Graeme Lee (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Graeme Lee is an English professional footballer who plays for Darlington
as a defender
. He has previously played for Hartlepool United
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Doncaster Rovers
, Bradford City
and also had loan spells with Hartlepool and Shrewsbury Town
. Lee has won the Football League Trophy
with Doncaster Rovers, and helped both Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday to promotion in the mid 2000's.
, North Yorkshire
, Lee started his career at Hartlepool United
, notching up almost 300 appearances at centre back and helping the club secure promotion to the Second Division
. Lee also played as a striker for Hartlepool, scoring twenty goals for the club.
. He made 67 appearances for Wednesday and scored five goals in his first season and took up the captain's arm band when Dean Smith
was injured, this made him a shining light in one of the Owl's worst ever seasons which led to him picking up a fans' player of the season award. Lee started the 2004–05 season in the same vein as he ended the last. Although dogged by injuries at the tail end of the season he was voted defender of the year by fans of the club.
and signed for Doncaster Rovers
from Sheffield Wednesday for £50,000 in 2005. He was Rovers' captain. He scored the winning goal in their 3–2 win over Bristol Rovers in the 2007 Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium
.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, he was ruled out for six weeks with a neck problem, and when he returned he was sidelined for another four months because of a fractured knee. Instead on 14 February 2008, Lee signed for former club Hartlepool United on loan for one-month. Following his return to the Keepmoat Stadium, Lee was loaned out again, this time to Shrewsbury Town
until the end of the season. He was recalled with two games remaining, after a series of injuries had left Rovers short of defensive cover. In June 2008, after a season in which he was limited to a couple of substitute performances, Lee was released by Doncaster Rovers.
side Bradford City
. On 6 August 2008, Lee was made Bradford City club captain for the 2008–09 season, taking over from David Wetherall
, who had retired at the end of the previous season. At the same time, he said it was his goal to lift the league title. He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County
, which Bradford won 2–1. His first goal for the club came in a 3–1 victory at Grimsby Town
on 24 October 2008, having played in all City's opening 13 league games of the season. Two weeks later he added a second goal, helping City to upset League One-side Milton Keynes Dons
2–1 in the FA Cup
. He played in the club's first 34 league and cup games of the season, before he missed his first game in February because of suspension from picking up five bookings.
joining on a free transfer on 30 June 2009
just prior to the infamous takeover of the club by Munto Finance.
Lee played an important role as County were promoted as Champions of League Two
in 2010 under Ian McParland
, Sven-Göran Eriksson
, Hans Backe
, Dave Kevan
and Steve Cotterill
. He started the 2010-11 season as first choice centre back for yet another new County manager Craig Short
but he would not be part of next manager Paul Ince
's plans and was made a free agent in December 2010 bringing to an end a memorable 18 months at the club.
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He has previously played for Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Doncaster Rovers
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...
, Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and also had loan spells with Hartlepool and Shrewsbury Town
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...
. Lee has won the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
with Doncaster Rovers, and helped both Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday to promotion in the mid 2000's.
Hartlepool United
Born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, Lee started his career at Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, notching up almost 300 appearances at centre back and helping the club secure promotion to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Lee also played as a striker for Hartlepool, scoring twenty goals for the club.
Sheffield Wednesday
In 2003, he was snapped up by former boss Chris Turner for Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. He made 67 appearances for Wednesday and scored five goals in his first season and took up the captain's arm band when Dean Smith
Dean Smith (footballer)
Dean Smith is an English footballer turned football manager, who is now in charge of League One club Walsall....
was injured, this made him a shining light in one of the Owl's worst ever seasons which led to him picking up a fans' player of the season award. Lee started the 2004–05 season in the same vein as he ended the last. Although dogged by injuries at the tail end of the season he was voted defender of the year by fans of the club.
Doncaster Rovers
Lee was deemed as not good enough for the Championship following the side's promotion by Paul SturrockPaul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
and signed for Doncaster Rovers
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...
from Sheffield Wednesday for £50,000 in 2005. He was Rovers' captain. He scored the winning goal in their 3–2 win over Bristol Rovers in the 2007 Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, he was ruled out for six weeks with a neck problem, and when he returned he was sidelined for another four months because of a fractured knee. Instead on 14 February 2008, Lee signed for former club Hartlepool United on loan for one-month. Following his return to the Keepmoat Stadium, Lee was loaned out again, this time to Shrewsbury Town
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...
until the end of the season. He was recalled with two games remaining, after a series of injuries had left Rovers short of defensive cover. In June 2008, after a season in which he was limited to a couple of substitute performances, Lee was released by Doncaster Rovers.
Bradford City
On 30 June 2008, he signed a two-year deal with League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. On 6 August 2008, Lee was made Bradford City club captain for the 2008–09 season, taking over from David Wetherall
David Wetherall
David Wetherall is an English former footballer who played as a central defender, finishing his playing career with Bradford City at the end of the 2007–08 season. Born in Sheffield, he supported Sheffield Wednesday as a child, and started his playing career there...
, who had retired at the end of the previous season. At the same time, he said it was his goal to lift the league title. He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, which Bradford won 2–1. His first goal for the club came in a 3–1 victory at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on 24 October 2008, having played in all City's opening 13 league games of the season. Two weeks later he added a second goal, helping City to upset League One-side Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
2–1 in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. He played in the club's first 34 league and cup games of the season, before he missed his first game in February because of suspension from picking up five bookings.
Notts County
Lee signed a two year deal for Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
joining on a free transfer on 30 June 2009
just prior to the infamous takeover of the club by Munto Finance.
Lee played an important role as County were promoted as Champions of League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
in 2010 under Ian McParland
Ian McParland
Ian 'Charlie' John McParland is a Scottish former professional association football player and manager. He played professionally as a striker with a number of teams and he is most known for his eight year spell with Notts County, a club he later managed...
, Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
, Hans Backe
Hans Backe
Hans Backe is a Swedish former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer....
, Dave Kevan
Dave Kevan
David "Dave" Kevan is a Scottish football coach, currently with Stoke City. He is also a former professional player who played as a midfielder, making nearly 200 career appearances.-Playing career:...
and Steve Cotterill
Steve Cotterill
Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
. He started the 2010-11 season as first choice centre back for yet another new County manager Craig Short
Craig Short
Craig Jonathan Short is a former football player who played as a central-defender...
but he would not be part of next manager Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
's plans and was made a free agent in December 2010 bringing to an end a memorable 18 months at the club.