| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Howey | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Sunderland, England | ||
| Playing position | Defender, Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1992–1993 | Bishop Auckland | 15 | (5) |
| 1993–1997 | Sunderland | 81 | (11) |
| 1996–1997 | Ipswich (loan) | 35 | (3) |
| 1997–1998 | Burnley | 56 | (6) |
| 1998–2001 | Northampton | 17 | (2) |
| 2001–2002 | Forest Green | 17 | (0) |
| 2002 | Nuneaton | 221 | (27 ) |
| – | Total | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Lee Howey (born April 1, 1969 in Sunderland) is a former English football player, and the older brother of former Newcastle United and England defender Steve Howey.
Starting out as a youngster at local club Bishop Auckland, Howey moved to hometown side Sunderland in March 1993, making his debut for the club on the final day of the 1992/93 season against Portsmouth at Roker Park. The following two seasons saw Howey in and out of the squad, making 38 league and cup appearances during the two years, mostly from the substitutes bench. It wasn't until the arrival of manager Peter Reid that Howey began to see regular first team action, playing 30 times during the clubs Championship winning season, including 18 starts. However, Sunderland struggled to cope with life in the Premiership, and Howey was allowed to leave the club following the clubs relegation back to Football League First Division on the final day of the season. Howey made just 13 appearances that season. Howey also had a short spell with Ipswich Town in 1997.
It was Burnley who splashed out £200,000 for the Wearsider, however, Howey's career at the Lancashire club wasn't a success, and he eventually moved on to Northampton in February 1999 after a four month loan period. Howey moved again two years later, completing a free transfer to Conference side Forest Green in 2001, before finishing his career at Nuneaton Borough later in the season.
Although primarily a central defender, Howey played up front a number of times during his career, and is considered to be comfortable in either role.
Lee is famous now for the football chant regularly sung by Sunderland fans about his brother.