Rob Lee

Robert Martin "Rob" Lee (born 1 February 1966 in West Ham, London) is a retired English footballer who played for a number of clubs including Charlton Athletic, Derby County and Newcastle United.

Club career

Charlton Athletic

Lee came through the academy of Charlton Athletic and established himself in the first team by the 1984–85 season. He rapidly became the Addicks' star player playing as a winger and helping Charlton to promotion to the First Division at the end of the 1985–86 season. He remained a regular in the top-flight over the next four years until Charlton were relegated back to Division Two at the end of the 1989–90 season.

Lee remained with Charlton for over two years, but he was sold after the beginning of 1992–93 season as the club needed money to finance the return to The Valley. At the time, Charlton were second in the table, and Lee moved to the team above them, Newcastle United, for a fee of £700,000. Allegedly, he moved to Newcastle after Newcastle's manager, Kevin Keegan, told him that Newcastle upon Tyne was closer to London than Middlesbrough, the other club interested in signing Lee. This was a reference not to distance, but transport time, as there were more flights between London and Newcastle than there were between London and Middlesbrough.

Newcastle United

In his first season, Lee helped Newcastle gain promotion to the Premier League for the 1993–94 season. The following few years, Lee was a key component of Keegan's...
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