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Graeme Lee (footballer, born 1978)

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For the Australian rules player, see Graeme Lee (Australian footballer).

Graeme Lee
Personal information
Full name Graeme Barry Lee[1]
Date of birth (1978-05-31) 31 May 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Spennymoor Town (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2003 Hartlepool United 219 (20)
2003–2006 Sheffield Wednesday 78 (5)
2006–2008 Doncaster Rovers 60 (5)
2008 → Hartlepool United (loan) 3 (0)
2008 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 5 (0)
2008–2009 Bradford City 44 (2)
2009–2011 Notts County 50 (4)
2011–2012 Darlington 24 (1)
2012–2013 Celtic Nation
Total 483 (37)
Managerial career
2021–2022 Hartlepool United
2023–2024 Marske United
2024– Spennymoor Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Graeme Barry Lee (born 31 May 1978) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the manager of Spennymoor Town.

He has previously played for Hartlepool United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City, Darlington and also had loan spells with Hartlepool and Shrewsbury Town. Lee has won the Football League Trophy with Doncaster Rovers, and helped both Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday to promotion in the mid-2000s.

Playing career

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Hartlepool United

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Born in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, Lee started his career at Hartlepool United. At the age of 17, Lee made his first team debut for Hartlepool as a substitute in a 5–0 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup.[3] He formed a strong partnership with Chris Westwood as Pools reached the play-offs for three consecutive seasons.[3] In 2001–02, Lee won the Player of the Year award.[3] He was a member of Hartlepool's successful 2002–03 season which saw promotion to the Second Division, narrowly missing out on the League championship.[3] Overall, he made over 250 appearances at centre back and also as a striker for Hartlepool, scoring 23 goals for the club.

Sheffield Wednesday

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In 2003, he was snapped up by former boss Chris Turner for Sheffield Wednesday. He made 67 appearances for Wednesday and scored five goals in his first season and took up the captain's arm band when Dean Smith was injured, this made him a shining light in one of the Owl's worst ever seasons which led to him picking up a fans' player of the season award.[4] Lee started the 2004–05 season in the same vein as he ended the last. Although dogged by injuries at the tail end of the season he was voted defender of the year by fans of the club.[5] Sheffield Wednesday won promotion to the Championship after defeating former club Hartlepool United in the 2005 play-off final, however, Lee missed the match.[6]

Lee playing for Doncaster Rovers

"Every single one of the players and staff at the club wants promotion. I've come here to help do that and if I can lift something at the end of the season, it would be absolutely brilliant."

Graeme Lee, whilst at Bradford[7]

Doncaster Rovers

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Lee was deemed as not good enough for the Championship following the side's promotion by Paul Sturrock and signed for Doncaster Rovers from Sheffield Wednesday for £50,000 in 2005.[8] He was Rovers' captain. He scored the winning goal in their 3–2 win over Bristol Rovers in the 2007 Football League Trophy final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

At the start of the 2007–08 season, he was ruled out for six weeks with a neck problem, and when he returned he was sidelined for another four months because of a fractured knee.[9] Instead on 14 February 2008, Lee signed for former club Hartlepool United on loan for one-month. Following his return to the Keepmoat Stadium, Lee was loaned out again, this time to Shrewsbury Town until the end of the season.[10] He was recalled with two games remaining, after a series of injuries had left Rovers short of defensive cover.[11] In June 2008, after a season in which he was limited to a couple of substitute performances, Lee was released by Doncaster Rovers.

Bradford City

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On 30 June 2008, he signed a two-year deal with League Two side Bradford City.[12] On 6 August 2008, Lee was made Bradford City club captain for the 2008–09 season, taking over from David Wetherall, who had retired at the end of the previous season. At the same time, he said it was his goal to lift the league title.[7] He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County, which Bradford won 2–1.[13] His first goal for the club came in a 3–1 victory at Grimsby Town on 24 October 2008, having played in all City's opening 13 league games of the season.[14] Two weeks later he added a second goal, helping City to upset League One-side Milton Keynes Dons 2–1 in the FA Cup.[15] He played in the club's first 34 league and cup games of the season, before he missed his first game in February because of suspension from picking up five bookings.[16]

Notts County

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Lee signed a two-year deal for Notts County joining on a free transfer on 30 June 2009[17] just prior to the infamous takeover of the club by Munto Finance. Lee played an important role as County were promoted as Champions of League Two in 2010 under Ian McParland, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Hans Backe, Dave Kevan and Steve Cotterill. He started the 2010–11 season as first choice centre back for yet another new County manager Craig Short but he would not be part of next manager Paul Ince's plans and was made a free agent in December 2010 bringing to an end a memorable 18 months at the club.

Darlington

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Lee then signed for Darlington on a one-year deal on 30 June 2011. Darlington suffered financial difficulties during Lee's time at the club and his contract was terminated on 16 January 2012, along with the rest of the playing squad and caretaker manager Craig Liddle.[18]

However, despite the ongoing financial and contractual issues at Darlington, Lee continued to play on until a knee injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

Lee joined Celtic Nation during the 2012–13 close season break.[19]

Coaching career

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In June 2019, Lee was appointed as Middlesbrough U23 head coach.[20]

On 1 December 2021, he left his role at Middlesbrough to take over as manager at League Two side Hartlepool United.[21] On 5 May 2022, with one game left in the season, Lee was sacked as manager of Hartlepool.[22] During his five–month spell as manager, Lee led the team to the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy losing on penalties to eventual trophy winners Rotherham United and the fourth round of the FA Cup losing away to Premier League side Crystal Palace.[3] However, it was the downturn in form following the defeat to Rotherham that was citing in Lee losing his job with the club only winning once out of their previous eleven games.[22]

