RICHARD LEE: It felt amazing to return to action after six months out... so I marked the occasion with some acid green boots

PUBLISHED: 03:02 EST, 21 October 2013 | UPDATED: 08:25 EST, 21 October 2013

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After six months out with a shoulder injury, Richard Lee returned to action for Brentford in the last month. In his latest Footballers' Football Column, Lee describes what it was like to step out on the pitch again - and the reason behind his colourful new footwear. Lee also talks about the Bees need to turn their season around after a run of disappointing results. The goalkeeper also discuss his life away from the game and how he is in the final stages of a degree.

'A week can be a long time in football' - a line I've heard many times before but never fully appreciated until now, having experienced the week that me and my fellow teammates have endured.

Defeats to Rotherham, Peterborough and Stevenage have indeed made for a tough week for all involved with Brentford, which culminated in an elongated dressing room heart-to-heart at the end of the Stevenage game - the latest in a succession of setbacks.

I'm a huge believer in the expression, 'if nothing changes, then nothing changes'. To that same end, another phrase states 'keep doing what you're already doing and keep getting what you've always got'.

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Simply put, we need to make a shift and make it quickly before our team goals for this season soon slip from our grasp. My hope is that this changing room heart-to-heart could be the much needed catalyst to kickstart a new approach, and perhaps something we look back on at the end of the season as the turning point for much-needed change and re ignition to our league campaign this season.

Much of what was said will remain between the squad, despite the obvious intrigue, but I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we all emerged feeling better for having shared our thoughts, which indeed we were encouraged to do so, and did.

Less happy however were those family members left waiting outside the Stevenage stadium for two hours in less than perfect weather with no updates or explanations. But then as many of those family members have by now begrudgingly learned - football does comes first.

So, having dwelt on the negatives, adopted a new approach and put that week firmly behind us, who can show us the way? For me, Yeovil's fortunes last season are a good example of how things can change all too quickly in football.

Six defeats on the spin and all looked lost for the League One side, and yet several months down the line they're celebrating promotion (at our expense no less) at the close of a season that included an impressive eight wins on the bounce.

Football is an unpredictable game with numerous interlinking factors that come into play to determine results.

Momentum is just one of these factors. Despite being entirely intangible, this phenomena certainly exists and when you've got it, it can be so powerful that it's palpable among a squad. In the case of Yeovil this momentum grew with each win, instilling more confidence, heightening spirits and improving performance, showing that the combined psychological approach of a team, and the supporters, is a truly powerful thing.

Our first goal achieved after a spirited comeback against Colchester on Saturday. A mere two points off the playoffs and all looks that little bit better for all Bees fans.

It could've been a completely different story with us trailing with only 20 minutes to play. Two more wins in the next five days and we'll be back amongst the challengers. Here's to the start of a good run.

Safe hands: Richard Lee is pleased to be back in action for Brentford

On a personal note is has been pleasing to be involved again following six months out due to a shoulder operation. Following months of intense rehab and strength training, plus a whole new approach to nutrition, I'm enjoying a level of fitness that I haven't experienced for years.

My shoulder feels as good as new and thankfully the work I've put in (with significant help from the physios and fitness coaches) over the past six months has been evident in my performances.

Two wins from my three outings, including a clean sheet away to the prolific Coventry, made for a very successful return.

I even had the pleasure of being welcomed back with a new song from the loyal fans in the terraces - a variation of Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' which manages to nicely shoehorn my name in to the chorus. Who knew It turns we had some budding songwriters amongst the Brentford faithful!?

HOW THE CHANT GOES...

'Don't worry about a thing, cos with Richard Lee in goal, things will be alright'

Being welcomed back in such a way will live long in the memory.

The first of the three games played on my return did feel a little odd. I hadn't played a game of any note in ten months and only trained fully for a few days prior to being needed, but I was determined to pounce on the opening that had arisen on the back of David Button's red card.

