The Irish League's most decorated midfielder through the 1980s and '90s, Lee Doherty was given brief chances to shine on the international stage...
Name: Lee Doherty
Born: 31 March 1963, Belfast
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 11.07 st
Position: Midfielder
Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Full Caps/1 Goal (1984-1987), Junior; Irish League: 6 Caps (1984-1991).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1982/83, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1992/93, 1993/94, Irish Cup Winner 1993/94, Runner-Up 1982/83, 1984/85, 1991/92; Irish League Cup Winner 1986/87; Gold Cup Winner 1983/84, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90; Ulster Cup Winner 1984/85, 1992/93; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1982/83, 1983/84; Irish League Floodlit Cup Winner 1993/94; (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Winner 1996/97; Gold Cup Winner 1997/98; Irish League Cup Winner 1996/97.
Awards: NI PFA Most Promising Newcomer 1984.
Club Career:
* all domestic games; # all domestic cup games.
Biography:
Lee Doherty's retirement at the end of the 1999/2000 brought the curtain down on a highly distinguished football career, one that extended for more than 20 years. Born in Belfast on Sunday 31 March 1963, Doherty joined Linfield at the age of 16 and made his senior debut as a substitute against Ballymena Utd at Windsor Park on 5th December 1981. He went on to win no fewer than 20 winners' medals during 14 success-laden years with the Blues.
In the summer of 1988 Doherty joined-up with QPR for a tour of South Korea. He was injured in the first minute of the first game of the tour and he returned to Linfield without having the opportunity to show what he could do. Although QPR continued to keep tabs on him a move never materialised.
Doherty was chosen as the PFA's 'Young Player of the Season' for the 1983/84 season and captained Linfield when World Cup holders Argentina visited Belfast in April 1990 for a prestigious friendly fixture against the then Irish League champions. 'Doc' played his last game for Linfield on Saturday 7th May 1994, coming on as a substitute in the 1994 Bass Irish Cup Final against Carrick Rangers. Two weeks later he signed for Glenavon in a £8,500 transfer deal.
He made his debut for the Lurgan Blues against Distillery on 13th August 1994 and during six seasons at Mourneview Park, Doherty captained Glenavon to many memorable cup triumphs. The popular Newtownards man was named Glenavon's 'Player of the Season' for 1995/96 and in December 1997 won the Nationwide Gold Cup 'Personality of the Tournament' award. Doherty’s total of 24 European games constituted a then record for an Irish League player.
'Doc' was capped twice by Northern Ireland at full international level, against Israel and Turkey. He scored against the Israelis at Windsor Park on his international debut. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland squad that won the last British Home Nations series to be staged. He could have earned further caps had injury not forced him to withdraw from several squads and get-togethers.
A partner in a Belfast firm of architects throughout his Irish League career, Lee Doherty was from a family of footballers. His father, Alex won Junior international caps in a career that saw him play for Linfield, Ballymena, Coleraine and Larne, and Lee’s brothers Clark and Dean also played Irish League football.
On his retirement from playing in 2000 Doherty, having briefly served as Billy Hamilton's assistant at Mourneview, moved into management himself with First Division Bangor. In a turbulent two years at the Clandeboye he had the distinction of being sacked at the end of his first season, only for a boardroom u-turn to give him the opportunity to resign at the end of his second in charge!
Doherty was a part of Glenn Ferguson's backroom staff at Ballymena United from 2011-2016.
LinfieldFC Article (Feb 2009)
Northern Ireland Cap Details:
16-10-1984 Israel H W 3-0 FR. 1 Goal
11-11-1987 Turkey H W 1-0 ECQ sub
Summary: 1(1)/1. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 0.
Name: Lee Doherty
Born: 31 March 1963, Belfast
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight: 11.07 st
Position: Midfielder
Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Full Caps/1 Goal (1984-1987), Junior; Irish League: 6 Caps (1984-1991).
