Playing Career
Colin Lee began his football career with Buckfastleigh Rangers and then as an apprentice with Bristol City, turning professional in July 1974, but failed to break into the first team. He joined Hereford United on loan in November 1974, playing 9 times before returning to the reserves at Ashton Gate. He moved to Torquay United in January 1977, quickly establishing himself in Frank O'Farrell's side and attracting attention from higher level clubs.
In October 1977, after 14 goals in 35 games he left Plainmoor to join Tottenham Hotspur for £60,000, making an immediate impact by scoring 4 goals on his debut in a 9-0 win over Bristol Rovers in the Football League Second Division, helping Spurs win promotion at the end of that season.
In January 1980, he moved back down to the Second Division and signed for Chelsea for a fee of £200,000, having scored 18 times in 62 games for Spurs. He stayed at Stamford Bridge for over seven years, scoring 36 goals in 185 league games, playing as a central defender towards the end of his time there. He helped them win promotion to the First Division as Second Division champions in 1984, followed by seventh and sixth place finishes - the peak sixth place finish coming in the 1985-86 season, for much of which Chelsea looked like serious title contenders.
In the 1985-86 Chelsea won the Full Members Cup, with Lee scoring the win over Manchester City 5-4 at Wembley.
In July 1987 a fee of £17,500 took him to Third Division side Brentford where he combined his playing duties with that of his position of youth development officer. He retired from playing in the summer of 1989 after scoring once in 24 games.
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