Ray Lewington - Take A Bow

[White Noise]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23828839-ray-lewington-sees-light-after-fulhams-dark-days.do


Ray Lewington sees light after Fulham's dark days


Ken Dyer


28.04.10



Cool head: Ray Lewington says the Fulham players always keep things in perspective despite their incredible run in the Europa League this season


The latest leg of Fulham's grand European adventure unfolds down by the Thames tomorrow night and no one is enjoying the experience more than Ray Lewington.

Roy Hodgson's unlikely heroes will be doing their best to beat Hamburg, after a goalless draw in Germany, to reach the final of the Europa League and first-team coach Lewington is as excited about the prospect as any supporter of this grand old London club.

It is understandable that Fulham's spectacular success this season means so much to Lewington since his link with the club goes back three decades.

The Lambeth-born Lewington made 174 appearances for Fulham between 1980-85 but it was 12 months on, when he was at Sheffield United, that he took a call one day from then Fulham manager Ray Harford.

Fulham were by then in Division Three and a club unrecognisable from the one that are relishing tomorrow night's semi-final second leg.

"Ray said the club were basically skint and they were looking for a player/manager," recalls Lewington. "He had recommended me for the job but advised me not to take it.

"This was Fulham and I fancied it strongly. I was only 29 and could have gone on playing but I went to Sheffield United and told them what I wanted to do. At first they said no chance' but I kept on and they relented."

That was the start of the Lewington managerial and coaching career which has now turned full circle via Crystal Palace, Brentford and Watford.

Tomorrow night the 53-year-old will be in his usual place in the home dugout and perhaps, fleetingly, thinking back to those dark days and the extent since of the Fulham journey.

"It's been a long haul this season but one I will never forget," he added.

"The season before we had finished a marvellous seventh place so there we were in Europe. Our squad weren't the biggest and we went into the competition fairly relaxed and in a way, perhaps feeling that going out after the qualifying rounds would have suited us. Our first match was way back on 30 July, against Vetra from Lithuania.

"We had come back to pre-season training early because we wanted to be right for that first game.

"I remember there were concerns that we could run out of steam later in the season. We had seen Aston Villa the year before and the way they had fallen away because of their European commitments. They couldn't buy a win at the back end of the season.

"At the start, though, it was a nice little adventure, going to places we hadn't seen before and representing England in a major European competition.

"As we progressed, things got more serious especially after the two-legged win over Shakhtar Donetsk — easily our best performance.

"They were the holders and a very good side. They had a 20-minute spell at Craven Cottage which was better than anything we've played against at home but we won 2-1 and managed to draw the away leg 1-1. It was after that tie that I really thought we might do something special."

Tomorrow's semi-final, second leg against Hamburg is Fulham's 60th competitive match of the season.

"That's more than any other team in the country," Lewington said. "The players have done amazingly well and they still look sharp and slick considering their heavy workload. When you're winning, you don't feel fatigue."

Lewington works under manager Hodgson and alongside goalkeeping coach Mick Kelly. "I think it works well, Roy, Mick and myself," he added. "I suppose I am the outsider because Roy and Mick have worked together, on and off, for the last 30 years but they've never treated me that way.

"We split things up between us but Roy always takes the main session."

Tomorrow night, in the civilised, almost genteel environs of Craven Cottage, Hodgson's team will attempt to once again defy the odds and reach the final of the Europa League.

"The Cottage is a unique place," said Lewington. "You perhaps don't get the intensity of some other stadia although the fans there are good. They don't tend to give the opposition a hard time and they're very fair minded. It's a nice place to watch and play football, not a hard-edged atmosphere. That can though, work in our favour."

As kick-off approaches Hodgson will talk to his players one final time.

"Roy often says, Remember, be modest'," said Lewington. "Keeping things in perspective has been invaluable so far. We tend to get on with it. If we win we don't get carried away and if we lose, we don't beat ourselves up."

This season has seemed so special to Lewington because he can still remember the bad times.

"I remember the chairman David Bulstrode had plans to merge Fulham and QPR and that would have been the end of the club," he added. "I came back from training one day and I remember Yvonne Haines, who is now secretary at Millwall, was crying.

"What's happened?" I asked, and she told me. It was a devastating feeling but thankfully the club survived.

"We've come a long way since then, haven't we?"

[Lighthouse]

 :006: :54:

[Scrumpy]

Lewy is a top guy.

During those dark old days, when he must have spent every waking monent training the players, washing the kit, scouting etc, he took time to hand write me a note following a back operation. It gave me a real boost at the time.

A genuine nice guy who is as much a 'Fulham fan' as the rest of us.
:028:

[The Doctor]

A great little article.  I'll always think fondly of Lewington as he was the manager when I first pitched up at the Cottage

[Hazey]

I love his work as Roy's "shouty man" on the bench...

Rather than make himself look foolish by shouting while in a suit, Roy passes the word on the RL in his tracksuit who yells his heart out on the sidelines!

He loves a shout for sure!

[ron]

The proverbial "Stick of Fulham Rock". If you were to cut him in half (Heaven forbid !) ..there would be 'Fulham' written right through him.

[The Rock]

I remember after getting home watching the highlights of the Villa match when Jimmy scored on the free kick and made it 2-1 and started the Great Escape - and who did the camera move to during the highlights? Ray Lewington jumping up and down like a little girl running circles around Roy.

[SuffolkWhite]

LEWY LEWY LEWINGTON  LEWINGTON LEWINGTON
LEWY LEWY LEWINGTON  LEWINGTON LEWINGTON
LEWY LEWY LEWINGTON  LEWINGTON LEWINGTON

:045:

[Jimpav]

Saw this on the train home. Lovely double page spread in the Standard. What a top bloke.

[Edwatch_Winston_Malone]

I remember shouting "Lewington out"


I think our groundsman Steve, was sacked for 'cuffing' one of the little special one Lewington offspring for playing on the pitch after a game.

Glory days...

[FatFreddysCat]

I remember shouting "Lewington out"


I think our groundsman Steve, was sacked for 'cuffing' one of the little special one Lewington offspring for playing on the pitch after a game.

Glory days...

Steve nicked my bottle of wine which i stole from Nottingham station as a school kid. Horrible hippy twit.