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TLDR - I'm not asking anyone to read it.
I'm a very emotional man. Movies, music, television, a book, a Facebook post, a video game - I love a tear jerker. But one thing I've not let affect my mood long term has been football for the past few years. In my younger years, yeah, but I'd argue since the "break" from COVID lockdowns I've really realised what football is. People, community and memories are what "it" is all about. Everyone enjoys the game differently, for me, it's been less about the result and more about the camaraderie and what you can make of it. The best season I've eve
r had following this club was 21/22 - we fell short in a painful manner to one of our biggest rivals. But it doesn't mean I can't look back with fond memories. The failure of getting over the line doesn't discount anything that came before. "The journey, not the destination" kinda thing.
That is why it's important for me to connect with the players, and the management - even in a shit season every game is important for giving a memory to look back on. So work hard. Win a game. Make people proud. 3 points? Big. But memories are treasure that last longer than a season.
Wolves Away in 2013, Shrewsbury, QPR and Gillingham Away in 2017/18, Rotherham and Derby in 2015/16 - I can go on but there are some of my fondest memories in atrocious seasons. Games where you come away believing. Instill a sense of strength and desire to imagine what good can come. We failed. It didn't matter, those memories were made and fondly remembered.
Dean Lewington may or may not have played in all of those but he's overseen it. He's overseen everything.
I was 11 - ELEVEN when I first watched Dean. I was probably 15 when I first said "he's come back from pre season overweight. He can't do it any more. He's over the hill." At the ripe old age of 30, I'm going to see him probably for one last time. My partners daughter is eleven - the same age I was when I first seen him and that is bonkers to me.
Like a piece of oak, hes got stronger as the years went on.
I've rarely ever come away from a game feeling that Lewington cost us, and believe me that was never sentiment talking.
I cannot fathom how much this man is important to my growth as a football fan - he's seen everything, and I always felt that in whatever tough period when you can't be arsed to go to a game, wonder whether to renew season tickets and such that it was your duty as it was him. As a leader on the pitch, I as a fan felt I wanted to be a leader off it. Turn up. Sing loud, boo if I wanted to, but show up. That's not rocket science - it's what football random is all about but many haven't grasped it, moved on with their lives and found different hobbies once the shiny new club/stadium got boring. I always found a new reason to get behind it.
Much like this season where it'd have taken precious little to convince me to stay in the nice warm pub at 2:30, I sit here writing this excited for next season with Paul Warne at the helm. But tinged with sadness that Dean won't be there any more.
But it's my duty. Our duty as fans to carry his legacy, and what he's instilled in us forward. He's built the club in his image. Much like Pete did, inside 12 months we've let go of a lot to head toward a new direction. And instead of being scared - we should be excited. It's been a slow burn. But Dean will be as hopeful as anyone that we get moving properly over the summer.
I mentioned at the start that I love a good tear jerker. Covid, Russell Martin being a snake etc really made me reevaluate how important the things that rile you up really are. Loyalty etc. But Lewington had that in abundance. I haven't ever come close to shedding a tear at a Dons game I don't think, but tomorrow might be difficult to hold it in.
I know you read these forums Mr Club Person's From The Hierachy - make sure he knows exactly how this now bald, fully tattooed 30 year old family man feels. Exactly the same way as he did as a spotty 11 year old with a moppy hairdo that went down to his shoulders.
You are everything to me. To us.
Thank you Dean Lewington.
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he'll hand in his season ticket by December of whichever year, no doubt