Richard Lee (footballer)

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For other persons named Richard Lee, see Richard Lee (disambiguation).
Richard Lee
Personal information
Full name Richard Lee
Date of birth 5 October 1982 (1982-10-05) (age 25)
Place of birth    Oxford, England
Height 6'0"
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Watford
Number 16
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2001-
2005-2006		 Watford
→ Blackburn Rovers (loan)		 62 (0)
00 (0)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 12:05, 2 January 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Richard Lee (born 5 October 1982) is an English goalkeeper who plays for Watford.

Lee came through Watford's academy, and became second choice 'keeper after Ray Lewington's appointment as manager at the beginning of the 2002-03 season. He made his debut in February 2003 against Preston, after first choice Alec Chamberlain was rested before an FA Cup quarter final. He went on to make four more appearances that season.

At the beginning of the 2003-04 season it seemed like Lee may become Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, after he started many of the club's pre-season games. However, in a pre-season fixture against Q.P.R he broke his arm, and was out injured for a period of months. By the time of his return, loanee Lenny Pidgeley had established himself in the side, with Chamberlain as his deputy.

For the 2004-05 season Lee became Watford's first-choice goalkeeper, although he was injured for Watford's League Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd's decision to loan Lee to Blackburn Rovers for the 2005-06 season was met with questions from many fans. Lee spent the season as third choice goalkeeper behind Brad Friedel and Peter Enckelman. Lee returned to Watford following the conclusion of the loan deal, with Blackburn not taking up the option of a permanent transfer.

On his return to Watford, Lee spent most of the 2006-07 Premiership season as backup to on loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, though he played in the FA Cup semi final against Manchester United as Foster was ineligible to play against his parent club.

At the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Lee again found himself as backup as during the close season Mart Poom had been signed from Arsenal. Lee was eventually given his chance in the first team and managed to dislodge Poom and establish himself as Watford's first choice keeper. He was also given the responsibility of captaining the side for a time.

On 31 August 2006, Lee appeared on the BBC programme Dragons' Den, where he and a partner managed to sell 50% of the equity in their company "Dr. Cap" to the entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne for an investment of £150,000.

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Watford F.C. – current squad

1 Poom • 2 Jackson • 4 Shittu • 5 Sadler • 6 DeMerit • 7 Francis • 8 Eustace • 10 D. Henderson • 11 McAnuff • 12 Doyley • 13 Loach • 14 Williamson • 15 Kabba • 16 Lee • 17 Priskin • 19 Bromby • 20 Bangura • 21 Smith • 22 Hoskins • 23 Mariappa • 24 Mackay • 25 Williams • 26 Diagouraga • 27 Rinaldi • 28 Ashikodi • 29 Avinel • 30 Osborne • 32 Robinson • 33 Parkes • 34 Campana • 35 O'Toole • 36 Clarke • 38 L. Henderson • 39 Ainsworth • –– Bennett • –– Joyce • –– Young • Manager: Boothroyd