JOE’s Forgotten Footballer: Jason Lee

It is unfortunate that he is perhaps best remembered for his hair than any of his exploits on the pitch, but that is the cross Jason Lee has to bear.

By Declan Whooley

Known by many as ‘Pineapple Head’ for his fruity hairstyle taste, the Nottingham Forest striker struggled to hit the back of the net, but had no problems in attracting fans’ attention and some colourful chanting during his short period in England’s top flight.

By our reckoning, Lee has played for a grand total of 18 clubs throughout his career which makes the term journeyman seem highly appropriate, but it was his stint at the City Ground that saw him shoot to fame, if not for non-footballing reasons.

Beginning his career at Charlton, the striker then spent two seasons at Lincoln where he enjoyed an impressive time in front of goals, so much so that in the summer of 1993 Southend paid £150,000 for his services. By the following March he had done enough to catch the eye of Forest manager Frank Clark and became a Premier League player.

At the time Forest were a serious team and would finish third in the league that season, with a certain Stan Collymore top scorer in the division with 22 goals. When he departed for Anfield, Lee was to step up to the plate, with Andrea Silenzi also purchased in the close season to bolster their attacking options. Now it becomes a little more apparent where the problems began.

I wasn't being judged on my football alone and, let's face it, you don't get to play in the Premiership if you can't play.

That campaign he hit a modest eight goals, but he was attracting more attention for his distinctive hair-style than his prowess in front of goals. Opposition fans started to sing, “He's got a pineapple on his head'”, to the tune of “He's Got The Whole World In His Hands”, while comedians Baddiel and Skinner regularly poked fun at the striker on Fantasy Football League, something he claims greatly affected him both on and off the pitch.

“It coincided with a lack of form, which any player can have, and it grew to the extent where it was affecting people around me,” he said in later years. “I wasn't being judged on my football alone and, let's face it, you don't get to play in the Premiership if you can't play.”

His days in the Premier League were coming to a halt, and in the summer of 1997 Watford paid Forest £200,000 to bring him to Vicarage Road, the exact same fee he had cost the club in the first place. He didn’t begin too brightly there, however, with one goal and two red cards by September, though he did feature prominently throughout the season. And the pineapple soon got the chop.

He then left the following summer to join Chesterfield, and he continued his merry-go-round with clubs for many years, with a two year spell at Notts County in 2006 his most settled and possibly productive time at any one side.

In Notts County colours in 2007

He announced his retirement from the game in 2010, but got the itch the following year and returned to action with Arnold Town in the Northern Counties East League, and subsequently became player-manager at Boston United before being dismissed before Christmas.

For any 90s football fan, the name Jason Lee will conjure up many happy memories, though perhaps not so much for Forest supporters.