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Deep end for Lee
Last updated at 09:52am on 14.04.07Richard Lee was told to support Manchester United before he could even walk. Today the goalkeeper must stop them reaching the FA Cup Final.
It will be a surreal and emotional day for Watford's reserve keeper as he emerges from relative obscurity to face a team who fired seven goals past Roma this week.
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Watford's stand-in: Richard Lee will deputise in goal for Ben Foster
His father Peter is a lifelong United fan. He has a photo of Ryan Giggs scoring past his son on display in the front room. But family loyalty comes first at Villa Park and he will proudly take his seat in the Holte End amid a sea of yellow.
"Even if I have a bad game I'll still get cheered," joked Lee with a flash of his big, easy smile. He has a developed sense of humour.
"Like a lot of Man U fans, I grew up around Aylesbury. I was bought a Man U shirt at the age of three, so I had very little choice."
Father and son would travel everywhere to watch United home and abroad. We went to see them in the FA Cup Final replay in 1990 against Crystal Palace when Lee Martin got the winner. And the 1999 final against Newcastle: 2-0, Scholes and Sheringham.
"As a goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel was my favourite player but Ryan Giggs is one of my all-time heroes. It was quite surreal for him to score past me. That's one of the pictures in the lounge: Giggs going round me to score. Brilliant!"
Taking on his heroes has become a regular occurrence for Lee as understudy to England keeper Ben Foster, whose loan deal prevents him playing against United.
When the semi-final draw was made, one keeper's delight mirrored the other's disappointment at Vicarage Road. Lee has even consulted Watford's psychologist about staying focused against his idols.
He has already sampled the agony of missing a semi-final. He was set to play for Watford in the Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 2005 until a freak collision with team-mate James Chambers in a game against Coventry left him with a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.
Lee has suffered rotten luck with injuries. He broke his upper arm in training when he was 19, just days after an England Under 21 call-up.
He was out for six months and still has four screws holding the bone in place. He has also ruptured a bicep in his left arm, leaving him with a freaky Popeye-style lump when he flexes the muscle.
It would take a cruel man to deny him this moment today, his greatest exposure since an appearance on BBC's Dragon's Den with his friend and business partner Darren Duraidi.
They won an investment of £150,000 from entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne for their baseball cap shop, Dr Cap, in Leicester. Some Watford players are regular customers and Rio Ferdinand has been seen wearing their products.
"That was the only time I was on telly last season and I'd rather be on playing football," he said. "This is what I do. I wouldn't say I'm nervous. I'm probably more excited. How many 24-year-old lads have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to this weekend?
"I've already dreamt it — the 1-0 win and the penalty save in the last minute. It's that sort of thing you dream of as a kid."
