Source: FOOTYMAD
Eddie Lewis 1935 - 2011
It has been announced that Eddie Lewis who made a dozen appearances for PNE in the mid 1950's has died in South Africa from Cancer. Edward Lewis was born in Manchester on 3 February 1935. Lewis started his career with Goslings FC before joining Manchester United as an amateur in July 1949 before signing professionally in January 1952. At the age of 17 he made his debut for United and scored in the match against West Brom in November 1952. Appearances were limited due to the emergence of the Busby Babes such as Bobby Charlton and Dennis Violet. The arrival at Old Trafford of Tommy Taylor from Barnsley led to Lewis joining Preston for a fee of £9,000 in December 1955. He had scored 9 goals from 20 appearances. Lewis made his debut and scored in a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa on 10 December 1955. He made 11 appearances during the season and scored is only other goal for the Lilywhites in a 3-1 home victory over former club Manchester United on 21 January. The only appearance in 1956/57 before joining West Ham in a swap for Frank O’Farrell in November 1956, this was in a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on 25 August. The 1957/58 season he was part of the West Ham squad which won the Second Division title before joining Leyton Orient in June 1958. Lewis made 31 appearances and scored 12 goals for the Hammers. He was converted from centre forward to full back with Leyton Orient, and probably played his best seasons in that position and helped them to the runners up spot to Liverpool for the Second Division title in 1961/62 when he made 41 appearances. In total he scored 5 goals in 143 league appearances before moving to non-league football in 1964. He went on to play for Folkstone and later managed Clapton FC and Ford Sports FC in the Greeter London League. In 1970 he emigrated to South Africa and he became an Insurance Salesman and coached a number of football clubs in South Africa. Prior to illness he worked as an analyst for the TV sports station Supersport and also for PA Sports but remained as technical advisor for Moroka Swallows until his death on 2 May 2011 from Cancer in a Johannesburg hospital.
