The ‘Iceman’ signs for the Yeltz – Welcome Lewis Ison

The club are delighted to announce our first summer signing ahead of the 2026/27 season, as forward thinking midfielder Lewis Ison joins from fellow Southern Premier Central side Stratford Town.

The Coventry born 28 year old started his career as a centre half at Coventry United in 2016 at the age of 18 after he came through the Football Education & Development Sports College, Strachan Football Foundation. Lewis’ time at Coventry United caught the eye of Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2017 to join their academy, but unfortunately his time at The Gas never worked out due to a knee injury.

Known by the nickname ‘Ice’ (Iceman) Lewis re-joined Cov United in January 2019, after his spell on the sidelines. He spent exactly two years at The Red and Greens during their time at step 5 and scored four times in 72 appearances, before joining Hednesford Town at step 3. He quickly became a key man at the Pitmen and was appointed club captain as non-league football returned after Covid-19 in the 2021/22 campaign. 

The 21/22 season was a transitional period for Lewis, who played at centre half and right back before also starting his journey as the goalscoring midfielder we come to know him as now. A position he has flourished in ever since. Throughout the season at Hednesford, Lewis played alongside our very own Todd Parker, scored seven goals, and started all 40 of their league games, 17 of which he captained the side on their way to a 9th place finish at step 3.

He continued his versatility in defense and midfield, and started in the first 29 of the Pitmen’s 22/23 league campaign, 19 of which he captained the side, before making the switch over to Stratford Town in February 2023. He scored once and featured in all 17 of Stratford’s remaining games of their league campaign, all but one of which in the starting XI.

The 2023/24 season was where Lewis really started to find the goalscoring records we are used to seeing. He scored seven league goals and featured in all but one of their 40 league games on route to Stratford missing out on the play-offs by just goal difference. In the 24/25 season, Ison scored double figures in the league for the first time in his career, as he scored 10, and featured in all 42 of the Bards league games. 

He also won Stratford’s supporters & players player of the season, and scored a hat-trick against AFC Sudbury in February 2025 which included an overhead kick and a goal from just inside the opposition half. The most recent campaign (25/26) saw Ice score seven goals in 37 league games.

Yeltz boss Russ Penn expressed his joy at getting our first summer signing over the line

“I am delighted to bring Lewis to the football club. Not a lot of people will know this but I tried to sign him for the last two seasons, and obviously he has had a very good relationship with Stratford which I respected. Sometimes things come to an end, and we have just jumped on the chance to sign him. He’s excited and so are we.

“We have definitely lacked goals throughout the side and the midfield area. We relied too much on Jason, and will go into the new season looking to get goals from everywhere on the pitch, and Lewis will definitely help with that. He is very adaptable. I’ve seen him play centre mid, centre back, right back, and even up front against us. He is very good in the air, he’s fit, and at a really good age in his football career. 

“I think it is a real coup for the club. I don’t think we would have signed a player of this ilk, if we weren’t on that upward trajectory. He sees the vision and the project we are trying to build, and he’s more than happy to be signing.”

Everyone at the club would like to welcome Lewis to the Yeltz 🤝