Lee Howey
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Lead too short|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Lee Howey
| image =
| fullname = Lee Matthew Howey{{Hugman|9505}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1969|4|1}}
| birth_place = Sunderland, England
| position = Defender, forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1992–1993
| years2 = 1993–1997
| years3 = 1997–1999
| years4 = 1998–1999
| years5 = 1999–2001
| years6 = 2001–2002
| years7 = 2002
| clubs1 = Bishop Auckland
| clubs2 = Sunderland
| clubs3 = Burnley
| clubs4 = → Northampton (loan)
| clubs5 = Northampton
| clubs6 = Forest Green Rovers
| clubs7 = Nuneaton Borough
| caps1 = 15
| caps2 = 69
| caps3 = 27
| caps4 = 10
| caps5 = 38
| caps6 = 15
| caps7 = 17
| totalcaps = 191
| goals1 = 5
| goals2 = 8
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = 3
| goals5 = 3
| goals6 = 2
| goals7 = 0
| totalgoals = 21
}}
Lee Matthew Howey (born 1 April 1969) is an English former footballer who played primarily as a defender. Howey began his career at Bishop Auckland, before moving to Sunderland where he spent the majority of his career. He later player for Burnley, Northampton Town, Forest Green Rovers and Nuneaton Borough.
Career
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Howey was born in Sunderland. He started out as an apprentice at Ipswich Town, followed by a brief spell in Belgium with AS Hemptinne. In 1993, he was signed by Terry Butcher from local club Bishop Auckland, for Sunderland in March 1993. He made his debut for the club in May 1993 against Portsmouth at Roker Park. 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.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
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.{{cite web |url = http://skysports.stats.football365.com/1998/ENG/trn/ENGLC_1.html |title = Round 1 Fixtures & Results |publisher = Sky Sports |accessdate = 19 April 2013 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://archive.today/20130103120508/http://skysports.stats.football365.com/1998/ENG/trn/ENGLC_1.html |archivedate = 3 January 2013 |df = dmy-all}} 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.
Personal life
He is the older brother of former Newcastle United and England defender Steve Howey.{{cite news |last1=Keogh |first1=Frank |last2=Pirks |first2=Natalie |title='Pain was sickening' - Ex-players on heading fears |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c708464p1zpo |access-date=9 December 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 December 2024}}
His autobiography, Massively Violent and Decidedly Average, was released in February 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lee-howey-could-been-part-14242898|first=Craig|last=Johns|title=Lee Howey could have been part of exciting Sunderland era, but got drunk and signed for Burnley|website=Chronicle Live|date=4 February 2018|accessdate=27 November 2019}}.
Honours
Sunderland
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book|first=Barry|last=Hugman|title=The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946-2005|year=2005|publisher=Queen Anne Press}}
- {{cite book|first=Lee|last=Howey|title=Massively Violent & Decidedly Average|year=2018|publisher=Biteback Publishing}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howey, Lee}}
Category:Footballers from Sunderland
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Premier League players
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players