Lewis Clarke-Little – 18 Years Old – Right Wing-Back | Signed by Dagenham and Redbridge FC 

Lewis Clarke-Little is 18 years old and can now call himself a Dagenham and Redbridge FC player. After attending UK Football Trials events at Lakeside in South Essex and at the five-day camp, the right wing-back impressed enough to receive a trial invitation from the EFL club — and he made the most of every minute of it. His story is a straightforward one in the best possible sense: a player who prepared well, performed consistently, and earned exactly the outcome he was working towards. 

Lewis attended two UK Football Trials events, including the Lakeside PM event in April and the five-day camp, and across both found an environment that challenged and developed him in equal measure. The standard of players at both events stood out to him. "There was a good standard of players on the day," he reflected. "The atmosphere felt professional and well organised." At the five-day camp in particular, the international nature of the competition added another dimension to the experience. "I had the best time. It was fun and I met many players from the UK and from around the world too." 

The coaching across the events left a clear impression. Lewis appreciated the fact that the coaches were genuinely invested in getting the best out of each player. "They seemed interested in getting the best out of us throughout the events I attended," he said. "I definitely benefited from listening to them." For a player at 18 who is looking to make the step up into professional or semi-professional football, that kind of high-quality coaching environment is exactly what is needed to fine-tune both technical ability and tactical understanding. 

His personal highlight came on matchday. "My favourite day was Matchday, as I got to experience everyone at their highest level and that made me want to play better." That competitive instinct — the desire to raise his own level in response to those around him — is precisely the kind of attitude that catches the attention of professional scouts. Lewis's approach throughout the events was clear: keep it simple, stay consistent, and handle pressure with composure. 

"I've learned to keep it simple," he explained. "Scouts want to see how you can handle pressure in a calm and consistent way, and I try to promote that attitude wherever I am." It is a philosophy that served him well, because the interest that followed the events was not long in coming. Dagenham and Redbridge FC made contact quickly, inviting Lewis to trial within just a couple of weeks of the event. 

The trial itself took place on 27th May in Dagenham. Around 30 trialists attended alongside the current Dagenham squad. The session began in the changing rooms before moving to the pitches, where players worked through a series of drills before being split into four teams for two matches. Lewis competed at a strong standard throughout, and the wait for a decision afterwards was mercifully short. Within a week, the club confirmed they wanted him to join their squad. 

The opportunity at Dagenham carries significant long-term potential. The club recruits into their first team directly from their reserve setup, and Lewis was informed upon joining that there would be genuine opportunities to train and potentially play with the first team. Dagenham have a strong track record of bringing academy and reserve players through into senior football — a pathway that gives Lewis a real and credible route towards professional football at the highest level he has worked towards. 

"It's a great way to play with high-level players and be seen by a lot of different coaches," Lewis said of the UK Football Trials experience. "And of course, get scouted." He did exactly that, and the speed with which Dagenham responded is a reflection of the impression he made. Lewis Clarke-Little has taken every opportunity presented to him and converted it into something real. The work now begins at Dagenham, and on the evidence of how he has approached every stage of this journey, he looks well-equipped for what comes next.