Many people wish they were good enough to be a professional sportsman and at the age of 15 Lee Phillips had to choose between two sports.
Raised in the 'rugby capital' of St Ives in Cornwall, Lee had represented England in rugby union at under-15 level and also made his first team debut for Plymouth Argyle before his sixteenth birthday.
Faced with the choice of a future as a semi-pro rugby player or a scholarship at Argyle, he chose football: "Albeit to the disgust of my Dad!" he smiles.
"Everyone thought I would have a really good career in rugby. I represented England and I played at Twickenham a couple of times, but rugby wasn't professional then. I loved playing both sports but football has the higher profile and it was an easy option for me," he explains.
Lee became the youngest player to appear for Plymouth just before his 16th birthday and went on to make 50 league appearances, despite his progress being stalled for 18 months by two successive broken legs soon after his first team debut.
"I only scored once at Plymouth but I was messed about a bit," he recalls. "There were so many different managers and they started to play me on the wing, and I'm not bad there but I'm no Robbie Willmott or Courtney Pitt!
"My favoured position is centre forward and when I went on loan to Weymouth with Steve Claridge I banged in about 20 goals, then Plymouth recalled me and said I would be playing, but I never played a single game after that so I knew it was time to go elsewhere, which was upsetting because I wanted to be there."
A permanent move back to Weymouth was a great success and he was top scorer in each of his seasons there, supplementing his part-time wages by working as a lifeguard on the beaches.
Noticed by a number of clubs in the higher leagues, including Reading and Yeovil, Lee was priced out of a move by Weymouth until Paul Buckle took him to Exeter for an undisclosed fee in 2005.
He had previously worked with Buckle at Weymouth and was a first choice striker for the Grecians, scoring in their play-off final defeat to Morecambe, but found himself used in a rotation system under new boss Paul Tisdale.
His tour of West Country football clubs continued when Buckle paid £17,500 to take him to Torquay, where he formed a successful partnership with Tim Sills and found the net 12 times himself on the way to another Wembley defeat, this time an unlucky loss to Stevenage in the FA Trophy.
Then at the start of last season, big-spending Rushden & Diamonds paid an undisclosed fee for the bustling striker, who was encouraged by Buckle to extend his horizons beyond the southwest, but after a good start the move turned into "probably the worst decision of my career".
His muscular, non-stop style has been appreciated by fans at all of his clubs and he scored in his second game for Diamonds, but the move turned sour when he was transfer-listed along with several team-mates in October.
"I didn't see eye to eye with the manager, Garry Hill, and I thought some of the things going on at the club were very wrong, although I was enjoying playing and I did OK," he recalls.
After just thirteen appearances and two goals for the Diamonds he left to re-join Weymouth in the January transfer window, but with the Terras in financial difficulties he became a free agent at the end of February and left along with the majority of first team players.
"I was more than happy to go there and help them out. I've got some good friends there and if I go into management one day I'd love to start out down there," he says.
"We were climbing up the table but then all the financial difficulties came to a head and it was time to move on again. Gary Brabin had wanted me for quite a long time and I knew some good lads here like Hats, Pottsy, Jon Challinor, so it was an easy decision."
He signed for United on March 2nd for the rest of the season, and made his debut that evening in the draw at Histon. An injury and the form of Scott Rendell and Chris Holroyd delayed his home debut until 11th April against Eastbourne, when he opened his account with the equaliser in an important win.
A roller-coaster season for Lee incredibly ended in a third successive Wembley appearance for a third club, and sadly another defeat.
"It was a strange season and good to end it by playing at Wembley again, but that's three defeats there on the bounce for me so I think I'm a bad omen for clubs!" he laughs.
Lee had scored twice for United in five starts and three appearances from the bench, and he signed a new one-year deal in the face of interest from other clubs.
A pre-season medial ligament (knee) injury ruled him out until early September, which was frustrating as he tried to impress new manager Martin Ling, but the Cirencester-based striker is keen to make up for lost time.
"Everybody was sorry to see Brabs go in the summer because he's a top bloke, but I'm really enjoying the new training regime under the gaffer. His input is very good and everybody knows what they're doing.
"Obviously it takes time for new ideas and tactics to bed in, but we're getting there and I think the club has made a very good acquisition with him. We've set our sights high this season and we want to get promoted, and I feel we're getting there."
