Former Charlton star Rob Lee had a plethora of fond memories to look back on when he entered the Charlton TV Valley Pass Live studio on Saturday afternoon.
As part of the very popular ‘Memory Lane’ section of the pre-game show, Lee, Scott Minto and Alan Curbishley reminisced about some of his best moments in a Charlton shirt, and an England shirt.
Below, you can read a selection of ‘the best bits’, while Valley Pass subscribers can watch Saturday’s edition of Memory Lane in full.
Charlton debut
“I remember it very, very well. There’s Steve Dowman there [in the photo] and Mark Aizlewood. I remember Martin Robinson who helped me come to the club when I was a kid - he was one of the main reasons I came to Charlton. He knew Les Doyle, the chief scout, recommended me and he put me through. I remember going through one-on-one with the goalie and slotting it in. I don’t remember jumping up and making a funny face though!
“I was nervous before every game - even when I was playing for England. As I say to my lads, I think nerves are a good thing. Once a game starts, you forget all about it. I think it’s beforehand; you’re thinking about the game, you’re thinking about what you want to do - I mean it never normally goes that way! Obviously I was thinking ‘it’d be great if I scored on my debut!’, and I was lucky enough to get a chance and score it.”
Losing his contact lenses!
“I’ve worn contact lenses since I was 14, I still wear them now but they’ve moved on a lot now. In those days, they were really hard. I think I’d come on as a sub in the game, so there was only one sub, and then someone elbowed me and it came out.
“I’m looking around and I said: ‘I can’t see! I can’t see!’ The physio is thinking ‘oh, blimey - he’s blinded him or something!’ But it was just that I couldn’t see because my lens had gone out! I never carried spares! From that day on, I always carried some. It happened to me at Newcastle, I had the same sort of thing. I always gave the physio my spare contacts in case they came out!”
Making his England debut
“It was a great day. It’s one of those things you dream of doing when you’re a kid in the playground - playing for your country, playing at Wembley, and scoring. I did all three on one night! Terry Venables gave me my debut, and then I had Glenn Hoddle after that.”
Article by James Waller