Elliot Lee Explained

Elliot Lee
Fullname:Elliot Robert Lee[1]
Birth Date:16 December 1994
Birth Place:Durham, England
Height:1.77m (05.81feet)[2]
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Wrexham
Clubnumber:38
Youthyears1:–2012
Youthclubs1:West Ham United
Years1:2012–2016
Clubs1:West Ham United
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2013
Clubs2:Colchester United (loan)
Caps2:4
Goals2:1
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Southend United (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2015
Clubs4:Luton Town (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:3
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:Blackpool (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:2016
Clubs6:Colchester United (loan)
Caps6:15
Goals6:2
Years7:2016–2017
Clubs7:Barnsley
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2017–2022
Clubs8:Luton Town
Caps8:93
Goals8:24
Years9:2021
Clubs9:Oxford United (loan)
Caps9:18
Goals9:6
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:Charlton Athletic (loan)
Caps10:34
Goals10:3
Years11:2022–
Clubs11:Wrexham
Caps11:91
Goals11:28
Club-Update:17:10, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Elliot Robert Lee (born 16 December 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Wrexham.

Lee started his career at West Ham United, where he was loaned to Colchester United, Southend United, Blackpool and Luton Town, before joining Barnsley in 2016 for an undisclosed fee. Lee left Barnsley after a year to sign for Luton and after five years with the club, signed for current club, Wrexham. He is the son of former footballer Rob Lee and the younger brother of former footballer Olly Lee.

Career

West Ham United

Born in Durham, Lee was a youth team player with West Ham United, making his debut for the reserve team in 2011 before signing his first professional contract in August 2012.[3] [4] [5] His first appearance in a first-team squad was on 1 January 2013 when he was an unused substitute in a Premier League match against Norwich City.[6] Lee then made his professional debut for West Ham, as a 78th-minute substitute for Ricardo Vaz Tê, on 16 January 2013 in a 1–0 defeat in the FA Cup third round replay at Old Trafford against Manchester United.[7]

On 12 August 2013, Lee scored two first half goals for the West Ham development squad against Aston Villa Under-21s. On 31 August he made his Premier League debut for West Ham, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute for Mohammed Diamé in a 1–0 home defeat by Stoke City.[8] Three weeks later, Lee scored a hat-trick against Newcastle Reserves in a 5–4 away win.[9] He went on to score 11 matches that season for the development squad.

Loan to Colchester United

On 22 October 2013 he signed for Colchester United on a one-month youth loan.[10] His only Colchester goal was scored on 2 November in an away draw against Rotherham United: in stoppage time in the second half, with Rotherham winning 2–1, Lee scored with a header which hit the bar and bounced over the line to make the final score 2–2.[11] He returned to West Ham on 21 November after four appearances and one goal for Colchester United.[12]

Loan to Southend United

On 31 October 2014 Lee joined Southend United on a three-month loan.[13] Within hours of signing for Southend, Lee suffered a hamstring injury and returned to West Ham for treatment.[14] On 5 November Lee was ruled out of playing for at least two months.[15] His loan was cancelled on 6 November and he returned to West Ham United, his parent club.[16]

Loan to Luton Town

On 19 February 2015, Lee joined Luton Town on loan for one month.[17] Lee chose to wear the number 38 shirt in memory of his former teammate at West Ham, Dylan Tombides who also wore number 38.[18] He scored on his debut for Luton two days later, four minutes after coming on as a substitute for Andy Drury in a 3–2 defeat away to AFC Wimbledon.[19] On 24 March 2015, Lee scored twice in a 2–3 home defeat by Wycombe Wanderers. On scoring he revealed a T-shirt showing a picture of Tombides, to whom he dedicated his goals.[20] The following day his loan contract with Luton was extended until the end of the 2014–15 season.[21] Luton manager John Still said of Lee "Elliot's been fantastic for us and we're thrilled to have him for the rest of this season."[21]

Return to West Ham

Lee scored another hat-trick for the development squad when they faced Conference Premier club Woking in a pre-season friendly on 5 August 2014.[22] Lee was an unused substitute in the League Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Sheffield United in the second round on 26 August 2014. He was given the number 36 for the first team the same day.[23] On his first start for West Ham, on 9 July 2015, Lee scored his first goal for the club. In a Europa League first qualifying round match away against FC Lusitanos of Andorra, he scored the only goal from a cross from Matt Jarvis.[24]

Loan to Blackpool

On 26 November 2015, Lee was loaned to League One club Blackpool until 3 January 2016.[25] He made his debut two days later, as a half-time substitute for Bright Osayi-Samuel in a 1–0 win over local rivals Fleetwood Town at Bloomfield Road.[26] In January 2016, having picked up an injury, Lee refused the offer of an extension to his loan and returned to West Ham. His refusal angered Blackpool manager, Neil McDonald, who was quoted as saying that Lee "would rather be at home with his mum and dad" than playing for Blackpool.[27]

Second loan to Colchester United

On 18 January 2016, Lee signed on loan for Colchester United until the end of the 2015–16 season.[28] He scored his first goal of his second spell on 12 March in a 3–3 draw with Wigan Athletic.[29] He scored once more, making 15 appearances in total.

