Steve Fox

Stephen Douglas Fox (17 February 1958 – 1 December 2012) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.

He was voted Wrexham's Player of the Year in 1981 and played for the club in the 1979 Welsh Cup final. While with Port Vale, he was promoted out of the Fourth Division in 1982–83 and was also voted onto the PFA Team of the Year.

Career Birmingham City Fox was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire. He made his Football League debut a year later, as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion in the First Division. Despite The Times reporter's view in April 1978 that "Fox looks a fine prospect", the player was unable to hold down a regular first-team place, and joined Second Division club Wrexham in December the same year after manager Arfon Griffiths paid out a £95,000 fee.

Wrexham He spent nearly four years with Wrexham, during which time he helped the club to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup on two occasions and scored in the final of the Welsh Cup in 1979, in which Wrexham lost to Shrewsbury Town on aggregate. He also played and scored for the club in the European Cup Winners' Cup. At the end of the 1980–81 season he was voted the club's Player of the Year.

Port Vale Fox joined Port Vale in October 1982 after being signed by manager John McGrath as a replacement for the outgoing Mark Chamberlain. On 29 January 1983, he claimed three assists and scored the other goal in a 4–1 win over Mansfield Town at Vale Park. He was a regular first-team player in 1982–83, scoring three goals in 35 games, and was included in the PFA select Fourth Division team for that season as the "Valiants" were promoted in third place.

Fox followed John McGrath to Chester City in 1984–85 and 1985–86, although he would not feature for the club again after the opening game of the latter campaign against Halifax Town. His contract was terminated in October 1985 after an argument with new manager Harry McNally. This marked the end of his professional career and he moved into non-League football with Rhyl (of the Northern Premier League), Llangollen and former club Tamworth. Fox was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2012, and was given six months to live by doctors.

Career statistics

HonoursIndividualWrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year: 1981 PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year: 1982–83 WrexhamWelsh Cup runner-up: 1979Port Vale' Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83