Lee Stonehouse Retires From Local Football

Lee and his family moved to Tickton in November 2003. His youngest son Connel, started playing for AFC Tickton’s under 9’s who were being managed at the time by Phil Bailey.

Connel took a short break, from football due to an accident and on his return Phil asked if any parent wanted to carry on with the under 9’s for the next season as he was moving on with the under 10’s.

As Connel was still young enough to play for the under 9’s for a further season Lee volunteered. For the next season Lee and a fellow parent,
Simon Towse, managed the under 9’s playing in the East Riding football league. After a fun season, the younger players remained with Simon’s team and Lee took the older players and moved on to the under 10’s and managed them on his own.

He had to do his coaching and referee training to do this. Whilst playing in the East Riding league, Lee and the team travelled as far afield as Pocklington, Hunmanby and Filey and not always in nice weather!

The team joined the Hull boys Sunday football league when they were in the under 12’s and have played in that league ever since, and were promoted a division after their first season. Richard Ringrose, has been assisting Lee for a number of years after his son Michael joined the team in 2006 and his help over the past 6 years has been invaluable.

During the past 8 years, Lee has managed a number of players, with some boy’s playing for the full 8 seasons. There have been many highs and lows over the years, but Lee’s enthusiasm and dedication for the team has always been there, whether it was putting the team through their training or during matches, he has always been proud of the team.

There have been many highlights over the years, such when they won the Middleton tournament in 2007 and played an international boys football tournament at Leven. The early morning starts and setting up the nets will not be missed. All the Tickton players and parents wish Lee a happy retirement from football.

Report & Photos by Paul Linton