Lee Molyneux

Lee Molyneux

Molyneux training with Accrington Stanley in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Lee Robert Molyneux[1]
Date of birth	24 February 1989[2]
Place of birth	Huyton, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Playing position	Winger/Left back
Club information
Current team	Morecambe
Number	10
Youth career
2000–2006	Everton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2006–2009	Everton	0	(0)
2009–2010	Southampton	4	(0)
2010	→ Port Vale (loan)	0	(0)
2010–2011	Plymouth Argyle	9	(0)
2012–2013	Accrington Stanley	39	(8)
2013–2015	Crewe Alexandra	7	(0)
2013–2014	→ Rochdale (loan)	3	(0)
2014	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	17	(6)
2014–2015	→ Accrington Stanley (loan)	10	(1)
2015	Tranmere Rovers	11	(0)
2015–	Morecambe	24	(3)
National team
2003–2005	England U16	10	(0)
2005–2006	England U17	6	(0)
2006	England U18	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:21, 14 February 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Lee Robert Molyneux (born 24 February 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays for League Two club Morecambe.

Specifically a full back, he began his career with Everton in 2000. Having progressed through the club's youth academy, Molyneux made his debut for the reserve team at the age of 16 and developed a reputation as a set piece specialist.^[3] He joined Southampton in 2009, where he made his first team debut and spent time on loan with Port Vale before being released from his contract in the summer of 2010. He then turned out nine times for Plymouth Argyle, before leaving the club in January 2011. After a spell in prison for assault, he returned to the Football League in August 2012 when he signed with Accrington Stanley. After an impressive season with Stanley, he was signed by Crewe Alexandra in July 2013. He joined Rochdale on loan in November 2013, and re-joined Accrington Stanley on loan in January 2014 and October 2014. He signed with Tranmere Rovers in January 2015, and moved on to Morecambe four months later.

He represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels.

Club career

Everton

Molyneux was born in Huyton, Merseyside,^[4] and joined the Everton academy at the age of 11. He made his debut for the reserve team at 16. He was also capped by England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, gaining 26 caps altogether. He had a good start to the 2007–08 season, featuring on the bench in five games for Everton's first team, but suffered from a back injury which kept him out for the majority of the season.^[5] He had the option to sign a further year at Everton, but with Leighton Baines firmly established in the first team he decided to look for first-team action elsewhere.^[6]

Southampton

He signed for Southampton on a two-and-a-half-year contract on 2 January 2009.^[7] He made his "Saints" debut against Barnsley on 10 January.^[8] He was sent off for two bookings against Swansea City on 31 January,^[9] four games into his professional career. On 25 March 2010, he joined Port Vale on loan until the end of the season,^[10][11] having not settled in well at Southampton.^[12] However he never made an appearance for Vale, except in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final – a tournament for the club's reserve players – and returned to the south coast in the summer.

Plymouth Argyle

In June 2010 it was announced that Southampton had agreed to end Molyneux's contract a year early, by mutual consent, with one year left on his contract.^[13][14] He signed a five-month contract with Plymouth Argyle on 3 August 2010, having been on trial with the club.^[15] Ironically, his first appearance for Argyle was against Southampton four days later, and he was on the winning side at St Mary's.^[16] "The whole team grafted, from the front right through to the back. It was organised," he said. "We came with a plan to keep our shape, be solid, and do the simple things right, and everything else looks after itself."^[17] On 1 January 2011, Plymouth Argyle announced his contract would not be renewed. Making a total of 12 appearances for the Devon club, he had not featured in the first team since mid-October.^[18]

Accrington Stanley

In August 2012, Molyneux returned to professional football when he joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on non-contract terms following a successful trial.^[19] He scored his first senior goal with a 20-yard free kick in the FA Cup on 1 December, in a 3–3 draw with Oxford United at the Crown Ground.^[20] He went on to score a hat-trick on 16 March, giving Stanley a 3–2 home victory over Barnet.^[21] He ended the 2012–13 campaign with nine goals in 43 games, and after being converted into a winger following the arrival of Laurence Wilson was described by The Times as being "League Two's Gareth Bale".^[22][23]

Crewe Alexandra

Molyneux signed with League One side Crewe Alexandra on a two-year contract in July 2013.^[24] He lost his first team place in October, and the next month he joined Keith Hill's League Two club Rochdale on loan.^[25] He made only three substitute appearance for the "Dale" during his time at Spotland. On 23 January 2014, Molyneux re-joined Accrington Stanley on an initial one-month loan.^[26] Speaking of his loan move, Molyneux stated that "It feels like coming home".^[27] On 24 February 2014, Molyneux signed a loan extension for the maximum of 93 days on an emergency-loan deal.^[28] On 8 March, he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 3–1 win over league leaders Chesterfield at the Crown Ground.^[29]

He expected to leave Crewe in summer 2014, but remained after manager Steve Davis told him he had a part to play at the club in the 2014–15 season; he began the season in the first-team but again soon fell our of favour.^[30] He returned to Accrington on loan in October 2014, saying that "It seems like I have never been away... I know there is a new manager (John Coleman) now but it just has the same feel around the place. It's so familiar and I am buzzing."^[31] His contract at Crewe was terminated by mutual consent in January 2015.^[32]

"It (Crewe) was the right move at the time but, with hindsight, it hasn’t worked out but that’s football and you learn."