On 22 May 2023, Lee was appointed as the manager of Marske United.[23] Lee stepped down as Marske manager on 2 January 2024 to take up the role of manager at National League North club Spennymoor Town. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of his father Tony Lee who had also managed the Moors.[24] Despite a slow start to his tenure in charge, Lee turned around the club's form, leading them away from the relegation zone, earning the league's Manager of the Month award for February 2024.[25] He won the award for a second consecutive month having guided his side to within three points of a play-off place.[26] Despite winning 13 of their final 18 matches, Spennymoor missed out on a play-off finish by one point.[27] On 2 May 2024, Lee signed a new deal to keep him with Spennymoor for the 2024–25 season.[27]

Personal life

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He is the son of former footballer Tony Lee.[28]

Career statistics

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Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hartlepool United 1995–96[29] Third Division 6 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 8 0
1996–97[29] Third Division 24 0 2 0 1 0 1[a] 0 28 0
1997–98[30] Third Division 37 3 1 0 1 1 2[a] 1 41 5
1998–99[31] Third Division 24 3 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 29 3
1999–2000[32] Third Division 38 7 2 0 2 0 4[b] 1 46 8
2000–01[33] Third Division 6 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 8 0
2001–02[34] Third Division 39 5 1 0 1 0 3[d] 0 44 5
2002–03[35] Third Division 45 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 48 2
Total 219 20 9 0 9 1 15 2 252 23
Sheffield Wednesday 2003–04[36] Second Division 30 3 3 0 1 1 3[a] 1 37 5
2004–05[37] League One 22 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
2005–06[38] Championship 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 1
Total 67 5 4 0 1 1 3 1 75 7
Doncaster Rovers 2005–06[38] League One 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
2006–07[39] League One 39 4 3 0 1 1 6[a] 1 49 6
2007–08[40] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 60 5 3 0 1 1 6 1 70 7
Hartlepool United (loan) 2007–08[40] League One 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2007–08[40] League Two 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Bradford City 2008–09[41] League Two 44 2 2 1 1 0 1[a] 0 48 3
Notts County 2009–10[42] League Two 32 4 3 0 0 0 1[a] 0 36 4
2010–11[43] League One 18 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
Total 50 4 3 0 1 0 1 0 55 4
Career total 448 36 21 1 13 3 26 4 508 44
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, two appearances in Third Division play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Third Division play-offs
  4. ^ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two appearances in Third Division play-offs

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 21 December 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref.
P W D L Win %
Hartlepool United 1 December 2021 5 May 2022 33 10 12 11 030.3 [44]
Marske United 22 May 2023 2 January 2024 25 9 0 16 036.0
Spennymoor Town 2 January 2024 Present error 24 13 14 048.0
Total 108 43 25 40 039.8 —

Honours

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As a player

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Hartlepool United

Doncaster Rovers

Notts County

Individual

As a manager

[edit]

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ "Name: Graeme Lee". darlington-fc.net. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Graeme Lee". In The Mad Crowd. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  4. ^ "South Yorkshire Sport – Football Heaven Player of the Season award". BBC.
  5. ^ "Anzowls.com – fan site for Sheffield Wednesday Football Club – The Owls". Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Hartlepool 2–4 Sheff Wed (aet)". BBC Sport. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b Parker, Simon (6 August 2008). "Lee plots silver service". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  8. ^ BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Doncaster | Doncaster agree fee for defender[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Graeme Lee – Bradford". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
  10. ^ "Shrews sign Doncaster captain Lee". BBC News. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  11. ^ BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Shrewsbury | Doncaster recall Lee from Shrews
  12. ^ "Bradford swoop for defender Lee". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  13. ^ "Bradford 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  14. ^ Parker, Simon (24 October 2008). "Grimsby 1 City 3". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  15. ^ "MK Dons 1–2 Bradford". BBC Sport. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  16. ^ Parker, Simon (17 February 2009). "McCall faced with selection headache". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  17. ^ "Notts County sign Bradford's Lee". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Darlington axe manager Craig Liddle and players". BBC Sport. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  19. ^ "High-Profile Arrivals at Celtic Nation". NonLeagueDaily.com. 20 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "Graeme Lee Moves Up To U23 Lead Coach Role". Middlesbrough F.C. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Graeme Lee: Hartlepool United appoint former defender as boss". BBC. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Club Statement – Graeme Lee". Hartlepool United FC. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Seasiders Appoint Graeme Lee As First Team Manager". Marske United FC. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Graeme Lee Named As Spennymoor Boss". Spennymoor Town FC. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Now Let's Meet The National League North Big Winners!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  26. ^ a b "North's Promotion Hunters Sparkle As They Make Hay In March". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Graeme Lee Agrees New Moors Deal". Spennymoor Town FC. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Graeme Lee Named As Spennymoor Boss". Spennymoor Town FC. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Graeme Lee – Appearances and goals". In The Mad Crowd. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  31. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  35. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  36. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  37. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  38. ^ a b "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  40. ^ a b c "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  42. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  43. ^ "Games played by Graeme Lee in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  44. ^ "Graeme Lee". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  45. ^ "Doncaster 1–0 Leeds". BBC Sport. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  46. ^ "Bristol Rovers 2–3 Doncaster AET". BBC Sport. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  47. ^ Fletcher, Paul (21 April 2010). "Notts County's title but Rochdale's triumph". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  48. ^ McKechnie, David (28 April 2003). "Henry lands PFA award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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