Lee Holmes

Lee Daniel Holmes (born 2 April 1987) is an England association football who plays for Southampton F.C.. He is a Midfielder. Holmes started his career with Derby County F.C. and became their youngest ever player and youngest ever goalscorer. He has played for England national under-19 football team, scoring in their 3–1 defeat to France national football team in the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. He has also had loan spells with Swindon Town F.C., Bradford City A.F.C. and Walsall F.C..

Career

Derby County

Born in Mansfield, Lee Holmes started his career with Derby County F.C.. He made his debut on Boxing Day 2002 against Grimsby Town F.C. to break the record for the youngest Derby player aged just 15 years and 268 days. He made another two more appearances during the 2002-03 in English football season, both within two weeks of his debut. The second game was against Brentford F.C. when he became the youngest player to play in the proper rounds of the FA Cup, a record since broken by Luke Freeman of Gillingham. He became a regular in the side during the first half of the 2003-04 in English football season playing 19 of his 24 games that season between August and January. In September 2003, his manager George Burley issued a "hands-off" warning to teams trying to sign Holmes as well as fellow teenager Tom Huddlestone. Still aged 16, he scored his first Derby goal in a 3–1 defeat to Coventry City F.C. on 25 October 2003 to become the club's youngest goalscorer. In November, Holmes was a target of Chelsea F.C.'s recruitment drive of young England footballers. He scored again later that month in a 3–1 win against Milton Keynes Dons F.C..

He played three games for Derby at the start of the 2004-05 in English football season and also appeared for England national under-19 football team scoring in a 1–1 draw with the Czech Republic national football team. He made his Swindon debut two years to the day after his Derby debut as they defeated Peterborough United F.C. 2–0. Holmes' loan deal was twice extended after he impressed during his first two months at Swindon. He scored his one and only Swindon goal during his final month in a 1–1 draw with Doncaster Rovers F.C.. He played 15 league games for Swindon before returning to Derby County. He made one final appearance for Derby in the 2004–05 season before he played in the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Northern Ireland, scoring in England's 3–1 final defeat to France national football team. It took his tally for the side to six.

Holmes spent the entire 2005-06 in English football season with Derby County playing 21 games but without scoring. In January 2006, he signed a new contract at Derby keeping him with the club until the end of the 2007-08 in English football season. Derby struggled in the Football League Championship and finished 20th just eight points above the promotion and relegation places, avoiding the threat of relegation with a 1–1 draw at Queens Park Rangers F.C.. Holmes again moved on loan at the start of the 2006-07 in English football signing for Bradford City A.F.C. with Defender (football) full back Nathan Doyle. Holmes made his debut for Bradford in their opening day 1–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest F.C., going on to make 16 league appearances for the club and another three in cup competitions. He spent a time on trial at Dutch side NAC Breda but stayed at Derby and never played a game during 2007.

In January 2008, Holmes signed until the end of the 2007-08 in English football season for League One side Walsall F.C.. He made his debut for Walsall, and his first game in more than 13 months in a 2–2 draw with Swindon Town F.C. on 12 January 2008. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 defeat to Carlisle United F.C. on 2 February 2008 and followed it up with a goal in his next game when Walsall defeated Yeovil Town F.C. 2–0. Two weeks later he scored in each half to take his run to four goals in four games in a 3–0 victory over Swindon Town F.C.. He played a total of 19 games for Walsall during his loan, returning at the end of the season, but was unable to add to his four early goals.

Southampton

On 6 June 2008, Holmes turned down Leeds United A.F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C. to instead sign for Championship side Southampton F.C. as their first summer signing. He was attracted by the promising youth set up under new coach Jan Poortvliet. He made his debut for Southampton in the opening game of the 2008-09 in English football season against Cardiff City F.C.. Holmes was substituted in the second half, replaced by Bradley Wright-Phillips, as Southampton lost 2–1. Holmes scored in his second game with Southampton, as they defeated Football League Two side Exeter City F.C. 3–1 in the first round of the Football League Cup. Holmes started Southampton's opening seven games of the season, and scored a second goal, once again in the League Cup, but was injured in a 4–1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers F.C.. Holmes left Rangers' ground on crutches after suffering medial ligament damage in his right knee.