Terry Lees

Terence 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,[3] in the North American Soccer League for San Jose Earthquakes,[4] and in the Eredivisie for Sparta Rotterdam, Roda JC Kerkrade and DS'79.[5]

Terry Lees
Personal information
Full name Terence Lees[1]
Date of birth (1952-06-30) 30 June 1952
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender; midfielder
Youth career
1968–1969 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1975 Stoke City 24 (0)
→ Cape Town City (loan)
1975 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 6 (0)
1975 San Jose Earthquakes 16 (1)
1975–1976 Port Vale 41 (2)
1976–1977 Sparta Rotterdam 33 (1)
1977–1979 Roda JC Kerkrade 59 (8)
1979–1981 Birmingham City 12 (0)
1981–1982 Newport County 25 (0)
1982 Morning Star
1982–1984 DS'79 50 (1)
1984 Stafford Rangers
1984 Altrincham
1984–1985 Scunthorpe United 31 (1)
1985–1986 Macclesfield Town 25 (0)
Teams managed
Hanley Town
Kidsgrove Athletic
Ball Haye Green
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.[6] He made his debut during the 1969–70 season, but played infrequently throughout his six seasons with the "Potters".[7] He also spent time on loan at South African Cape Town City, and, rather closer to home, with Crewe Alexandra.[8] In 1975 Lees played 16 games and scored one goal for the San Jose Earthquakes in the North American Soccer League.[4]

On his return to England, Port Vale paid local rivals Stoke City £3,000 for his services in August 1975.[9] 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.[8] Lees played 30 games for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie, and then spent two seasons with fellow top-flight club Roda JC Kerkrade.[5]

In July 1979 he returned to the Midlands and signed for Birmingham City.[6] 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.[10] After two years at Birmingham, in which he played 19 games in all competitions, Lees moved on to Newport County,[6] where he played 25 league games.[3]

After an interlude in Hong Kong playing for Morning Star, Lees resumed his career in Dutch football with DS'79.[6] He made his debut in October 1982, playing on the left wing in a 5–0 win away at Heracles,[11] and in his first season helped the club win 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.[5][12]

After a trial with Blackpool, he later played for Stafford Rangers and finished his Football League career with Scunthorpe United,[8] whom he joined from Altrincham in September 1984.[13] He then played for Macclesfield Town.[3][14]

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.[8]

Post-retirement

After leaving the game, Lees ran a burger van.[15]

Career statistics

Source:[16]

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1970–71 First Division 7020000090
1971–72 First Division 5000001060
1972–73 First Division 8000100090
1973–74 First Division 4000000040
1974–75 First Division 0000000000
Crewe Alexandra (loan) 1974–75 Fourth Division 6000000060
San Jose Earthquakes 1975 NASL 161––––––161
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
Macclesfield Town 1985–86[17] Northern Premier League 280100090380
Career total 1833140701612204
A. ^ The "Other" column includes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Group Cup and Football League Trophy.

References
  1. "Terry Lees". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 62. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "Terry Lees". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  4. "North American Soccer League Players: Terry Lees". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. "Terry Lees". Voetbal International. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  6. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  7. "Terry Lees". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  8. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 171. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  9. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 47. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  10. Matthews, pp. 215–16.
  11. "Heracles maakt het DS'79 niet moeilijk: 0–5" [Heracles don't make it hard for DS'79: 0–5] (in Dutch). FC Dordrecht. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  12. "Marco geeft Ajax nog troostprijs" [Marco gives Ajax a consolation prize] (in Dutch). FC Dordrecht. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  13. "The Iron alphabet". Scunthorpe United F.C. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007.
  14. "Manager and Player Profiles: L". Silkmen Archives. Macclesfield Town Football Club and Geoffrey Knights. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  15. "Ten minutes of mayhem saw Vale cap comeback". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 20 February 2010. p. 24.
  16. Terry Lees at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  17. "Season statistics: Northern Premier League – 1985–86". Silkmen Archives. Macclesfield Town Football Club and Geoffrey Knights. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
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