Lee also speaks eloquently about the challenge of breaking into the team again: "Obviously I'm disappointed not to play but I fully understand that Chrissy and Danny are doing very well and keeping me on the bench.
"The lads and the fans are brilliant, and it's good to be at a club where you feel wanted. This is a massive club with some great up-and-coming players, which is good for the future.
"I just like to be settled at a club and the manager says he's very happy with me and he says I've been outstanding in training, so I've just to keep doing what I'm doing and take my chance when it comes.
"We've got some massive games at the moment and I feel I've been doing well when I've come off the bench, so I have to keep going, stay fit and work hard."
The 29-year-old speaks highly of the men who have kept him on the bench this season, saying, "Danny and Chrissy have been doing well together for the team's benefit and I hope it continues, but obviously I hope I can get in there soon.
"Chrissy has been scoring the goals but Danny's work-rate is outstanding and he deserves more goals. I'm sure if he carries on like that the goals will come and I'll be delighted for him."
Regarded as an unselfish, hard-working forward, Lee confirms that he sees himself as a provider as well as a goalscorer: "I've never claimed to be a prolific goalscorer. I'll get ten goals a season and anything else is a bonus for me.
"I'm a hold up player, I flick things on, I'll go for everything and I'll run myself into the ground, but I do a lot of work for the other centre forward as well. I'll make space for him and I'll also create a lot of goals; that's what I've been known for.
"Every forward that's played with me - and Tim Sills is a fine example when I was at Torquay - has scored a lot of goals and I'm happy with that. I've never been prolific but as long as we're winning and I'm chipping in here and there, I'm more than happy."
--- 20 Questions ---
Apart from your family, what person has had the most positive influence on your career so far?
Paul Buckle - he's helped me massively throughout my career, taking me to two clubs and always helping me to be positive and confident.
Who's the best Captain you have ever played with?
Steve McCall at Plymouth - everyone looked up to him and he did things on the pitch I've never seen anyone else do.
The best player you've played with and against?
The best is Steve Claridge - we had a good partnership at Weymouth and he's a player I've always looked up to. Against would be Stuart Pearce in the FA Cup when he was at West Ham.
Out of all the players that have left United since you've been at the Club, who were you saddest to see go?
Daryl McMahon - a funny bloke who always made everyone smile.
What player/team did you admire growing up and why?
It would have to be Steve Claridge. I watched him loads of times on the TV and the way he went about his business was first class.
What's the funniest terrace chant you've ever heard?
The one the fans sing here, "Lee Lee Lee Phillips", always makes me chuckle.
Outside of football, are there any other sports at which you were good as a youngster and might have gone on to play professionally?
Rugby.
Your top three sportsmen/women of all time?
Muhammad Ali, Steve Claridge, Lance Armstrong.
What's your favourite meal and drink?
Lobster, but I don't get to eat it often enough! Lime and lemonade.
What was the last album you bought?
Paolo Nutini.
What was the last film you went to see?
I went to see Wolverine with a few of the lads.
What car do you drive?
An Audi A3.
Where is the furthest you have travelled to on holiday?
Cuba - it was beautiful but very hot.
In training, does anyone fancy themselves in a completely different position to their normal match day role?
Wayne Hatswell thinks he's a left winger and Courtney likes to play centre mid.
Out of all the players you have played with, who has the worst sense of style?
Danny Potter because of his denim shorts.
Which Cambridge United player would you least like to be stuck in a lift with, and WHY?
Robbie Willmott because his massive ego and teeth wouldn't leave any room for me!
Which United player past/present would you 'set up' for a 'Beadle's About' kinda stunt, and what would it entail?
Either Danny Potter, because he thinks he's a funny man and I'd like to knock him down a peg or two, or Danny Crow because he's always playing tricks on everyone.
Where is the best place on Earth, and why?
Home with my fiancée after a win on a Saturday.
What is the one piece of advice you would give a young player?
Always give 100% and remember, no matter how bad you think it is, it's only a game of football so just enjoy it.
What's the very best thing about football?
Just doing what you love doing every day of the week.
Lee was talking to Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
This interview was also published in the programme for the match against Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday 24th November 2009.
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