Biography
Attacking midfielder David Lee joined the Tigers in May 2001 from Southend United as manager Brian Little used the investment funds provided by new City chairman Adam Pearson to chart a route out of League Division 3. Lee was recommended to Little by his brother Alan, who was on the staff at Southend. While Lee looked the part with his fast feet and complicated hairstyle, his footballing contribution was less than the sum of its parts and he was mostly confined the role of impact subsititute for his four months in the first team squad. In early September 2001 he came off the bench against York City to stroke in a fine free kick from 25 yards that made the scoreline 4-0, but there were precious few further moments like that, even when he started two matches in early October. Little ditched Lee in the run-up to Christmas amid rumours of thirsty nights out on the town and in January 2002 Lee was moved on to Brighton with defender Matthew Wicks moving in the opposite direction.
David John Francis Lee was born in Basildon and raised in the Essex suburbs, where his father operated an ice cream van. He came through the youth team system at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and was given a professional contract in 1998. Lee was one of Tottenham’s more capable young players and played in the FA Premier Youth League Cup final against Arsenal, but was unable to get close to the White Hart Lane first team and left in March 2000 to join League Division 2 side Gillingham, who were managed by future City boss Peter Taylor. David never made a first team appearance for the Gills and in the 2000 close season he signed for Essex-based League Division 3 side Southend United on Taylor’s recommendation. He scored on his Shrimpers’ senior debut against Brighton & Hove Albion in August 2000 and established himself as a first team regular, netting ten goals in 52 appearances as Southend finished midway up the League Division 3 table and reached the Football League Trophy final (which they lost to Brentford over two legs). It was this form that led to his move to Hull City.
Lee joined League Division 2 side Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2002 and reunited with manager Peter Taylor. He spent nearly three years on the South Coast but made only 7 senior appearances as the Seagulls achieved two promotions and an intervening relegation, ascending to the second tier of League football. He spent October and November 2002 on loan at Bristol Rovers, where he made six appearances, and spent the early months of the 2003/04 season on loan at Essex-based Ryman League side Thurrock. In September 2004 Lee headed north once again, signing non-contract terms with Oldham Athletic. After 9 senior appearances for the Latics he returned south in December 2004 to re-sign for Thurrock, by February 2005 he had moved on to Stevenage Borough only to join rivals Aldershot three weeks later. He missed much of the 2005/06 season at Aldershot after breaking his ankle and leg in February 2007. Unable to play at semi-professional level, he gravitated back to the Essex non-league scene before giving up playing altogether in 2009.
After hanging up his boots Lee remained in the game, working as a football agent for the modestly-named Stellar Group.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 28 March 1980, Basildon
Hull City First Game: 21 August 2001, Wrexham A (League Cup First Round), 21 years, 146 days old
Hull City Final Game: 17 November 2001, Northwich Victoria A (FA Cup First Round), 21 years, 234 days old
Clubs
Tottenham Hotspur (1998-2000), Gillingham (2000), Southend United (2000-2001), Hull City (2001-2002), Brighton & Hove Albion (2002-2004), Bristol Rovers (2002, loan), Thurrock (2003, loan), Oldham Athletic (2004), Thurrock (2004-2005), Stevenage Borough (2005), Aldershot Town (2005-2007), Harlow Town (2007), Braintree Town (2007), AFC Hornchurch (2007-2008), Canvey Island (2008-2009)
Hull City Record
Career: 14 apps, 1 goals
David Lee| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001/02 | 2 (9) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | – | – | 0 (1) | 0 |