Lee Croft

Born in Billinge Higher End, Greater Manchester, Croft began his career at Manchester City, who he joined as a 12-year-old after scout Eric Mullenden spotted him playing for junior team Garswood United.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/11/29619.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071029052657/http://www.thefa.com/England/U19s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2002/11/29619.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2007 |title=Croft stops Keegan feeling blue |access-date=25 September 2007 |publisher=The FA }}{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/oldham_athletic/s/137/137610_starlet_lee_loves_life_with_latics.html |title=Starlet Lee loves life with Latics |access-date=25 September 2007 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News }} He was a talented youth player, representing England at every level up to under-20, including captaining England under-18s.{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keegan-looks-to-next-generation-1156848 |title=Keegan looks to next generation |access-date=4 March 2014 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News }} Accumulating more than 40 caps in total,{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U20s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/11/U20s_WY2003_SquadProfiles |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060326162303/http://www.thefa.com/England/U20s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/11/U20s_WY2003_SquadProfiles |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2006 |title=Introducing the U20s |access-date=25 September 2007 |publisher=The FA }} he is the most capped England youth player of all-time.{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_2335802,00.html |title=Croft stays with City |access-date=25 September 2007 |publisher=Sky Sports }} At club level, he was part of the Manchester City youth team which reached the semi-finals of the 2003 FA Youth Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/04/43834.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071029052205/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFAYouthCup/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/04/43834.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2007 |title=FA Youth Cup Final dates set |access-date=25 September 2007 |publisher=The FA }}

He made his first team debut for City on 7 March 2005 against Bolton Wanderers, coming on as a substitute in Kevin Keegan's final game as City manager, and made a further six substitute appearances that season. In April 2005 he signed a one-year contract extension. Croft was a regular substitute at the start of the 2005–06 season. His first English Premier League start came on 31 October 2005 against Aston Villa, and his first Manchester City goal came a week later in a match against Fulham.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4387826.stm|title=Fulham 2–1 Man City|date=5 November 2005|work=BBC News}} He also started the next two matches, but this run of four matches was to be the only period Croft formed part of the Manchester City starting eleven. He was a frequent substitute in the remainder of the season, finishing with campaign with 25 appearances, 21 of these as a substitute.

Croft turned professional aged seventeen, but did not break into the first team straight away. In November 2004 Croft went to Oldham Athletic on loan to gain first-team experience.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/4000713.stm |title=Oldham snap up Croft on loan |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=10 November 2004}} He made his senior debut on 14 November 2004 in an FA Cup tie against Thurrock, in which he won his side a penalty. He made his League debut the following week against Barnsley. Later that month a Football League Trophy match against Hartlepool United brought his first senior goal.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4047709.stm |title=Oldham 3–1 Hartlepool|access-date=25 September 2007 |publisher=BBC | date=30 November 2004}} An FA Cup third round draw between Oldham and Manchester City raised the possibility of Croft facing his employers as an opposing player, but competition rules prevented him from doing so.{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cup-heartbreak-for-croft-1131886 |title=Cup heartbreak for Croft |access-date=4 March 2014 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305170950/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cup-heartbreak-for-croft-1131886 |archive-date= 5 March 2014 }} Croft's loan spell lasted three months,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/4181845.stm |title=Croft lengthens Oldham loan deal |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=17 January 2005}} in which he made seventeen Oldham appearances and scored two goals.

On 28 July 2006, Croft signed for Norwich City for a fee of £600,000 and scored his first goal for the club on 12 August 2006 in a 3–2 win against Luton at Carrow Road.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5219044.stm |title=Croft completes Norwich transfer |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=31 July 2006}}

Croft continued his good start at Carrow Road with another goal in the 5–1 demolition of Barnsley on 26 August 2006 and was seen by many City fans as providing balance to the team on the right-hand side that had been missing for some time. On 28 October 2006, however, it was announced that Croft would be absent from first team duties for a possible six weeks following an injury during Norwich's 5–0 defeat at Stoke City.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/6098422.stm |title=Norwich hit by Croft injury blow |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=30 October 2006}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/6172279.stm |title=Croft ready for Norwich comeback |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=12 December 2006}} After making his return from injury, Croft went for a long period without scoring, but finally got on the scoresheet with a goal in another game against Barnsley at Oakwell on 3 March 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Croft became a key player for the side, and scored in the East Anglian derby match against Ipswich Town in December 2008 and went on to be voted the club's player of the season.

