BRAD'S GOT THE GREEN FOR GO

Ace sows seeds at Lewes

- John Lyons

EXPERIENCED midfielder Bradley Pritchard wants to help Lewes keep growing in the coming year - on and off the pitch.

The 37-year-old former Charlton and Leyton Orient man arrived at the Dripping Pan a couple of years ago - and it wasn't just for footballing reasons.

"I really got into gardening during lockdown," told The NLP. "I live in a flat and there was a community garden below which the residents were happy for me to work on. I learned a lot in lockdown and I tried to see how I could use that along with the community work I do in my day job.

"When I stopped playing football professionally, I wanted to stay local. I live on the border of Lewisham and Bromley, so Lewes isn't local.

"When I left Cray Wanderers, my old boss Tony Russell was at Lewes. I said I would sign if I was able to have an impact in the community.

At the Dripping Pan, I saw a corner of the ground that was wild with grass and weeds.