Two Ex-QPR Center Halves: Danny Cullip Now Lewes' Player Coach..."Six Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" Steve Wicks Birthday

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The Argus/Howard Griggs - Cullip will call on all his experience in new role
Danny Cullip will use tips picked up from 13 years as a professional in his new role as player-coach at Lewes.
The former Albion skipper has played under some top managers and coaches during a career which has included spells at Fulham, Brentford, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Gillingham.
He is now hoping to have an impact as part of Kevin Keehan’s management team at the Dripping Pan.
Cullip, who joined Lewes in the summer, was upgraded to player-coach on the eve of the Rooks’ first win of the season against Oxford United last Saturday.
The move has come earlier than expected for the 32-year-old but Cullip is delighted to help out Keehan.
He said: “Kevin had asked me before and I said I would help if he wanted to but he wanted to make it official. I have a lot of time for Kevin which is why I was happy to do it.
“He thought coming from a professional background there are little bits and pieces I might be able to help with.
“It is something I had thought of for some time in the future, I like that side of things. I like to organise the team on the field, getting the shape and organisation right and tweaking things if they are not right.
“All the managers and coaches I have played under have different attributes.
“Micky Adams gave me my debut at Fulham as an 18-year-old. For me Micky Adams and Steve Coppell are the best I have worked under but I have picked up different things from all of them.
“The pre-season I had at Nottingham Forest under Colin Calderwood was the best pre-season I have ever done. He had a different approach and we came out flying for the season, winning the first eight games.”
Cullip has made it clear he still sees his main role as playing, helping Lewes try to defy the odds by staying up this season.
However, his first game in his new role came strictly from the sidelines as Cullip was serving a one-match ban following his sending off at Histon five days earlier.
He returns to the starting XI away to fellow strugglers Grays tomorrow having enjoyed his first experience of seeing things ‘from the other side’.
Goals from Michael Standing and Sam Gargan helped Lewes come from behind to win 2-1. Cullip said: “Kevin, Terry (Graves) and I were all chatting, all chipping in.
“I am a different character from them and come from a different environment and I am sure it will benefit us. It is a learning curve for us all.
“The substitutins the manager made came off. With the predicament we are in you might as well lose 3-0 as 1-0 so we put Stefan Cox and Shabazz Baidoo on and moved Michael (Standing) to the middle. As it turned out the decisions the manager made won the game for us.”
Cullip has a refreshing outlook on things. He has had a positive approach towards the club’s prospects from the day he signed and was delighted to see Lewes finally get off the mark.
He said: “It was fantastic. We played ever so well in the first half. It doesn’t matter where Oxford are in the table, they are probably the biggest club in the league. From where they have come from, for Lewes to be playing Oxford is fantastic in itself. I started my career at Oxford in the old First Division.
“The pleasing thing was we came from behind to win. We have brought in a bit more experience, a bit more presence and it has helped us. The last two or three games have seen an improvement.” The Argus


Lewes FC are pleased to announce the appointment of Danny Cullip as Player/Coach.
Danny will be using his extensive experience in helping Kevin Keehan on all coaching matters.
The appointment strengthens the coaching staff at the club. ... The Club wishes him every success in his new role. Lewes


Cullip was signed by John Gregory in January 2007 and helped save QPR from relegation. Cullip was released by QPR last season to join Gillingham. He joined Lewes in July. See Cullip/Wikipedia Profile


Ex-QPR Steve Wicks Turns 52:
- Steve Wicks: Born October 3rd 1956...Began at Chelsea; then joined Derby under Tommy Docherty. Wicks was then signed by Tommy Docherty at QPR in September 1979. Wicks played two seasons for QPR before Terry Venables sold Wicks to Crystal Palace in a part exchange for Clive Allen. (QPR got Allen + Cash) in June 1981.
- Six months later, on transfer deadline day, in March 1982, Wicks was brought back to QPR (for a lot than QPR paid!) Unfortunately Wicks was cup-tied and so couldn't play against Spurs. Wicks remained at QPR till July 1986 when he rejoined Chelsea after QPR's calamitous "League Cup" Final against Oxford.
- Wicks didn't win a full England cap, but came close. Another in a long line of ex-Chelsea players who shone at QPR and about whom, QPR fans have very warm feelings!
Wicks Stats -- Dave Barton's QPR Site profile of Steve Wicks -Record -- Wikipedia/Wicks

- Wicks is now back at Chelsea, leading Stadium Tours.