Lee Butcher was with Norwich City as a schoolboy but joined Arsenal aged 10 when Roy Massey transferred from the Canaries to the Gunners. This cut down the travelling time for the young goalkeeper from Chingford whose school backed on to Arsenal's Hale End training ground.

Aged 15, he was voted the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the Cannes Football Festival of 2004, playing against Ajax, Real Madrid and Montpelier. After playing for Arsenal's Under-18s, he was released in May 2007 and trialled with Leeds United and Wycombe Wanderers. He then played in a number of reserves / Under-18 friendlies for Tottenham during the 2007 close season.

Lee was loaned by Spurs, having therefore joined them, to AFC WImbledon in January 2008