Joe Lewis
Encyclopedia
Joseph Peter "Joe" Lewis (born 6 October 1987) is an English footballer who plays for Peterborough United
as a goalkeeper, having made a £
400,000 transfer from Norwich City
on 8 January 2008.
, Norfolk
, Lewis had been involved with Norwich City
's youth system
since 1995 at the age of eight. In August 2003 he agreed to join Norwich as a scholar at the culmination of his studies at Bungay High School in the summer of 2004. However, before he had completed his studies and at the age of just 15 years and 356 days old, he experienced life with the first team squad when a knee
injury to Paul Crichton
saw Lewis handed a place on the bench for the 2–1 home victory over Crystal Palace
on 27 September 2003. He maintained his place on the bench for the next six games until Crichton returned to fitness at the beginning of November.
The 2004–05 season saw Lewis begin as a full-time scholar though this period was short as in October he signed a three-year contract to become a professional. That season saw Lewis have an insight into life in the Premier League as he was named on the bench for the 2–0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur
on 26 December 2004. His second professional season, 2005–06, saw him sit on Norwich's bench for the final four games. At the culmination of the season, the then manager Nigel Worthington
considered the possibility of sending Lewis out on loan for the 2006–07 season in order to enable him to gain first-team experience. However, the sale of Robert Green
to West Ham United
meant that Lewis became second-choice goalkeeper at Carrow Road
before a fractured cheekbone sustained in a reserve team game against Leyton Orient
prompted the loan signing of Lee Camp
. On 15 November, Lewis played for Bury
reserves against Blackpool
with a view to signing on loan but no move materialised.
Lewis finally had an opportunity of first team football when he joined Stockport County
in March 2007 for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, playing five games and keeping three clean sheets. He was rewarded with a three-year deal at Norwich, in May 2007.
On 31 July 2007, Lewis joined Morecambe
on loan until 31 December 2007 to gain more first-team experience. He was also named for the first time to the England Under-21 squad
on 30 August.
. Norwich accepted the bid, and the player completed the transfer on 8 January 2008 and gained promotion with the club.
On 13 April 2009, Lewis was made to face a penalty three times against Millwall in an unusual refereeing decision. After David Martin for Millwall was tripped and a penalty awarded against Peterborough, Lewis was judged by the assistant referee to have moved off his line before the ball had been struck by Gary Alexander twice. On both occasions Lewis saved the penalty. At the third attempt, Millwall replaced the unsuccessful Alexander with David Martin, who scored and this time the penalty stood. Speaking on Sky Sports News after the event, ex-referee Dermot Gallagher commented that whilst the assistant was consistently working to the letter of the law, his decisions were harsh.
. He replaced Joe Hart
at half time and carried through a clean sheet, in a game that saw England win 2–0.
In May 2008, he received a surprise call-up to the senior England
squad, for the friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago
and the United States
, although Lewis was an unused substitute for both of these games.
On 18 August, he started and played for the under-21 England side at Hull City
's KC Stadium
.
He made his third appearance for the under-21s in a friendly against the Czech Republic only to come off with an ankle injury after 33 minutes. He came on from the bench on the game against Azerbaijan
coming on for Lee Cattermole
as an outfield player.
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
as a goalkeeper, having made a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
400,000 transfer from Norwich City
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...
on 8 January 2008.
Norwich City
Born in BroomeBroome, Norfolk
Broome is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the north bank of the River Waveney, which forms the border with Suffolk, some 2 km north of the town of Bungay and 20 km south-east of the city of Norwich....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, Lewis had been involved with Norwich City
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...
's youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
since 1995 at the age of eight. In August 2003 he agreed to join Norwich as a scholar at the culmination of his studies at Bungay High School in the summer of 2004. However, before he had completed his studies and at the age of just 15 years and 356 days old, he experienced life with the first team squad when a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury to Paul Crichton
Paul Crichton
Paul Andrew Crichton is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and is currently the goalkeeping coach of Football League Championship side Sheffield United, where he is also registered as a player...
saw Lewis handed a place on the bench for the 2–1 home victory over Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on 27 September 2003. He maintained his place on the bench for the next six games until Crichton returned to fitness at the beginning of November.
The 2004–05 season saw Lewis begin as a full-time scholar though this period was short as in October he signed a three-year contract to become a professional. That season saw Lewis have an insight into life in the Premier League as he was named on the bench for the 2–0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on 26 December 2004. His second professional season, 2005–06, saw him sit on Norwich's bench for the final four games. At the culmination of the season, the then manager Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He was manager of the Northern Ireland national team from 2007 until after their final Euro 2012 qualifying campaign match against Italy in October 2011.As a player, he was a left full back and occasional left...
considered the possibility of sending Lewis out on loan for the 2006–07 season in order to enable him to gain first-team experience. However, the sale of 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:...
to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
meant that Lewis became second-choice goalkeeper at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
before a fractured cheekbone sustained in a reserve team game against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
prompted the loan signing of Lee Camp
Lee Camp
Lee Michael John Camp is an English-born Northern Irish footballer who plays for Nottingham Forest and internationally for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper. He has also played for the England under-21's.-Derby County:...
. On 15 November, Lewis played for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
reserves against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
with a view to signing on loan but no move materialised.
Lewis finally had an opportunity of first team football when he joined Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in March 2007 for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, playing five games and keeping three clean sheets. He was rewarded with a three-year deal at Norwich, in May 2007.
On 31 July 2007, Lewis joined Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
on loan until 31 December 2007 to gain more first-team experience. He was also named for the first time to the England Under-21 squad
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
on 30 August.
Peterborough United
Following his return from loan at Morecambe, Lewis was subject to a £400,000 bid from Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. Norwich accepted the bid, and the player completed the transfer on 8 January 2008 and gained promotion with the club.
On 13 April 2009, Lewis was made to face a penalty three times against Millwall in an unusual refereeing decision. After David Martin for Millwall was tripped and a penalty awarded against Peterborough, Lewis was judged by the assistant referee to have moved off his line before the ball had been struck by Gary Alexander twice. On both occasions Lewis saved the penalty. At the third attempt, Millwall replaced the unsuccessful Alexander with David Martin, who scored and this time the penalty stood. Speaking on Sky Sports News after the event, ex-referee Dermot Gallagher commented that whilst the assistant was consistently working to the letter of the law, his decisions were harsh.
International career
Lewis made his debut for the England under-21s on 15 May 2008, in a friendly against WalesWales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
. He replaced Joe Hart
Joe Hart
Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team....
at half time and carried through a clean sheet, in a game that saw England win 2–0.
In May 2008, he received a surprise call-up to the senior 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...
squad, for the friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
and the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, although Lewis was an unused substitute for both of these games.
On 18 August, he started and played for the under-21 England side at Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
's KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
.
He made his third appearance for the under-21s in a friendly against the Czech Republic only to come off with an ankle injury after 33 minutes. He came on from the bench on the game against Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national under-21 football team
The Azerbaijan national under-21 football team are a feeder team to the Azerbaijan Senior team.- UEFA U-21 Championship Record:* 2002: Did not qualify. Finished 5th of 6 in qualification group....
coming on for Lee Cattermole
Lee Cattermole
Lee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League. His preferred position is in central midfield in front of the back four and he is known for his tough-tackling midfield play.-Early life:Cattermole was...
as an outfield player.
Promotions
- 2007–08: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runner Up (promotion to League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... - 2008–092008–09 in English footballThe 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Runner Up (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... - 2010–112010–11 in English footballThe 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Play Off Winner (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
) – Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
International Honours
- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 20092009 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
Runner up
External links
- Joe Lewis profile at the Peterborough United website