Russell, a left wing-back from Cullompton, was an Exeter City trainee between 1998 and 2000. He was later a successful manager of Wiland Rovers where he won promotion to the Southern League. 

Son of former Wellington and Elmore defender Martin Jee, Russell became an associated schoolboy with Exeter City at the age of thirteen and was a regular member of the Devon Schools under-16 side in 1997/98. Becoming a trainee in 1998, he regularly played in the South West Counties Youth League and the Devon and Exeter Youth league.

After leaving City, he briefly played for Tiverton Town before joining Bideford and then Willand Rovers in the Western League. Returning to Tiverton in 2010, he enjoyed three seasons at Ladysmead before leaving to become assistant manager at Willand who soon went on to reach Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in 2014/15.

Becoming manager at Silver Street in 2015, he guided the club to promotion to the Southern League in 2019 before stepping down in 2022.