COUNTY GALLERY

LEE PHILLIPS by Ray Taylor

Last season’s visit by Cambridge City did not produce the most memorable of games, but the outcome was vitally important as we secured a 1-0 success to keep our bid for Conference South qualification on track.  For that victory we owed a considerable amount to LEE PHILLIPS who was moved up front in the second half and quickly responded with a very well taken goal.

Lee is used to playing in various positions in defence or midfield as well as occasional forays forward and the 25 year-old has no complaints about that.

“I really don’t mind where I play.  At first I played in central midfield but when Gavin Tait signed me on schoolboy forms for Cardiff City I was switched to the centre of defence.  I’ve also played in both full-back positions and I enjoy overlapping.”

Lee, who was born in Mountain Ash and has always lived in the Cynon Valley, is currently settled in Cwmdare with his partner Kate.  He was linked with Chelsea as a teenager but he always hoped to join Cardiff as a professional and early in his second year as a trainee at Ninian Park he was offered a professional contract.

He made his debut in an away win at Hartlepool and played 16 times in the league for City but with regular changes of managers – there were six in Lee’s five years as a Bluebird – it is difficult for young players to progress and develop. 

Lee said: “I had a feeling when Billy Ayre took over I would be released.  It was time to move on though because being on the bench regularly and rarely getting on was disheartening.”

Lee had also gained representative honours for Wales up to under-18 level and was called up for the under-21 squad without getting a game so when Cardiff released him he appeared to have plenty to offer.  However it was not easy to make the right move.

“It was hard to find another club because I wasn’t keen to move away from home for family reasons and there are not many professional clubs you can reach from the Aberdare area.  I did have a trial at Reading but nothing came of it and Peter Nicholas signed me for Barry where I had three very enjoyable years with plenty of success.

“We lost the first match I played in at Aberystwyth but we were expected to win every game which put pressure on us.  I played all over Europe for Barry and scored in our home win over Porto.”

By the start of last season Lee had added non-league international honours to his CV, scoring on his Welsh debut against Scotland at Carmarthen.  Unfortunately though everything fell apart at Jenner Park and despite playing for Barry in both legs of their UEFA Champions League against Vardar of Macedonia in July last year, Lee found himself without a club or an income.

“It was all a bit of a shock.  I didn’t get paid for three months and there was a lot hidden from the players who still represented Barry in the Champions League.  I then joined Forest Green and though it was a good standard I soon got sick of the travel.

“I was always looking to join County though I didn’t expect it to happen until this season.  I knew several of the players at the club including the manager and I am looking forward to the future here.”

For Cardiff as a 17 year-old at Hereford when there were around 10,000 for a league match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Because of the manager.  I had worked with Peter before.

Parents Rayo and Julie.  (Lee has also been nicknamed ‘Rayo’ by former City team mate Lee Jarman who is now at Weston.)

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