Michael Lea

Michael Lea

Personal information
Full name	Michael Robert Lea
Date of birth	(1987-11-04) 4 November 1987
Place of birth	Salford, England
Position(s)	Left-back Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Atherton Collieries
Youth career
2004–2007	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Manchester United	0	(0)
2007	→ Royal Antwerp (loan)	15	(0)
2008–2009	Scunthorpe United	0	(0)
2009–2010	Chester City	0	(0)
2010	Hyde United	0	(0)
2010	Rochdale	0	(0)
2010	Hyde	2	(0)
2010–2014	Colwyn Bay	20	(0)
2014	Witton Albion	3	(0)
2014–2015	Marine	3	(0)
2015–2016	Colwyn Bay	0	(0)
2016	Warrington Town	0	(0)
2016	Atherton Collieries	1	(0)
2021-	Uppermill	28	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:24, 7 June 2015 (UTC)

Michael Robert Lea (born 4 November 1987) is an English footballer. His regular position is at left-back, but he can also play at centre-back when required.

Career

Early career

Born in Salford, Greater Manchester, Lea was brought up in Leigh in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. His 2005–06 season was marred by injury, and he was restricted to 13 appearances for the Under-18 team. In the 2006–07 season, he became a regular for the Manchester United Reserve team, making 21 appearances. His consistent form in the 2006–07 season led to a nomination for the Manchester United Reserve Player of the Year award, but he was beaten to the award by Kieran Lee.

Lea was sent out on loan to Belgian side Royal Antwerp for the first half of the 2007–08 season. He made his debut for the Belgians on 22 September 2007 against R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne; the match finished as a 1–1 draw. He went on to make a further 14 appearances for "The Great Old" before returning to Manchester United at the end of 2007. Lea never played for the Manchester United first team, and on 27 June 2008, it was announced that he would be given a free transfer at the end of his contract on 30 June 2008.

Scunthorpe United

On 4 July 2008, Lea was given a trial at Scunthorpe United, with a view to a permanent deal as a replacement for Marcus Williams, who was involved in a protracted contract negotiation. Despite Williams signing a new contract, Scunthorpe retained their interest in signing Lea, playing him in two pre-season friendlies. Lea signed a one-year contract with the Iron on 25 July 2008, with the option to extend it for an extra year.

Chester City

This option, however, was not taken up, he was subsequently released at the end of the season having only made three appearances for Scunthorpe. With Lea out of contract, he was free to sign for Chester City on 9 July 2009. Lea made 19 league appearances for Chester before they were wound up and their Conference record was expunged in March 2010.

Hyde United

This left Lea without a club, but a week later he signed for Conference North side Hyde United.

Rochdale

However, he left Hyde after a week in order to join Rochdale.

Return to Hyde

On 9 July 2010, Lea rejoined Hyde after leaving them just four months earlier to join Rochdale. He rejoined Hyde after he ran out of contract at Rochdale without making a single appearance.

Colwyn Bay

On 27 August 2010, it was announced that he had joined Colwyn Bay.

Witton Albion

In June 2014, he signed for Northern Premier League team Witton Albion. He rejoined Colwyn Bay in January 2015 after a spell with Marine.

External links

• Michael Lea at Soccerbase