Lee Croft
Encyclopedia
Lee Robert Croft is an English footballer who plays as a right winger in Championship
side Derby County
.
He has previously played for Manchester City
, Oldham Athletic
and Norwich City
. He also appears on Soccer AM
as "Lee Croft, Story Teller", telling stories that end with the catch phrase "You can't handle the truth!" Croft is also the most capped England's junior International ever with 40 caps up to Under-20's level.
at every level up to under-20, including captaining England under-18s. Accumulating more than 40 caps in total, he is the most capped England youth player of all-time. At club level, he was part of the Manchester City youth team which reached the semi-finals of the 2003 FA Youth Cup
.
He made his first team debut for City on 7 March 2005 against Bolton Wanderers
, coming on as a substitute in Kevin Keegan
's final game as City manager, and made a further six substitute appearances that season. In April 2005 he signed a one-year contract extension. Croft was a regular substitute at the start of the 2005–06 season
. His first Premier League start came on 31 October 2005 against Aston Villa
, and his first Manchester City goal came a week later in a match against Fulham
. He also started the next two matches, but this run of four matches was to be the only period Croft formed part of the Manchester City starting eleven. He was a frequent substitute in the remainder of the season, finishing with campaign with 25 appearances, 21 of these as a substitute.
tie against Thurrock
, in which he won his side a penalty. He made his League debut the following week against Barnsley
. Later that month a Football League Trophy
match against Hartlepool United
brought his first senior goal. An FA Cup third round draw between Oldham and Manchester City raised the possibility of Croft facing his employers as an opposing player, but competition rules prevented him from doing so. Croft's loan spell lasted three months, in which he made seventeen Oldham appearances and scored two goals.
at Carrow Road
.
Croft continued his good start at Carrow Road
with another goal in the 5–1 demolition of Barnsley
on 26 August 2006 and was seen by many City fans as providing balance to the team on the right-hand side that had been missing for some time. On 28 October 2006, however, it was announced that Croft would be absent from first team duties for a possible 6 weeks following an injury during Norwich's 5–0 defeat at Stoke City. After making his return from injury, Croft went for a long period without scoring, but finally got on the scoresheet with a goal in another game against Barnsley
at Oakwell
on 3 March 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Croft became a key player for the side, and scored in the East Anglian derby
match against Ipswich Town
in December 2008 and went on to be voted the club's player of the season.
manager Nigel Clough
. After entering into negotiations with Derby, Croft was released early from his contract by mutual consent. Croft signed for Derby on a three year contract on 25 June, 4 days after his 24th birthday. As clubs who sign players under the age of 24 who move between clubs on a free transfer have to pay compensation to the player's former club, by waiting until Croft turned 24, Derby avoided paying compensation to Norwich.
After making his debut in a 2–1 home win over Peterborough United
on 8 March 2009, Croft played a part in 13 of Derby's first 15 league fixtures and scored his first for the club in a 3–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday
on 3 October 2009. However, as Derby struggled in the league Croft was unable to keep his place in the side as he struggled for form and this, alongside a hamstring injury suffered in late February 2010, saw Croft make only three appearances in the final 6 months of the campaign. Of Croft, Derby manager Nigel Clough
said "He is on the fringe of the squad and at the moment and given the way he is sort of playing, we can't see him getting back involved. You get in the team on merit and there are quite a few players ahead of him."
After just one appearance in 2010 for Derby, Croft moved to Huddersfield Town
on a six-month loan deal ahead of the 2010–11 season. He made his Terriers debut as a substitute in the 4–2 loss against Peterborough United
at London Road Stadium on August 21, 2010 before making his full debut in a 5–1 defeat at Everton
in the League Cup
. He got his first ever career red card on the 9th of October away at Colchester United
, but Huddersfield
still managed to win 3–0, and inflict a first league defeat of the season on their opponents. Ahead of his return to his parent club, Derby manager Nigel Clough stated that Croft had no future at Pride Park and that he would look at loaning the player out again in 2011. On the expiration of Croft's initial loan spell at Huddersfield he returned to Derby, Terriers boss Lee Clark stating "Sadly, Lee Croft couldn't achieve the levels I know he can offer. I saw him during my last season with Norwich when he was in sensational form, but during his time with us he wasn't able to reproduce that.
After failing to make an appearance for the club during the 2010–11 season
, Croft vowed to regain his place in the first team ahead of the 2011–12 season
after encouragement from Rams manager Nigel Clough
. On 19 July 2011, Croft was allocated squad number 22, he was not allocated one during the 2010–11 season. He was in the starting line-up as Derby's first three games of the season (Championship victories over Birmingham City
and Watford
sandwiching a League Cup home defeat to Shrewsbury Town
) before dropping to the bench for the club's subsequent fixtures.
at international level, he is England's most-capped youth International, with 40 up to Under-20
level having been capped at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, Under-19's and Under-20 level by England. Including captaining England under-18s.
He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
making two appearances for England U-20 as they finished bottom of Group D.
Football League Championship
The 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...
side Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
He has previously played for 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...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and 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...
. He also appears on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
as "Lee Croft, Story Teller", telling stories that end with the catch phrase "You can't handle the truth!" Croft is also the most capped England's junior International ever with 40 caps up to Under-20's level.
Manchester City
Croft began his career at Manchester City, who he joined as a twelve year old after scout Eric Mullenden spotted him playing for junior team Garswood United. He was a talented youth player, representing EnglandEngland 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...
at every level up to under-20, including captaining England under-18s. Accumulating more than 40 caps in total, he is the most capped England youth player of all-time. At club level, he was part of the Manchester City youth team which reached the semi-finals of the 2003 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
.