— Molyneux speaking in October 2014.^[33]

Tranmere Rovers

In January 2015, Molyneux signed a contract with Micky Adams's League Two side Tranmere Rovers on a contract lasting until the end of the 2014–15 season.^[34] He played 11 games as Rovers were relegated out of the Football League.

Morecambe

In May 2015, Molyneux remained in League Two by signing a two-year contract with Morecambe following manager Jim Bentley's unsuccessful attempt to sign him four months earlier.^[35]

International career

He won 26 caps for England at youth level,^[36] including ten for the under-16 side.

Personal life

In January 2011, Molyneux was sentenced to three years imprisonment for a violent assault committed while binge drinking; he served 17 months.^[37]

Career statistics

As of 5 May 2015.

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Everton	2007–08[38]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2008–09[39]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Southampton	2008–09[39]	Championship	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2009–10[40]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Port Vale (loan)	2009–10[40]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Plymouth Argyle	2010–11[41]	League One	9	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	12	0
	Total		9	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	12	0
Accrington Stanley	2012–13[42]	League Two	39	5	3	1	0	0	1	0	43	9
	Total		39	5	3	1	0	0	1	0	43	9
Crewe Alexandra	2013–14[43]	League One	7	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	9	0
	2014–15[44]		3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		10	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	13	0
Rochdale (loan)	2013–14[43]	League Two	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Accrington Stanley (loan)	2013–14[43]	League Two	17	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	6
	2014–15[44]		10	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	14	1
	Total		27	7	4	0	0	0	0	0	31	7
Tranmere Rovers	2014–15[44]	League Two	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
	Total		11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
Morecambe	2015–16[45]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			103	12	9	1	2	0	3	0	117	13

Honours

with Port Vale

• Staffordshire Senior Cup runner-up: 2010

References

1. "Player Registrations" (PDF). thefa.com. March 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
3. "Lee Molyneux". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
4. "Huyton-born players who made the grade". Liverpool Echo. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
5. "Lee Molyneux". Everton F.C. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
6. "New Green Lee Molyneux is aiming to rebuild career at Plymouth Argyle". Western Morning News. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
7. "Southampton complete double swoop". BBC Sport. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
8. "Barnsley v Southampton". BBC Sport. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
9. "Referee suffers Martinez's wrath". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
10. "Lee's Port of Call". Southampton F.C. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
11. "New signing". Port Vale F.C. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
12. "Southampton loan defender Lee Molyneux to Port Vale". BBC Sport. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
13. "Southampton release Lee Molyneux". This is Hampshire. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
14. "Lee Molyneux Released". Southampton FC. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
15. "Molyneux move". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Official Website. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
16. "Southampton 0–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
17. "Love-Lee". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
18. "Oliver gets more". Plymouth Argyle FC. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
19. "Accrington Stanley snap up duo". Lancashire Telegraph. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
20. "Accrington 3 – 3 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
21. "Accrington 3 – 2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
22. "Crewe on brink of deal to sign 'Bale of League Two'". The Sentinel. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
23. Smith, Peter (1 July 2013). "Lee Molyneux out to let his football do the talking, says boss Steve Davis". The Sentinel.
24. "Crewe sign winger after Accrington exit". BBC Sport. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
25. "Rochdale sign Crewe winger on loan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
26. "Molyneux Returns!". Accrington Stanley FC. 23 January 2014.
27. "Lee Molyneux rejoins Accrington on loan". BBC Sport. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
28. "Birthday Boy Molyneux Staying". Accrington Stanley FC. 24 February 2014.
29. "Accrington 3 - 1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
30. Sharpe, Rich (4 October 2014). "Molyneux expected to leave in the summer". The Sentinel. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
31. "Crewe's Lee Molyneux signs for third spell". BBC Sport. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
32. Sharpe, Rich (13 January 2015). "Lee Molyneux joins Micky Adams' Tranmere Rovers". The Sentinel. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
33. Sharpe, Rich (3 October 2014). "Lee Molyneux joins Accrington Stanley on loan". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
34. "Tranmere Rovers sign Rob Taylor and Lee Molyneux". BBC Sport. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
35. Lord, Adam (12 May 2015). "Morecambe make Lee Molyneux their second summer signing". The Visitor. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
36. "Port Vale: Molyneux looks to get back on track". The Sentinel. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
37. Morse, Peter (26 June 2013). "Swoop for Lee Molyneux hangs in the balance". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
38. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
39. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
40. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
41. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
42. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
43. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
44. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
45. "Games played by Lee Molyneux in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 September 2012.

External links

• Lee Molyneux career statistics at Soccerbase (Southampton stats not included)
• Lee Molyneux career statistics at Soccerbase (Southampton stats)
• Lee Molyneux England stats at The Football Association