Barnsley

On 24 June 2016, Lee signed for Championship club Barnsley for an undisclosed fee.[30] He made six appearances during the 2016–17 season, all as a substitute, but left the club by mutual consent on 4 July 2017.[31]

Luton Town

Following his release from Barnsley on 4 July 2017, Lee signed for his former loan club Luton Town on a two-year contract.[32] He scored in an 8–2 win over Yeovil Town on the opening day of the 2017–18 season on 5 August 2017.[33]

His contract was extended by a further year at the end of the 2017–18 season after a promotion clause was triggered as a result of Luton's promotion to League One.[34]

On 20 May 2022, it was announced that Lee would leave the club following the end of the 2021–22 season.[35]

Loan to Oxford United

He joined Oxford United on loan until the end of the season on 1 February 2021.[36] He scored six goals in eighteen appearances, all in League One.

Loan to Charlton Athletic

On 26 August 2021, Lee joined Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan for the 2021–22 campaign.[37] He scored his first goal for Charlton in an EFL Trophy tie against Crawley Town on 31 August 2021.[38]

Wrexham

On 8 July 2022, Lee signed a three-year deal with Wrexham.[39] On 6 August 2022, Lee scored twice on his debut to help Wrexham come from behind to beat Eastleigh 2–1 [40] He was named in the National League Team of the Year at the end of the 2022–23 season as Wrexham won the division. On 1 January 2024, Lee signed a contract extension with Wrexham, signing until the end of the 2026–27 season.[41]

Personal life

He is the son of former Charlton Athletic, Newcastle United and England midfielder Rob Lee. His older brother, Olly, is also a former professional footballer.

He attended Brentwood School in Essex.[42]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United2012–13Premier League00100010
2013–14Premier League10000010
2014–15Premier League10000010
2015–16Premier League0000004141
Total2010004171
Colchester United (loan)2013–14League One410041
Southend United (loan)2014–15League Two0000
Luton Town (loan)2014–15League Two113113
Blackpool (loan)2015–16League One4040
Colchester United (loan)2015–16League One15200152
Barnsley2016–17Championship60000060
Luton Town2017–18League Two32102110313812
2018–19League One38124010004312
2019–20Championship1111031152
2020–21Championship1211030161
2021–22Championship00001010
Total932481913111327
Oxford United (loan)2020–21League One18620206
Charlton Athletic (loan)2021–22League One3433021394
Wrexham2022–23451252115115
2023–24League Two46164020105316
Total912892202110431
Career total2786721311113432375

Honours

Luton Town

2018–19[43]

Wrexham

2022–23[45]

Individual

2023–24[48]