He made his first team debut for City on 7 March 2005 against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, coming on as a substitute in Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
's final game as City manager, and made a further six substitute appearances that season. In April 2005 he signed a one-year contract extension. Croft was a regular substitute at the start of the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
. His first Premier League start came on 31 October 2005 against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, and his first Manchester City goal came a week later in a match against 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...
. He also started the next two matches, but this run of four matches was to be the only period Croft formed part of the Manchester City starting eleven. He was a frequent substitute in the remainder of the season, finishing with campaign with 25 appearances, 21 of these as a substitute.
Oldham (loan)
Croft turned professional aged seventeen, but did not break into the first team straight away. In November 2004 Croft went to Oldham Athletic on loan in order to gain first-team experience. He made his senior debut on 14 November 2004 in an FA CupFA 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...
tie against Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
, in which he won his side a penalty. He made his League debut the following week against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. Later that month a 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...
match against 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...
brought his first senior goal. An FA Cup third round draw between Oldham and Manchester City raised the possibility of Croft facing his employers as an opposing player, but competition rules prevented him from doing so. Croft's loan spell lasted three months, in which he made seventeen Oldham appearances and scored two goals.
Norwich City
On 28 July 2006 he signed for Norwich City for a fee of £600,000 and scored his first goal for the club on 12 August 2006 in a 3–2 win against LutonLuton 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...
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....
.
Croft continued his good start 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....
with another goal in the 5–1 demolition of Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 26 August 2006 and was seen by many City fans as providing balance to the team on the right-hand side that had been missing for some time. On 28 October 2006, however, it was announced that Croft would be absent from first team duties for a possible 6 weeks following an injury during Norwich's 5–0 defeat at Stoke City. After making his return from injury, Croft went for a long period without scoring, but finally got on the scoresheet with a goal in another game against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
at Oakwell
Oakwell Stadium
Oakwell is a multi-purpose sports development in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England used primarily by Barnsley Football Club for playing their home fixtures, and those of their reserves....
on 3 March 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Croft became a key player for the side, and scored in the East Anglian derby
East Anglian Derby
The East Anglian derby is a sobriquet used to describe football matches held between Ipswich Town and Norwich City. In recent years it has sometimes been described humorously as the Old Farm derby, a reference to the Old Firm derby played between Celtic and Rangers...
match against Ipswich Town
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 December 2008 and went on to be voted the club's player of the season.
Derby County
After Norwich City's relegation Croft decided against signing a new contact, which alerted Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
. After entering into negotiations with Derby, Croft was released early from his contract by mutual consent. Croft signed for Derby on a three year contract on 25 June, 4 days after his 24th birthday. As clubs who sign players under the age of 24 who move between clubs on a free transfer have to pay compensation to the player's former club, by waiting until Croft turned 24, Derby avoided paying compensation to Norwich.
After making his debut in a 2–1 home win over Peterborough United
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...
on 8 March 2009, Croft played a part in 13 of Derby's first 15 league fixtures and scored his first for the club in a 3–0 victory over 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...
on 3 October 2009. However, as Derby struggled in the league Croft was unable to keep his place in the side as he struggled for form and this, alongside a hamstring injury suffered in late February 2010, saw Croft make only three appearances in the final 6 months of the campaign. Of Croft, Derby manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
said "He is on the fringe of the squad and at the moment and given the way he is sort of playing, we can't see him getting back involved. You get in the team on merit and there are quite a few players ahead of him."
After just one appearance in 2010 for Derby, Croft moved to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
on a six-month loan deal ahead of the 2010–11 season. He made his Terriers debut as a substitute in the 4–2 loss against Peterborough United
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...
at London Road Stadium on August 21, 2010 before making his full debut in a 5–1 defeat at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He got his first ever career red card on the 9th of October away at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, but Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
still managed to win 3–0, and inflict a first league defeat of the season on their opponents. Ahead of his return to his parent club, Derby manager Nigel Clough stated that Croft had no future at Pride Park and that he would look at loaning the player out again in 2011. On the expiration of Croft's initial loan spell at Huddersfield he returned to Derby, Terriers boss Lee Clark stating "Sadly, Lee Croft couldn't achieve the levels I know he can offer. I saw him during my last season with Norwich when he was in sensational form, but during his time with us he wasn't able to reproduce that.
After failing to make an appearance for the club during the 2010–11 season
2010–11 Derby County F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Derby County's 112th season in the Football League. It was their third consecutive season in the second tier following the previous campaign and their 43rd overall. The club entered the season with odds of 25/1 for the title, the same as the previous year, 6–1 to be promoted...
, Croft vowed to regain his place in the first team ahead of the 2011–12 season
2011–12 Derby County F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Derby County's 113th season in the Football League. It will be their fourth consecutive season in the second tier following the previous campaign and their 44th overall.-Team kit:...
after encouragement from Rams manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
. On 19 July 2011, Croft was allocated squad number 22, he was not allocated one during the 2010–11 season. He was in the starting line-up as Derby's first three games of the season (Championship victories over Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
sandwiching a League Cup home defeat 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...
) before dropping to the bench for the club's subsequent fixtures.
International career
Croft has represented EnglandEngland 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...
at international level, he is England's most-capped youth International, with 40 up to Under-20
England national under-20 football team
- Round of 16 :-Friendlies:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup running from 29 July to the 20 August 2011.-Recent call-ups:...
level having been capped at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, Under-19's and Under-20 level by England. Including captaining England under-18s.
He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
making two appearances for England U-20 as they finished bottom of Group D.
External links
- Lee Croft player profile at canaries.co.uk
- Lee Croft player profile at mcfc.co.uk
- Career information