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Lee Roche

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Lee Roche
Personal information
Full name Lee Paul Roche[1]
Date of birth (1980-10-28) 28 October 1980 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Bolton, England[1]
Position(s) Defender[1]
Youth career
1997–1999 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Manchester United 1 [2] (0)
2000–2001 → Wrexham (loan) 41 (0)
2003–2005 Burnley 54 (2)
2005–2007 Wrexham 45 (1)
2007–2011 Droylsden 58 (0)
Total 199 (3)
International career
1998–1999 England U19 4 (0)
2000 England U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lee Paul Roche (born 28 October 1980) is an English former professional footballer. He played as a right sided full-back but could also play on the right of midfield.

Club career

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Manchester United

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Roche started his career as a trainee at Manchester United but made only one substitute appearance in the league against Newcastle United.[3] He also started a League Cup game against Arsenal[4] and a Champions League tie against Deportivo la Coruna.[5] During his time with the 'Red Devils' the young full-back was loaned out to Wrexham for the 2000–01 season, and was a key member of the team for the entire season, playing in 41 of the 46 league games.

Burnley

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At the end of 2003 Roche was released on a free transfer from Manchester United.[6] Burnley were the team to take advantage of this situation with then manager Stan Ternent using his connections to the Old Trafford club to sign the promising youngster to a two-year deal.

In his first season, Roche wasn't a first team regular, despite scoring an outstanding 25-yard volley against Crystal Palace on his debut[7] which although credited to him was a clear own goal. Towards the end of the 2003–04 season though, he began to push the previous right back, Dean West out of the side. Unfortunately for Roche, Ternent's contract wasn't renewed and Steve Cotterill was appointed as the new manager at Turf Moor. Cotterill did not rate Roche as highly as Ternent had done, and brought in Mike Duff from Cheltenham Town instead. Roche still featured in the team fairly regularly though, but out of position on the right side of midfield where he looked much less comfortable. Roche scored his only other Burnley goal in a famous 2–1 victory at Elland Road against Leeds United.[8]

Wrexham

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After his two-year contract with Burnley expired, Roche returned to play for Wrexham in the summer of 2005.[9] He scored on his second debut for the club against Boston United.[10] At the end of the 2006–07 season Roche was released by Wrexham after a disappointing season in which they just avoided relegation to the Football Conference.

Later career

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He joined Droylsden in 2007, staying with the club until February 2011.

International career

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Roche made one appearance for the England under-21s; he started the 2−2 draw with Finland during qualifying for the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[11]

Retirement

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Following a sequence of injuries and falling out of love with the game, Roche retired from football at age 27. He now works as a plumber and cavity wall remover and also coaches the Bury F.C. under-11 side.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Lee Roche". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. ^ Tavero, Fernando (24 March 2021). "Lee Roche y la otra cara del fútbol: de la Champions a la fontanería" (in Spanish). as.com. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Man Utd back on song". BBC Sport. 23 November 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Arsenal win battle of reserves". BBC Sport. 5 November 2001. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Deportivo see off Man Utd". BBC Sport. 18 March 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  6. ^ Davies, Simon (3 June 2003). "Roche released". ManUtd.com. Manchester United Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Burnley 2-3 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 9 August 2003. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Leeds 1-2 Burnley". BBC Sport. 3 November 2004. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Roche signing strengthens Wrexham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Wrexham 2-0 Boston Utd". BBC Sport. 6 August 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  11. ^ "England's Matches the under 21's 2000−10". EnglandFootballOnline.com. England Football Online − Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. ^ "The Man Utd kid who went from the Champions League to the building site". planetfootball.com. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
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