Focus On……Lee Spencer

Series continues on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

Lee began playing for Nuneaton Borough youth team and made debut for the reserves aged 15.

He joined Stratford Town in 1981 to gain experience of first team football and then joined home-town club Atherstone United in 1983. He had a trial with AFC Bournemouth in late 1983 and played one game for the reserves under Harry Redknapp.

He became first choice keeper for Atherstone at end of the 1982/83 season and went on to make over 400 appearances over the next seventeen seasons.

He was later a director and vice chairman of the club in the 1990s whilst still playing and in July 1992 was rewarded with a joint testimonial match with Paul Olner against Barnsley.

Clubs Played For:

Nuneaton Borough, Stratford Town, Atherstone United

Best Game Played In?

Played one game for Bournemouth reserves at Northampton with Harry Redknapp as manager. My mate from schoolboy football, Mark Kendall, was in goal for Northampton. We won 4-0!

For Atherstone it would be the last game of 1988/89 season against Rushden Town. We had to win to gain promotion to the Southern Premier Division, which we did 2-1 to go up on goal difference from our local rivals Tamworth.

Best 11 Played With: (All for Atherstone United)

1. Richard Williams

2. Bob Stockley

3. Paul Upton

4. Robin Judd

5. Steve Jackson

6. Richard Dixey

7. Bobby Parker

8. Gary Bradder

9. Andy Rammell

10. David Speedie pictured)

11. Robbie Farmer

Subs:

Mark Kendall

Leigh Everitt

Paul Olner

Malc Randle

Rob Kennell

Best Captain?

Gary Bradder

Funniest Team-Mate?

Paul Olner

Best Manager?

Ron Bradbury pictured

Words of Advice:

Just work hard and be the best you can be. Make friends and great memories.