LEE PHILLIPS

Born: 16 September 1980

Came from: Youth   Went to: Weymouth Town

First game: 29 October 1996   Last game: 05 December 2000

Appearances: 61 (23/38)   Goals: 1

Born in Penzance and a product of the Argyle youth set-up, Phillips became Argyle's youngest-ever player when he made his debut at just 16 years and 43 days in October 1996 in a home match against Gillingham, a record that stood for nearly 25 years. He made 61 appearances during his five seasons at Home Park, although most of those were as a substitute and he never quite lived up to his potential. His only goal for Argyle came during the famous 'Jimmy Glass' game at Carlisle United, when the goalkeeper's last-minute winner when up for a corner saved the hosts from relegation from the Football League on the last day of the 1998-99 season.

After suffering and then recovering from a broken leg (for which he had shin pads especially made), he could not get back into the first team but did recover and resumed his career, joining Conference South side Weymouth in January 2001. The move was initially a loan but was made a permanent move on a free transfer two months later. In February 2002, he joined then Southern League Newport County on loan until the end of the season as Weymouth tried to cut their wage bill. Over two seasons with the Terras, he made 67 appearances, scoring 33 goals, attracting attention from a number of higher level sides, including Reading and Yeovil Town (whom he had a trial with in November 2002).

In February 2005, Phillips moved to Conference National side Exeter City along with teammate Steve Tully for an undisclosed fee. He became a firm fans' favourite at St James’ Park, winning the club’s Player of the Year award and scoring City’s first ever goal at Wembley Stadium, although it ended in disappointment as they were beaten by Morecambe in the Conference Play-Off Final in May 2007 to be denied a return to the Football League.

He then joined local rivals Torquay United (joining the ranks of those to have played for all three Devon clubs) for a fee of £17,500 on a three-year deal in June 2007, and quickly forged a successful partnership with Tim Sills. Whilst at Plainmoor he appeared again at Wembley in the 2008 FA Vase Final, in a 1-0 loss to Ebbsfleet United.

In May 2008 he joined fellow Conference team Rushden & Diamonds for an undisclosed fee. In the the following January 2009 transfer window, he left Rushden and rejoined Weymouth. In total, across his two spells with Weymouth, he made 200 appearances and scored a highly impressive 90 goals. In March 2009 he was on on the move again, joining Cambridge United.

Whilst at the Abbey Stadium, he had a third and final Wembley appearance in the 2009 Conference Play-Off Final, completing a miserable hat-trick of defeats at the national stadium, as United lost 2-0 to his former club Torquay United, who returned to the Football League. He left Cambridge at the end of the 2009–10 season to return to the West Country to sign for Bath City in July 2010. His time at Twerton Park also include a loan spell to Eastleigh and he departed Bath two years later after their relegation to the Conference South.

In June 2012 he moved to Chippenham Town before then signing for Exmouth Town. He then wound down his career back in the Plymouth area with a spell with Saltash United, before announcing, in January 2019, his retirement from football, to widespread accolades from the local and wider footballing communities.