LEWES striker Joe Taylor is loving life at the club despite missing out on promotion.
Taylor netted an impressive 33 goals in all competitions this season, including one in the FA Cup, but it was not enough to earn Lewes a spot in the promotion play-offs.
Lewes finished 7th in Isthmian League Premier Division, six points behind Cheshunt in 5th, the final play-off spot.
Taylor admitted that while he enjoyed the season, it was frustrating to miss out on the chance to win promotion to the National League South.
He told The Argus: “I enjoyed my football this season, 33 goals is a good tally but I wanted more than that at the start of the season, next time I am aiming for 40.
“I mean, it has been a disappointment, and it still hurts as we did not make the play-offs.
“Really, when you look back at the start of the season, we should never had made the play-offs but the boss wanted to win the league, and that is his attitude as well as mine.
“So it still hurts that we did not get in the promotion hunt, but all in all the season was really enjoyable, there were a lot of ups and downs, it was stressful because of the build we had to do, and we had inconsistencies because of that.
“Everything about the club and the boys makes it really enjoyable.
“The goals were good. Celebrating at The Dripping Pan when you score a goal and celebrate it is special.
“The noise that comes from the crowd is incredible.”
The striker was Tony Russell’s first signing as Lewes manager. Taylor has admitted that he is very grateful for the support given to him by the manager.
Taylor admitted that he would not have joined the club if it was not for Russell.
He said: “I would never have come to Lewes because of the distance for myself if it was not for the manager.
“The way he is with his teams, the way he has treated me and the way he plays suits me down to the ground.
“I would like to play for Tony Russell until he tells me I am not good enough to play for him anymore or when I am too old. Hopefully, I have a few more years left.
“A bit of advice for the younger players here is that in non-league football, there is no better place to play than where Tony Russell is.”
Taylor has also backed young forward Ollie Tanner to become a full-time professional footballer if he continues his current trajectory.
The Lewes star was heavily linked with moves to Premier League sides Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window.
Taylor told The Argus: “It was really exciting for everybody at the club to have the scouts coming to watch the games.
“Everyone knew that, and we all raised our games.
“Olly knew that and in one of the games that he was being watched he smashed a free-kick into the top corner in the 3rd minute of the game.
“I have no doubts that he will go on to play at the levels that he should be playing and that he will be full time.
“The raw abilities and attributes that he has are unbelievable.
“I have really got close to him, and if I get to play with him longer then I will be really happy.”
The 30-year-old, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, believes that Lewes is a one of a kind club for the way it promotes the women’s football game with equal pay as well as the charity drives that it does.
He said: “The club’s stance on equality and the way it tackles a whole range of issues across the world is unlike any other, especially at this level.
“The way that Lewes attacks these issues, like equality, has just not been seen before, so it is an enjoyable place to play.
“But to put that aside, the people they have working here are just good people.
“There are lots involved in the club, and there is lots going on.
“The people that I have come across have made my family and I at home since day one.
“They have supported me with problems that I have had and it is just a proper club and you can tell they want to do things properly.
“When you are at a club like this, you have to cherish it.”
Taylor has also praised the relationship between the men’s and women’s teams.
He said: “Some of these girls have played at silly levels and been at massive clubs and now they are at Lewes which is good to see.
“I have come into this season, you can see everyone is together in that sense and there is support both ways.
“A lot of them are local and they come to watch our games.
“In fact the men’s team are going to the match on Sunday to watch and it would be great to get as many fans down to The Dripping Pan as possible.
“It is going to be a really good day.”
Lewes Women’s team will be playing top of the table Liverpool and will be hoping to end the season with a win.
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