Tommy Lee swaps Sheffield Wednesday for Sheffield United

The former Chesterfield player started his new job this week, crossing the Steel City’s footballing divide to work for his former Spireites team-mate Jack Lester, now academy manager at Sheffield United’s Shirecliffe.

Lee had been working full-time at nearby Middlewood Road since Nicky Weaver was promoted to become the Owls’ first-team goalkeeping coach in 2018.

He applied for the job before the lockdown but had to start his new role from home.

“I knew about the opportunity three months ago when Sheffield United advertised for the job,” he revealed.

“I thought it would be interesting to interview for and knowing Jack and Dukesy (Matt Duke) as I do, it got to the point where I was offered the position and I had to make a decision.

“It was a really difficult decision because I really enjoyed my time at Wednesday. It is a fantastic football club and it was a really good place to work with the likes of (academy manager) Steven Haslam and Nicky Weaver. But I just felt that this was an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down.

“I only started on Monday. I have had a few Zoom meetings with the United staff and I am finding my feet with everything.

“It is a little bit strange with the situation we are all in but I am looking forward to getting stuck in and working with Matt Duke, who is the head of the academy in terms of goalkeeping, and first-team goalkeeping coach Darren Ward.”

Manchester United product Lee made 328 league appearances for Chesterfield before retiring aged 31 because of recurring shoulder injuries in 2017.

Yesterday the 2019-20 academy season was abandoned because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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