Lewis Dark

Lewis Kenneth Branner Dark (born 11 April 1989) is an English footballer who plays for Heybridge Swifts. He can play in central midfield or at right back. Dark began his career at Brentford, for whom he made appearances in the Football League, before dropping into non-League football upon his release.

Brentford

Dark began his career in the academy at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, before joining the Centre of Excellence at League One side Brentford at the summer of 2005. He played for the youth team during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons in the Youth Alliance South East Conference. 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. Head of Youth Barry Quin took over the reigns as caretaker manager until the end of the season and named Dark and fellow youth teamer Ross Montague in his first squad for a match versus Doncaster Rovers on 21 April. Dark made his professional debut when he came on for Charlie Ide after 80 minutes of the 3–0 defeat. Dark was given his first start in the following game, lasting 72 minutes of a 4–3 win over Port Vale, before being substituted for Ryan Peters. Dark completed his first 90 minutes for the Bees in the final game of the season, a 3–1 defeat away to Tranmere Rovers. Dark made a total of three appearances during the 2006–07 season.

On 16 May 2007, it was announced that Dark had signed a professional contract with Brentford. 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. Butcher was replaced by his assistant manager Andy Scott in December 2007 and called Dark into the first team squad for a league match versus Dagenham & Redbridge on 1 January 2008. Dark remained on the bench for the 2–1 victory. It was Dark's only involvement in the first team during the 2007–08 season and he was released at the end of the campaign.

Farnborough (loan)

Dark joined Southern League Division One South & West side Farnborough on a one-month loan on 26 October 2007. He made six appearances and scored one goal during his spell.

Ramsgate (loan)

Dark moved to Isthmian League Premier Division side Ramsgate on a one-month loan on 1 February 2008. He made two appearances before returning to Brentford when his loan expired.

Wivenhoe Town

Dark signed for Eastern Counties League Premier Division side Wivenhoe Town in September 2008, linking up with former Brentford players Charlie Ide and Jamie England. He only made a single appearance for the club, which came in a 2–1 defeat to Mildenhall Town on 27 September. His stay with the Dragons was brief and he departed the club on 3 October.

Crawley Town

Dark joined Conference Premier side Crawley Town on 3 October 2008, linking up with former Brentford teammate Thomas Pinault. Awarded the number 23 shirt, Dark made his debut as an injury time substitute for goalscorer Glenn Wilson in a 4–0 win over Barrow. It proved to be his only appearance for the Red Devils.

Fisher Athletic London

Dark dropped to the Conference South to sign for Fisher Athletic London in November 2008. He made five appearances for the club.

Grays Athletic

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

Stansted

Dark moved to Essex Senior League side Stansted in August 2009. He won the first silverware of his career during the 2009–10 season, with the Blues bringing home the division title. Dark signed a new deal with the club in the summer of 2010. Though Stansted finished runners up to Enfield 1893 in the league (after having three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player), the Blues won the Essex Senior League Challenge Cup by defeating the new champions 3–0 in the final. Dark left the club in the summer of 2011.

Redbridge

Dark joined Isthmian League Division One North side Redbridge on 27 May 2011. He made his competitive debut for the club against AFC Sudbury on 20 August, scoring the Motormen's first goal in a 2–2 draw. Dark made 34 appearances and four goals before departing at the end of the season.

Maldon & Tiptree

Dark signed for Isthmian League Division One North side Maldon & Tiptree in the summer of 2012. He was a virtual ever-present during the 2012–13 season, a campaign which saw the Blues finish second in the league and lose to Thamesmead Town in the playoff final. Dark made 22 appearances during the 2013–14 season, a campaign in which the Jammers finished out of the playoffs. After the season, Dark signed for a third season at the Wallace Binder Ground. After making five appearances during the early part of the 2014–15 season, he departed the club in mid-September 2014.

Return to Grays Athletic

Dark re-signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Grays Athletic in mid-September 2014, linking up with former manager Jody Brown. He made eight appearances before departing in January 2015.

Witham Town

Dark signed for Isthmian League Premier Division strugglers Witham Town in January 2015. 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.

VCD Athletic and Thamesmead Town

In May 2015, Dark joined Isthmian League Premier Division side VCD Athletic. He left the club before the beginning of the 2015–16 season and instead began the campaign with Isthmian League Division One North side Thamesmead Town. He remained at Bayliss Avenue until February 2016.

Heybridge Swifts

In late February 2016, Dark signed with Isthmian League Division One North club Heybridge Swifts.

Stansted

• Essex Senior League: 2009–10
• Essex Senior League Challenge Cup: 2010–11