Richard Lee (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Anthony Lee is an English
footballer
. He is a goalkeeper and currently plays for Brentford
.
season. He made his debut in February 2003 against Preston North End
, after first choice Alec Chamberlain
was rested before an FA Cup
quarter final. He went on to make four more appearances that season.
At the beginning of the 2003–04
season it seemed like Lee may become Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, after he started many of the club's pre-season games. However he started the season on the bench and in a training session he broke his arm, and was out injured for a period of months. By the time of his return, loanee Lenny Pidgeley
had established himself in the side, with Chamberlain as his deputy.
For the 2004–05
season Lee became Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, although he was injured for Watford's League Cup semi-final against Liverpool
.
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd's decision to loan Lee to Blackburn Rovers for the 2005–06
season was met with questions from many fans. Lee spent the season as third choice goalkeeper behind Brad Friedel
and Peter Enckelman
. Lee returned to Watford following the conclusion of the loan deal, with both clubs unable to agree upon a transfer fee.
On his return to Watford, Lee spent most of the 2006–07
Premier League season as backup to on loan goalkeeper Ben Foster
, though he played in the FA Cup
semi final against Manchester United
as Foster was ineligible to play against his parent club.
At the beginning of the 2007–08
season, Lee again found himself as backup as during the close season Mart Poom
had been signed from Arsenal
. Lee was eventually given his chance in the first team and managed to dislodge Poom and establish himself as Watford's first choice keeper. He was also given the responsibility of captaining the side for a time.
On 31 May 2010, Lee signed for Brentford
on a 2-year contract. Following poor form in pre-season, Lee was forced to wait for his chance in the league in the team, as Simon Moore
and then loanees Alex McCarthy
and Ben Hamer
were selected ahead of him. However, after starting his first league game of the season against AFC Bournemouth in November 2010, he cemented his place in the side. On 14 December 2010, Lee made a hat-trick of saves in a penalty shoot-out against Charlton F.C
, taking Brentford into the Area finals. He missed the end of the season and an appearance in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley Stadium
due to a shoulder injury. In spite of these set-backs, he was named Player of the Season 2010/11 by Brentford's young supporters (the "Junior Bees"). At the start of the 2011/12 season, he was named as Brentford vice-captain by new manager Uwe Rosler
.
programme Dragons' Den
, where he and a partner managed to sell 50% of the equity in their company "Dr. Cap" to the entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne
for an investment of £150,000.
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...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He is a goalkeeper and currently plays for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.
Playing career
Lee came through Watford's academy, and became second choice goalkeeper after Ray Lewington's appointment as manager at the beginning of the 2002–032002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season. He made his debut in February 2003 against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, after first choice Alec Chamberlain
Alec Chamberlain
Alec Francis Roy Chamberlain is a former English goalkeeper currently employed by Watford as the club's goalkeeping coach. He made 788 league appearances during his 25-year playing career, the final 11 years and 247 appearances of which were with Watford.-Career:Chamberlain started his career at...
was rested before an FA Cup
FA 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...
quarter final. He went on to make four more appearances that season.
At the beginning of the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season it seemed like Lee may become Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, after he started many of the club's pre-season games. However he started the season on the bench and in a training session he broke his arm, and was out injured for a period of months. By the time of his return, loanee Lenny Pidgeley
Lenny Pidgeley
Leonard James "Lenny" Pidgeley is an English footballer who plays for Exeter City as a goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Twickenham, London, initially signed up by Chelsea since the opening of the 2002–03 season, he was loaned out to Watford between September 2003 and May 2004, a deal initially intended...
had established himself in the side, with Chamberlain as his deputy.
For the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season Lee became Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, although he was injured for Watford's League Cup semi-final against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd's decision to loan Lee to Blackburn Rovers for the 2005–06
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...
season was met with questions from many fans. Lee spent the season as third choice goalkeeper behind Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel
Bradley Howard Friedel is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League....
and Peter Enckelman
Peter Enckelman
Peter Enckelman is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League.-Aston Villa:...
. Lee returned to Watford following the conclusion of the loan deal, with both clubs unable to agree upon a transfer fee.
On his return to Watford, Lee spent most of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
Premier League season as backup to on loan goalkeeper Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
, though he played in the FA Cup
FA 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...
semi final against 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 Foster was ineligible to play against his parent club.
At the beginning of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season, Lee again found himself as backup as during the close season Mart Poom
Mart Poom
Mart Poom is an Estonian former football goalkeeper. He retired after Estonia's 0–0 draw against Portugal on 10 June 2009 to focus on his job as goalkeeping coach at Arsenal and the Estonian national team, as well as other more "personal" projects....
had been signed from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Lee was eventually given his chance in the first team and managed to dislodge Poom and establish himself as Watford's first choice keeper. He was also given the responsibility of captaining the side for a time.
On 31 May 2010, Lee signed for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on a 2-year contract. Following poor form in pre-season, Lee was forced to wait for his chance in the league in the team, as Simon Moore
Simon Moore (footballer)
Simon Moore is a professional footballer currently playing as a goalkeeper for Brentford.-Early career:Moore was at the Southampton academy earlier in his career, before spending time with Brading Town Isle Of Wight and Farnborough....
and then loanees Alex McCarthy
Alex McCarthy
Alex Simon McCarthy is an English footballer who plays for Leeds United as a goalkeeper on loan from Reading.-Club career:...
and Ben Hamer
Ben Hamer
Benjamin John "Ben" Hamer is an English footballer who plays for Charlton as a goalkeeper.-Career:Hamer was born in Taunton, Somerset. His family moved to Germany at the age of 2 and, consequently, he is a fluent German speaker. However, when he was 8, his family came back to England...
were selected ahead of him. However, after starting his first league game of the season against AFC Bournemouth in November 2010, he cemented his place in the side. On 14 December 2010, Lee made a hat-trick of saves in a penalty shoot-out against Charlton F.C
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, taking Brentford into the Area finals. He missed the end of the season and an appearance in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 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...
due to a shoulder injury. In spite of these set-backs, he was named Player of the Season 2010/11 by Brentford's young supporters (the "Junior Bees"). At the start of the 2011/12 season, he was named as Brentford vice-captain by new manager Uwe Rosler
Uwe Rösler
Uwe Rösler is a German football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Brentford.Rösler was previously a successful player who played for several clubs, most notably Manchester City , where he was the leading goalscorer for three consecutive seasons from 1995–96 to 1997–98, and 1...
.
Business career
On 31 August 2006, Lee appeared on the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "Manē no Tora"...
, where he and a partner managed to sell 50% of the equity in their company "Dr. Cap" to the entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Walker Bannatyne, OBE is a Scottish entrepreneur, philanthropist and author. His business interests include hotels, health clubs, spas, media, TV, stage schools, property and transport. He is most famous for his appearance as a business angel on the BBC programme Dragons' Den...
for an investment of £150,000.
External links
- Richard Lee official site
- Richard Lee profile at watfordfc.co.uk
- Dr Cap website