Terry Lees Explained

Terry Lees
Fullname:Terence Lees
Height:[1]
Position:Defender
midfielder
Birth Date:30 June 1952[2]
Birth Place:Stoke-on-Trent, England
Youthyears1:1968–1969
Youthclubs1:Stoke City
Years1:1969–1975
Caps1:24
Goals1:0
Years2:1973
Clubs2:Cape Town City (loan)
Years3:1975
Clubs3:Crewe Alexandra (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:1975
Caps4:16
Goals4:1
Years5:1975–1976
Caps5:41
Goals5:2
Years6:1976–1977
Caps6:33
Goals6:1
Years7:1977–1979
Caps7:59
Goals7:8
Years8:1979–1981
Caps8:12
Goals8:0
Years9:1981–1982
Caps9:25
Goals9:0
Years10:1982
Years11:1982–1984
Caps11:50
Goals11:1
Years12:1984
Years13:1984
Years14:1984–1985
Caps14:31
Goals14:0
Years15:1985–1986
Caps15:28
Goals15:0
Managerclubs1:Hanley Town
Managerclubs2:Kidsgrove Athletic
Managerclubs3:Ball Haye Green

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] He also won the National Football League with South African club Cape Town City.

Personal and later life

Terence Lees was born in Stoke-on-Trent on 30 June 1952; his father was a bricklayer, and his mother left the family home when Lees was five.[2] He married Claire.[2] After retiring from football, Lees ran a burger van.[6]

Playing career

Lees joined local club Stoke City as an apprentice in 1968, turning professional in July 1969.[7] Coach Harry Gregg converted him from a striker into a more defensive player.[2] He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat at Southampton on 30 January 1971 and made his full debut in a 2–0 win over Manchester City on 24 April.[2] He made five starts and four substitute appearances during the 1969–70 season.[2] He played infrequently throughout his six seasons with the "Potters" as manager Tony Waddington was able to rely on a trusted defence of Jackie Marsh, Denis Smith, Alan Bloor and Mike Pejic.[8] [2] He was an unused substitute in every game of Stoke's run to the 1972 League Cup final, but was not named in the squad for the final itself.[2] He also spent time on loan at South African Cape Town City in 1973, helping Roy Bailey's side to win the National Football League, where he played alongside Geoff Hurst.[2] He also spent time on loan at Crewe Alexandra. In 1975, Lees played 16 games and scored one goal for the San Jose Earthquakes in the North American Soccer League.[4] His wages of £150-a-week in America were more than double his £60-a-week wages at Stoke.[2]

On his return to England, Port Vale paid local rivals Stoke City £3,000 for his services in August 1975.[9] He accepted the move over Peterborough United as he wanted to remain close by to his father, who was ill.[2] 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); initially home supporters spat on him, though he would win them over with some good performances.[2] In August 1976, he was sold on to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000.[10] Lees played 30 games for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie.[5] He marked World Cup finalist Willem van Hanegem on his debut against AZ Alkmaar.[2] He rejected a move to Feyenoord over personal terms.[2] He considered a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, who instead signed Mark Lawrenson whilst Lees pondered the club's offer.[2] Lees spent two seasons with fellow top-flight club Roda JC Kerkrade following a club record £100,000 move.[2]

In July 1979, he returned to the Midlands and signed for Birmingham City.[7] 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 contributed 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.[11] After two years at Birmingham, in which he played 19 games in all competitions, Lees moved on to Newport County,[7] where he played 25 league games before falling out with assistant manager Bobby Smith.[3] [2]

After an interlude in Hong Kong playing for Morning Star, Lees resumed his career in Dutch football with DS'79 after being signed by former Sparta teammate Pim Verbeek.[7] [2] He made his debut in October 1982, playing on the left wing in a 5–0 win away at Heracles,[12] and in his first season helped the club win the Eerste Divisie title playing a midfield partnership with Gerrie Mühren.[2] 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] [13] He chose to leave the club and return to England despite having a year left on his contract.[2]

After a trial with Blackpool, he later played for Stafford Rangers. He finished his Football League career with Scunthorpe United,[10] whom he joined from Altrincham in September 1984.[14] Frank Barlow persuaded him to join Scunthorpe ahead of Northampton Town.[2] He then played for Macclesfield Town.[3] [15]

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.

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City1970–71First Division7020000090
1971–72First Division5000001060
1972–73First Division8000100090
1973–74First Division4000000040
1974–75First Division0000000000
Total240201010280
Crewe Alexandra (loan)1974–75Fourth Division6000000060
San Jose Earthquakes1975NASL161161
Port Vale1975–76Third Division412303000472
Sparta Rotterdam1976–77[16] Eredivisie331331
Roda JC Kerkrade1977–78Eredivisie283283
1978–79Eredivisie315315
Total598598
Birmingham City1979–80Second Division100101020140
1980–81First Division2030000050
Total120401020190
Newport County1981–82Third Division250101031301
DS'791982–83Eerste Divisie211211
1983–84Eredivisie290290
Total501501
Scunthorpe United1984–85Fourth Division310301010360
Macclesfield Town1985–86[17] Northern Premier League280100090380
Career total325131407016136214

A.  The "Other" column includes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Group Cup and Football League Trophy.

Honours

Cape Town City

1973[2]

DS'79

1982–83[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rollin . Jack . Rothmans football yearbook . 1980 . Queen Anne Press . London . 0362020175 . 62 . 14 April 2020.
  2. News: Shaw . Phil . Globe Potter . 8 November 2022 . Backpass.
  3. Web site: Terry Lees . UK A–Z Transfers . Neil Brown . 9 June 2009.
  4. Web site: North American Soccer League Players: Terry Lees . NASL Jerseys . Dave Morrison . 3 November 2018.
  5. Web site: Terry Lees . . 9 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110817055756/http://www.vi.nl/Spelers/Speler.htm?dbid=38852&typeofpage=84137 . 17 August 2011.
  6. News: 20 February 2010. Ten minutes of mayhem saw Vale cap comeback. The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent. 24.
  7. Book: Matthews, Tony . Birmingham City: A Complete Record . 1995 . Breedon Books . Derby . 106 . 978-1-85983-010-9.
  8. Web site: Terry Lees . Sporting Heroes . 3 November 2018.
  9. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Tales: A Collection of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. December 1991. 47. 0-9508981-6-3.
  10. Book: Kent, Jeff . Port Vale Personalities . Witan Books . 171 . 1996 . 0-9529152-0-0.
  11. Matthews, pp. 215–16.
  12. Web site: Heracles maakt het DS'79 niet moeilijk: 0–5 . Dutch . Heracles don't make it hard for DS'79: 0–5 . . 6 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175424/http://www.fcdordrecht.nl/midden/club/historie/19821983/heraclesalmelo_uit_3.htm . 3 March 2016.
  13. Web site: Marco geeft Ajax nog troostprijs . Dutch . Marco gives Ajax a consolation prize . . 6 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160126090819/http://www.fcdordrecht.nl/midden/club/historie/19831984/ajax_uit_4.htm . 26 January 2016 . dead .
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20071222085648/http://www.scunthorpe-united.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10442~1035625,00.html . 22 December 2007 . . The Iron alphabet . dead .
  15. Web site: Manager and Player Profiles: L . Silkmen Archives . Macclesfield Town Football Club and Geoffrey Knights . 3 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Terry Lees » Clubwedstrijden . voetbal.com . 8 November 2022 . nl.
  17. Web site: Season statistics: Northern Premier League – 1985–86 . Silkmen Archives . Macclesfield Town Football Club and Geoffrey Knights . 3 November 2018.