Lee Frecklington
Encyclopedia
Lee Craig Frecklington is a footballer who plays for Peterborough United
as a midfielder
.
, Lincolnshire
, Frecklington made his way through Lincoln City
's Centre of Excellence. He was rewarded with a scholarship place in the summer of 2002, where he was guided by former Lincoln Head Coach John Schofield
. Frecklington's ability has long been noted and during his schooldays he undertook trials with both Norwich City
and Leeds United
.
He made rapid progress in Lincoln's youth set-up and in the 2003–04 season, the second year of his scholarship, moved towards the first team first impressing against Manchester City
in a friendly game and then making his debut in the Football League Trophy
against Telford United
in October 2003. To further his development he joined Lincoln United
on work experience in January 2004. His debut for United, against Workington on 17 January, was memorable as it was abandoned due to injury to the referee.
He continued his progression in the final season of his scholarship, making his Football League
debut as a substitute in the game at Rochdale on 12 February 2005 and it was no surprise that he was handed a one year professional contract by then manager Keith Alexander
.
In his first season as a professional, Frecklington did not initially make the first team squad and in September 2005 he was loaned to Stamford in the Southern League Division One East to gain further experience, remaining until Lincoln recalled him in December 2005. While at Stamford he played alongside his uncle David Frecklington who had been an apprentice at Lincoln City in the mid 1990s. Upon his return to Sincil Bank he became a regular presence on the substitutes bench and on 4 February 2006 stepped off the bench to score his first league goal in the game at Stockport. His reward was his first league start the following week at home to Torquay United. Always impressing, he made 18 league appearances in the second half of the season though only three of these were starts.
In the 2006–07 season, however, he featured heavily in a very pivotal role towards Lincoln's unsuccessful push for promotion to League One
, already boasting a number of exceptional performances. Frecklington was named in the PFA League Two
Team of the Year for the 2006–07 season.
on 6 February 2009. Frecklington made the move permanent on 15 May 2009. He scored his first Peterborough goal in a Carling Cup tie at Wycombe on 11 August 2009.
international squad for a friendly tie with Scotland. He was allowed to play for Ireland due to fact that his maternal grandparents were born there.
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 midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Lincoln City
Born in LincolnLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, Frecklington made his way through Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
's Centre of Excellence. He was rewarded with a scholarship place in the summer of 2002, where he was guided by former Lincoln Head Coach John Schofield
John Schofield (football coach)
John David Schofield is an English football manager and former player. He was manager of Lincoln City between May 2006 and October 2007 and was assistant manager of Walsall before leaving, following a brief stint as caretaker manager...
. Frecklington's ability has long been noted and during his schooldays he undertook trials with both 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...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
He made rapid progress in Lincoln's youth set-up and in the 2003–04 season, the second year of his scholarship, moved towards the first team first impressing against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in a friendly game and then making his debut in 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...
against Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
in October 2003. To further his development he joined Lincoln United
Lincoln United F.C.
Lincoln United F.C. is an English football team which plays in the Northern Premier League. The club is based in Lincoln. 'The Whites', as they are commonly known, play at the Ashby Avenue ground, which backs on to Hartsholme Country Park.-History:...
on work experience in January 2004. His debut for United, against Workington on 17 January, was memorable as it was abandoned due to injury to the referee.
He continued his progression in the final season of his scholarship, making his Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
debut as a substitute in the game at Rochdale on 12 February 2005 and it was no surprise that he was handed a one year professional contract by then manager Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
.
In his first season as a professional, Frecklington did not initially make the first team squad and in September 2005 he was loaned to Stamford in the Southern League Division One East to gain further experience, remaining until Lincoln recalled him in December 2005. While at Stamford he played alongside his uncle David Frecklington who had been an apprentice at Lincoln City in the mid 1990s. Upon his return to Sincil Bank he became a regular presence on the substitutes bench and on 4 February 2006 stepped off the bench to score his first league goal in the game at Stockport. His reward was his first league start the following week at home to Torquay United. Always impressing, he made 18 league appearances in the second half of the season though only three of these were starts.
In the 2006–07 season, however, he featured heavily in a very pivotal role towards Lincoln's unsuccessful push for promotion to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
, already boasting a number of exceptional performances. Frecklington was named in the PFA 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....
Team of the Year for the 2006–07 season.
Peterborough United
Frecklington signed on an initial three-month loan deal with rivals 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...
on 6 February 2009. Frecklington made the move permanent on 15 May 2009. He scored his first Peterborough goal in a Carling Cup tie at Wycombe on 11 August 2009.
International career
In November 2006, he was named in the Republic of Ireland (B)Republic of Ireland B national football team
Republic of Ireland B is the reserve team of the Republic of Ireland national football team. There are no competitions for B teams. However since 1957 the Football Association of Ireland has arranged occasional friendlies.-Early B internationals:...
international squad for a friendly tie with Scotland. He was allowed to play for Ireland due to fact that his maternal grandparents were born there.
Lincoln City
- 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....
- Play-Off Semi-Finalists: 2005–06, 2006–07
Peterborough united
- League OneFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
- League one Runners up: 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...
- Play-Off Winner: 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 one Runners up: 2008–09
External links
- Lee Frecklington profile at the Peterborough United website
- Report on Lincoln United debut
- Loaned to Stamford, September 2005
- Summary of Stamford games played
- Guardian scouting report, March 2007