Biography
Experienced attacking midfielder Lee Philpott joined Hull City in July 2000 from Lincoln City, part of Brian Little’s squad building efforts in the early months of the 21st century. Philpott was a regular starter during much of the 2000/01 season as the Tigers squad coped with financial meltdown and deferment of wages, powering into the end-of-season play-offs – Lee scored his first goal for the Tigers in a night match against Halifax Town in March 2001 and was used as substitute in both play-off semi-finals against Leyton Orient, having handing his place in the first eleven to loan player Andy Holt.
For the next two seasons Philpott was a more peripheral first team figure, appearing occasionally while struggling with an achilles injury. He scored his second and final goal a year after his first, in another night match against Mansfield Town, and left City in the 2003 close season.
Lee Philpott was born in Barnet but by his teenage years he was playing junior football in the Cambridge area, scoring goals aplenty – he was also a noted county level cross-country runner in his youth. Philpott spent some time with the youth team at Luton Town, then in July 1986 he joined the apprentice scheme at Division Four side Peterborough United. In May 1988 Philpott was handed his first professional contract by Posh, having made his senior debut a month earlier in April 1988 against Newport County. He made six further appearances during the 1988/89 season but was unable to break into the Peterborough first team on a regular basis and left the club in May 1989 having made just 7 senior appearances.
In May 1989 Lee joined Division Four rivals Cambridge United and it was at the Abbey Stadium that he built his reputation as a dangerous and pacy wide man. He made his U’s debut in August 1989 against Maidstone United and netted his first senior goal a month later against Halifax Town. Lee was a regular starter, providing a supply line of chances to centre forward Dion Dublin as Cambridge reached the end of season play-offs and defeated Chesterfield in the Wembley final. The U’s powered onwards and won the Division Three title in the 1990/91 season with Philpott again a first team regular – they also reached the FA Cup Sixth Round and played a top flight club for the second successive season, losing the quarter final to Arsenal in March 1991 having lost to Crystal Palace at the same stage a year earlier. Now in Division Two, Philpott was still effective on the wing though injury sidelined him for two months in February and March 1992 – In May 1992 he played in both legs as Cambridge again reached the end of season play-offs, only to be thrashed by Leicester City when on the verge of rising from fourth tier to top flight in three successive seasons. Lee remained at Abbey Stadium at the start of the 1992/93 season as the squad was starting to be dismantled – when Philpott also left the club in November 1992 he had scored 23 goals in 178 senior appearances across three and a half seasons.
In November 1992 League Division 1 side Leicester City paid £350,000 for Philpott’s services and handed him an immediate debut against Bristol Rovers. The Foxes, managed by future Hull City manager Brian Little, were building a new squad following promotion the previous May and Philpott was a regular choice during the remainder of the 1992/93 season as Leicester reached the play-off final only to lose narrowly to Swindon Town. He was used in a supporting role during the 1993/94 season as Leicester won promotion to the Premier League by defeating Derby County in the play-offs. In August 1994 Philpott made his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest and went on to make 23 top flight appearances during the 1994/95 season as the Foxes were immediately relegated back to League Division 1. He was rarely selected during the 1995/96 season and left Filbert Street in March 1996 having scored three goals for the Foxes in 91 appearances.
In March 1996 Philpott joined League Division 2 side Blackpool, attracting a £75,000 fee. Niggling injuries occasionally restricted his game time and Philpott left the Tangerines in the 1998 close season having scored six goals in 82 appearances. He joined League Division 2 side Lincoln City in July 1998 and played a supporting role as the Imps were relegated in Lee’s first season at Sincil Bank, then consolidated in the fourth tier during his second season. Philpott left Lincoln City in July 2000 to join Hull City having scored three goals for the Imps in 57 appearances.
In July 2003 Philpott left Hull City and joined Southern League side Weymouth, who were managed by his former Leicester City team-mate Steve Claridge. He spent a season with the Terras that culminated in promotion to the Conference South. Still living in York, Philpott joined Conference North side Harrogate Town in November 2004 as player and assistant manager, a role he retained for three seasons – he was briefly first team caretaker manager at Harrogate Town in February 2005. In July 2007 Lee joined Hinckley United, another Conference North side, before retiring from playing in the 2008 close season.
In 2008 Philpott qualified as a licensed football agent and became director of LPM Football Agents, a firm based at The Deep in Hull.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 21 February 1970, Barnet
Hull City First Game: 12 August 2000, Blackpool A (League Division 3), 30 years, 173 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 October 2002, Port Vale A (Associate Members Cup First Round), 32 years, 243 days old
Clubs
Peterborough United (1986-1989), Cambridge United (1989-1992), Leicester City (1992-1996), Blackpool (1996-1998), Lincoln City (1998-2000), Hull City (2000-2003), Weymouth (2003-2004), Harrogate Town (2004-2007), Hinckley United (2007-2008)
Hull City Record
Career: 60 apps, 2 goals
Lee Philpott| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000/01 | 36 (6) | 1 | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | 0 (2) | 0 |
| 2001/02 | 9 (2) | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002/03 | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 (0) | 0 |