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Tom Lees

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For the Australian boxer, seeTom Lees (boxer).

Tom Lees
Personal information
Full name Thomas James Lees[1]
Date of birth (1990-11-28)28 November 1990(age 33)[2]
Place of birth Birmingham,England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back[4]
Team information
Current team
 Huddersfield Town
Number 32
Youth career
1999–2009 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2014 Leeds United 123 (3)
2009–2010 →Accrington Stanley(loan) 39 (0)
2010–2011 →Bury(loan) 45 (4)
2014–2021 Sheffield Wednesday 249 (10)
2021– Huddersfield Town 113 (5)
International career
2012–2013 England U21 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 02:50, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Thomas James Lees(born 28 November 1990) is an English professionalfootballerwho plays as acentre-backforEFL League OneclubHuddersfield Town.

Lees began his career in the youth teams at Leeds before turning professional with the Yorkshire club in early 2009.[5]He made his professional debut whilst on a season-long loan atAccrington Stanleyin theirFootball League Trophyfirst round victory overOldham Athleticin September of the same year.[6]He joinedBuryon a similar deal the following season and was voted the Players' Player of the Year in the Shakers' promotion-winning campaign before returning to Leeds in the summer of 2012 where he established himself as a first-team regular.[7]In September 2012, Lees was called up to theEngland U21squad by managerStuart Pearce.[8]

Early life

[edit]

Lees was born inBirmingham,West Midlands, but moved toKnaresborough,North Yorkshire, when he was four years old.[9]

Club career

[edit]

Leeds United

[edit]

Lees began his football career atLeeds Unitedwhen he joined as an eight-year-old. As part of the club, he watched the side from a young age and developed an admiration for United's legendary defenderLucas Radebe.He progressed through the youth ranks and was involved in the England U16 set up in the summer of 2005.[10]His development was later hindered during his years as a scholar with the club when a knee injury required an operation when he was 17. After he completed his rehabilitation, Lees turned professional in January 2009 when he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[5]He studied atBoston Spa Academyduring his time in the Leeds United Academy.[11]

He later experienced his first taste of senior football with Leeds when he was included inSimon Grayson's squad for the pre-season friendly tour of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and featured in the matches againstShelbourneandGlentoran.[12]With seniorcentre-backsRui Marques,Patrick Kisnorbo,Richard Naylor,Ľubomír Michalík,Leigh BrombyandPaul Huntingtonalso in the first-team squad, Lees found his opportunities limited for the 2009–10 season with the club looking to sending him out on loan to gain experience.[12]

Accrington Stanley loan spell

[edit]

He joinedLeague TwoclubAccrington Stanleyonloanon 1 September 2009,[13][14]of which Leeds manager Simon Grayson commented on saying; "The move to Accrington will give him the opportunity to spend time in a first-team environment and we will be keeping an eye on him".[13]He made his debut on the same day for Accrington in their 2–1 away win overOldham Athleticin theFootball League Trophy.[6]

With Lees impressing in his first few games for Accrington, Simon Grayson revealed that he was keen for Lees to stay out on loan at Accrington to continue to get first-team matches.[15]In late December, Lees' loan at Accrington was extended until the end of the2009–10season.[16][17]On 23 February 2010, Lees signed a two-year contract extension with Leeds United until July 2012.[18]During his loan spell at Accrington, Lees was mainly played as aright-back.He impressed in the 46 appearances he played in all competitions, and Accrington Stanley managerJohn Colemanrevealed he wanted to re-sign Lees again for the following season.[19]

Return to Leeds

[edit]

At the end of the 2009–10 season Lees returned to Leeds' after playing 39 league games for Accrington Stanley, and 45 games in all competitions. The following season, he featured in both of Leeds United's pre-season games inSlovakiaagainstMFK RužomberokandMFK Košiceas part of a 20-man squad that travelled.[20][21]Lees also played for Leeds in Norway againstSK Brann.[22]In Leeds' final pre-season fixture, Lees was an unused substitute againstWolverhampton Wanderersin the 3–1 victory at Elland Road.[23]

Bury loan

[edit]

