Lee Daniel Holmes (born 2 April 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Mickelover. Holmes began his career with Derby County and became their youngest ever player and goalscorer, as well as the youngest footballer to appear in the FA Cup. He has represented England at the under 16, under 17 and the under 19 level. Playing career Derby County Holmes began his career with Derby County, appearing for the club's under 18 side when he was only 14. Even before he made his senior debut, he hit the headlines when he scored after just 38 seconds for England under 16s in a Victory Shield match against Northern Ireland. England went on to win the 2002 Victory Shield with two more victories. Holmes made his debut for Derby on Boxing Day, 2002 against Grimsby Town. He broke the club record for the youngest player to appear at just 15 years and 268 days. Holmes held the record for almost nine years until Mason Bennett beat it by 169 days in October 2011. He made another two more appearances during the 2002–03 season, both within two weeks of his debut. The second game was against Brentford when he became the youngest player to play in the proper rounds of the FA Cup. His record has since been broken by Luke Freeman for Gillingham. In March 2003, Holmes helped the England under 17s to qualify for the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in Portugal with a 2–0 win in the qualifying match against Scotland. Holmes became a regular in the Derby side during the first half of the 2003–04 season. In September 2003, his manager George Burley issued a "hands-off" warning to teams trying to sign Holmes as well as fellow teenager Tom Huddlestone. Still aged 16, Holmes scored his first Derby goal in a 3–1 defeat to Coventry City on 25 October 2003 to become the club's youngest goalscorer. In November, Holmes was a target of Chelsea's recruitment drive of young England footballers. Holmes played three games for Derby at the start of the 2004–05 season and also appeared for England under 19s scoring in a 1–1 draw with the Czech Republic. In December 2004, he joined Swindon Town in League One on an initial one-month loan. He made his Swindon debut two years to the day after his Derby debut in a 2–0 victory