Willie Steel

William Gilbert Steel (6 February 1908 – 1990) was a Scottish footballer who played in the English Football League for Liverpool, Birmingham and Derby County.

For the American athlete, see Willie Steele.

Willie Steel
Personal information
Full name William Gilbert Steel[1]
Date of birth (1908-02-06)6 February 1908
Place of birth Blantyre, Scotland
Date of death 1990 (aged 81–82)[2]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3]
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Bridgeton Waverley
1926–1931 St Johnstone 162 (0)
1931–1935 Liverpool 120 (0)
1935–1939 Birmingham 91 (0)
1939 Derby County 11 (0)
Managerial career
1954–1963 Airdrieonians
1963–1964 Third Lanark
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and playing career

Born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Steel played for Bridgeton Waverley and St Johnstone[4] before being signed by Liverpool manager George Patterson in September 1931. He made his debut on 19 December 1931 in a Football League First Division match at Anfield. Derby County were the visitors and they returned to the Baseball Ground with a point following a 1–1 draw.

Steel broke into the team at full-back three months after signing, and stayed there for the rest of the season missing just one game. He followed this up with an ever-present season in 1932–33 and missed just two games of the next campaign.

He had established himself as the first choice right-back until during the 1934–35 season he lost the position to Robert Done. Done lasted for only one match, but instead of being replaced by Steel it was Tom Cooper who slotted in to the position.

Steel was allowed to leave during March 1935 when he joined Birmingham. He subsequently went on to play for Derby County before ending his career, with a guest spell at Dumbarton during World War II.[5]

After the war, he was manager of Airdrieonians for nine years, then Third Lanark for one year.

Career details
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Others Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool[2] 1931–32 First Division 2204000260
1932–33 First Division 4201000430
1933–34 First Division 4003000430
1934–35 First Division 1600000160
Total 120080001280
Birmingham[1] 1934–35 First Division 1100000110
1935–36 First Division 3601000370
1936–37 First Division 1700000170
1937–38 First Division 1600000160
1938–39 First Division 1100000110
Total 9101000920
Derby County[6] 1938–39 First Division 1100000110
Career total 222090002310

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. "Player profile: Willie Steel". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. Season preview 1927/28: St. Johnstone F.C., Athletic News, 1 August 1927, via Play Up Liverpool
  4. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
  6. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
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