Lee Croft

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Personal information
Lee Croft
Full name	Lee Croft
Date of birth	June 26, 1985
Place of birth	Wigan, England
Position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Norwich City
Number	7
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
2004-2006 2004-2005 2006-	Manchester City → Oldham Athletic (loan) Norwich City	28 (1) 12 (0) 13 (2)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:48, 26 October 2006 (UTC).

Lee Croft (born 26 June 1985 in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester), is an English footballer who currently plays for Norwich City. He made his League debut on loan from Manchester City at Oldham Athletic in November 2004. His first team debut for Manchester City was on March 7, 2005 against Bolton Wanderers, coming on as a substitute. His first Premier League start was on 31 October 2005 against Aston Villa, and his first Manchester City goal came a week later in a match against Fulham. On July 28, 2006 he signed for Norwich City for a fee of around £700,000 and scored his first goal for the club on 12 August 2006 in a 3-2 win against Luton at Carrow Road.

Croft is fast becoming a fans' favourite at Carrow Road, with another goal in the 5-1 demolition of Barnsley on August 26 2006. Although not yet fully 'match-fit' Croft is an important part of the Norwich City starting line up, his fledgling partnership with Robert Earnshaw and Darren Huckerby proving already one of the most feared in the Championship. Not afraid to take on his man, City would appear to look well balanced with Croft patrolling the right wing, although Norwich appeared frail in midfield in their 4-1 home defeat to Burnley which heralded the departure of manager of six years, Nigel Worthington.

Croft has been capped at schoolboy level by England more times than any other player. He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Croft was a fan of Liverpool as a boy.

Mum Gina and Dad Paul are said to be the biggest influences on his career and his only Brother Stuart is also a talented footballer who is currently in The United States Of America on a four year football Scholarship.

On the 28th October 2006, it was announced that Lee would be absent from first team duties for a possible 6 weeks following an injury during Norwich's 5-0 defeat at Stoke City. This was unwelcome news for Norwich fans who had seen their squad struggle already with the loss of key players.