Lee Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Lee Thomas Sawyer is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Southend United
in League Two
.
at the age of nine. In July 2007, he signed a professional contract with Chelsea. In his last season as a schoolboy, Sawyer overcame both a stress fracture in his back and cruciate ligament before being promoted to the youth and reserve teams.
In the 2006–07 season, Sawyer sat on the Chelsea bench for the last league game of the season, although he did not play. Sawyer was intended to go on the pre-season tour of the United States
, but was ruled out of the tour through injury. He then dislocated his shoulder in December 2007, ruling him out of the start of the club's Youth Cup run. Sawyer played seven games for the reserves in the 2007–08 season, plus 14 appearances in the youth teams. A red card in the semi-final of the Youth Cup ruled him out of both legs of the final.
for three months in order to gain some first team experience. He made his debut as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion
, on 22 August 2008. He made his first start for Southend United on 30 August 2008 against Walsall
. He scored his first two goals against Leyton Orient
in the 4–2 loss in the Football League Trophy
on 3 September 2008. Ironically his only league goal for the club also came against Leyton Orient, in a 3–0 win on 26 September 2008. Before he returned to Chelsea Sawyer said that he wanted to return to Southend United.
on loan for a month on 26 January 2009. Sawyer found first team opportunities at Coventry City very limited and only made one start and one sub appearance under Chris Coleman
before returning to Chelsea.
, from 19 March 2009 until the end of the 2008–09 season. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 April as part of a 1–1 draw with Port Vale
and played a key part in the clubs promotion push to League One.
However, after mutually agreeing with the club the termination of the loan, Sawyer returned to Chelsea on 26 October. Much speculation surrounded Sawyer's departure from the club and although Sawyer decided to stay quiet on the issue, Southend issued a statement claiming the player had breached the clubs discipline policy. Due to the upheaval that was exposed to Sawyer at Southend United. On 12 November, it was announced that Sawyer's contract with Chelsea had been terminated by mutual consent.
on a short-term contract. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Torquay United on 26 January 2010. Due to an administrative error by Barnet meant that Sawyer couldn't play for any club including Barnet for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
club Woking
. On 17 January 2011, Sawyer had reportedly left the club by mutual consent to return to Southend United. However, on the same day Southend boss Paul Sturrock
denied a deal had been completed but talks with Sawyer where ongoing.
on 21 January, coming on as a 69th minute substitute replacing Kane Ferdinand
.
in the Victory Shield in November 2004. He has played for the England U-18s
and the England U-19s
, scoring a goal for both teams. On 27 March 2007, he scored a volley in the England U-18 team's
4–1 victory over the Netherlands' U-18 team.
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...
for Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in 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....
.
Playing career
Sawyer started his career with ChelseaChelsea 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...
at the age of nine. In July 2007, he signed a professional contract with Chelsea. In his last season as a schoolboy, Sawyer overcame both a stress fracture in his back and cruciate ligament before being promoted to the youth and reserve teams.
In the 2006–07 season, Sawyer sat on the Chelsea bench for the last league game of the season, although he did not play. Sawyer was intended to go on the pre-season tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but was ruled out of the tour through injury. He then dislocated his shoulder in December 2007, ruling him out of the start of the club's Youth Cup run. Sawyer played seven games for the reserves in the 2007–08 season, plus 14 appearances in the youth teams. A red card in the semi-final of the Youth Cup ruled him out of both legs of the final.
Southend United
On 18 August 2008, Sawyer went on loan to Southend UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
for three months in order to gain some first team experience. He made his debut as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, on 22 August 2008. He made his first start for Southend United on 30 August 2008 against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. He scored his first two goals 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...
in the 4–2 loss 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...
on 3 September 2008. Ironically his only league goal for the club also came against Leyton Orient, in a 3–0 win on 26 September 2008. Before he returned to Chelsea Sawyer said that he wanted to return to Southend United.
Coventry City
Sawyer joined Coventry CityCoventry 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 for a month on 26 January 2009. Sawyer found first team opportunities at Coventry City very limited and only made one start and one sub appearance under Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
before returning to Chelsea.
Wycombe Wanderers
Another loan deal soon followed, this time at Wycombe WanderersWycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, from 19 March 2009 until the end of the 2008–09 season. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 April as part of a 1–1 draw with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
and played a key part in the clubs promotion push to League One.
Return to Southend United
Sawyer returned to Southend United on 14 July 2009 on loan until January 2010.However, after mutually agreeing with the club the termination of the loan, Sawyer returned to Chelsea on 26 October. Much speculation surrounded Sawyer's departure from the club and although Sawyer decided to stay quiet on the issue, Southend issued a statement claiming the player had breached the clubs discipline policy. Due to the upheaval that was exposed to Sawyer at Southend United. On 12 November, it was announced that Sawyer's contract with Chelsea had been terminated by mutual consent.
Barnet
On 14 January 2010, Sawyer signed for BarnetBarnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
on a short-term contract. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Torquay United on 26 January 2010. Due to an administrative error by Barnet meant that Sawyer couldn't play for any club including Barnet for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
Woking
On 12 November 2010, Sawyer signed on non-contract terms for Conference SouthConference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
club Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
. On 17 January 2011, Sawyer had reportedly left the club by mutual consent to return to Southend United. However, on the same day Southend boss Paul Sturrock
Paul 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...
denied a deal had been completed but talks with Sawyer where ongoing.
Return to Southend United, again
On 18 January 2011, Sawyer completed his return to Southend United on a deal until the end of the season with the option of a further one-year contract. Sawyer made his third debut for the Blues in a 1–1 draw against BuryBury 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...
on 21 January, coming on as a 69th minute substitute replacing Kane Ferdinand
Kane Ferdinand
Kane Ryan Ferdinand is an English born Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Southend United.-Club career:Ferdinand came through Southend United's youth system, making his professional debut on 1 January 2011, playing 90 minutes in their 2–0 away win at Oxford United in League Two...
.
International career
Sawyer made his international debut for the England U-16s against ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the Victory Shield in November 2004. He has played for the England U-18s
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
and the England U-19s
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
, scoring a goal for both teams. On 27 March 2007, he scored a volley in the England U-18 team's
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
4–1 victory over the Netherlands' U-18 team.