Lee Holmes (footballer, born 1955)

Lee John Holmes (born 28 September 1955) is an English retired football forward who played in the Football League for Brentford. He later played in the highest levels of non-league football for Enfield, Wealdstone and Dagenham.

Lee Holmes
Personal information
Full name Lee John Holmes[1]
Date of birth (1955-09-28) 28 September 1955
Place of birth Aveley, England
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Haringey Borough
1979–1980 Brentford 28 (6)
1980–1984 Enfield
1984–1987 Wealdstone 87 (16)
1987–1988 Dagenham 41 (6)
Dartford
Leyton-Wingate
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Early years

A forward, Holmes began his career in the academy at First Division club West Ham United.[1] He was released without making a senior appearance and dropped into non-league football to sign for Athenian League club Haringey Borough, with whom he remained until August 1979.[1]

Brentford

Holmes got his chance in league football when he signed for Third Division club Brentford on a part-time contract in August 1979.[1] He scored on his debut in a League Cup first round defeat to Southend United and went on to score seven goals in 30 appearances during the 1979–80 season.[2] His value to the team was such that manager Bill Dodgin offered Holmes a full-time contract, which he declined and he departed Griffin Park.[1]

Enfield Town

Holmes dropped back into non-league football to sign for Isthmian League Premier Division club Enfield in 1980 for a £5,000 fee.[1] He helped the Es to a second-place finish and promotion to the Alliance Premier League at the end of the 1980–81 season.[1] He had a successful time on the top rung of non-league football with Enfield, winning the 1981–82 FA Trophy and the 1982–83 Alliance Premier League championship.[1][3] He made 100 Alliance Premier League appearances and scored 19 goals for Enfield, before departing at the end of the 1983–84 season.

Wealdstone

Holmes signed for high-flying Alliance Premier League club Wealdstone in 1984 and had a dream start to his career with the club, winning the 1984–85 Alliance Premier League, the FA Trophy and the Middlesex Senior Cup, though the Stones would fail to win promotion to the Football League due their inadequate Lower Mead ground.[4] He remained with the club until 1987, making 87 league appearances and scoring six goals.

Later non-league career

Holmes signed for Conference club Dagenham in 1987 and played for one season before ending his career with spells at Dartford and Leyton-Wingate.[1]

Personal life

During his career, Holmes worked as a civil engineer.[1] He married his wife on the same day as a Brentford match and dashed to the ceremony, across London to Barking on a motorbike, after the game finished.[1]

Honours

Enfield

Wealdstone

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1979–80[2] Third Division 28 6 0 0 2 1 30 7
Career total 28 6 0 0 2 1 30 7

References
  1. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 80. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 395. ISBN 0951526200.
  3. "Football Club History Database – Enfield". fchd.info. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  4. "Football Club History Database – Wealdstone". fchd.info. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
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