On 3 August 2010, Lees joined League Two clubBuryon a six-month loan in order to gain more first-team experience.[24]Lees played against Bury two weeks prior to signing, when he came on as a substitute for Leeds in the 4–0 loss.[25]On 14 August, he scored his first goal of the season at theKassam Stadiumversus the newly promotedOxford Unitedcollecting his second man of the match award for Bury. Lees scored his second goal of the season for Bury againstExeter Cityin the FA Cup. With Lees impressing in his loan spell[26]he was linked with a new contract at Leeds.[27]On 10 December he signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Leeds,[28]and it was announced on 30 December, that he had extended his loan at Bury until the end of the season.[29]

Lees scored the winner for Bury in a 1–0 win against Lincoln on 22 April.[30]Lees also scored the winner in a 1–0 victory overBurton Albion.[31]On 25 April he scored his fifth goal of the season in his club's 3–2 win over league leadersChesterfield,a game which confirmed Bury's promotion toLeague One.[32]After an impressive season at Bury, Leeds manager Simon Grayson stated that he thought Lees had a big future at Leeds United.[33]During his loan spell he played 50 times for the club, and appeared in all but one of Bury's league matches. Lees won the Players' Player of the Year Award at Bury's annual player of the season awards ceremony.[7]Bury managerRichie Barkersaid he believed that Lees was the best young centre-backs in League Two and heavily praised Lees in an interview in theYorkshire Evening Post.[7]

Leeds first team

[edit]

After returning to Leeds, he played a part in all Leeds' 2011–12 pre-season fixtures either as a substitute or in the starting line-up.[34][35][36]Lees made his debut againstBradford Cityas a second-half substitute in their 3–2 victory, making an instant impact by gaining an assist by setting up the opening goal forRoss McCormack.[37][38][39]Lees made his League debut for Leeds on 13 August againstMiddlesbroughin a match Leeds lost 1–0.[40]He scored an own goal in his second start for Leeds againstHull City,he then made amends when scored his first goal for the club in the same game with a strike from inside the penalty area.[41]Despite being a centre-back, Lees found himself a regular as the right-back for Leeds with Patrick Kisnorbo andDarren O'Deathe preferred central defensive partnership. Lees was also part of the Leeds team that came undone in a 3–0 loss against fierce rivalsManchester Unitedin the League Cup, Lees almost scored for Leeds early on in the game but he found his header cleared off the line.[42][43]

Lees signed a new contract extension with the club on 30 September, the new contract extended his existing contract until 2015.[44]After playing all his games at right-back for Leeds, Lees was moved into his favoured centre-back position againstPortsmouthon 1 October, Leeds also kept their first clean sheet of the season in the same game.[45]Lees' second goal of the season came in Leeds 3–0 win againstDoncaster Roverson 14 October.[46]Lees provided the assist forRobert Snodgrassin the 1–1 draw againstCardiff City.[47]Lees was red carded for deliberate handball after an error by goalkeeperPaul Rachubkaagainst Blackpool.[48]

Lees revealed in April that he had broken his nose four times over the course of the season and he would require surgery on the damaged nose when the season finished.[49]Lees was named as Leeds' Young Player of the Year during the end of season awards on 28 April.[50]

At the end of the 2011–12 season, Leeds managerNeil Warnockrevealed on 2 May that Lees had been offered a new contract at Leeds United.[51]Warnock revealed toYorkshire Radiothat he felt that Lees had been one of the bright sparks of the season and that he had become one of the first names on the team sheet for Leeds.[52]Lees' first goal of the season came in Leeds' 2–1 defeat againstBlackpool.[53]Lees scored his second goal of the season in the League Cup match against Oxford United.[54]

Sheffield Wednesday

[edit]

Lees signed for Leeds'ChampionshiprivalsSheffield Wednesdayon 31 July 2014 on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[55]After his first season he would extend his stay until 2019,[56]and a year after that would sign a much larger contract keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.[57]

On 24 April 2021, Lees would be stretchered off in a game againstMiddlesbroughafter landing awkwardly on his ankle,[58]which resulted in him being ruled out for the remaining two games of the season with ligament damage.[59]This would eventually be his last game for the club, as on 20 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[60]

Huddersfield Town

[edit]

Lees signed forHuddersfield Townfollowing his departure from Sheffield Wednesday on a 2-year contract, officially joining the club on 1 August 2021. He was part of the side that reached the 2022EFL Championship play-offsFinal.

