Tributes flood in for charismatic coach Micky Lewis

By Jon Couch

TRIBUTES: Micky Lewis

TRIBUTES have flooded in for charismatic coach Micky Lewis, who passed away on Friday at the age of 58 following a short illness with a rare form of lung cancer.

Lewis was well known in Non-League circles for assisting Chris Wilder in taking Oxford United to promotion from the Football Conference in 2010 and then for a number of coaching stints, including a short spell in charge at Hayes & Yeading United.

In all, Lewis had a 27- year association with Oxford United, originally joining the U’s as a player in 1988 following spells at West Brom and Derby County, going on to play 351 games for the club before being appointed caretaker manager.

After a spell at Oxford City, he joined the coaching team at Slough Town in January 2004 and helped the Rebels achieve a fourth-place finish in Isthmian League Division One South.

Lewis remained at Slough until July 2005, before being named assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers. He returned to Oxford United in March 2014 and took over as caretaker manager of the League Two side following the departure of Wilder to Northampton.

Lewis was then appointed head coach/manager at Hayes & Yeading United in May 2016 after the departure of Garry Haylock but stepped down five months later.

Ryan Clarke, his goalkeeper in that promotion-winning Oxford United side tweeted: “Absolutely devastated. People like Micky do not come around often. Six amazing years working day in day out with one of the best guys I could have wished to have ever met. Thank you for everything. RIP Micky Lewis.”

In a statement, Slough Town added: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mickey and extend our condolences to his family and friends.”