LEE  MADDISON

Height  5'11"

Weight  11 0lbs

Defender (Left side)

League Appearances 229 (59 in the Scottish League)

Lee was born in Bristol on the 5th of October 1972. He signed as a trainee with Bristol Rovers on 18th of July 1991 and made 68 appearances, before being sold to Northampton Town for £25,000 on the 22nd of September 1995. He made 52 appearances for them before moving to Dundee on a free on the 1st of August 1997. Whilst there he made 59 full appearances scoring once. From Dundee, Maddison was given a loan spell at Carlisle United on the 13th of October 2000 and this became a permanent deal on the 25th of January 2001 when he was signed on a free.

Lee made his debut for Carlisle at home to Barnet on the 14th of October 2000, a scrappy 2-0 defeat in which he got booked.  A strong player who wasn't scared to go forward was much needed and Lee was an ever present in the side. He gave a particularly good performance away at Mansfield on the 12th of December earning his first Carlisle Man of the Match Award.  Maddison missed the match against Hartlepool away on the 20th of January. His loan period had finished and a permanent contract was yet unsigned but he was back as a permanent player for the next game, Mansfield Town at home on the 27th of January, a 2-1 win. More consistent games followed.  Maddison was ever present until the end of the season, giving width and an outlet down the left and providing last ditch  defensive stops when called upon.

Lee was one of the infamous "Brunton Four". The four players who were sacked without warning at the end of the 2001 season, for no other reason than earning too much money. A disgraceful way to treat a player who had shown commitment to Carlisle United and helped to stave off relegation. Later he was reinstated when  the pfa intervened.

Lee must have hoped that with a new manager and a new season that he could put the bad times behind him. It wasn't to be and for much of the 2001/02 season he became the forgotten man.  After playing the first two games of the season he started the League  Cup game against Stockport  on the 21st of August but was replaced by Berkley after 55 minutes. He was dropped  for the next game against Hull at home on the 25th of August but came off the bench to replace Haddow in the next game away at Torquay on the 27th of August, a 2-1 defeat.  In the game away at Darlington on the 8th of September he again came off the bench, this time replacing Winstanley in a very tense game that ended in a 2-2 draw. Lee's next game came away at Cheltenham on the 15th of September, after starting the game he was replaced by Brendan McGill in the 50th minute. This proved to be the last game Lee played under Roddy Collins who had made it clear that Lee didn't figure in his plans. After a very difficult time where  first team facilities were withdrawn, finally a football lifeline came in the shape of Ian Atkins' Oxford United. A two month loan spell  at the Kassam stadium saw Lee play 11 games for the U's, making his debut for them away at Rushden and Diamonds on the 5th of February.  By the time  the loan spell finished  Roddy Collins had been sacked, Billy Barr was in charge for the final few games and United  were struggling to field a team because of injuries. Lee  played the last two games, at home to Cheltenham on the 16th of April, a 0-0 draw and the final game of the season, away at Mansfield on the 20th, a 2-0 defeat.

02/03 season. Lee was back in the side for the start of the season and was playing well until sidelined with a nasty injury.  In the home game against Bristol Rovers on the 24th of August Lee appeared to go over on his ankle whilst chasing a ball and Lee had to sit out the next 12 games recovering from ankle ligament trouble. Lee's high point of the season came at home to Leyton Orient on the 25th of January. After a dreary first half with few chances made from either side the came sprung to life after half time. On 54 minutes Farrell broke the deadlock and United were a goal  in front. Two minutes later the lead doubled.  Lee took the ball on the left a good 30 yards out from goal, he looked up and released a powerful shot that sailed over everyone and  smashed into the top right hand corner of the goal. The strike earned Lee Nationwide Goal of the week on sky tv and was voted goal of the season by CUOSC. Despite a niggling hamstring injury Lee played in the crucial final away games where his strong defending proved invaluable. The popular defender has been offered a new contract which will see him remain as part of the team until the summer of 2004.

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