Meet Lee Roche – a man that played Champions League football for Manchester United and who now works on a building site.
Lee Roche played in a heavily changed Sir Alex Ferguson side against Deportivo La Coruna in a Champions League battle in the 2003/04 season.
United had already ensured European qualification, meaning Ferguson was content to play a weakened side – in which Roche was included.
In recent years he’s swapped the Old Trafford turf for a construction site. A stark contrast in professions.
The story of Lee Roche…
Roche came through United’s academy and was initially sent to Wrexham on loan. He eventually returned to the club and made five appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson.
He even featured in some huge fixtures. He featured as a starter against Arsenal in the League Cup and also had to face marking Alan Shearer in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle!
Sadly, it didn’t work out for Lee at Old Trafford and he was shipped off to Burnley in 2003.
He then went on somewhat of a downward footballing spiral, joining Wrexham again in 2005, before signing for non-league Droylsden in 2007, where he would spend the remaining four years of his career.
Now at 42, he finds himself on a building site, which he even admits is a huge difference to the life he once lived.
He told LFETV: “Definitely not. Especially when you sign for a club as big as Manchester United. You think you’re going to be playing football until you’re 35.
“The way things have turned out I’ve had to work, I’ve been working here for nearly three years and it’s a bit of a change from playing football but you just have to get on with it.”
A good mentality, and a reminder that just because you’re succeeding at a level, that isn’t necessarily your final destination.
From Old Trafford to odd renovation jobs
Roche spoke with Planet Sport about his first time walking out at Old Trafford and how he had to face off with the greatest goalscorer in Premier League history:
“It was unbelievable, coming on in front of 75,000 fans at Old Trafford,” he says.
“I did okay, but I remember Sir Alex talking to me afterwards because Alan Shearer had beaten me at the far post to win a header, so he told me to get up first and not let the forwards do that to me.
“I remember being in an airport after that and someone asked me for an autograph thinking I was Nicky Butt, so I signed it!”
A magical European night to remember for Roche
Four months later, Roche made his third – and final – appearance for United in Deportivo. It was, and still to this day, is their youngest-ever Champions League side.
“We trained at their stadium the night before to get used to the pitch and envisage the way the game may go. I knew I was going to be starting because of the way the manager set us up,” once again told Planet Sport.
“Obviously it was fantastic to play for United in the Champions League, especially given their history in the competition. I remember lining up for the Champions League music, but I was in my own little bubble.
“It was only when I watched the highlights that I realised what an unbelievable feeling it had been – it made all the hard work worthwhile.”
We hope Roche is enjoying his new trade and wish him all the best in the future.
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