Ray Lewington
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Ray" Lewington (born 7 September 1956 in Lambeth
, England
) is a retired English
footballer and the first team coach of Fulham
. His son, Dean
, is a professional footballer playing for Milton Keynes Dons
.
in the 1970s, and played a season at Vancouver Whitecaps
in 1979, before a loan spell at Wimbledon
.
In 1980 he transferred to Fulham
, and he was to go on and make over 170 League appearances for them before a season at Sheffield United
in 1985-86. After that season he returned to Fulham and went on to play another 60 league matches for them.
Lewington became player-manager of Fulham after their relegation to the old Division Three
in July 1986. His first season was a difficult one. With a tight budget imposed on him, Lewington was unable to lift the club and they flirted with relegation. Off the field, the club was unstable after two takeovers in quick succession and the suggestion of a merger with another club.
The next two seasons showed no sign of an up-turn in fortune, but in 1989, Lewington guided the club to the play-offs, although they were unsuccessful in achieving promotion. The following season saw the club struggle against relegation once more. At the end of that season, Alan Dicks
was brought in, with Lewington becoming his assistant.
Lewington had spells as caretaker manager at Fulham in 1991 and 1994, before joining Crystal Palace
as a coach, becoming assistant to Alan Smith
as Palace were relegated from the Premiership. After the former Palace owner Ron Noades
' takeover of Brentford
in 1998, Brentford's "chairman-manager" brought in Lewington as a Coach in 1999. After Noades relinquished his team-selection duties in 2000, Lewington was appointed as manager of Brentford, taking them to a losing appearance in the Football League Trophy
final in 2001 and guiding them to 14th in Division Two
. He left at the end of the 2000–01 season to become Gianluca Vialli
's reserve team manager at Watford
: a difficult role, as Vialli never let any first-team players play for the reserve side.
When Vialli was sacked in the summer 2002, Lewington was appointed manager. Like with Fulham 16 years earlier, Lewington assumed control of a club that had an extremely limited budget, with the club crippled from the collapse of ITV Digital
and the high-spending of the Vialli era. Despite this, Lewington guided the club to two middle table finishes and two cup semi-finals—a 2–1 loss to Southampton
in the FA Cup in 2003 and a 2–0 loss (over two legs) to Liverpool
in the League Cup
in 2005. Just two months after the Liverpool game, Lewington was sacked, after a poor run of league form.
In July 2005, Lewington joined former club Fulham once more, as reserve team manager. In December 2007, Lewington served a brief stint as caretaker manager after the departure of Lawrie Sanchez
, managing the team for three games until Roy Hodgson
was appointed full-time. He has remained at Craven Cottage as part of the management team as assistant manager. He was replaced as assistant manager by Mark Bowen when Mark Hughes
became manager and is now the First Team Coach.
On 19 October 2010, it was announced on the Fulham FC website that Lewington had been given the job of leading the club's Youth Development Program and that taking his position as first team coach would be Glyn Hodges
.
Under Hughes' successor Martin Jol
, Lewington was reinstated as First Team Coach in June 2011, alongside Jol's assistants Michael Lindeman and Cornelius Jol. Jol said: "We started off with him because he's probably a main figure here, at this club, he knows everything."
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a retired English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer and the first team coach of Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
. His son, Dean
Dean Lewington
Dean Scott Lewington is a football player who plays predominantly at left back for Milton Keynes Dons where he is currently captain...
, is a professional footballer playing for Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
.
Playing career
Lewington started his career at ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the 1970s, and played a season at Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
in 1979, before a loan spell at Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
.
In 1980 he transferred to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, and he was to go on and make over 170 League appearances for them before a season at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in 1985-86. After that season he returned to Fulham and went on to play another 60 league matches for them.
Managerial career
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in July 1986. His first season was a difficult one. With a tight budget imposed on him, Lewington was unable to lift the club and they flirted with relegation. Off the field, the club was unstable after two takeovers in quick succession and the suggestion of a merger with another club.
The next two seasons showed no sign of an up-turn in fortune, but in 1989, Lewington guided the club to the play-offs, although they were unsuccessful in achieving promotion. The following season saw the club struggle against relegation once more. At the end of that season, Alan Dicks
Alan Dicks
Alan Dicks is a retired English footballer and football manager. He managed Bristol City for thirteen years and managed clubs in five countries on three continents....
was brought in, with Lewington becoming his assistant.
Lewington had spells as caretaker manager at Fulham in 1991 and 1994, before joining Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
as a coach, becoming assistant to Alan Smith
Alan Smith (manager)
Alan Smith is an English former football manager who began his coaching career as Steve Coppell's assistant at Crystal Palace. When Palace suffered relegation from the Premiership in 1993, Coppell resigned and Smith moved up to the manager's seat...
as Palace were relegated from the Premiership. After the former Palace owner Ron Noades
Ron Noades
Ron Noades is an English businessman who has a strong connection with investments in football clubs. In his time, he has been chairman of Southall, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and Brentford between 1981 and 1998.-Crystal Palace:...
' takeover of Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in 1998, Brentford's "chairman-manager" brought in Lewington as a Coach in 1999. After Noades relinquished his team-selection duties in 2000, Lewington was appointed as manager of Brentford, taking them to a losing appearance in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final in 2001 and guiding them to 14th in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. He left at the end of the 2000–01 season to become Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is an Italian football manager and former player. Since retiring, he has gone into management and punditry and is a commentator for Sky Sport Italia....
's reserve team manager at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
: a difficult role, as Vialli never let any first-team players play for the reserve side.
When Vialli was sacked in the summer 2002, Lewington was appointed manager. Like with Fulham 16 years earlier, Lewington assumed control of a club that had an extremely limited budget, with the club crippled from the collapse of ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
and the high-spending of the Vialli era. Despite this, Lewington guided the club to two middle table finishes and two cup semi-finals—a 2–1 loss to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the FA Cup in 2003 and a 2–0 loss (over two legs) to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in 2005. Just two months after the Liverpool game, Lewington was sacked, after a poor run of league form.
In July 2005, Lewington joined former club Fulham once more, as reserve team manager. In December 2007, Lewington served a brief stint as caretaker manager after the departure of Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrence Philip "Lawrie" Sanchez is a former Northern Irish football manager, and a former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Barnet...
, managing the team for three games until Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson is a former English footballer and current head coach of West Bromwich Albion.Hodgson, who has managed sixteen different teams in eight countries, guided the Switzerland national team to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup and qualification for Euro 1996; Switzerland had not qualified...
was appointed full-time. He has remained at Craven Cottage as part of the management team as assistant manager. He was replaced as assistant manager by Mark Bowen when Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
became manager and is now the First Team Coach.
On 19 October 2010, it was announced on the Fulham FC website that Lewington had been given the job of leading the club's Youth Development Program and that taking his position as first team coach would be Glyn Hodges
Glyn Hodges
Glyn Hodges , is a Welsh football manager and former player. He played 18 times for the Welsh national side, scoring twice.-Football career:...
.
Under Hughes' successor Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
, Lewington was reinstated as First Team Coach in June 2011, alongside Jol's assistants Michael Lindeman and Cornelius Jol. Jol said: "We started off with him because he's probably a main figure here, at this club, he knows everything."