Biography
Chris Lee joined the Tigers on a free transfer in July 1993 and was quickly introduced to the City midfield. While Lee’s hard working spirit and commitment to tackling were not questioned, his wider ability was sometimes seen as lacking. Add into the mix that he was the son of combustible assistant manager Jeff Lee and Chris’s selection was at times questioned more than most. In his first month in the first team Lee scored twice in an exciting 4-3 win at Cardiff as City spent September 1993 at the top of the table, but that brace did not presage a flood of further goals and by the winter months Lee was in and out of Dolan’s side. He returned in the New Year at right back before being restored to his preferred central midfield role in late February, scoring a goal in a March 1994 1-3 defeat at Burnley.
Chris was a first team fixture for the 1994/95 season, missing only two games all season as he split his time between midfield and full back and scored early season goals against former club Scarborough in the League Cup and Plymouth in the League. For the 1995/96 season City were denuded of all saleable assets by manager Dolan and chairman and fire-sale exponent Martin Fish, but Chris stayed on and was a first team regular as City slumped to the foot of the table early and resolutely stayed there until relegation was confirmed in late Spring. Lee’s sixth and final Tigers goal was scored at Wycombe in an October 1995 2-2 draw that was better known for a long distance Dean Windass wonder volley. With relegation sealed, further cost-cutting was needed and Chris was released in the 1996 close season.
Christopher Lee came into football during the late 1980s through the YTS system at Bradford City. He did not make a first team appearance for the Bantams and moved to Division Four side Rochdale in June 1990, the first time he came under the managerial wing of Messrs Dolan and Lee senior. He made his first team debut in August 1990 against Aldershot and struck his maiden goal four days later in the League Cup against Scarborough. Despite this decent start accounts suggest that as the season wore on Chris was more popular with the management team than he was with supporters, in nine months at Spotland he made 35 senior appearances and scored 3 goals. In March 1991 Rochdale, who had just relieved Dolan and Lee from their management duties, moved Chris on to Scarborough. Lee spent two and a bit seasons at Scarborough and became a first team regular for the Division Four side, patrolling the base of midfield with menace and contributing the odd goal. By the time he left for Hull City in July 1993 Chris had made 98 senior appearances for the Seadogs and scord five goals.
Lee left Hull city in the 1996 close season, after a summer playing in Finland he returned to England and signed for Guiseley. He broke his ankle in December 1996 and saw out his career drifting down the Yorkshire non-league scene until retirement in 1999.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 18 June 1971, Halifax
Hull City First Game: 21 August 1993, Plymouth Argyle H (League Division 2), 22 years, 64 days old
Hull City Final Game: 4 May 1996, Bradford City H (League Division 2), 24 years, 321 days old
Clubs
Bradford City (1987-1990), Rochdale (1990-1991), Scarborough (1991-1993), Hull City (1993-1996), Rovaniemen Palloseura (1996), Guiseley (1996-1997), Ossett Town (1997-1998), Hall Road Rangers (1998-1999)
Hull City Record
Career: 129 apps, 6 goals
Chris Lee| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993/94 | 37 (6) | 3 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | - | - | 1 (0) | 0 |
| 1994/95 | 42 (3) | 1 | 1 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 1 | - | - | 2 (0) | 0 |
| 1995/96 | 25 (3) | 1 | 2 (0) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | - | - | 2 (0) | 0 |