[4] Hornchurch wanted Lee to sign a contract with them but he was offered an academy place at Charlton Athletic and established himself in the first team by the 1984–85 season, when he scored 10 goals in the Second Division.

He rapidly became the Addicks' star player playing as a winger and helping Charlton to promotion to the First Division at the end of the 1985–86 season and gained international recognition at under-21 level.

[6] Despite his North East connections, Lee noted it was his childhood footballing hero Kevin Keegan who influenced him to move to Newcastle United.

In the first round against Royal Antwerp Lee scored a hat-trick as Newcastle won 5–0 in Belgium in their first European game for 17 years.

[citation needed] Manager Kevin Keegan refreshed the side over the summer of 1995, shelling out nearly £9million on David Ginola and Les Ferdinand, and allowing Lee a more attacking role.

[citation needed] After Keegan's shock resignation in January 1997, Kenny Dalglish was named manager, and he made Lee captain as Newcastle again finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League.

After a good start, Gullit tried to quickly discard Lee, as well as Stuart Pearce and John Barnes, forcing them to train with the reserves.

Lee was awarded a testimonial in 2001, nine years after joining the club, and a crowd of 18,189 turned out as Spanish side Athletic Bilbao won 1–0 at St James' Park.

[9][10] Following a short, unsuccessful spell with Derby, which saw them relegated from the Premier League, Lee was sold to West Ham United in 2003, after scoring twice in games against Reading[11] and Ipswich Town.

Following this he was signed by former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, to help Wycombe Wanderers climb out of the newly named League Two.

[citation needed] In October 2006, Lee was interviewed for the manager position at AFC Bournemouth,[17] but the job went to Kevin Bond.