Cult Hero - David Lee

No, not the infamous art critic and editor of The Jackdaw, but the gangly English centre half…

Younger readers of this blog may not be aware of David Lee’s talents, and even the over-30s might struggle to recall many of his finer attributes. Hopefully this brief review can therefore inform, and prompt some happy memories to boot.

With all respect, Lee could probably not be described as a consistent player. Having risen through the youth team, he spent the majority of his prime years at Chelsea in the late 80s and early 90s. This was not the wealthy, title-winning Chelsea though, but a side plagued with inconsistency – brief flashes of brilliance hard to locate between masses of mediocrity. Perhaps an apt metaphor for Lee himself. In his 10 year spell with the Blues, Lee made only 196 appearances. Injuries didn’t help, but the rangy central defender would probably admit his own debatable form didn’t aid matters either.

Nonetheless, Lee produced many memorable sequences, not least at the start of the 91/92 campaign, where he managed to concede three penalties in the first five games of the season, the most astounding being a deliberate drag-back – with his right hand - whilst lying prone in the penalty area. A bizarre decision, but let’s not focus too much on the negatives – Lee played a role in Chelsea’s Division Two title winning side of 89, and went on to hold down a place during Glenn Hoddle’s “revolution”, often forming a dependable, if slightly surreal back three with Ruud Gullit and Frank Sinclair. Lee, standing well over six feet tall, was dominant in the air but had an eye for a pass too – perhaps he even taught Gullit a thing or two about switching play with style…

Lee’s commitment to the game should not be overlooked either. After moving on from Stamford Bridge, he enjoyed spells with Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Exeter City, Parramatta Power (a successful side from Western Sydney in case you were wondering), Havant & Waterlooville and Forest Green Rovers. Not to mention his previous loan spells with Reading, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth and Sheffield United. Fans from up and down the UK, and indeed across the globe, were able to enjoy Lee’s resolute defending and expansive passing game.

Lee now works as a youth team coach for Bristol City, and is reportedly an avid cricket fan too, opening the batting for his local side. No doubt his ability to launch an accurate 50 yard pass is replicated with eye-catching front foot play on the cricket square. You’d expect nothing less from this dashing defender.