Born: Lambeth, 7 September 1956
Position: Midfielder
Signed: 1 July 1980 from Wimbledon (£50,000); 1 July 1986 from Sheffield United (£25,000)
Fulham debut: Peterborough United 1-1 Fulham, 9 August 1980
Fulham appearances: 275
Fulham goals: 24
Sold: 1 July 1985 to Sheffield United (£40,000); 1 June 1990 (retired)
Lambeth-born Ray Lewington joined Fulham from Wimbledon in 1980 and made more than 170 league appearances in five years before spending a season at Sheffield United before returning to Craven Cottage. He became player-manager in July 1986, aged 27, following the club’s relegation to the Third Division. Lewington was handed a poisoned chalice with the club’s best players sold, finances tight and uproar in the midst of the Fulham Park Rangers merger proposal.
The Whites finished in 18th place in his first campaign in charge and, after two largely forgettable seasons, Lewington led to the play-offs in 1989, where they were well beaten by Bristol Rovers. When the side struggled the following season, he was made number two to new boss Alan Dicks. Lewington had two more stints in caretaker charge before becoming Roy Hodgson’s assistant as the Whites produced a Great Escape in 2008. He was a key part of the backroom staff that guided Fulham to the Europa League final in 2010 before following Hodgson to Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, England and Crystal Palace twice.
