By Joshua Stewart
Twitter: @JoshStewart47
Dean Lewington has broken the record for appearing in the most number of fixtures for one club in the English Football League.
The Milton Keynes Dons defender started in their 1-0 win over Colchester United on Boxing Day to earn his 771st league appearance for the club.
The record of 770 was formerly held by John Trollope of Swindon Town and had lasted for over 40 years.
An 89th minute winner saw that his record-breaking day ended in celebration as he was also awarded the man of the match award, helping his team keep a clean sheet.
Lewington has been part of MK Dons since their formation in 2004, having followed the club in its move from Wimbledon.
He has seen success in his time at the club having lifted the EFL Trophy in 2008 as well as being promoted from League Two twice, in 2008 and 2019, whilst also helping the club reach the championship for the first time in their history in 2015. He also started in the famous 4-0 League Cup win over Manchester United in 2014.
Lewington has already reached the 900 career appearances mark in all competitions, all for MK Dons as he continues to display his loyalty toward the club that was controversially relocated by Pete Winkelman, Chairman of MK Dons.
Speaking after the game, he said: “I’ve had so many nice messages, the fans did a lovely banner for me, and they have made a massive effort, and I don’t want to sound unappreciative of it because I am, but I just wanted to win a game of football, and for me, the three points was more important than the record.
“I’ve spent my whole life here really. It’s been the club which saved my career. Wimbledon was going to the wall and Pete stepped in and saved it. We were in administration, we weren’t getting paid but he stepped in and that gave a lot of the young boys at the club a start in football which is the hardest thing to get. That was it, that was the start.”
Stadium MK rose to its feet to applaud the long-serving captain at the full-time whistle as he pumped his fist towards the home end ‘Cowshed’, which hadn’t even been built when he made his debut for the club back in 2004.
