Chris Lewington has committed himself to staying at Margate for the rest of the season, but won't rule out another tilt at league football if the chance comes.

The 27-year-old former Dagenham and Redbridge goalkeeper, who lives at Northfleet, has been without a club since leaving Colchester in the summer and jumped at the chance of regular first team football at Hartsdown Park.

Lewington played 127 games for the Daggers in five years, having started his career at Charlton, before spells with several Kent non-league clubs, including a loan stay at Sittingbourne.

His last league appearance was for Colchester at Chesterfield at the end of last season.

He said: "I'd love to get back into the league, that is the ultimate for any professional footballer.

"I was so lucky to achieve that, and I am really thankful to Dagenham and Colchester for giving me the opportunity.

"I will never say a bad word about either club, because they were brilliant to me."

Explaining how the move to Margate came about, Lewington added: ""I was training at Charlton and at a couple of other clubs, but nothing came up.

"A good friend of mine knew the goalkeeping coach Stacey Beckham who put my name forward to Nikki Bull.

"The position was available as he wasn't playing anymore, so we had a chat, and he asked me to come down.

"I hadn't played for nearly four months, and have loved every minute of it.

"I have really enjoyed myself and the boys made me very welcome."

Bull said: "Chris has contributed a hell of a lot already, he has signed a contract until the end of the season, and having him here permanently is a massive bonus and a real coup for the club.

"He is looking to get back into league football, and we have managed to convince him that playing every week until the end of the season here, gives him a better opportunity to do that.

"I am delighted he is here, and he'll win us a lot of points."