Full name Lee Derek Harvey Years Team Career start 1983 Name Lee Harvey Career end 2002 | Height 1.80 m | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1966-12-21) 21 December 1966 (age 49) | ||
Playing position | ||
Lee Derek Harvey (born 21 December 1966) is an English former professional football defender and midfielder. He is best remembered for his long spell in the Football League with Leyton Orient and Brentford.
Contents
- Leyton Orient
- Nottingham Forest
- Brentford
- Stevenage Borough
- St Albans City
- Bedford Town
- International career
- As an individual
- References
Leyton Orient
Growing up in Harlow, Harvey began his career in the youth system at Division Three side Leyton Orient (then known as 'Orient') and made his debut during the 1983–84 season, finishing the campaign having made four league appearances. Another four league appearances followed in 1984–95, a season in which Orient suffered relegation to Division Four. Harvey scored his first goal for the club during the 1985–86 season. Harvey achieved his breakthrough into the first team in the 1987–88 season, making 23 league appearances. Following a sixth-place finish in Division Four in 1988–89, Orient saw off Scarborough in the playoff semi-finals to secure a place in the final against Wrexham. After a 0–0 draw in the first leg, Harvey scored the opening goal in the second leg to send Orient to a 2–1 aggregate win and seal promotion back to Division Three. Back in Division Three, Harvey made 37 appearances and scored six goals during the 1989–90 season. Harvey's appearances slowly tapered off during the early 1990s and he departed the club in August 1993, having made 237 appearances in all competitions and scored 29 goals.
Nottingham Forest
Harvey reunited with his former Leyton Orient manager Frank Clark to sign for Division One side Nottingham Forest on a three-month trial on 4 August 1993. He managed only three substitute appearances in all competitions during his time at the City Ground before departing in November 1993.
Brentford
Harvey joined Division Two side Brentford on a one-month contract on 18 November 1993. In what remained of the 1993–94 season, he made 29 appearances, scored four goals and signed a new 18-month contract. Harvey scored his first goal of the 1994–95 season in a famous 7–0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Griffin Park on 17 December 1994, which was Brentford's biggest win of the season. He scored his second goal of the season in a 3–2 league win over Cardiff City on 2 January 1995. Harvey suffered playoff heartbreak at the end of the season, as the restructuring of the Premier League and the Football League consigned Brentford to the Division Two playoffs, despite a second-place finish in the league. The Bees went out on penalties in the semi-finals to the eventual promoted team, Huddersfield Town. Harvey made 33 appearances during the 1994–95 season and scored two goals.
Harvey scored his only goal of the 1995–96 season with a header in a 2–2 League Cup first round first leg draw with Walsall on 15 August 1996. Despite Brentford's poor form in the league, Harvey was ever-present in Brentford's run to the FA Cup fourth round, seeing off non-league Farnborough Town, Division Two Bournemouth, Division One Norwich City at Carrow Road, before narrowly losing 3–2 to Division One side Charlton Athletic at The Valley in the fourth round. Harvey made 49 appearances during the 1995–96 season and scored one goal.
Harvey found himself relegated to a substitute role during the 1996–97 season, making no appearances past December after suffering a cruciate ligament injury. He made 17 appearances during the 1996–97 season as Brentford suffered heartbreak in the 1997 Division Two playoff final, losing 1–0 to Crewe Alexandra. Harvey was not called into the first team squad at all during the 1997–98 season and was released in February 1998. Harvey made 130 appearances for the Bees in all competitions and scored seven goals. In May 1998, Harvey received a testimonial at Griffin Park, played between Brentford and a Lee Harvey Select XI.
Stevenage Borough
Harvey signed for Conference side Stevenage Borough on 28 February 1998. He made 12 appearances in what remained of the 1997–98 season. Harvey had a successful 1998–99 season, making 46 appearances and winning the club's Player Of The Season award, helping the club to a sixth-place finish and to the second round of the FA Cup. Harvey departed Broadhall Way at the end of the 1999–00 season, having made 95 appearances during two-and-a-half seasons with the club.
St Albans City
Harvey joined Isthmian League Premier Division side St Albans City in the summer of 2000. He made his debut in a 5–0 league win over Hampton & Richmond Borough on 26 August 2000. He managed only 17 appearances during the 2000–01 season, the last of which coming in a 3–1 win over Maidenhead United on 9 December 2000.
Bedford Town
Harvey signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Bedford Town on 1 August 2001. He played a part in Bedford's run to the first round proper of the FA Cup, where the Eagles took Division Two side Peterborough United to a replay. Harvey made 32 league appearances during the 2001–02 season won the Players' Player Of The Year award. He played on into the 2002–03 season, making 17 appearances.
International career
Harvey appeared for England Youth at international level.