Here is the 18th in our weekly series profiling players across the region. Each week a different player will reveal their best (and worst) moments. This week it is the turn of new Athersley Rec striker Lee Garside.
Athersley Rec striker Lee Garside in action. Picture: thesaturdayboy.co.uk
Name: Lee Garside
Age: 30
Current Club: Athersley Rec
Position: Striker
Previous Clubs: Worsbrough Bridge, Pontefract Collieries, Ossett Town, Stockbridge Park Steels
Day Job: Early Intervention and Prevention Worker – Targeted Youth Support
Best mate in football: Dean Shirt (Worsbrough Bridge) – best mate in and out of football!
Description of Career Highlight: Going the whole season unbeaten at home for Worsbrough Bridge in 2012/13
Lowest Moment in Football: Having a penalty saved for Ossett Town vs Soulihull Moors in FA Trophy 2011/12 – winner would have played York City away in the first round. We lost 1-0!
Description of Most Memorable Match: It was for Worsbrough. Beating local rivals Shaw Lane Aquaforce 2-1 at their place in 2013/14. Ash Flynn gave them the lead before I equalised with a bullet of a free kick from 25 yards. Adam Podmore got the winner sparking unbelievable scenes in the changing rooms afterwards!
Lee Garside describes Stocksbridge’s pitch as a carpet
Lee Garside playing for Worsbrough in pre-season
Lee Garside recently scoring a penalty for Athersley. Picture: thesaturdayboy.co.uk
First semi-professional manager: Darryl Bowman/Allan Billingham (Worsbrough Bridge)
Description of First Red Card (at semi-professional level): Not had many to be fair – can’t even remember my first one…..
Description of First Goal (at semi-professional level): Penalty for Worsbrough Bridge away vs Hall Road 2005/2006. Can’t remember it but just checked back through the NCEL archives! Back in my days as a centre mid!
Description of favourite goal (at semi-professional level): Every goal is my favourite goal! But the goal vs Carlton for Stocksbridge a couple of seasons ago wasn’t bad. Spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed it over him from the halfway line. It’s on YouTube somewhere!
What do you want to achieve in football in the future: To continue to enjoy every game. Really enjoying my time at Athersley Rec so far – it is a great club to play for!!
Favourite Non League Ground to play at (barring your own club): Bracken Moor, Stocksbridge – absolute carpet.
If you want to take part in our weekly Player Profile, get in touch via social media, either on Facebook or Twitter.
Take a look at our previous Player Profiles
Worsbrough Bridge midfielder Connor Rollinson
Hemsworth Miners Welfare midfielder Lee Swift
Brighouse Town goalkeeper Tom Taylor
Farsley Celtic midfielder Chris Howarth
Then Shaw Lane AFC attacker Joe Thornton
Selby Town utility man Mick Jones
AFC Emley defender Liam Schofield
Garforth Town defender Luke McCrum
Yorkshire Amateur striker Joel Hughes
Nostell Miners Welfare full-back Eddy Busfield
Goole AFC goalkeeper Jody Barford
Hemsworth Miners Welfare defender Harry Viggars
Ossett Town striker Danny Frost
Stocksbridge Park Steels midfielder Corey Gregory
Bridlington Town goalkeeper James Hitchcock