Lee Mansell Explained

Lee Mansell
Fullname:Lee Richard Samuel Mansell
Birth Date:23 September 1982
Birth Place:Gloucester, England
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–2000
Youthclubs1:Luton Town
Years1:2000–2005
Clubs1:Luton Town
Caps1:47
Goals1:8
Years2:2003
Clubs2:Nuneaton Borough (loan)
Caps2:5
Goals2:2
Years3:2005–2006
Clubs3:Oxford United
Caps3:44
Goals3:1
Years4:2006–2014
Clubs4:Torquay United
Caps4:339
Goals4:23
Years5:2014–2017
Clubs5:Bristol Rovers
Caps5:81
Goals5:7
Totalcaps:516
Totalgoals:41
Manageryears1:2021–2022
Managerclubs1:Gloucester City

Lee Richard Samuel Mansell (born 23 September 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played for Luton Town, Nuneaton Borough, Oxford United, Torquay United and Bristol Rovers. He is currently a Players Services Executive at the Professional Footballers' Association.

Career

Mansell was born in Gloucester and began his career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional with the Hatters in August 2000. He made his first-team debut on 17 January 2001 in a 2–1 defeat away to Queens Park Rangers in an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay, with his league debut coming 6 days later in a 2–0 defeat away to Oldham Athletic.

He had a spell on loan with Nuneaton Borough in March 2003,[1] scoring twice in five games. He returned to Luton, but was released at the end of the 2004–05 season, having scored 8 times in 47 league games. He moved to Oxford United in June 2005,[2] and played 44 times the following season as Oxford were relegated to the Conference.

Torquay United

He was transferred to Torquay United, one of the sides to survive at Oxford's expense on the last day of the previous season, on 5 July 2006 for an undisclosed fee.[3] He was a regular in Torquay's side in the 2006–07 season but, for a second season in a row, the side he played for was relegated to the Conference National.

Mansell was Torquay's captain, and most-capped player ahead of defender Chris Robertson. He was awarded the captaincy in 2010, after Nicky Wroe was dropped for inconsistency and subsequently moved to Shrewsbury Town on 31 January 2011.

He made an excellent start to the 2011–12 season, scoring on the opening day at Plainmoor to rescue a point against Burton Albion on 6 August 2011[4] before scoring again in a midweek League Cup tie against Southampton, netting Torquay's consolation in a 4–1 loss.

Upon his departure from the club in 2014, Mansell had made 381 appearances in all competitions for Torquay United, placing him sixth on Torquay United all-time appearance list.[5]

Bristol Rovers

On 26 June 2014 Lee signed a two-year deal at Bristol Rovers, turning down a one-year deal with Torquay United.[5]

Mansell made his competitive debut for Bristol Rovers in a goalless draw against Grimsby Town on 9 August 2014, Rovers' first game in the Conference Premier.[6] He scored his first goal for the club on 16 August 2014, in a 2–1 defeat away against Altrincham.[7] Despite a difficult start to the season, in which the club picked up just eight points from the first seven games, Rovers finished second behind Barnet by one point.[8] After beating Forest Green Rovers in the semi-final,[9] Rovers faced a repeat of their opening day fixture with Grimsby Town. Mansell scored the winning penalty in a 5–3 shootout victory at Wembley Stadium on 17 May 2015 as Bristol Rovers returned to the Football League after a one-season absence.[10]

After scoring the winning penalty, the following season Lee went onto score 2 goals in 29 appearances as Bristol Rovers achieved a second successive promotion with a 92nd-minute winner scored by Lee Brown against Dagenham & Redbridge.[11] On 14 June 2016 Lee signed a new deal to remain with the club.[12]

Mansell's third season at the club saw him limited to just 10 appearances in all competitions. Manager Darrell Clarke revealed that Mansell would not be offered a new contract at the end of the season but would be offered the new role of Professional Development Phase Coach working within the club's academy,[13] an offer Mansell indicated he would accept and confirmed his retirement from the professional game in an interview BBC Radio Bristol.[14] [15] After 4 seasons in this role, Mansell left Bristol Rovers at the end of the 2020–21 season.[16]

Career statistics

Source:[17]

