Jason Lee (footballer)
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Jason Benedict Lee (born 9 May 1971) is an English
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
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and former player. Lee played as a forward (association football), forward, most notably in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest F.C., Nottingham Forest where he featured over three seasons, one of which saw him play in the UEFA Cup. He also had a brief spell in the Scottish Premier League with Falkirk F.C., Falkirk, but played the bulk of his professional career in the Football League with Charlton Athletic F.C., Charlton Athletic, Stockport County F.C., Stockport County, Lincoln City F.C., Lincoln City, Southend United F.C., Southend United, Grimsby Town F.C., Grimsby Town, Watford F.C., Watford, Chesterfield F.C., Chesterfield, Peterborough United F.C., Peterborough United, Boston United F.C., Boston United, Northampton Town F.C., Northampton Town, Notts County F.C., Notts County and Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town. He later had spells in non-league football with Kettering Town F.C., Kettering Town, Corby Town F.C., Corby Town, Ilkeston Town F.C. (1945), Ilkeston Town and Arnold Town F.C., Arnold Town In 2011 he returned to Boston United and was appointed as manager initially alongside Lee Canoville, although he later took up the role on a sole basis before being dismissed in 2012.


Playing career

Lee began his career at Charlton Athletic F.C., Charlton Athletic but having failed to establish himself in the side moved to Lincoln City F.C., Lincoln City in 1991 before later moving to Southend United F.C., Southend United. He moved to Nottingham Forest F.C., Nottingham Forest in 1994. Initially, Lee failed to crack his way into Forest's first team. However, the departure of Stan Collymore to Liverpool F.C., Liverpool saw him feature for the first team. In the 1995-96 in English football, 1995–96 season he scored eight league goals in 28 games. Following two loan spells, back at his first club Charlton and at Grimsby Town F.C., Grimsby Town, Lee was transferred to Watford in 1997 for £200,000 – the same fee paid by Forest three years earlier – and played in their 1997-98 in English football, 1997–98 Football League Second Division, Second Division championship-winning side, scoring ten goals. However, Lee's refusal to uproot his family from Nottingham caused tension with manager Graham Taylor (football manager), Graham Taylor, who sold him to Chesterfield F.C., Chesterfield early in the 1998-99 in English football, 1998–99 season for £250,000. After that, he played for Peterborough United F.C., Peterborough United (2000–2003), Falkirk F.C., Falkirk (2003–2004), Boston United F.C., Boston United (2004–2006). In January 2006, Lee joined Northampton Town F.C., Northampton Town on a free transfer. He was part of the Northampton side that won promotion from Football League Two, League Two, appearing 11 times for the Cobblers and scoring one goal against Notts County. However, he was released at the end of the season and subsequently joined Aldershot Town F.C., Aldershot Town. His stay at the Shots was a brief one, and in June 2006 he moved to Notts County F.C., Notts County, and was team captain for the 2007–08 season. It was announced on BBC East Midlands Today, during a feature presented by the player, that he would not be retained by the club for the 2008–09 campaign. Following his release from the Magpies, signed for Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town on 1 August 2008. Lee signed for Kettering Town on 13 January 2009, for the remainder of the 2008–09 season from Mansfield Town. Lee scored once in six league games for Kettering, his strike coming in a 2–1 loss to Stevenage on 27 January 2009. He moved on to Corby Town F.C., Corby Town, making his début in a 3–3 draw against Farnborough F.C., Farnborough on 21 March 2009. He joined Ilkeston Town F.C. (1945), Ilkeston Town of the Conference North on 1 April 2010, scoring on his début in a 2–1 victory over A.F.C. Telford United, AFC Telford United. After a long and wide-ranging career Lee announced his retirement from football in November 2010 following the death of his mother. Lee came out of retirement in March 2011 when he joined Arnold Town F.C., Arnold Town, debuting in the club's Northern Counties East League 1–0 defeat at Hallam F.C., Hallam on 8 March 2011. The same week he was announced as the Matchday VIP Host for former club Lincoln City F.C., Lincoln City, a role which would limit his availability for Arnold. His second, and final, league appearance for the club saw him sent-off for two yellow cards, the second for the use of the elbow, in the 4–2 defeat to Pickering Town F.C., Pickering Town on 19 March 2011.


Managerial career

On 22 March 2011, Lee, along with Lee Canoville was confirmed as caretaker coach of Boston United F.C., Boston United following the resignation of joint first team managers Rob Scott (footballer), Rob Scott and Paul Hurst. Lee re-registered himself as a player towards the end of the 2010–11 season. He made three appearances, including the final of the Lincolnshire Senior Shield and one 2010-11 Football Conference#Playoffs 2, Conference North playoff-game. Jason Lee was sacked as manager in December 2012 after a run of poor results in the 2012/13 season leaving the Pilgrims in 10th place.


Football administration

In 2013 Lee became the Equalities Education Executive for the Professional Footballers Association (PFA).


In popular culture

Lee was frequently mocked by comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel in the 1990s football comedy TV show ''Fantasy Football League''. In a series of sketches, Lee was lampooned for his perceived poor footballing ability and his distinctive hairstyle, described as resembling a "pineapple". When asked what he made of Baddiel performing in blackface, Lee said: "I'd ask them if they realised the significance of what they were doing. It was, looking back, a form of bullying. I work in equalities now, and it can affect different people in different ways. I don't think people appreciate the possible harm it can cause. Not everyone has the make-up to deal with that, and they shouldn't have to." In a 2022 interview, Skinner said their behaviour had been unacceptable: "Looking back, it was a bullying campaign. And it's awful. And yeah, I'm ashamed of it ... It wouldn't be too much to say we're both deeply ashamed."


References


External links

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Profile
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UpThePosh! The Peterborough United DatabaseThe Life and Times of Jason LeeInterview with Jason for the blog The Ball is Round
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Jason 1971 births Living people Footballers from Forest Gate English footballers Association football forwards Charlton Athletic F.C. players Stockport County F.C. players Lincoln City F.C. players Southend United F.C. players Nottingham Forest F.C. players Grimsby Town F.C. players Watford F.C. players Chesterfield F.C. players Peterborough United F.C. players Boston United F.C. players Northampton Town F.C. players Falkirk F.C. players Notts County F.C. players Mansfield Town F.C. players Kettering Town F.C. players Ilkeston Town F.C. (1945) players Corby Town F.C. players Arnold Town F.C. players Premier League players English Football League players National League (English football) players English football managers Boston United F.C. managers National League (English football) managers Black British sportsmen