Lee Croft
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| Lee Croft | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Robert Croft | |
| Date of birth | June 21, 1985 | |
| Place of birth | Billinge Higher End, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |
| Playing position | Right winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Derby County | |
| Number | TBA | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2004–2006 2004–2005 2006–2009 2009– |
Manchester City → Oldham Athletic (loan) Norwich City Derby County |
28 (1) 12 (0) 118 (9) 0 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2004-2005 | England U20 | 1 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Lee Robert Croft (born 21 June 1985 in Billinge Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester), is an English footballer who plays as a right winger in the Championship for Derby County. He has previously played for Manchester City, Oldham Athletic and Norwich City.
Contents |
[edit] Football
[edit] Early career
Croft's first club was Manchester City, who he joined as a twelve year old after scout Eric Mullenden spotted him playing for junior team Garswood United.[1][2] He was a talented youth player, representing England at every level up to under-20, including captaining England under-18s.[3] Accumulating more than 40 caps in total,[4] he is the most capped England youth player of all-time.[5] At club level, he was part of the Manchester City youth team which reached the semi-finals of the 2003 FA Youth Cup.[6]
[edit] Oldham
Croft turned professional aged seventeen, but did not break into the first team straight away. In November 2004 Croft went to Oldham Athletic on loan in order to gain first-team experience.[7] He made his senior debut on 14 November 2004 in an FA Cup tie against Thurrock, in which he won his side a penalty.[2] He made his League debut the following week against Barnsley. Later that month a Football League Trophy match against Hartlepool United brought his first senior goal.[8] An FA Cup third round draw between Oldham and Manchester City raised the possibility of Croft facing his employers as an opposing player, but competition rules prevented him from doing so.[9] Croft's loan spell lasted three months,[10] in which he made seventeen Oldham appearances and scored two goals.
[edit] Manchester City
His first team debut for Manchester City was on March 7, 2005 against Bolton Wanderers, coming on as a substitute in Kevin Keegan's final game as Manchester City manager, and made a further six substitute appearances that season. In April 2005 he signed a one-year contract extension.[5] Croft was a regular substitute at the start of the 2005–06 season. His first Premier League start came on 31 October 2005 against Aston Villa, and his first Manchester City goal came a week later in a match against Fulham. He also started the next two matches, but this run of four matches was to be the only period Croft formed part of the Manchester City starting eleven. He was a frequent substitute in the remainder of the season, finishing with campaign with 25 appearances, 21 of these as a substitute.
[edit] Norwich City
On July 28, 2006 he signed for Norwich City for a fee of £600,000 and scored his first goal for the club on 12 August 2006 in a 3-2 win against Luton at Carrow Road.[11]
Croft continued his good start at Carrow Road with another goal in the 5-1 demolition of Barnsley on August 26, 2006 and was seen by many City fans as providing balance to the team on the right-hand side that had been missing for some time. On 28 October 2006, however, it was announced that Croft would be absent from first team duties for a possible 6 weeks following an injury during Norwich's 5-0 defeat at Stoke City.[12][13] After making his return from injury, Croft went for a long period without scoring, but finally got on the scoresheet with a goal in another game against Barnsley at Oakwell on March 3, 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Croft became a key player for the side, and scored in the East Anglian derby match against Ipswich Town in December 2008 and went on to be voted the clubs player of the season.
[edit] Derby County
After Norwich City's relegation Croft decided against signing a new contact, which alerted Derby County manager Nigel Clough. After entering into negotiations with Derby,[14] Croft was released early from his contract by mutual consent.[15] Croft signed for Derby on a three year contract on 25th June, 4 days after his 24th birthday.[16] As clubs who sign players under the age of 24 who move between clubs on a free transfer have to pay compensation to the player's former club, by waiting until Croft turned 24, Derby avoided paying compensation to Norwich. [17]
[edit] International
Croft has been capped at schoolboy level by England more times than any other player. He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
[edit] References
- ^ "Croft stops Keegan feeling blue". The FA. http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/11/29619.htm. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ a b "Starlet Lee loves life with Latics". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/oldham_athletic/s/137/137610_starlet_lee_loves_life_with_latics.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "Keegan looks to next generation". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/73/73351_keegan_looks_to_next_generation.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "Introducing the U20s". The FA. http://www.thefa.com/England/U20s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/11/U20s_WY2003_SquadProfiles. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ a b "Croft stays with City". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2335802,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "FA Youth Cup Final dates set". The FA. http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/04/43834.htm. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "Oldham snap up Croft on loan". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/4000713.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Oldham 3-1 Hartlepool". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4047709.stm. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "Cup heartbreak for Croft". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/139/139672_cup_heartbreak_for_croft.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ "Croft lengthens Oldham loan deal". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/4181845.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Croft completes Norwich transfer". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5219044.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Norwich hit by Croft injury blow". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/6098422.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Croft ready for Norwich comeback". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/6172279.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Rams chase out-of-contract Croft". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/8040564.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Croft departs relegated Norwich". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/8071882.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-28.
- ^ "Winger Croft completes free transfer to Rams". therams.co.uk. 25 June 2009. http://therams.co.uk/stories/derby-county-winger-croft-completes-free-transfer-to-rams.
- ^ "Croft's move is set to be sealed next week". Derby Evening Telegraph. http://therams.co.uk/stories/crofts-move-is-set-to-be-sealed-next-week. Retrieved on 2009-06-17.
[edit] External links
- Lee Croft player profile at canaries.co.uk
- Lee Croft player profile at mcfc.co.uk
- Lee Croft career stats at Soccerbase
- Career information
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dion Dublin |
Norwich City Player of the Season 2008/09 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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