2023–24 League Two[49]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Luton Town . English Football League . 39 . 22 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Elliot Lee . 3 April 2024.
  3. Web site: West Ham reserves coach Lomas happy with Elliott Lee debut. www.tribalfootball.co.uk. 16 January 2013.
  4. Web site: McCartney completes Hammers switch. www.whufc.com. 16 January 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120704091026/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20120701/mccartney-completes-hammers-switch_2236884_2825510. 4 July 2012.
  5. News: Back. Adrian. West Ham's Trio of Second Generation Stars Impressing in Reserve Action. 16 January 2013. www.ibtimes.co.uk. 29 October 2012.
  6. Web site: West Ham 2–1 Norwich City. BBC Sport. 16 January 2013.
  7. Web site: Man Utd 1 v 0 West Ham. BBC Sport. 16 January 2013.
  8. Web site: West Ham United 0–1 Stoke City FT . www.whufc.com . 31 August 2013 . 31 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141031225055/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130831/west-ham-united-0-1-stoke-city-ft_2236884_3443388 . 31 October 2014.
  9. Web site: Rob Lee's son nets hat-trick for West Ham against Newcastle. The Shields Gazette. 2 September 2013. 6 November 2014. Miles. Starforth. 17 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217025134/http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/rob-lee-s-son-nets-hat-trick-for-west-ham-against-newcastle-1-6005911. dead.
  10. Web site: Elliott Lee: West Ham youngster joins Colchester United on loan . BBC Sport . 23 October 2013.
  11. News: Millers FT: Rotherham United 2, Colchester United 2 . Sheffield Star . 2 November 2013 . 3 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012034/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/millers-ft-rotherham-united-2-colchester-united-2-1-6210392 . 3 December 2013 . dead .
  12. Web site: Lee Returns to the Hammers . www.cu-fc.com . 21 November 2013 . 22 November 2013.
  13. Web site: Southend United bring in Jakub Sokolik and Elliot Lee . BBC Sport . 31 October 2014 . 31 October 2014.
  14. News: Southend United new boy Elliot Lee misses Mansfield Town clash after suffering hamstring injury hours after signing from West Ham United . www.echo-new.co.uk . 1 November 2014 . 2 November 2014.
  15. News: Southend United loanee Elliot Lee ruled out for at least two months with hamstring injury sustained in first training session after signing from West Ham United . www.echo-news.co.uk . 5 November 2014 . 5 November 2014.
  16. Web site: West Ham's Elliot Lee injured 95 minutes into Southend United loan . BBC Sport . 6 November 2014 . 6 November 2014.
  17. Web site: West Ham striker Elliot Lee joins Luton Town on loan. BBC Sport. 22 February 2015. 19 February 2015.
  18. Web site: Luton Town: Elliot Lee 'delighted' to make poignant tribute to West Ham United friend Dylan Tombides . www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk . 25 March 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130823/http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Luton-Town-Elliot-Lee-delighted-make-poignant/story-26228955-detail/story.html . 2 April 2015.
  19. Web site: AFC Wimbledon 3–2 Luton Town. BBC Sport. 22 February 2015. 21 February 2015.
  20. Web site: Hammers striker dedicates Luton Towngoal to Dylan Tombides . www.guardian-series.co.uk . 25 March 2015.
  21. Web site: West Ham's Elliot Lee extends Luton Town loan spell . BBC Sport . 25 March 2015.
  22. Web site: Elliot Lee nets West Ham hat-trick. Tribal Football.
  23. News: West Ham 1–1 Sheff Utd. 6 November 2014. BBC Sport. 27 August 2014.
  24. Web site: Hammers ease into round two . www.whufc.com . 10 July 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710155751/http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/July/9-July/Hammers-ease-into-round-two . 10 July 2015.
  25. News: West Ham striker Elliot Lee joins Blackpool on loan. 26 November 2015. BBC Sport. 26 November 2015.
  26. News: Blackpool 1–0 Fleetwood. 15 December 2015. BBC Sport. 28 November 2015.
  27. News: McDonald blasts West Ham loan man for choosing his 'mum and dad' over Blackpool . Blackpool Gazette . 5 January 2016 . 6 January 2016 . Watt, William . Blackpool.
  28. Web site: Elliot Lee: West Ham striker joins Colchester United on loan . BBC Sport . 18 January 2016.
  29. Web site: Colchester United 3–3 Wigan Athletic . 12 March 2016 . BBC Sport . 12 March 2016.
  30. Web site: Elliott Lee: Barnsley sign striker from West Ham for undisclosed fee . 24 June 2016 . BBC Sport . 5 July 2017.
  31. Web site: Elliot Lee Departs Oakwell . 4 July 2017 . Barnsley F.C. . 5 July 2017.
  32. Web site: Luton Bring in Striker Lee from Barnsley . lutontoday.co.uk . 4 July 2017 . 4 July 2017.
  33. News: Luton Town 8–2 Yeovil Town . BBC Sport . 5 August 2017 . 5 August 2017.
  34. News: Mike . Simmonds . Luton confirm new contracts for Potts and Sheehan . Luton Today . 16 May 2018 . 16 May 2018.
  35. News: Luton Town Retained / Released List 2022 . Luton Town official website. 20 May 2022 . 20 May 2022.
  36. News: Roberts . James . 1 February 2021 . Elliot Lee joins Oxford United . en . Oxford Mail . 1 February 2021.
  37. News: DONE DEAL: Attacking midfielder Elliot Lee joins the Addicks on loan. 26 August 2021 . . 26 August 2021.
  38. News: Charlton Athletic 6, Crawley Town 1: Nightmare start costs Reds against Addicks in EFL Trophy. crawleyobserver.co.uk. 31 August 2021 . 2 September 2021.
  39. News: 8 July 2022 . Wrexham AFC sign Elliot Lee . Wrexham AFC . 8 July 2022.
  40. News: 6 August 2022 . Wrexham 2–1 Eastleigh . BBC Sport . 6 August 2022.
  41. News: Wrexham: Top goalscorers Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee sign new long-term deals . BBC Sport . 1 January 2024 . 1 January 2024.
  42. News: Football pedigree shines through in final reckoning . www.telegraph.co.uk . 9 March 2010 . 7 November 2014 . Davis, Gareth A.
  43. Book: John . Anderson . Football Yearbook 2019–2020 . 2019 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-6111-3 . 210–211.
  44. Book: John . Anderson . Football Yearbook 2018–2019 . 2018 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-6106-9 . 214–215.
  45. News: 22 April 2023 . Mullin the hero as Wrexham win to earn promotion . BBC Sport . 22 April 2023.
  46. https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/end-of-season-gallery--relive-the-red-dragons-memorable-season/
  47. Web site: Scott . Tom . 11 May 2023 . Vanarama National League Big Winners Announced . 11 May 2023 . The National League.
  48. News: See who made the EFL Team of the Season line-ups . EFL . 14 April 2024 . 14 April 2024.
  49. News: PFA League Two Team of the Year . PFA . 20 August 2024 . 21 August 2024.