Arran Lee-Barrett
Encyclopedia
Arran Lee-Barrett is an English
footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town.
Lee-Barrett signed for Ipswich
in August 2009, from being a free agent.
’s academy where he played alongside later-England international Darren Bent
.
After leaving Ipswich he was offered an apprenticeship at Fulham
and Norwich
, he chose Norwich as he preferred the atmosphere there. However, he failed to break into the reserve team and was second choice reserve keeper behind future England
international Robert Green
. He was released by Norwich and had a trial at Chelsea
. He was offered a one-year contract with Cardiff after impressing during a trial and was coached by George Wood
. He spent most of his time at Cardiff as third choice keeper, mainly playing for the reserves. While playing for the reserves Lee-Barrett helped Cardiff win the Pontins Holiday Combination. Cardiff manager Lenny Lawrence decided to release the young keeper believing that he was better off getting games.
Torquay
, Doncaster
and Shrewsbury
all showed an interest in Lee-Barrett. Although he trained with Torquay, he moved to Weymouth
due to the offer of first team football. He made 19 league appearances and 2 appearances in the FA Cup, helping Weymouth to win the Nationwide Conference South
. While at Weymouth Lee-Barrett was selected for the England National Game team, which consisted of England’s best non-league players and made his debut for them against Holland in November 2006.
In January 2007, Lee-Barrett signed for Coventry City
on loan as emergency cover for Luke Steele due to the injury of other Coventry keeper Andy Marshall
. After his loan spell he signed permanently after being offered a temporary contract. However at the end of the season he was not offered a new contract and was released after failing to break into the first team. After releasing Lee-Barrett, Coventry City manager Iain Dowie
revealed that he was impressed with his “attitude and professionalism” and wished him all the best.
, making some impressive saves and keeping a clean sheet in the half that he played.
After playing Harlepool's first game of the season, a 2–1 loss to Luton Town
, he was dropped, with Danny Wilson picking Jan Budtz
over him for the Pools next fixtures. He was released from his contract on 6 May 2009 after being deemed surplus to requirements.
. This came a day after Shane Supple
had retired from the game aged 22. Lee-Barrett covered first-choice goalkeeper Richard Wright
and was included in the squad that travelled to West Brom
the next day. He made his debut for Ipswich on 29 November against Cardiff City
, coming off the bench in the 25th minute for the injured Richard Wright
. Ipswich won the game 2–1. Following that game, Ipswich enquired into the possibility of bringing in a keeper on loan to replace Wright, despite the loan window not being open. This request was denied, leaving Lee-Barrett and Ian McLoughlin, the youth team goalkeeper, as the only two goalkeepers on professional contracts at the club. Ipswich's next game was away at Bristol City where Lee-Barrett kept a clean sheet. In January 2010, Lee-Barrett was rewarded with a new 18-month contract at Ipswich. He was offered a further contract extension in April 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who currently plays for Ipswich Town.
Lee-Barrett signed for Ipswich
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in August 2009, from being a free agent.
Career
When he was 10, Lee-Barrett joined his local club Whitton Sports Centre and took the position of goalkeeper. Shortly after he was offered a place at Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
’s academy where he played alongside later-England international Darren Bent
Darren Bent
Darren Ashley Bent is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Bent started his career with Ipswich Town. After progressing through their youth system he made his first team debut in 2001. He made 122 appearances and scored 48 goals in the league for Ipswich, before joining...
.
After leaving Ipswich he was offered an apprenticeship at Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and Norwich
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, he chose Norwich as he preferred the atmosphere there. However, he failed to break into the reserve team and was second choice reserve keeper behind future England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Robert Green
Robert Green
Robert Paul Green is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United and the England national football team as a goalkeeper.-Norwich City:...
. He was released by Norwich and had a trial at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. He was offered a one-year contract with Cardiff after impressing during a trial and was coached by George Wood
George Wood (footballer)
George Wood is a Scottish former football goalkeeper.-Club playing career:George Wood started his career at East Stirlingshire for whom he scored a goal from his own penalty area against Queen of the South goalkeeper, Allan Ball.He moved to Blackpool in 1972, for £10,000 George Wood (born 26...
. He spent most of his time at Cardiff as third choice keeper, mainly playing for the reserves. While playing for the reserves Lee-Barrett helped Cardiff win the Pontins Holiday Combination. Cardiff manager Lenny Lawrence decided to release the young keeper believing that he was better off getting games.
Torquay
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, Doncaster
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
all showed an interest in Lee-Barrett. Although he trained with Torquay, he moved to Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
due to the offer of first team football. He made 19 league appearances and 2 appearances in the FA Cup, helping Weymouth to win the Nationwide Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
. While at Weymouth Lee-Barrett was selected for the England National Game team, which consisted of England’s best non-league players and made his debut for them against Holland in November 2006.
In January 2007, Lee-Barrett signed for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on loan as emergency cover for Luke Steele due to the injury of other Coventry keeper Andy Marshall
Andy Marshall
Andrew "Andy" Marshall Andrew "Andy" Marshall Andrew "Andy" Marshall (born 14 April 1975 in Bury St Edmunds, is an English professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper in the Premier League for Aston Villa...
. After his loan spell he signed permanently after being offered a temporary contract. However at the end of the season he was not offered a new contract and was released after failing to break into the first team. After releasing Lee-Barrett, Coventry City manager Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
revealed that he was impressed with his “attitude and professionalism” and wished him all the best.
Hartlepool United
Shortly after Lee-Barrett was signed by Hartlepool after being recommended by Hartlepool’s goalkeeping coach George Wood who had previously coached him at Cardiff. For his first season at Hartlepool he was given the number 21 shirt. On his debut Lee-Barrett performed well against NewcastleNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, making some impressive saves and keeping a clean sheet in the half that he played.
After playing Harlepool's first game of the season, a 2–1 loss to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, he was dropped, with Danny Wilson picking Jan Budtz
Jan Budtz
Jan Budtz is a Danish footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Stalybridge Celtic after leaving Eastwood Town...
over him for the Pools next fixtures. He was released from his contract on 6 May 2009 after being deemed surplus to requirements.
Ipswich Town
On 21 August 2009, it was announced that Lee-Barrett had signed for the Championship team, on a short term deal. Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. This came a day after Shane Supple
Shane Supple
Shane Supple is an Irish sportsman. He plays Gaelic football with the Dublin senior football team and with his home club St Brigids, in Castleknock...
had retired from the game aged 22. Lee-Barrett covered first-choice goalkeeper Richard Wright
Richard Wright (footballer)
Richard Ian Wright is an English professional goalkeeper, currently playing for Ipswich Town, now his third spell with the club having played earlier in the season for the reserves...
and was included in the squad that travelled to West Brom
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
the next day. He made his debut for Ipswich on 29 November against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, coming off the bench in the 25th minute for the injured Richard Wright
Richard Wright (footballer)
Richard Ian Wright is an English professional goalkeeper, currently playing for Ipswich Town, now his third spell with the club having played earlier in the season for the reserves...
. Ipswich won the game 2–1. Following that game, Ipswich enquired into the possibility of bringing in a keeper on loan to replace Wright, despite the loan window not being open. This request was denied, leaving Lee-Barrett and Ian McLoughlin, the youth team goalkeeper, as the only two goalkeepers on professional contracts at the club. Ipswich's next game was away at Bristol City where Lee-Barrett kept a clean sheet. In January 2010, Lee-Barrett was rewarded with a new 18-month contract at Ipswich. He was offered a further contract extension in April 2011.