Steve Waddington

For the actor, see Steven Waddington.
Steve Waddington
Personal information
Full nameSteven Waddington[1]
Date of birth5 February 1956[1]
Place of birthNantwich, England[1]
Playing positionMidfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1976–1979Stoke City52(5)
1979–1982Walsall130(13)
1982–1983Port Vale1(0)
1983–1984Chesterfield18(1)
1984–1987Macclesfield Town85(9)
Total286(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Steven "Steve" Waddington (born 5 February 1956) is an English former footballer. His father is former Stoke City manager, the late Tony Waddington.

A midfielder, he made 201 league appearances in an eight-year career in the Football League.[2] He began his career at Stoke City in 1976, before moving on to Walsall three years later. He joined Port Vale in July 1982, before transferring to Chesterfield in July 1983. He moved on to non-league club Macclesfield Town the following year. He played very minor roles in promotion campaigns for both Stoke and Vale, though played a much bigger part in Walsall's promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1979–80.

Playing career

Waddington played for Stoke City, playing 13 games under his father in 1976–77. He scored his first senior goal on 6 November 1976, in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough at the Victoria Ground. At the end of the season the "Potters" were relegated out of the First Division, and George Eastham took over as manager. Waddington scored five goals in 41 appearances in 1977–78, as George Eastham, Alan A'Court, and then Alan Durban tried in vain to guide the club out of the Second Division. He played just twice in the 1978–79 promotion campaign. He then moved on to Alan Buckley's Walsall. The "Saddlers" finished second in the Fourth Division in 1979–80, and were thereby promoted. They retained their Third Division status by a single point in 1980–81, before finishing above the drop zone only on goal difference in 1981–82 under new boss Neil Martin.

Waddington then left Fellows Park and joined John McGrath's Port Vale in July 1982.[1] He made his debut in the League Cup First Round first leg 1–0 win over Rochdale at Vale Park on 30 August.[1] He damaged a cartilage during the game and after undergoing surgery failed to regain his place.[1] He appeared as a substitute later in the season, but was transferred to Chesterfield in July 1983.[1] The "Valiants" had by then won promotion out of the Fourth Division. The "Spireites" finished 13th in the Fourth Division in 1983–84 under the stewardship of John Duncan. He left Saltergate and moved on to Macclesfield Town in 1984. Whilst at Macclesfield Town in summer 1986 he was in a car crash with teammates Nigel Shaw, Ian Elsby and Trevor Brissett.[3] The "Silkmen" went on to win the Northern Premier League in 1986–87.[4]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1976–77 First Division 121100000131
1977–78 Second Division 384211000415
1978–79 Second Division 2000000020
Total 525311000566
Walsall 1978–79 Third Division 332000000332
1979–80 Fourth Division 385402000445
1980–81 Third Division 334211000365
1981–82 Third Division 262102000292
Total 1301371500014214
Port Vale 1982–83 Fourth Division 1000100020
Total 1000100020
Chesterfield 1983–84 Fourth Division 181002010211
Total 181002010211
Career Total 20119102901022121
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Honours

Stoke City
Walsall
Port Vale

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 299. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ↑ Stats at Neil Brown stat site
  3. ↑ "Northern Premier League:". mtfc.co.uk. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  4. ↑ "Trevor Brissett – RIP". mtfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2012.