After Norwich City's relegation Croft decided against signing a new contract, which alerted Derby County manager Nigel Clough. After entering into negotiations with Derby,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/8040564.stm |title=Rams chase out-of-contract Croft |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=8 May 2009}} Croft was released early from his contract by mutual consent.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/8071882.stm |title=Croft departs relegated Norwich |access-date=28 May 2009 |work=BBC Sport | date=28 May 2009}} Croft signed for Derby on a three-year contract on 25 June 4 days after his 24th birthday.{{cite news| title=Winger Croft completes free transfer to Rams| newspaper=Derby Telegraph| url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Winger-Croft-completes-free-transfer-Rams/story-11642720-detail/story.html| date=25 June 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923224632/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Winger-Croft-completes-free-transfer-Rams/story-11642720-detail/story.html| archive-date=23 September 2015| df=dmy-all}} As clubs who sign players under the age of 24 who move between clubs on a free transfer have to pay compensation to the player's former club, by waiting until Croft turned 24, Derby avoided paying compensation to Norwich.{{cite news|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Croft-s-set-sealed-week/story-11642055-detail/story.html|access-date=15 January 2016|newspaper=Derby Telegraph|title=Derby County: Croft's move is set to be sealed next week|date=17 June 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223709/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Croft-s-set-sealed-week/story-11642055-detail/story.html|archive-date=23 September 2015}}

After making his debut in a 2–1 home win over Peterborough United on 8 March 2009,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8185747.stm|title=Derby 2–1 Peterborough|date=8 August 2009|work=BBC News}} Croft played a part in 13 of Derby's first 15 league fixtures and scored his first for the club in a 3–0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on 3 October 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8269789.stm|title=Derby 3–0 Sheff Wed|date=3 October 2009|work=BBC News}} However, as Derby struggled in the league Croft was unable to keep his place in the side as he struggled for form and this, alongside a hamstring injury suffered in late February 2010, saw Croft make only three appearances in the final six months of the campaign. Of Croft, Derby manager Nigel Clough said "He is on the fringe of the squad and at the moment and given the way he is sort of playing, we can't see him getting back involved. You get in the team on merit and there are quite a few players ahead of him."{{cite news|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/derby-county/6068710/Croft-struggling-at-Pride-Park |title=Croft struggling at Pride Park |date=1 April 2010 |work=Team Talk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229050402/http://www.teamtalk.com/derby-county/6068710/Croft-struggling-at-Pride-Park |archive-date=29 February 2012 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Rams-winger-Lee-told-battle-place/story-11621428-detail/story.html|title=Rams winger Lee told to battle for a place|newspaper=Derby Evening Telegraph|date=1 April 2010|access-date=4 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304181035/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Rams-winger-Lee-told-battle-place/story-11621428-detail/story.html|archive-date=4 March 2014}}

