Tommy Lee (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward "Tommy" Lee (born 3 January 1986 in Oakworth
, Keighley
, West Yorkshire
) is an English
football goalkeeper, who plays for Chesterfield
.
Lee came to Manchester United
as a junior player in 2002. In 2005, he helped United's reserve team win the quadruple. In the 2005–06 season he was loaned to Macclesfield Town
for what was originally going to be a month, but was extended to three months.
Lee made his league debut away at Oxford United
. During his loan period, Macclesfield boss Brian Horton
told the Macclesfield Express: "Tommy has been excellent since joining us in January. I spoke to Tony Coton
, United's goalkeeping coach, and Sir Alex Ferguson
. Both were happy to extend Tommy's loan spell."
In August 2006, he signed a contract with Macclesfield, arriving on a free transfer from Manchester United.
On 6 January 2007, Lee kept goal for Macclesfield Town against English Champions Chelsea
at Stamford Bridge
. Despite suffering an injury to his arm on a save from Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou
, he continued to keep until he was awarded a Red Card and subsequently sent off after a foul on Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko
. This sending off reduced Macclesfield to 10 men and signalled the beginning of the 6–1 rout of Macclesfield by the Premier League Champions.
On 22 March 2008, Lee joined Rochdale
on loan from Macclesfield Town and played in Rochdale's Play Off Final appearance at Wembley Stadium
against Stockport County
. Lee was released by Macclesfield in May 2008, before joining Chesterfield
on 1 August on a one year contract.
In September 2008, Lee was attacked during a night out in Sheffield. He required surgery after he broke his jaw during the attack. After returning to action, Lee became a fans favourite at Saltergate after saving three consecutive penalties in an FA Cup replay at Eastbourne Borough although still being on the losing side.
At the end of the season, Lee won the club's Young Spireites Player of the Season award, before signing a two-year deal to keep him at Chesterfield until June 2011.. In May 2011 Tommy was offered and signed a 2 year extension, keeping him at the B2net until June 2013
Oakworth
Oakworth is a village in West Yorkshire, England, near Keighley, by the River Worth. The name "Oakworth" indicates that the village was first established in a heavily wooded area....
, Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football goalkeeper, who plays for Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
.
Lee came to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as a junior player in 2002. In 2005, he helped United's reserve team win the quadruple. In the 2005–06 season he was loaned to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
for what was originally going to be a month, but was extended to three months.
Lee made his league debut away at Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. During his loan period, Macclesfield boss Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
told the Macclesfield Express: "Tommy has been excellent since joining us in January. I spoke to Tony Coton
Tony Coton
Anthony Philip "Tony" Coton is an English former footballer who made 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City, Watford, Manchester City and Sunderland...
, United's goalkeeping coach, and Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
. Both were happy to extend Tommy's loan spell."
In August 2006, he signed a contract with Macclesfield, arriving on a free transfer from Manchester United.
On 6 January 2007, Lee kept goal for Macclesfield Town against English Champions Chelsea
Chelsea 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 Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
. Despite suffering an injury to his arm on a save from Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
, he continued to keep until he was awarded a Red Card and subsequently sent off after a foul on Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko is a Ukrainian footballer who plays for Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukraine national team as a striker. He is the third-highest scorer in the history of European club competition with 67 goals as of 2011-03-10, behind Filippo Inzaghi and Raúl. With 175 goals scored with A.C...
. This sending off reduced Macclesfield to 10 men and signalled the beginning of the 6–1 rout of Macclesfield by the Premier League Champions.
On 22 March 2008, Lee joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan from Macclesfield Town and played in Rochdale's Play Off Final appearance at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
against 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...
. Lee was released by Macclesfield in May 2008, before joining Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on 1 August on a one year contract.
In September 2008, Lee was attacked during a night out in Sheffield. He required surgery after he broke his jaw during the attack. After returning to action, Lee became a fans favourite at Saltergate after saving three consecutive penalties in an FA Cup replay at Eastbourne Borough although still being on the losing side.
At the end of the season, Lee won the club's Young Spireites Player of the Season award, before signing a two-year deal to keep him at Chesterfield until June 2011.. In May 2011 Tommy was offered and signed a 2 year extension, keeping him at the B2net until June 2013