Bexhill swoop for Rye ace Ellis

The skilful midfielder was a regular in the Rye United side which came second in Sussex County Football League Division One and reached the FA Vase quarter-finals last season.

Joint manager Jamie Podmore said: “Signing someone of his quality is massive. He’s got a lot of friends at Bexhill and he said he wants to start enjoying his football again.”

Ellis, who spent several years at Hastings United prior to joining Rye, scored four goals for the Quarterboys last season and memorably hit the post before being sent-off in the FA Vase last eight tie at King’s Lynn Town.

The 25-year-old put pen to paper with Sussex Division Two team Bexhill after a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hastings on Saturday.

Jack Aston and Josh Elliott-Noye, two key members of the Sidley United side which Podmore led to the Sussex Reserve Section (East) title last term, also signed on Saturday, along with Warren Parsons.

Liam Miles, a striker who featured quite a lot for Sidley’s front side in 2010/11, committed himself last Thursday night, as did another ex-Sidley player in Sam Hesmer and existing Bexhill man Will Dunstall.

The full article will appear in Friday’s Bexhill Observer.