International career

[edit]

England Under-16s

[edit]

Lees was involved in the England Under-16 set-up in the summer of 2005 as part of a promising group of Leeds United youngsters which also included Stefan Connor,Liam Darville,Tom Elliott,Ben Gordon,Jason Mycoe,Danny Rose,Tom TaiwoandMichael Woods.[10]A knee injury hindered his progression in the England youth set-up whilst many of his United teammates went on to sign for Premier League sides before playing professional football for the Elland Road club.[5]

England Under-21s

[edit]

After an impressive start to the 2012–13 season with Leeds United which included two goals in his first four games, Lees was called up to theEngland U21squad by managerStuart Pearcefor the2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualificationgroup matches againstAzerbaijanandNorway.[8]He made his debut for the side in the 1–0 victory over Norway at Chesterfield'sProact Stadiumas a substitute; replacing goalscorerConnor Wickhamin the 77th minute.[61]After the game, Pearce praised Lees' versatility and leadership qualities and described him as a 'no-nonsense lad and no-nonsense player.'[62]He retained his place in the squad for the crucial qualification play-off games versusSerbiathe following month, appearing as a second- half substitute in the 1–0 second leg victory inKruševacafter replacingBolton WanderersstrikerMarvin Sordell.England won 2–0 on aggregate and qualified for the UEFA U21 Championships in 2013 in Israel.[63]After the game, Lees was caught up in a mass-brawl between English and Serbian playing and coaching staff after teammate Danny Rose was allegedly subjected to racist abuse andmonkey chanting.[64]He was seen grappling with seventeen-year-oldPartizanmidfielderNikola Ninkovićwhilst a frustrated Rose was sent-off for kicking a ball away in reaction to the abuse after the whistle.[64]

Lees made his first start for England U21 on 13 November in England's 2–0 victory over Northern Ireland.[65]

Following the end of the 2012–13 season, Lees was named in the squad for the European U21 Championship. Stuart Pearce reserved special praise for Lees' attitude to training and his professionalism.[66]Lees was an unused substitute as England crashed out of the tournament following defeats to Italy and Norway. Lees started the final game of England's tournament, playing 90 minutes in the defeat to Israel.[citation needed]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 20 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 2009–10[67] League One 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
2011–12[68] Championship 42 2 1 0 2 0 — 45 2
2012–13[69] Championship 40 1 4 0 4 1 — 48 2
2013–14[70] Championship 41 0 0 0 1 0 — 42 0
Total 123 3 5 0 7 1 — 135 4
Accrington Stanley(loan) 2009–10[67] League Two 39 0 4 0 — 3[a] 0 46 0
Bury(loan) 2010–11[71] League Two 45 4 2 1 1 0 2[a] 0 50 5
Sheffield Wednesday 2014–15[72] Championship 44 0 1 0 3 0 — 48 0
2015–16[73] Championship 34 3 0 0 5 0 3[b] 0 42 3
2016–17[74] Championship 35 1 1 0 0 0 2[b] 0 38 1
2017–18[75] Championship 29 1 0 0 2 0 — 31 1
2018–19[76] Championship 42 2 3 0 1 0 — 46 2
2019–20[77] Championship 27 2 3 0 0 0 — 30 2
2020–21[78] Championship 38 1 0 0 1 0 — 39 1
Total 249 10 8 0 12 0 5 0 274 10
Huddersfield Town 2021–22[79] Championship 40 3 3 1 1 1 3[b] 0 47 5
2022–23[80] Championship 42 2 1 0 1 0 — 44 2
2023–24[81] Championship 31 0 1 0 0 0 — 32 0
Total 113 5 5 1 2 1 3 0 123 7
Career total 569 22 24 2 22 2 13 0 628 26
  1. ^abAppearances inFootball League Trophy
  2. ^abcAppearances inChampionship play-offs

Honours

[edit]

Bury

Individual

References

[edit]
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