William Lewis (football)
 Lewis while with Brentford in 1902. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 1860 | ||
| Place of birth | Brentford, England | ||
| Date of death | 6 May 1916 (aged 55) | ||
| Place of death | Brentford, England | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1900–1903 | Brentford | ||
| 1903–1904 | Brentford (caretaker) | ||
| 1906–1907 | Chelsea (caretaker) | ||
William Lewis (September 1860 – 6 May 1916) was an English football referee, director, secretary and manager, active in the early 20th century. He managed Brentford and Chelsea, the latter in the Football League.
Managerial career[edit]
Brentford[edit]
Lewis was named secretary-manager of Southern League Second Division club Brentford in 1900 and led them to the title and promotion to the Southern League First Division in the 1900–01 season.[1] The Bees finished second-from-bottom in their first season in the First Division, but held onto their status in the league after a relegation playoff with Grays United was called off before going into extra time.[2] Brentford finished bottom of the First Division in 1902–03, but once again held onto their place in the league after a 7–2 relegation playoff victory over West London rivals Fulham.[3] Lewis stepped down from the role in May 1903 and was replaced by Richard Molyneux.[3] Lewis covered the manager's position for Molyneux for part of the 1903–04 season, after Molyneux was suspended from football for attempting to buy a goalkeeper out of the army.[4] Lewis remained at Brentford as secretary until 1905 and later returned to the club in an administrative capacity.[5][6]
Chelsea[edit]
Lewis became the first club secretary of Chelsea when it was founded in 1905 and his contacts helped the club gain election to Football League the same year.[7][8] With the resignation of player-manager John Robertson on 27 November 1906,[9] Lewis became caretaker manager of the club, while retaining his secretarial duties.[7][8] Lewis led the side to its first promotion in the 1906–07 season, finishing as Second Division runners-up to Nottingham Forest.[10] He left the job in June 1907 and was succeeded by David Calderhead.[11][9]
Personal life[edit]
Lewis was a schoolteacher by profession.[5] He died in May 1916 after a long battle with cancer.[12]
Honours[edit]
Brentford
- Southern League Second Division: 1900–01[1]
Chelsea
- Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1906–07[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b White 1989, p. 75-76.
- ^ White 1989, p. 78.
- ^ a b White 1989, p. 80.
- ^ White 1989, p. 81-82.
- ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 113. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
- ^ White 1989, p. 83-85.
- ^ a b Cheshire, Scott (1998). Chelsea: An Illustrated History. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-143-5.
- ^ a b Glanvill, Rick (2006). Chelsea: The Official Biography. Headline. ISBN 0-7553-1466-2.
- ^ a b "History of Chelsea Football Club". Soccermaniak.com. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ a b "William Lewis". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "William Lewis | Chelsea Manager | Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC". Stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 107. ISBN 0951526200.
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