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Lewis Binns will combine part-time football with a sports therapy internship at Newport-based Pro12 rugby club Dragons during the 2017/18 season.

The Evesham United left-back has just completed a degree at Hartpury College, coming out with first class honours.

Binns started his career in the youth systems at Cardiff City and Newport County, appearing for England Schoolboys.

After a brief spell with Gloucester City, he joined Bishop’s Cleeve before switching to Evesham three years ago.

During that time they have missed out in the play-off semi-finals twice and Binns hopes to help them finally clinch a place in the Southern League Premier Division in 2017/18.

“Promotion has got to be the target,” the 21-year-old said.

“We've come close for the last three years, just falling short, but it's just made everyone hungrier to achieve it this year.

“The players we've kept on and the additions we’ve made means promotion is a realistic goal and hopefully we'll make a good start to give us something to build on.”

As well as aiming for success on the pitch, Binns is hoping to land a sports therapy job in professional sport as he career progresses.

“I am following up my degree with a full-time internship at the Dragons and potentially finding some part-time work alongside that too,” he said.

“I am hoping to find a full-time sports therapy job towards the end of next season, ideally in professional sport.”

Binns is from Chepstow, but has lived in Gloucester for the past five years.

When he was at Cleeve, he was unable to play in some midweek games due to a curfew for young students at Hartpury.

After showing plenty of promise at Kayte Lane, Evesham boss Paul Collicutt made an approach and Binns said it was an offer he could not refuse.

“After the end of my first season at Cleeve I had a call from Colly asking me to go and have a chat with him which I did, then attended the first pre-season session a few weeks later,” he said.

“I knew how good the facilities were and knew they got decent crowds.

“Colly's plan for the season and where he wanted the club to be more or less made my decision for me as after a relegation scrap the year before I really wanted to be in and around the play-offs.”

Binns has agreed to sign on for another year at Evesham and he is thoroughly enjoying life under Collicutt’s management.

“He is one of the most passionate people I've ever been involved with,” he said.

“Everything is focussed towards winning and he wants the best out of everyone and isn't happy with anything less, but still does his best to make sure all his players are happy.

“Both Gerry (Oldham) and Locky (Mark Lockwood) have got loads of experience, especially with the success they had at Cinderford Town and they have really encouraged a more forward thinking approach to our game.

“I am really happy to be staying and really enjoying the challenge.

“The last two or three seasons have been good, but still disappointing with regards to results at the end of the season meaning us missing out on promotion.

"But the style of football we've played has made everyone look forward to turning up on a match day and hopefully we can give the supporters what they deserve.”