Full name Lee Howey 1993–1997 Sunderland Name Lee Howey | Years Team Role Former football player 1992–1993 Bishop Auckland | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1969-04-01) 1 April 1969 (age 46) | ||
Place of birth Sunderland, England | ||
Lee howey lee howey lee howey
Lee Howey (born 1 April 1969 in Sunderland) is an English former football player.
Contents
Starting out as an apprentice at Ipswich Town FC, followed by a spell in Belgium with AS Hemptinne, he was signed by Terry Butcher from local club Bishop Auckland, for Sunderland in March 1993, making his debut for the club in May of the 1992/93 season against Portsmouth at Roker Park. Howey, a lifelong Sunderland fanatic, was thrilled. The following two seasons saw him in and out of the squad, making 38 league and cup appearances during the two years, mostly from the substitutes bench. It wasn't until the arrival of manager Peter Reid that Howey began to see regular first team action, playing 30 times during the club's Championship winning season, including 18 starts.
Howey scored a late equaliser at Fratton Park to secure a 2-2 draw with Portsmouth in February 1996. The goal proved to be a crucial turning point, as it set Sunderland off on an 18-match unbeaten run that won them the league.
However, Sunderland struggled to cope with life in the Premiership and Howey was allowed to leave the club following the club's relegation back to Football League First Division on the final day of the season. Howey made just 12 appearances that season.
It was Burnley who splashed out £200,000 for the Wearsider. He scored on his debut against Lincoln City in the League Cup. However this proved to be his only goal for the club, and Howey's career at the Lancashire club wasn't a success, and he eventually moved on to Northampton in February 1999 after a four-month loan period. Howey moved again two years later, completing a free transfer to Conference side Forest Green Rovers in 2001, before finishing his career at Nuneaton Borough later in the season.
Although primarily a central defender, Howey played up front a number of times during his career, and is considered to be comfortable in either role.
He is the older brother of former Newcastle United and England defender Steve Howey.Lee is famous now for the football chant *Lee Howey Lee Howey Lee Howey your brother is a ----* regularly sung by Sunderland fans about his brother.