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town2000–01Division Two185110000196
Luton Town2001–02Division Three11100101[18] 0131
Luton Town2002–03Division Two1000002030
Luton Town2003–04Division Two162510030243
Luton Town2004–05League One1000101030
Total4786220706210
Nuneaton Borough (loan)2002–03Conference5200000052
Total5200000052
Oxford United2005–06League Two441401021512
Total441401021512
Torquay United2006–07League Two454401010514
Torquay United2007–08Conference Premier36120003[19] 0411
Torquay United2008–09Conference Premier440400010490
Torquay United2009–10League Two392300010432
Torquay United2010–11League Two45040105[20] [21] 0550
Torquay United2011–12League Two451220113[22] [23] 05113
Torquay United2012–13League Two422101010452
Torquay United2013–14League Two432101010462
Total339232105116038124
Bristol Rovers2014–15Conference Premier44510003[24] 0485
Bristol Rovers2015–16League Two282100000292
Bristol Rovers2016–17League Two90000010100
Total817200040877
Career total516413328129158645

Coaching career

On 25 September 2021, Mansell was appointed interim manager of National League North club Gloucester City following the sacking of Paul Groves.[25] On 13 November, Mansell picked up his first win as manager as Bristol Rovers loanee Ollie Hulbert, whom had worked closely with Mansell in the Development Squad at Rovers, scored a double as Gloucester defeated Farsley Celtic 2–0.[26] After the match, Mansell was given the job until the end of the 2021–22 season.[27] Mansell was sacked by the club on 29 September 2022 with Gloucester sitting in 15th position after ten matches.[28]

Post-Playing Career

In February 2023, Mansell was appointed as a Players Services Executive at the Professional Footballers' Association.[29]

Honours

Individual

2011–12 League Two[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Busy Boro. NonLeagueDaily. 28 March 2003. 2008-12-02.
  2. Web site: Mansell leaves Luton for Oxford. 7 June 2005. 2008-12-02 . BBC News.
  3. Web site: Torquay sign Mansell from Oxford. BBC Sport. 5 July 2006. 2008-12-02.
  4. Web site: Torquay 2-2 Burton Albion. BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. 2011-08-15.
  5. Web site: Lee Mansell: Bristol Rovers sign Torquay United captain . BBC Sport. 26 June 2014.
  6. Web site: Bristol Rovers 0-0 Grimsby Town . BBC Sport. 9 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Altrincham 2-1 Grimsby Town . BBC Sport. 16 August 2014.
  8. Web site: ROVERS THRASH ALFRETON BUT MISS OUT ON TOP SPOT . Bristol Rovers FC . 25 April 2015.
  9. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2-0 Forest Green Rovers . BBC Sport . 3 May 2015.
  10. Web site: Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby Town . BBC Sport . 17 May 2015.
  11. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge . BBC Sport . 7 May 2016.
  12. Web site: Lee Mansell: Bristol Rovers midfielder signs new deal . BBC Sport . 14 June 2016.
  13. Web site: RETAINED LIST . Bristol Rovers F.C. . 28 April 2017.
  14. Web site: INTERVIEW: Lee Mansell . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Y9_ruaCPitw . 2021-12-21 . live. Bristol Rovers F.C. YouTube . 1 May 2017.
  15. Web site: Lee Mansell to Manage Development Squad . Bristol Rovers F.C. . 20 June 2019 . 7 August 2019.
  16. Web site: First Team Staff Changes. www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 12 May 2021.
  17. Web site: Lee Mansell | Football Stats | No Club | Age 41 | 2000-2017 | Soccer Base. www.soccerbase.com.
  18. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  19. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  20. 2 appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  21. 3 appearance(s) in League Two play-offs
  22. 1 appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  23. 2 appearance(s) in League Two play-offs
  24. Appearance(s) in Conference play-offs
  25. Web site: Club Statement from Alex Peteram. www.gloucestercityafc.com. 25 September 2021. 27 September 2021.
  26. Web site: Report: Gloucester City 2–0 Farsley Celtic. www.farsleyceltic.com. 14 November 2021. 17 November 2021.
  27. Web site: Ollie Hulbert earns Gloucester City first win under Lee Mansell as interim boss stays on for rest of season. Gloucestershire Live. Barnett. Charlie. 15 November 2021. 17 November 2021.
  28. Web site: Club Statement : Lee Mansell. www.gloucestercityafc.com. 29 September 2022. 29 September 2022.
  29. Web site: Mansell transfers 17 years of playing experience to new role supporting players. www.thepfa.com. 9 February 2023. 7 December 2023.
  30. News: Arsenal striker Robin van Persie named PFA Player of the Year . BBC Sport . 22 April 2012 . 23 May 2018.
  31. News: Rovers players in team of the season . Bristol Rovers . 8 June 2015 . 13 January 2023.