Terry Lees

Terry Lees
Personal information
Full nameTerence Lees
Date of birth30 June 1952
Place of birthStoke-on-Trent, England
Playing positionDefender / Midfielder
Youth career
1968–1969Stoke City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1969–1975Stoke City24(0)
–→ Cape Town City (loan)
1975→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)6(0)
1975San Jose Earthquakes16(1)
1975–1976Port Vale41(2)
1976–1977Sparta Rotterdam33(1)
1977–1979Roda JC Kerkrade59(8)
1979–1981Birmingham City12(0)
1981–1982Newport County25(0)
1982Morning Star (Hong Kong)
1982–1984DS'7950(1)
1984Stafford Rangers
1984Altrincham
1984–1985Scunthorpe United31(1)
1985–1986Macclesfield Town25(0)
Teams managed
–Hanley Town
–Kidsgrove Athletic
–Ball Haye Green
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Terence "Terry" Lees (born 30 June 1952) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Birmingham City, Newport County and Scunthorpe United,[1] in the North American Soccer League for San Jose Earthquakes,[2] and in the Eredivisie for Sparta Rotterdam, Roda JC Kerkrade and DS'79.[3]

Playing career

Lees was born in Stoke-on-Trent, and joined local club Stoke City as an apprentice in 1968, turning professional in July 1969.[4] He made his debut during the 1969–70 season, but played infrequently throughout his six seasons with the "Potters".[5] He also spent time on loan at South African Cape Town City, and, rather closer to home, with Crewe Alexandra.[6] In 1975 Lees played 16 games and scored one goal for the San Jose Earthquakes in the North American Soccer League.[2]

On his return to England, Port Vale paid local rivals Stoke City £3,000 for his services in August 1975.[7] He played 47 games over all competitions for the "Valiants", which made him one of the few players to have played for all three local clubs (Stoke, Vale and Crewe). In August 1976 he was sold on to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000.[6] Lees played 30 games for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie, and then spent two seasons with fellow top-flight club Roda JC Kerkrade.[3]

In July 1979 he returned to the Midlands and signed for Birmingham City.[4] He found himself behind Mark Dennis, Colin Todd and Kevan Broadhurst in contention for starting places, so played only ten games in the 1979–80 season, which nevertheless made a contribution to the club's promotion to the First Division. The following season he understudied the ever-present Dave Langan at right back, and played only twice.[8] After two years at Birmingham, in which he played 19 games in all competitions, Lees moved on to Newport County,[4] where he played 25 league games.[1]

After an interlude in Hong Kong playing for Morning Star, Lees resumed his career in Dutch football with DS'79.[4] He made his debut in October 1982, playing on the left wing in a 5–0 win away at Heracles,[9] and in his first season helped the club to the Eerste Divisie title. His 1983–84 season was less successful: though Lees himself played in 29 of the 34 games, the club finished bottom of the table, and in their last match of the season were beaten 7–2 by Ajax, Marco van Basten scoring five of the seven.[3][10]

After a trial with Blackpool, he later played for Stafford Rangers and finished his Football League career with Scunthorpe United,[6] whom he joined from Altrincham in September 1984.[11] He then played for Macclesfield Town.[1][12]

Management career

Lees managed non-league clubs in the Staffordshire area after retiring as a player. He took charge at Hanley Town and Kidsgrove Athletic and was assistant manager of Meir K.A. before becoming manager of Ball Haye Green.[6]

Post-retirement

After leaving the game, Lees ran a burger van.[13]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1970–71 First Division 7020000090
1971–72 5000000050
1972–73 8000100090
1973–74 4000000040
1974–75 0000000000
Crewe Alexandra (loan) 1974–75 Fourth Division 6000000060
Port Vale 1975–76 Third Division 412303000472
Birmingham City 1979–80 Second Division 100101020140
1980–81 First Division 2030000050
Newport County 1981–82 Third Division 250101031301
Scunthorpe United 1984–85 Fourth Division 310301010360
Career Total 139213070611653
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Group Cup and Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Terry Lees". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "North American Soccer League Players: Terry Lees". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Terry Lees". Voetbal International. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. ↑ "Terry Lees". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 171. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  7. ↑ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 47. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  8. ↑ Matthews, pp. 215–16.
  9. ↑ "Heracles maakt het DS'79 niet moeilijk: 0–5" [Heracles don't make it hard for DS'79: 0–5] (in Dutch). FC Dordrecht. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Marco geeft Ajax nog troostprijs" [Marco gives Ajax a consolation prize] (in Dutch). FC Dordrecht. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "The Iron alphabet". Scunthorpe United F.C. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007.
  12. ↑ "Player Profile - L". Silkmen Archives. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ten minutes of mayhem saw Vale cap comeback". The Sentinel (Stoke-on-Trent). 20 February 2010. p. 24.

External links