He went on to play for Vancouver Whitecaps, Wimbledon, Sheffield United, and had two spells at Fulham, for whom he made 234 Football League appearances.

Following the end of his time as a player he has spent most of the rest of his career as a coach or assistant manager, with spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham, as well as the England national football team.

Off the field, the club was unstable after two takeovers in quick succession and the suggestion of a merger with their West London rivals Queens Park Rangers.

[4] The next two seasons showed no sign of an up-turn in fortune, but in 1989, Lewington guided the club to the play-offs, although they were unsuccessful in achieving promotion.

[6][7] After Noades relinquished his team-selection duties in 2000, Lewington was appointed as manager of Brentford, taking them to a losing appearance in the Football League Trophy final in 2001 and guiding them to 14th in Division Two.

On 17 October 2010, it was announced on the Fulham website that Lewington had been given the job of leading the club's youth development programme and that taking his position as first team coach would be Glyn Hodges.

[15] In March 2023, Lewington returned to Crystal Palace for a third spell in the role of first-team coach, following the appointment of Hodgson on a short-term contract until the end of the season,[16] the duo staying on for the 2023–24 season having successfully helped the club avoid relegation.

[18] One of Lewington's sons, Dean, is a professional footballer who plays for Milton Keynes Dons.