After just one appearance in 2010 for Derby, Croft moved to Huddersfield Town on a six-month loan deal ahead of the 2010–11 season.{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2080362,00.html|title=Croft heading to Huddersfield|date=30 June 2010|publisher=Derby County F.C.|access-date=4 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105013930/http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2080362,00.html|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=dead}} He made his Terriers debut as a substitute in the 4–2 loss against Peterborough United at London Road Stadium on 21 August 2010 before making his full debut in a 5–1 defeat at Everton in the League Cup. He got his first ever career red card on 9 October away at Colchester United, but Huddersfield still managed to win 3–0, and inflict a first league defeat of the season on their opponents. Ahead of his return to his parent club, Derby manager Nigel Clough stated that Croft had no future at Pride Park and that he would look at loaning the player out again in 2011.{{cite news| url =http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/sport/Striker-Steve-hoping-play-bigger-year-injury-blues/article-3055060-detail/article.html| title =Striker Steve is hoping to play a bigger part this year after his injury blues| date =1 January 2011| work =thisisderbyshire| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110104120512/http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/sport/Striker-Steve-hoping-play-bigger-year-injury-blues/article-3055060-detail/article.html| archive-date =4 January 2011| df =dmy-all}} On the expiration of Croft's initial loan spell at Huddersfield he returned to Derby, Terriers boss Lee Clark stating "Sadly, Lee Croft couldn't achieve the levels I know he can offer. I saw him during my last season with Norwich when he was in sensational form, but during his time with us he wasn't able to reproduce that.{{cite news| url =http://www.huddersfield.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=226801#ixzz19zdgojmr| title =HTFC – Garner and Croft – Head home| date = 3 January 2011 | work =Vital Football}}

After failing to make an appearance for the club during the 2010–11 season, Croft vowed to regain his place in the first team ahead of the 2011–12 season after encouragement from Rams manager Nigel Clough.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14110599.stm|title=Croft Derby County's Lee Croft eager to make up for lost time|date=11 July 2011|work=BBC Sport}} On 19 July 2011, he was allocated squad number 22, he was not allocated one during the 2010–11 season.{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2396288,00.html|title=Squad Numbers Confirmed|date=19 July 2011|publisher=Derby County F.C.}} He was in the starting line-up as Derby's first three games of the season (Championship victories over Birmingham City and Watford sandwiching a League Cup home defeat to Shrewsbury Town) before dropping to the bench for the club's subsequent fixtures and then eventually losing his place in the matchday 16 as Clough switched to a formation without wide players.

As a result, Croft loaned out to Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone until the end of 2011–12 season in January 2012.{{cite news | title=Lee Croft and Jack Compton join St Johnstone on loan| work=BBC Sport| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16615872.stm|date = 18 January 2012}} Croft scored 3 times in 13 appearances for St Johnstone before being ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury on 15 April 2012, Croft had hoped to return to the team despite being ruled out for six weeks.{{cite news | title=Lee Croft hopes to play again for St Johnstone this season| work=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17720820|date = 15 April 2012}} On 16 April 2012, Croft was told that he was allowed to leave Derby in the summer, despite having a year left on his contract with St Johnstone expressing an interest to extend Croft's stay McDiarmid Park. Derby manager Nigel Clough, Croft was looking at his options for the 2012–13 season{{cite news | title=Addison & Croft set to leave Derby County in summer| work=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17732249|date = 16 April 2012}} and was formally transfer listed on 22 May 2012.{{cite web|url= http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2778560,00.html| publisher=Derby County F.C.|title=Clough Confirms Davies Could Leave |date=22 May 2012}}

On 3 July 2012, Croft joined former club Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2012–13 season.{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2818185,00.html|title=Croft Seals Loan Move to Oldham Athletic|date=3 July 2012|publisher=Derby County F.C.}} Croft featured 35 times during his second loan spell at Latics with 34 start, which made him an ever-present however his loan spell was ended on 31 January 2013, when Derby County terminated Croft's contract five months early.{{cite news|url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/derby-cancel-croft-contract-631766.aspx|title=Derby Cancel Croft Contract|date=31 January 2013|publisher=Derby County F.C.}} Croft's last appearance during this spell was in a 3–2 win against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21106938|title=Oldham 3–2 Liverpool|date=27 January 2013|work=BBC Sport}}

File:Lee Croft 21-07-2012 1.jpg in 2012]]

Croft re-signed for Oldham Athletic on 1 February 2013, on a contract until the end of the 2012–13 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21294964|title=Lee Croft signs Oldham deal after Derby release winger|date=1 February 2013|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Sport}}

