Bootle make their second addition to their squad as forward Lewis Reilly puts pen to paper.
By Brendan Doyle
After leaving Workington AFC earlier this month, Lewis Reilly is now the newest member of Mick McGraa’s squad heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
Reilly signed his first professional contract at Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2017 and made his first start for The Railway men in an EFL Trophy figure against Port Vale in November 2017 in which Reilly scored 2 goals in the match, but The Railwaymen suffered a 4-2 defeat.
Reilly made 4 more appearances for Crewe Alexandra in the 2017/18 season before spending the rest of his time out on loan spells at Halesowen Town, Curzon Ashton, Telford United and returned to Curzon Ashton for a second loan spell.
Reilly then signed for Chorley in August 2020, that season he featured in a historical FA Cup 2-0 win against Derby County where the National League North side caused a monumental upset against the EFL Championship side. Reilly himself featured in the tie by coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. After a season at Chorley, he made the switch closer to home in Marine and spent the 2022/23 at the Crosby side.
Lewis then signed for Workington in which he was once again involved in a club’s history by helping The Reds gain promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division by scoring the winning goal in the 9th minute of extra in the play off final against Runcorn Linnets in a 2-1 win. This was Workington’s first promotion since 2005.
When we spoke to Lewis he vocalised his excitement about joining The Bucks, “I’m absolutely over the moon to be here as I’ve heard loads of great things about the gaffer and the club.”
He also expressed his first reaction when Bootle boss Mick McGraa made contact about recruiting him into the Bootle ranks, “I was excited and I spoke to Alan Morgan straight after it who was his assistant here and he’d told me about how the gaffer is and how the club is too. To be honest I couldn’t wait to speak to Alan and tell him the good news.”
Not only is Lewis excited to be here at Bootle but he also revealed his ambitions whilst at the club, “Promotion. That’s the first thing I spoke to the gaffer about on the phone, I’m not settling for anything else.”