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LEWIS HEADS FOR PREMIERSHIP

By County Press Reporter - Friday, May 9, 2008
AN Island footballer could have a taste of Premiership action next season after he helped his side, Stoke City, to promotion last week.
Lewis Buxton, 24, formerly of East Cowes, has been with Stoke since he signed from Portsmouth in 2004, and on Saturday was brought on as an early substitute in their 0-0 draw with Leicester — which was enough to secure promotion to the Premiership for the first time in the club’s history.
Buxton still has a year left in his contract and if manager Tony Pulis believes he has what it takes, Buxton will join an elite band of Islanders who have played in the top flight.
Fellow Islander Gary Rowett played for Derby County while Gareth Williams was with Aston Villa in the late 1980s.
On Tuesday Stoke, with Lewis, enjoyed a victory parade in an open-topped bus through the town, cheered by around 30,000 elated City fans.
Buxton, a former Osborne Middle School and Cowes High School pupil, was handed his professional debut aged just 17 at Portsmouth, under the leadership of Graham Rix.
Loan spells at Exeter and Bournemouth followed, before he signed at Stoke, where he has become a regular first-team player and a highly dependable defender.
His first career goal came in September 2005 against Wolves, although this season his progress has been hampered by injury.
Buxton told the County Press: “It’s really exciting being involved with a club which is now in the Premiership.
“The open-top bus tour was quality. There were thousands of people cheering us on and it felt great. And the promotion game was the best I have ever been in, I’ve never experienced anything like it.
“I don’t know what is going to happen next season. This year I haven’t been playing that much, so I will have to speak to the manager and see what he thinks.”