Former Trowbridge Town Reserves captain Lewis Wayman has stepped up to the 1st team this season, and has been impressive so far, notching several assists and helping to keep 2 clean sheets. Lewis sat down with Suyo last weekend to discuss his move to the 1st team, amongst other items…
SM: Hi Lewis, tell us more about where you have played previously, and what your role/positions are within the team?
LW: Previously I played at Westbury United Reserves for 4 years before moving to Trowbridge Town Reserves. I’m a left back, but can also be used as a wing back.
SM: Tell us about last season, moving up to the 1st team with The Bees and what your personal expectations are for the upcoming season?
LW: Last season I was with the reserves, and to be honest we had an average season with a very young squad. I moved up to the first team for this season after Ryan (Baggs) reached out, as he saw potential in me and wanted to include me in his plans for the upcoming campaign.
My personal expectations for this season are making sure I keep myself fit – it’s quite a big leap in quality and intensity from the Trowbridge & District League to the Wilts Premier Division, with more travelling and higher quality teams to play against, so I need to be on my A game – and to play as much as I can. I want to be keeping as many clean sheets as possible and maybe chipping in with the odd goal here and there!
SM: Tell us a bit more about who you support and who inspires you to play football?
LW: I’m an arsenal fan and growing up I was influenced by players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg – and obviously Messi! Growing up I was a striker/winger before becoming a defender, so I always found these players really inspiring and wanted to be like them.
SM: How have you’ve been settling into the first team so far? What about the support from the fans home and away and from Ryan and the coaching staff?
LW: I’ve settled really well into the first team. From my first training session I have been made to feel so welcome. The lads in the dressing room are quality people to be around, and they all share the same goal when the whistle goes – to win for us, and for the supporters. The support has been unreal from the fans – even at away games they’ve been travelling in numbers to support us. For a club at our level to have the dedication, passion and commitment of so many is amazing, and it’s clear that the club is well supported and in a good place for when things fall into place.
The coaching staff and Ryan have been great to me from the get go, and I’m pleased to be starting games for them – it’s a real confidence booster and I look forward to cementing my place as the season goes on.
Lewis Wayman is sponsored by LX Barbers and Kew Electrical for the 2023-2024 season!
