Eric Lee (footballer)

Eric George Lee (18 October 1922 – 2012) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He has made the fourth most Football League appearances for Chester,[1] with 363 such appearances made from 1946 to 1957. He was born in Chester.

For the player of Canadian Football, see Eric Lee (Canadian football).

Eric Lee
Personal information
Full name Eric George Lee
Date of birth (1922-10-18)18 October 1922
Place of birth Chester, England
Date of death 2012 (aged 89–90)
Place of death Quebec, Canada
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1957 Chester 363 (10)
National team
1948 Great Britain
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Lee was recruited by his hometown club of Chester from local amateur football,[2] becoming part of the first team during 1945–46 the final season of wartime league formats.

When Football League action resumed in August 1946, Lee was a regular in the first team side and his performances prompted a call up for the England amateur side against their Welsh counterparts.[3] He missed much of the following season due to his teacher training course at Loughborough College[4] but returned to the first team ranks in 1948–49 and remained a regular in the number five shirt until his final season of 1956–57.[5] He retired at the end of the season, with his final appearance coming in a 2–0 win over Barrow on 29 April 1957.

Lee had enjoyed a benefit match between Chester and a Liverpool XI at Sealand Road on 30 April 1952,[5] and played in four Welsh Cup finals. He left the club as their Football League record appearance holder, subsequently beaten by Ray Gill, Ron Hughes and Trevor Storton, but remains the highest Chester-born player in the club's appearance list.[1]

Personal life

Lee was an uncle of comedian Bob Mills.[6]

During his playing career he was also a History teacher at Chester City Grammar School, where he was known as "Sticky" Lee.

Lee later emigrated to Canada,[7] where he died in 2012.[8]

Honours

Chester

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Bibliography
  • Sumner, Chas (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City F.C. 1885-1997. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

References
  1. "Club Records – Most League Appearances". chester-city.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  2. Sumner (1997), p.140
  3. Sumner (1997), p.61
  4. Sumner (1997), p.63
  5. Sumner (1997), stats section
  6. 'Bob Mills', Leyton Orient v. Chester City programme 23/4/05, pg. 49
  7. Eric Lee | Chester Football Club
  8. Lee, Eric George. "Family Genealogy". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
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