Lewis moves from Maidstone to Dover

Andy Hessenthaler has made his first signing as Dover manager.

Midfielder Stuart Lewis joins on a two-year deal from Maidstone United for an undisclosed fee and is set to make his debut at Harrogate Town on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Lewis was captain at the Stones and made 74 appearances for our National League rivals after making the move to the Gallagher Stadium on loan from Ebbsfleet United in January 2017.

He won the Maidstone Supporters’ Player-of-the-Year award three months later before making the move a permanent one last summer.

Before joining Maidstone, Lewis made 83 appearances, scoring seven goals for Ebbsfleet after arriving from Wycombe Wanderers two years earlier – he Lewis was Fleet’s Player-of-the-Year for the 2015–16 campaign.

He was one of Wanderers’ longer-serving players, having joined the club from Dagenham & Redbridge in January 2011 after a successful loan spell, and made a total of 168 appearances, scoring eight times.

Lewis, who will wear the number 27 shirt for Dover, has also played in the Football League with Barnet, Stevenage, Gillingham and Dagenham.

Maidstone chief executive Bill Williams said: “It was a shock when Stuart put in his transfer request as it was unexpected.

“We tried to change his mind but this didn’t work and when you get to that point, it is my experience over the years, that you have to find the best deal that suits all parties and move on.

“Stuart has been an important part of getting the club to this point and we wish him and his family the best for the future.”

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