Worthing man joins team of ex-professional footballers and celebrities at Battle of the Balls charity match

Battle of the Balls is making its debut appearance at The Den in London on Remembrance Day, November 11, with Mick McCarthy and Harry Redknapp managing the all stars.

The legendary Rugby For Heroes team includes Thom Evans, Jordan Crane, Delon Armitage and Jay Bothroyd, while 23-year-old Lewis Lodge from Worthing will be playing with footballers John Fashanu and Marlon Harewood, international DJs Jordan Davies and Kideko, and TV personalities Callum Jones and Ethan Aveiro in the World of Football team.

Lewis is a brand ambassador for Sports Traider, one of the charities benefiting from Battle of the Balls. He grew up in Worthing and played football with Brighton and Hove Albion from the age of five until his family moved to Bedford when he was eight.

Lewis said: "I was picked up by Luton Town at 11 for the Pre-Academy squad. Sports Traider paid for my kit and supported me throughout until I was 15 or 16. Sports Traider helped me get some brilliant opportunities in my football career and the help they gave me has gone a long way. They sparked an interest that led to my degree and that led to my business, which I have built up from scratch.

"I have been volunteering with the charity since I was 17. It is nice that I have been able to help out. This game is a way to give the charity something back and some of the people that I work with have agreed to be part of the event. I am buzzing for it."

Lewis had opportunities to play for the development teams at Luton Town and Stevenage, played for Stevenage U16s and 18s and had opportunities to trial with QPR, Spurs, Crystal Palace, Northampton and Peterborough.He was captain of a Crystal Palace representative squad for trialists in the Hyde Development League and made it to the last 32 as an English Schools trialist.

He moved into semi-professional football at age 17 and over the years has played for Godalming Town, Seaford FC, Eastbourne United FC and Steyning Town. While at Brighton University, he captained the men's first team in his third year.

Lewis left university with a first class degree and then started his own business as a personal trainer at The Gym Group in Worthing.

He said: "I started in October 2021, having never coached anyone before, never worked in a gym, never run my own business. I have built it up to working with 50 to 60 clients in my first year, including Including reality star Jordan Davies and DJ Kideko, who I have now got involved with the Battle of the Balls game in support of Sports Traider.

"I would love to branch into strength and conditioning with athletes, having also worked with a semi-pro boxer, which was really interesting."

For information on Battle of the Balls and to book tickets, visit tickets.millwallfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/producthome.aspx