Crystal Palace snap up Torquay-born goalkeeper

Torquay-born goalkeeper Harry Lee’s surprise move to Premier League Crystal Palace is a victory for determination and belief for a young player who was first tipped for the top when he was still at school.

Lee, 20, has joined the Eagles, where he’s now a member of their Under-21 squad, after turning down a new contract at Exeter City.

But the former Torquay Academy student already has far more experience, and has been through more ups and downs, than most lads of his age.

A firm Torquay United ‘Pop Side’ supporter, like all his family, 6ft 2in tall Harry always dreamed of playing for the Gulls’ first team until the club shut its Youth Academy in 2015.

Snapped up by Exeter, he made the League Two subs bench at St James Park twice when he was only 15 years old.

Big clubs soon came watching, as he made five senior appearances, saving two penalties in an EFL Trophy shoot-out win over Cheltenham Town in 2021.

But the predicted move up didn’t happen, and he had to go out on loan to Dorchester Town, Plymouth Parkway, Weston-super-Mare and Salisbury to gain more than 60 games worth of senior experience.

Ironically, he was close to a loan move back to his boyhood Gulls last season, when manager Paul Wotton needed cover for first-choice James Hamon.

Lee won’t be 21 until December 22, and successive Exeter managers have been reluctant to hand the regular first-team shirt to one so young.

But when they offered him an extended deal this summer, he declined.

Now that decision has paid off with the big move that Lee always hoped for, and he now has a chance to prove that he can still make it to the top.

“Crystal Palace are a massive club. And the Palace Academy is a great complex,” he told the South London club’s TV channel.

“I just want to develop as a goalie, do well for the Under-21s and, when I’m ready, train with the first team and be the best version of myself.”