Justin Harris is delighted he decided to stick it out at Lewes.

The combative midfielder was the subject of plenty of interest in the summer with Eastbourne Borough among a number of clubs keen to sign him.

Crawley Town also showed interest but Harris decided to stay with the Rooks and now he is being rewarded for his loyalty.

Providing he stays clear of injury, Harris will be a certain starter next Sunday when Lewes take on Stoke City in the first round of the FA Cup at the Britannia Stadium.

The blond haired hardman, who can also play sweeper, has been in terrific form this season. Not only is he the engine room of the team, most people will tell you Harris is the man who makes Lewes tick.

The 25-year-old remains modest about his contribution but admitted: "I think it is the best I have played.

"I had a long suspension last year. I have only had one ban so far this season and I am doing better than I have ever done.

"It is the most I have enjoyed my football because of the cup and all the coverage as well.

"It is brilliant. The amount of people we had down there for the last game was great.

Harris, a roofer by trade, started his career in the under-16s and then the under-18s at Lewes. He made his senior bow for Newhaven and has also played for Ringmer and Saltdean.

He is aware of the plaudits being thrown his way this year and he says: "I would like to go higher. It is too late to go pro. If I was going to be picked up, I would have been by now.

"I had interest from Crawley and could have gone to Eastbourne Borough this season but I decided to stay at Lewes."

That decision has been rewarded with the trip to Stoke next week.

Harris said: "They will be much fitter than us but as long as we compete with them, try to get to the ball first and match them for effort, that is all you can ask.

"They might put a couple of reserves in.

"Personally I would be happy with a two or three-nil defeat. But as long as we keep it at 0-0, they will get frustrated and the crowd will get on their backs."

Meanwhile, Gary Elphick is returning to Lewes next season to run the under-18s.

Elphick began his career as a teenager at Lewes and then had a two-year spell as a professional at Stoke.

The 41-year-old managed the Rooks in the mid-Nineties but since then has worked extensively in youth football. He currently runs the Woodingdean under-16 side as well as the Sussex Sunday League under-16 representative side.

His two sons are both at Albion's School of Excellence, with Gary junior playing for the under-16s and Tom for the under-14s. Both are centre backs like Gary.

It is the Woodingdean side which Elphick will take with him to Lewes next season. He said: "It will be the nucleus of that side that I will bring through at Lewes next season."