Lewis set to savour Hayes return home
Director of football ‘like a kid in sweet shop’ FOOTBALL
HAYES & Yeading United’s Director of football turned all Judy Garland this week admitting: ‘There’s no place like home’.
Tristan Lewis was finally preparing to take his seat at the SkyEx Community Stadium last night (Tuesday) for the club’s first competitive fixture back in the borough.
Hitchin Town were due to take to the field at the Beaconsfield Road venue yesterday for United’s second match of the new Southern League Premier campaign.
Lewis will have been hoping for a better result than Saturday’s league opener at Frome Town as they were beaten 2-1 in Somerset despite Ismael Ehui netting a penalty.
Lewis, who has also held the position of manager and assistant manager, has been part of the furniture at United for five years now.
But the club has led a nomadic existence throughout that period with his side hosting games first at Woking and latterly at Maidenhead while plans for their new stadium hit delays.
So with that competitive exile coming to an end, the director of football’s romanticism is understandable.
And while he may have traded Dorothy’s ruby slippers for more traditional sporting footwear, Lewis admits the prospect of coming home has brought out the little boy in him.
“I have been here five years and SETBACKS: BACK: haven’t had a ‘ home’ game yet which is a bit weird,” he told the Gazette. “So I’m probably going to be like a kid in a sweet shop by the time we actually play.”
Hayes & Yeading are running with a new-look squad this season under boss Mickey Lewis and confirmed the return of former Charlton full-back Yassin Moutaouakil last week.
Moutaouakil previously spent time at United between 2011 and 2013 where he became a popular defender among the supporters.
Meanwhile, Northwood endured a tricky start to their Division One Central campaign TJG1ST WANDERING DAYS ARE OVER: as newly-promoted Ashford Town took the points.
Most of Mark Burgess’ side have moved on over the summer and there were six debutants in the 3-1 reverse, with the player-boss getting a consolation goal for his side.
Uxbridge also suffered an opening-day defeat while AFC Hayes were last night due to take on Abingdon at Farm Park in an FA Cup replay after a goalless draw on Saturday.