Football Firsts: Stevenage midfielder Charlie Lee

First game you watched live?

I was about seven years old and went to watch West Ham versus Kidderminster in the FA Cup fifth round. West Ham won 1-0. I went along with my Dad. He supports West Ham, but I obviously support Stevenage now!

First football hero?

I would say Roy Keane because, at the time when I was growing up, Manchester United were the team to watch and the best side around. He was easily one of the best players within that team and I liked the way he played.

First pair of boots?

That was actually a pair of bright yellow Diadora boots. They were unbelievable. My mum bought them for me and I thought they were amazing. I wish I still had them now.

First kit?

There are some pictures of me from when I was younger in a knitted West Ham kit. My nan had knitted it for me and I still have the pictures somewhere. It was awful. It just looked horrendous. Why you would knit a football kit and give it to a kid I do not know, but it is a funny and fond memory.

First professional game?

When I was on loan at Millwall, I made my debut against Doncaster. I was 19 at the time, so it was almost a decade ago now. I was filling in for Richard Shaw, who was injured. We drew 2-2 in the end, so I can’t complain about that for a debut.

First professional goal?

I went to Peterborough the following summer and scored against Chesterfield in the second league game of the season. We lost 3-2, but I still remember the goal well. I played a nice one-two and the ball went slightly wide. I managed to chase it down and hit it with the outside of the white boots I was wearing at the time. The ball went in off the crossbar. It was a beautiful goal to score as your first and I will never forget it.

First red card?

My first red card was against MK Dons in the play off semi-final at their place. It was a harsh red card – an awful decision. The referee would probably admit now that it was not a second yellow.

Luckily, MK Dons went down to ten men as well and, even though we were 2-0 down, we managed to pull it back to 2-1. Then we won the second leg 2-0 and went on to get promoted. It still annoys me, that sending off, but we got promoted, so it ended well.