The National League North outfit trained at Boro‘s Rockliffe complex last week as they prepared for tomorrow’s FA Trophy final against Aldershot at Wembley.
And for plenty of the players in Lee’s squad, the Rockliffe surroundings for familiar, for they came through the ranks at Boro.
Goalkeeper Brad James, defender Ben Beals and midfielder Matty Dolan all played for Boro as youngsters.
Junior Mondal is another who Lee – former Boro Under-23s boss – knew from his time with the Championship club.
Nathan Simpson is currently on loan with the FA Trophy finalists from Boro, while Isaac Fletcher joined Spennymoor after his Middlesbrough release last year and impressed at Brewery Field, earning a move back into the Football League with Barrow.
There’s another name in the Spennymoor squad that will be familiar to Teessiders in Ben Pollock, son of former Boro midfielder Jamie.
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“Matty Dolan was one of the first lads I coached when I went in at Middlesbrough,” said Lee of his midfield enforcer.
“I loved how he played. He wanted the ball wherever he was on the pitch. He was always someone whose career I followed closely after he left.
“He went to Hartlepool after I played against him as manager of Hartlepool when he was at Newport. I continued to follow his situation and knew he was a bit out of favour so we managed to entice him here. He’s been fantastic for us. That left foot has been a wand for us.
“Junior Mondal is another from years back. He’s always been an exciting player who can make things happen. You follow these lads after you’ve coached them. He was flying at Whitby so it was just a case of trying to convince him to come here.
“We had Isaac Fletcher come in and he achieved exactly what he wanted to do by coming here. He got some games at a good level to kick on again. He got his move to Barrow.
“Brad James is another one. I was aware of Brad’s injury record and how he was, so I was into him while I was at Marske actually, trying to get him in there. He wasn’t quite ready, but we came in here and he was just back training, doing the right things and it just felt right for him to come here and get some games in and thankfully we got him again for this season.
“You’ve got to bring in lads you know can handle this level and ultimately want to achieve things and kick on.
“Ben Beals is another. I was always impressed with Ben at Middlesbrough and always felt he’d be able to handle men’s football because of the way he played. I brought him in at Marske and he proved that there, so I brought him here and he’s been excellent.
“He’s stepped up and handled it really well. Simmo [Nathan Simpson] has come in on loan. He’d only just come into the ‘18s when I was leaving. I knew of him though and knew he was hard-working.
“Technically, he has good ability and can play right-back as well as both wings, so he just fitted the bill for what we needed. He’s impacted games well when we’ve needed him.”
