MK Dons legend Lewington to get Freedom of the City
MK Dons captain Dean Lewington will be awarded the Freedom of the City to recognise his contribution to both club and community.
Lewington, 40, who retires at the end of this season, has made more than 900 appearances for the Dons, making him the club's all-time appearance record holder.
The announcement he would be getting the award - to be presented at a special council meeting - was made at a gala dinner being held in his honour.
"Dean Lewington's loyalty to MK Dons and to Milton Keynes is truly remarkable," said Pete Marland, the leader of the city Council.
"His commitment, leadership and contribution both on and off the pitch make him an outstanding ambassador for our city and it's a real pleasure to be able to recognise his contributions with this honour," added Marland, a Labour councillor.
Jane Carr, a Liberal Democrat councillor who leads the opposition group on the council, said: "It is proper and fitting that Dean is being proposed for this award and I look forward to the Special Council Meeting to celebrate his achievements."
Lewington will become only the second individual recipient of the Freedom of the City since Milton Keynes was granted city status in 2022.
Leah Williamson, captain of the Lionesses, the England Women's team, was given the honour in 2023.
Lewington was part of MK Dons squad that won the EFL Trophy at Wembley in 2008 and were then promoted to the Championship in 2015.
In 2023, he set a new English Football League record for the most league appearances for the same club.
The Freedom of the City, the highest honour a city council can give, recognises individuals who have provided service to the area.
The council said it would announce the date of the special meeting soon.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Ending playing career is 'a bit scary' - Lewington
Lewington equals appearance record in MK Dons win
'Prehistoric' Lewington set for 900th appearance
MK Dons captain Lewington signs new deal
MK Dons
Milton Keynes City Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man City and Wolverhampton Wanderers reach full agreement for long-term Man United target Rayan Ait-Nouri
Long-term Manchester United defensive target Rayan Ait-Nouri is set to complete his move to cross-town rivals Manchester City, who have reached a full agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ait-Nouri has been linked to United at various points of his career but needless to say, a transfer never materialised. Advertisement After Ruben Amorim took over as head coach, there were suggestions that United might target Ait-Nouri, who is highly familiar with the demands of the wing-back role—a position he has consistently impressed in at Wolves. However, United's January signing of Patrick Dorgu from Lecce made a move for Ait-Nouri highly unlikely, especially with other positions taking priority in the club's plans to strengthen the squad. Still, rumours linking Ait-Nouri to United never completely faded. However, as the Red Devils hesitated, City stepped in and swiftly made the Algerian their top transfer target. Earlier on Saturday, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Ait-Nouri successfully completed his medical tests. Advertisement Romano indicated that the next step was for the 24-year-old to put pen to paper on a five-year contract until 2030. Now, Ben Jacobs has reported that Wolves and City have agreed a deal worth an initial €37m fee plus a further €6m in add-ons for Ait-Nouri. Jacobs also confirms that the player has done his medical. City will be hoping to announce Ait-Nouri's signing before they jet off to the United States to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup later this month. For United, it will be a bitter pill to swallow that their long-term target has ended up joining one of their biggest rivals. Ait-Nouri played 135 times for Wolves across the last five seasons in the English top-flight. Last term, he scored four goals and provided seven assists in 37 league appearances. Advertisement Featured image Naomi Baker via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
THREE Liverpool stars told they will be leaving
Liverpool are gearing up for a productive transfer window. They have already secured the signing of Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong - who joins from Bayer Leverkusen. Plans are in place for Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz too - with the Reds hoping to tie up those deals quickly. Adding just those three players will cost the club in the region of £200m - and that's before we consider a new centre-forward or midfielder. Advertisement It's clear that Liverpool need sales in order to finances a rebuild and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher have already left. But more outgoings will be required if a high-quality squad is to be assembled. There are plenty of players considered expendable - despite the club having just won the Premier League title. We could see Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all potentially leave. And fringe players aren't immune either. Bids could well be heard for Ben Doak - the 19-year-old Scotland international winger who was on loan at Middlesbrough last season. But Arne Slot might also opt to chop some of the other young talents he had in his first-team squad last season. Danns, Morton and McConnell to leave Liverpool have got a productive academy pipeline - and there are indications that they are ready to clear the decks. That move will make way for the next generation of first-team hopefuls as well as add cash to the club's transfer kitty. Advertisement And TBR Football's Graeme Bailey claims Jayden Danns, Tyler Morton and James McConnell will be leaving the club this summer. 'I know that Liverpool are ready to bring a batch through that can be like Arne's boys,' Bailey said. 'I've been told that they're expecting a new stream of youth talent as it were. 'The likes of Danns, Morton and McConnell are a few of them who are going to be moving on. 'So Liverpool are making room for a new batch of youngsters. I think Liverpool are excited about what's coming. 'I know there's a right-back at Liverpool who they really like.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussie coach steers Hull KR to Challenge Cup joy
Australian coach Willie Peters has seen his Hull KR team end 40 years of hurt in a dramatic finish to the English Challenge Cup final as they beat Warrington Wolves 8-6 at a rain-lashed Wembley Stadium. Mikey Lewis held his nerve to kick the winning conversion after Tom Davies had flopped onto Australian playmaker Tyrone May's kick to haul the Robins level against Warrington with just minutes to spare. Lewis then stepped up to boot his side into the history books, completing a win that erased the memory of their last-gasp agony against Leigh in 2023. Largely out-muscled by a Wire side orchestrated by the imperious Marc Sneyd, Rovers looked set for more Wembley agony as the underdogs entered the final three minutes with a four-point advantage. But after Tom Davies stretched to touch down following an error from Aaron Lindop, it was left to Lewis - handed kicking duties in the absence of the Cup-tied Arthur Mourgue, to nail the two-pointer that sparked raucous celebrations among the red and white hordes behind the post. The Boss ❤️#UpTheRobins🔴⚪️ — Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) June 7, 2025 "That was probably the moment when I was the most calm," insisted Sydneysider Peters, who celebrated wildly with his players - many of whom had been part of their agonising 2023 golden-point defeat to Leigh - at the final hooter less than one and a half minutes after his side had nudged back ahead. "It was a massive moment and I believed he was going to get it because of the belief he has in himself. He's not our number one kicker but I felt really comfortable and confident when he had the ball in his hands because that was his moment." Lewis' early penalty looked set to give Rover a slender halftime advantage before Josh Thewlis took advantage of a ricochet to give his side the lead. Sneyd, who added a superb two points from the touchline in the second half and won the Lance Todd Trophy for man of the match, continued to dominate after the break until May's clever kick led to the late, late drama. "It wasn't the best performance but it was gritty and that's all you need in a Cup final," added Peters. "You need to have grit and you need to enjoy discomfort, and they certainly did that." Deflated Warrington coach and former South Sydney NRL star Sam Burgess said he could not have asked any more from his side, who were on the verge of securing their first Wembley triumph since 2019. Burgess, whose side were also beaten by Wigan in last year's final, said: "You don't always get what you deserve and I don't think we deserved to lose today. "We controlled the game very well and executed the plan. Unfortunately these things can happen, we were just on the wrong side of things today." Burgess also revealed that Australian winger Matt Dufty suffered a facial fracture which will now see him miss a chunk of the Super League season. "Matt Dufty broke his cheek or eye socket with about 25 minutes to go and was trying to get to the end of the game, but it just popped out," said Burgess. "We'll be without Duft for a little while but it was outstanding to try to play through the pain. It's just unfortunate we didn't get the job done for him."
