LEE MOLYNEUX

Full Name: Lee Robert Molyneux

Born: 24 February 1989

Came from: Southampton   Went to: Released

First game: 07 August 2010   Last game: 06 November 2010

Appearances: 12 (9/3)   Goals: 0

Born in Huyton in Liverpool, Molyneux was a product of Everton's youth academy and made his debut for the reserve team at the age of 16. With a reputation as a free-kick specialist, he chalked up 17 international caps for England at under 16, 17 and 18 levels, including appearances as captain and alongside future full internationals Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott.

Molyneux made the Everton bench during the 2007-08 season, but due to a slipped disc sustained during a weights session he missed out on his opportunity of first team action. By the time he regained his fitness, Everton had signed Leighton Baines, a serious set-back to the young left-back's ambitions, and despite an offer to remain at Goodison Park, he chose to join Southampton at the beginning of January 2009.

His Football League debut came a week later, but following the sacking of Jan Poortvliet later in the month, he was unable to add to his total of four games for the south coast club. He moved to Port Vale on loan in March 2010 but did not manage a first team appearance, and, after returning to Southampton, had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

On trial at Home Park, Molyneux impressed Argyle's manager Peter Reid (who also came from Huyton) in a pre-season friendly against Queens Park Rangers. He was given a five-month contract in August 2010 and put straight into the first team for the opening game of the season against his previous club, Southampton. Although he maintained his place in the early months of the campaign, he fell out of favour after a dozen appearances and left Home Park when his short contract was not extended.

Following his release from Argyle in January 2011, Molyneux was found guilty of assault and served 17 months of a three-year prison sentence for an offence that occurred before his arrival in Plymouth. His time in a prison gym helped him to win a trial with Accrington Stanley in August 2012, for whom he signed non-contract terms. He was a great success with the Lancashire club, where he was dubbed the “League Two Gareth Bale” due to his attacking prowess after he was converted into a winger, scoring nine times in 43 games, including a hat-trick against Barnet.

Molyneux signed for Crewe Alexandra in July 2013, starting as a regular but slipping out of favour, and in the November went on loan to Rochdale, where he made three substitute appearances for former Green, Keith Hill. In January 2014 he was back at Accrington Stanley on loan, finding his shooting boots once more to score six goals in 17 appearances including another hat-trick, this time against eventual 2013-14 League Two champions, Chesterfield.

The following season began with him back in the first team at Crewe, but this was short-lived. He was loaned out for his third spell at Accrington in October 2014, scoring once in 12 more appearances, before being released by Crewe in January 2015. That same month he signed for Tranmere Rovers, ironically making his debut against Accrington Stanley. Having made 11 appearances for Rovers in their disastrous season which saw them lose their Football League status, he moved to Morecambe on a two-year deal in May 2015.

After eight goals in 88 games for the Shrimpers across two seasons, Molyneux was surprisingly released, but the club's financial challenges might have had a bearing. In the summer of 2017 he signed for Leeds-based National League side Guiseley, where he played 24 times and scored twice, and was also loaned to Chorley (10 appearances) before moving to National League North side Barrow for the 2018-19 season.