Club Honours: (with Linfield) Irish League Champion 1982/83, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1992/93, 1993/94, Irish Cup Winner 1993/94, Runner-Up 1982/83, 1984/85, 1991/92; Irish League Cup Winner 1986/87; Gold Cup Winner 1983/84, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90; Ulster Cup Winner 1984/85, 1992/93; Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1982/83, 1983/84; Irish League Floodlit Cup Winner 1993/94; (with Glenavon) Irish Cup Winner 1996/97; Gold Cup Winner 1997/98; Irish League Cup Winner 1996/97.
Awards: NI PFA Most Promising Newcomer 1984.
Club Career:
Teams
|
Seasons
|
Signed
|
Fee
|
League
|
FA.Cup
|
FL.Cup
|
Europe
|
Other
|
Linfield
|
81/82-93/94
|
-
|
Youth
|
234 (7)/34
|
-
|
-
|
19(0)/0
|
#219(8)/35
|
Q.P.R.
|
-
|
C/S-88
|
Trial
|
0 (0)/ 0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Glenavon
|
94/95-99/00
|
May-94
|
£8,500
|
*185 (3)/11
|
-
|
-
|
5(0)/0
|
-
|
TOTALS
|
-
|
£8,500
|
434(10)/45
|
-
|
-
|
24(0)/0
|
219(8)/35
|
|
Biography:
Lee Doherty's retirement at the end of the 1999/2000 brought the curtain down on a highly distinguished football career, one that extended for more than 20 years. Born in Belfast on Sunday 31 March 1963, Doherty joined Linfield at the age of 16 and made his senior debut as a substitute against Ballymena Utd at Windsor Park on 5th December 1981. He went on to win no fewer than 20 winners' medals during 14 success-laden years with the Blues.
In the summer of 1988 Doherty joined-up with QPR for a tour of South Korea. He was injured in the first minute of the first game of the tour and he returned to Linfield without having the opportunity to show what he could do. Although QPR continued to keep tabs on him a move never materialised.
Doherty was chosen as the PFA's 'Young Player of the Season' for the 1983/84 season and captained Linfield when World Cup holders Argentina visited Belfast in April 1990 for a prestigious friendly fixture against the then Irish League champions. 'Doc' played his last game for Linfield on Saturday 7th May 1994, coming on as a substitute in the 1994 Bass Irish Cup Final against Carrick Rangers. Two weeks later he signed for Glenavon in a £8,500 transfer deal.
He made his debut for the Lurgan Blues against Distillery on 13th August 1994 and during six seasons at Mourneview Park, Doherty captained Glenavon to many memorable cup triumphs. The popular Newtownards man was named Glenavon's 'Player of the Season' for 1995/96 and in December 1997 won the Nationwide Gold Cup 'Personality of the Tournament' award. Doherty’s total of 24 European games constituted a then record for an Irish League player.
'Doc' was capped twice by Northern Ireland at full international level, against Israel and Turkey. He scored against the Israelis at Windsor Park on his international debut. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland squad that won the last British Home Nations series to be staged. He could have earned further caps had injury not forced him to withdraw from several squads and get-togethers.
A partner in a Belfast firm of architects throughout his Irish League career, Lee Doherty was from a family of footballers. His father, Alex won Junior international caps in a career that saw him play for Linfield, Ballymena, Coleraine and Larne, and Lee’s brothers Clark and Dean also played Irish League football.
On his retirement from playing in 2000 Doherty, having briefly served as Billy Hamilton's assistant at Mourneview, moved into management himself with First Division Bangor. In a turbulent two years at the Clandeboye he had the distinction of being sacked at the end of his first season, only for a boardroom u-turn to give him the opportunity to resign at the end of his second in charge!
Doherty was a part of Glenn Ferguson's backroom staff at Ballymena United from 2011-2016.
LinfieldFC Article (Feb 2009)
Northern Ireland Cap Details:
16-10-1984 Israel H W 3-0 FR. 1 Goal
11-11-1987 Turkey H W 1-0 ECQ sub
Summary: 1(1)/1. Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 0.
Comments
But we forgave him lol