Lee Harwood (footballer)

Lee Harwood (born 4 October 1960) is an English former footballer who played as a defender for Southampton, Wimbledon, Leatherhead, Port Vale, and Waterlooville.

Lee Harwood

Personal information
Full name	Lee Harwood^[1]
Date of birth	(1960-10-04) 4 October 1960 (age 63)^[1]
Place of birth	Perivale, England^[1]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)^[2]
Position(s)	Central Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1979	Southampton	0	(0)
1979	→ Wimbledon (loan)	1	(0)
1979–1980	Leatherhead
1980–1981	Port Vale	19	(1)
1981–1983	Leatherhead
1983–1984	Waterlooville
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Harwood started his career at Southampton, turning professional at 18 years old after serving as an apprentice.^[3] He was loaned out to Wimbledon in the 1978–79 season, although he played just the one Fourth Division game at Plough Lane for Dario Gradi's "Dons". He was released from The Dell by manager Lawrie McMenemy, and spent one season in the Isthmian League with Leatherhead.

Harwood signed for John McGrath's Port Vale in February 1980.^[1] He formed an effective partnership with Phil Sproson, and played 15 Fourth Division games towards the end of the 1979–80 season.^[1] He scored his first goal in the Football League on 1 April, in a 3–2 defeat to Portsmouth at Vale Park.^[1] He played six league and cup games in the 1980–81 season, but damaged a cartilage in August and endured four knee operations, forcing him to retire from full-time football in November 1981.^[1] He did however, return to old club Leatherhead and later played for Southern League side Waterlooville, featuring in their three matches against Northampton Town in 1983–84, the only time Ville faced a league team in the F.A. Cup.^[1] Another serious knee injury forced early retirement from football 1984.

Career statistics

Source:^[4]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wimbledon (loan)	1978–79	Fourth Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Port Vale	1979–80	Fourth Division	15	1	0	0	0	0	15	1
	1980–81	Fourth Division	4	0	0	0	2	0	6	0
Total			20	1	0	0	2	0	22	1

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 130. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
3. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. p. 613. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
4. Lee Harwood at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)