City award 'huge deal' for Dons legend Lewington

Only four people have made more EFL appearances than Dean Lewington

"I don't think I was the most talented of players, but I did the best with the cards that I was dealt."

Dean Lewington is now a development coach with Milton Keynes Dons after a single-club career in which he played more than 900 games.

And the 41-year-old's football longevity was recently marked by him becoming only the second person to be given the Freedom of the City - an award for people deemed to be of great distinction.

The words "club legend" have been applied to many players over the years, but in Lewington's case they are absolutely spot-on appropriate.

He made his Football League debut for the old Wimbledon FC against Sheffield Wednesday in 2003 and moved with the club when they relocated to Milton Keynes, changing their name before the start of the 2004-05 season.

"I heard about coming to Milton Keynes in around 2001. I think there was an idea of going to Dublin, but we ended up coming to Milton Keynes instead.

"I think Wimbledon then as a club were struggling; we'd been relegated from the Premiership and had financial troubles, and the plans for Milton Keynes looked amazing, and we were all very excited to come here," Lewington told BBC Look East.

"I played 917 times for the club. I'd love to tell you the secret, but I don't have one. It was just my enjoyment of the game, my love for football and for playing for MK at this stadium.

"I've always been happiest when I've been out on the pitch; I've never seen it as a job. It was something I didn't want to give up."

Freedom award 'means the world'

Dean Lewington playing at Wembley in the 2008 EFL Trophy final

Lewington retired as club captain at the end of last season, having made an emotional final appearance at Stadium MK against Grimsby Town in April, followed by a brief farewell cameo at the end of an away game at Swindon.

The Freedom of the City honour, though, came out of the blue.

"When I was told I was being given the Freedom of Milton Keynes, I was obviously very surprised - I was a little drunk when they first told me, so it didn't quite kick in.

"But it means the world. The fact that so few people have been honoured is obviously a huge deal for me, and the fact that after I finished playing, I've been recognised in this way is something I'm very proud of," he said.

"I have a really positive association with Milton Keynes, I've loved my time here and it's nice to know I've had that impact on other people's lives too."

Lewington was a member of three promotion-winning MK Dons teams, most notably in 2014-15 when they reached the Championship for the first time.

There were also memorable moments in cup competitions, including winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008, a 2-0 win over Grimsby, and beating Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2014.

"Football motivates me. It's something that's in me. My dad's been in football for 50-plus years, and my brother [is in football] as well, and it's just something that we do.

"I wake up in the morning, and normally football is one of my first thoughts, and it's something that just makes me happy. It's a life that I know and that I like. It's just something that comes naturally to me."

'Synonymous with Milton Keynes'

Current MK Dons head coach Paul Warne hugs Dean Lewington following his final home game for the club

Lewington broke John Trollope's 40-year record for the most league appearances for a single club in the EFL in 2023.

He said: "I've been very lucky in my career to have played so many times, and I'm synonymous with Milton Keynes and MK Dons.

"I count myself very fortunate to do it for so long. I know lots of players that I played with that didn't get the chance, and so I guess I'm just one of the lucky ones that managed to fulfil my dreams and do it out here at this stadium."

But what does the city itself mean to Lewington?

"The city means everything to me; it's given me my whole life. All my memories and special times are here at the stadium, and you know I've achieved so much in football, and and it's all been done here.

"I love the place, I love what it stands for; there's always something new, it's always changing, and it's a really good place to be."