Jim Steel

William James Steel (born 4 December 1959) is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.

After starting his career with Oldham Athletic in 1978, he moved onto Port Vale in March 1983 for a £10,000 fee, following loan spells at Wigan Athletic and Wrexham. He won promotion with the club in 1982–83 before he joined Wrexham for £10,000 in January 1984. He scored a critical goal in his two European campaigns during his four years with the club and lifted the Welsh Cup. After a brief spell on loan at Deportivo de La Coruña, he then enjoyed numerous successes with Tranmere Rovers after joining the club in 1987. During his five years, the club won promotion twice and reached the final of the Football League Trophy twice, winning it in 1990. He retired in 1992, having made 485 league appearances in a 14-year career in the Football League, scoring 118 goals.

Career

Oldham Athletic Steel was born in Dumfries and raised in nearby Dalbeattie. He began his football career when he was signed as an apprentice by Jimmy Frizzell for Oldham Athletic. After scoring two goals against Cardiff City on his debut, he established himself in the first team as the "Latics" battled away in the lower half of the Second Division table in 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, and 1981–82. During his time, he built successful strike partnership with Simon Stainrod and Rodger Wylde. Frizzell was dismissed in early 1982, and Steel was unable to establish himself under new manager Joe Royle. Steel had loan spells with Third Division clubs Wigan Athletic (scoring two goals in his two league games under Larry Lloyd) and Wrexham (where he scored six goals from his nine league games). Steel left Boundary Park in March 1983 after making 108 league appearances and scoring 24 goals.

Port Vale Aged 23, Steel was bought by John McGrath at Port Vale for £10,000 in March 1983. He played in every game for the rest of that season as the club were promoted from the Fourth Division in third place. Wrexham took on an F.C. Porto side of numerous Portuguese internationals in the 1984–85 European Cup Winners' Cup (Shrewsbury as an English club could not represent Wales in European competition). Wrexham won the opening leg at the Racecourse Ground 1–0, courtesy of a goal from Steel. He had taken the ball on his chest in the centre circle with his back to goal, volleyed the dropping ball for John Muldoon to attack and cross from the right wing into the penalty area, and then jumped to direct a bullet header past Petar Borota.

With Steel scoring both goals in a Welsh Cup final replay 2–1 win over Kidderminster Harriers, the "Dragons" appeared in the 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup with a first round draw against Maltese side Żurrieq, whom they beat 7–0 on aggregate. Steel scored in Wrexham in the second leg. This earned a second round tie against Real Zaragoza, which brought two goalless draws. At home, in extra time in the second leg, Wrexham matched the two goals by Patricio Yáñez to level the fixture at 2–2. However, on this occasion, away-goals counted against Steel's side. On 14 October 1986, he score a hat-trick in the league against Peterborough United.

With the Spanish league extended into the summer, Steel was allowed to go out on loan at Deportivo de La Coruña at the end of the 1986–87 season. He featured in four Segunda División games at Estadio Riazor, as Eusebio Ríos's side made an unsuccessful bid for promotion into La Liga. with the manager Johnny King looking to use Steel to act as target man for striker Ian Muir. They enjoyed considerable success together in the seasons to follow.

At the end of the 1987–88 season, Tranmere played at Wembley in the 16 team Football League Centenary Tournament. A good mid-season run of form saw Rovers qualify as one of the Fourth Division's two representatives. Tranmere were the surprise package of an otherwise derided tournament, beating First Division sides Wimbledon and Newcastle United before losing on penalties to eventual winners Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. This became the first of five trips to Wembley for Tranmere in Steel's time at Prenton Park.

Tranmere Rovers went one better in the 1990–91 season, winning the Third Division play-offs with a 1–0 win over Bolton Wanderers after a fifth-place finish. Chris Malkin's extra-time goal helped the club to promotion to the Second Division for the first time since the 1930s. Once again, Rovers made an appearance in the Football League Trophy final, this time losing 3–2 to Birmingham City, with Steel again on the scoresheet. This made the play-off victory over Bolton Tranmere's fourth appearance in a Wembley final in just over a year.

After football Steel left football to start a career with the Merseyside Police force.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1978–79 Second Division

1979–80 Second Division

1980–81 Second Division

1981–82 Second Division

1982–83 Second Division

108!!24!!6!!0!!18!!3!!132!!27 Wigan Athletic (loan) 1982–83 Third Division

Wrexham (loan) 1982–83 Third Division

1982–83 Fourth Division

1983–84 Third Division

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1983–84 Fourth Division

1984–85 Fourth Division

1985–86 Fourth Division

1986–87 Fourth Division

1987–88 Fourth Division

164!!51!!7!!1!!31!!7!!202!!59

1987–88 Fourth Division

1988–89 Fourth Division

1989–90 Fourth Division

1990–91 Fourth Division

1991–92 Fourth Division

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485!!118!!22!!3!!96!!27!!603!!148

Honours Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83 Wrexham Welsh Cup: 1986 Tranmere Rovers Football League Fourth Division second-place promotion: 1988–89 Football League Third Division play-offs: 1991 Football League Trophy: 1990; runner-up: 1991