Record breaker rolls back the years

Lewes coach Dean Lightwood has written himself into the history books at the Ryman Premier's Rooks by proving the old adage that age doesn’t count for keepers!

Lightwood, pictured, made 48 appearances for Lewes in the mid-nineties and was back in goal again for them last week, stepping in as an emergency keeper in their 3-2 Robert Dyas League Cup win over Ryman South Redhill.

With the third round tie level at 2-2 and heading into half-time, the 41-year-old was called up following an injury to young keeper Dan Hutchins who was making his Rooks debut. Lightwood, who's also coached academy youngsters at Brighton and Charlton and made over 100appearances for Eastbourne Borough, last played for Lewes on the 8 November 1994 in a 1-0 defeat to Leighton Town in a Diadora League Three game, meaning the gap between appearances was a remarkable and club record setting 6,966 days!

Like Dino Zoff, Peter Shilton and a host of high-profile keepers over the years, Lightwood had no problem rolling back the years despite his lack of match practice, keeping a clean sheet to terrace chants of ‘Super Deano’ as the Rooks went through thanks to Nathan Crabb’s winner midway through the second period.