Determined to return with a bang, I even donned some conspicuous acid green boots, something that I swore I would never do.

Although this wasn't entirely my choice - call me old, but nowadays it seems that all boots come in the most ludicrous of colour combinations and in order to get the boots you want you need to wear something neon or multicolored.

Support: Brentford fans have come up with a new chant for Lee to the theme of Three Little Birds

Welcome return: Richard Lee returned to action for Brentford after ten months out with a shoulder injury

Making a save: Lee in action for Brentford against Coventry

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Richard Lee took to Twitter to clear up some internet rumours that had been circulating, here is what he had to say:

I've heard a few hugely inaccurate rumours lately that are apparently circulating on message boards, so just want to clear them up.

1) It's been suggested that I'm not bothered about being sub - absolutely ridiculous. I'm doing everything within my power to be selected and am desperate to play. I am however a professional and will always give my backing to whoever plays. David Button's a fantastic guy and between us there's inevitable, healthy competition.

2) People keep asking if I'm still injured. No, I'm fully fit and have been for Six weeks now. I feel fantastic, the best I've felt for years. I worked tenaciously all through the summer and as a result my shoulder feels the best it's ever felt. I've even spent a fortune this summer on turning my garage into a 'goalkeeping gym'. I am 100 per cent focused on football. I'm hungrier than ever, my life is structured around football as those who are close to me will testify. The games I played gave me the biggest high I've experienced for ages and I can't wait for a chance to prove that my best is yet to come

What happened to the days of simple looking boots? Surely there's still a call for high quality boots that are reasonably plain? Anyway, I finally decided that if you 'can't beat them, join them'. Plus they go almost too well with my green kit, so I've made peace with them for now.

Back to my return, and the only blip so far being a defeat the table topping Leyton Orient, the first time I've tasted defeat since March 2012.

So with three games down and three solid performances to boot, naturally on the back of this I was disappointed to be dropped.

However once again it gave me an opportunity to practice what I preach - head down, work hard and do everything within my power to win a place back in the team.

The truth is that there are only certain things you can control in life, providing I keep working hard and find different ways in which to improve as a person and footballer, then I truly believe I will be given an opportunity again soon. What is down to me however, is that when this opportunity arises I will be as prepared as I can be to grasp it once more.

Nothing in life is guaranteed and I can't guarantee that I will get my place back, but I firmly believe that we can always give ourself the best chance.

'The work you do in the dark will come out in the light'.

Helping hand: Lee turned his garage into a goalkeeping gym

TV times: Lee is doing a degree in sports journalism and has done some punditry work for Sky

Elsewhere, I've been studying for a degree, one that I'm now entering my final year of. As a footballer, we get some fantastic backing by the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) who help fund external courses in an effort to help footballers, most of whom left school at 16 with only GCSEs to show, a chance to add some further value to themselves and present the opportunity of a new career after football.

Back to winning ways: Marcello Trotta helped Brentford beat Colchester 3-1 on Saturday

We're all very aware that a career can be over in the time it takes to make a dangerous tackle, so to have other skills is nowadays a necessity, especially if you're not one who plies his trade in the Premier League. The inevitability for most is that at some point we're going to need a 'normal job'.

I'm entering my final year of a media and journalism course for which I attend Staffordshire University several times per season, although most of the work is long distance based which fits around a playing schedule quite nicely.

Can it be done? Is it possible for a club the size of Brentford to become as big as Manchester United - below

So with the degree grade clincher looming, I've recently decided on the subject for my dissertation - I'm looking to explore whether a team such as Brentford could ever become the size of a Manchester United or Arsenal, and if so what would need to happen? Surely success on the field is the key?

With this is mind I approach next challenge set. There are three games within a week for Brentford starting from Saturday. Three wins and we're looking at a very different picture to the one we're staring at now. But as I said, a week is a long time in football and if we're ever to eclipse Manchester United then we need to start soon.