On 24 May 2013, it was announced that Croft was to leave Latics having rejected a contract offered by the club. This was at the end of a successful season-long spell which resulted in Croft winning the Fans Player of the Season award and playing in 53 out of Oldham's 54 games in all competitions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/article/20130524-croft-834125.aspx|title = Latics' farewell to Croft - News - Oldham Athletic}}

In November 2013, Croft signed a contract with St Johnstone to the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25110648 |title=St Johnstone: Lee Croft joins until the end of the season |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=26 November 2013}} He came on as a substitute as they won the 2014 Scottish Cup Final.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27354162|title=St Johnstone 2-0 Dundee United |work=BBC Sport|date=17 May 2014 |access-date=13 January 2017}}

Croft rejoined Oldham Athletic on a one-year contract on 1 July 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32803563 |title=Lee Croft: Oldham agree deal for St Johnstone midfielder|work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015}} On 17 July 2016, manager Steve Robinson confirmed that Croft remained with the club on a monthly contract.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/robinson-it-was-pleasing-for-60-minutes.-3190366.aspx|title=Robinson: "It Was Pleasing For 60 Minutes."|date=17 July 2016|website=Oldham Athletic|access-date=18 July 2016}}

In September 2017 Croft joined Southport on a short-term contract.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/experienced-croft-signs-for-southport-39502|title=Experienced Croft Signs for Southport - the Vanarama National League}}

Croft has represented England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 youth international levels, including captaining the Under-18 team. He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, making two appearances for England Under-20 as they finished bottom of Group D.

On 14 October 2012, Croft was the subject of a police investigation after he was accused of racially abusing a black ball boy.{{cite news|title=Oldham's Lee Croft denies he racially abused ball boy|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19938884|access-date=28 October 2012|work=BBC Sport|date=14 October 2012}} He admitted he "spoke inappropriately" to the boy and apologised.{{cite news|title=Lee Croft: Racism allegations against Oldham player "unfounded"|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20080734|access-date=28 October 2012|work=BBC Sport|date=25 October 2012}} However it quickly transpired that "there was no accusation whatsoever from the ball boy of racist abuse", who accepted Croft's apology; Croft said that the false allegations (from those who did not witness the incident) damaged anti-racism efforts.{{cite news|title=Oldham's Lee Croft says ball boy case damages anti-racism drive|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20092905|access-date=28 October 2012|work=BBC Sport|date=28 October 2012}}

{{notelist}}

:A. {{note|Sbase}} Soccerbase's stats for the match between Nottingham Forest and Derby County on 17 September 2011 count a substitute appearance made by Croft, however it should be credited to Russell Anderson.{{cite web |url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10270~58108,00.html |title=Nottm Forest 1–2 Derby County |publisher=Derby County F.C. |date=17 September 2011|access-date=4 March 2014}} Therefore, until and unless they correct it, he should have one less appearance for Derby than given on his Soccerbase page.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lee Croft}}

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324103524/http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10355~31654,00.html |date=24 March 2009 |title=Lee Croft player profile }} at canaries.co.uk
• [http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?syndicatorguid=%7B7EB24EFC-E397-48B3-977A-BC40E4795300%7D&rmasiteinstanceguid=%7B5B147D34-2BCF-448D-976C-AE1944ED09F5%7D&pagegid=%7B439A001B-9F18-408E-BD8E-8466AB3C97FD%7D&bioid=12700&siteid=502 Lee Croft player profile] at mcfc.co.uk
• {{Soccerbase}}
• [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/croft.htm Career information]

{{Norwich City F.C. Player of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Croft, Lee}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Higher End

Category:Footballers from Greater Manchester

Category:Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan

Category:English men's footballers

Category:England men's youth international footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Premier League players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Scottish Premier League players

Category:Scottish Professional Football League players

Category:Derby County F.C. players

Category:Manchester City F.C. players

Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players

Category:Norwich City F.C. players

Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players

Category:St Johnstone F.C. players

Category:Southport F.C. players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen