three league appearances and scoring one goal, on his debut, in a 4–4 draw with Staines Town.[49]

In July 2021, he joined Haywards Heath Town,[50] but did not play for the club;[48] he moved on in October to Sutton Common Rovers,[51] then again in November to East Grinstead Town, where he scored once in fourteen league appearances in the Isthmian League Division One South East.[48]

In November 2022, he joined Corinthian-Casuals, where he made two league appearances and one in the Surrey Senior Cup.[52] Later that season he moved to Tower Hamlets of east London.[53]

References

edit
  1. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 532. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  2. ^ "James-Lewis pens pro deal". Southend United F.C. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Southend United's James-Lewis signs professional deal". BBC Sport. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ^ "James-Lewis joins Braintree on loan". Southend United F.C. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Braintree sign Southend youngster Merrick James-Lewis". BBC Sport. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "James-Lewis recalled from loan". Southend United F.C. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Rotherham 0 – 4 Southend". BBC Sport. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. ^ "One In, Two Out". Southendunited.co.uk. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Blues axe falls". echo-news.co.uk. 18 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Colchester United | News | Latest News | Latest News | Six of the Best for U's". cu-fc.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Jackson Ramm and Merrick James-Lewis join Colchester". BBC Sport. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Duo Depart". Colchester United F.C. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Weekly News & Match Bulletin – 2012/13 No. 30" (PDF). Ryman Football League. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Much-Travelled Midfielder Returns". Pitch Hero Non League. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Barrow 1–1 Fleet". Ebbsfleet United FC. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Ebbsfleet FC Player Appearances – Past & Present – Soccer Base". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Spencer Day adds two new faces to injury-hit squad". Get Hampshire. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  18. ^ "'Boro 2 Whitehawk 0". Farnborough FC. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Ex-boss Baker returns to pilfer Swans' stars". Richmond & Twickenham Times. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Saturday's Transfer List". Ryman Football League. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Saturday's Transfer List". Ryman Football League. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Gayle 'delighted' to snap up midfield duo for Staines Town". Get Surrey. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  23. ^ "Staines Town – where did it all go wrong at Wheatsheaf Park?". Get Surrey. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  24. ^ "Staines Town set for FA Cup battle with Gloucester City". Get Surrey. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  25. ^ "Walton Casuals: Ouani heads out of Waterside revolving door". Surrey Comet. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  26. ^ "Two new signings for Grays". The Enquirer. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Saturday's Transfer List". Ryman Football League. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  28. ^ "Wright adds to his Maldon and Tiptree squad". Basildon Canvey Southend Echo. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Swans 2 Tooting & Mitcham United 1". Walton & Hersham FC. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Saturday's Transfer List". Ryman Football League. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  31. ^ "Ex Swifts on the Web (2016-17)". Heybridge Swifts FC. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Bury Town 1 Heybridge Swifts 3 – Match Report". Bury Town FC. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  33. ^ "Saturday's Transfer List". Ryman Football League. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Leiston back up to second spot in Ryman Premier". Sudbury Mercury. 9 November 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  35. ^ "Merrick James-Lewis Signs for the Gulls!". Canvey Island FC. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  36. ^ "Confident Canvey up against it at buoyant Hampton & Richmond Borough". Basildon Canvey Southend Echo. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  37. ^ "Farnborough boss Spencer Day brandishing the Easter begging bowl". Get Hampshire. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  38. ^ "Unhappy trip to the seaside for AFC Uckfield Town". 105 Uckfield FM. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  39. ^ "Enfield Town sign former Braintree Town midfielder Merrick James-Lewis". News Shopper. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  40. ^ "Midfielders seek pastures new". Enfield Town FC. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  41. ^ "Merrick James-Lewis statistics". Football Web Pages.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  42. ^ "Greens Makes More Changes". Pitch Hero Non League. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  43. ^ "One in and two out". Hendon FC. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  44. ^ "Two New Stags on Deadline Day". Pitch Hero Non League. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  45. ^ "Bay Add New Duo To Squad". Pitch Hero Non League. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  46. ^ "Potential bids to save Thamesmead Town after announcement they were folding". West Sussex County Times. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  47. ^ "Molesey 2 Egham Town 0". Egham Town FC. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  48. ^ a b c "Haywards Heath Town | Fixtures and Results | 2021-2022 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  49. ^ "South Park | Appearances | Merrick James-Lewis | 2020-2021 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  50. ^ "Lewis Heath - The Pitching In Isthmian Football League". www.isthmian.co.uk. 13 June 2021.
  51. ^ "Sutton Common Rovers | Appearances | Merrick James-Lewis | 2021-2022 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  52. ^ "Corinthian-Casuals | Appearances | Merrick James-Lewis | 2022-2023 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  53. ^ "Official tweet". Tower Hamlets Official Twitter. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
edit