Stephen Downes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Downes is an English
footballer
, playing as a midfielder
for Bradford Park Avenue
. He notably played in The Football League
for York City
during the 2003–04
season, and beforehand had been contracted to Grimsby Town
but had failed to make a first team appearance.
, before being scouted by Grimsby Town
in 2002 who at the time were playing in the second tier of English football. Downes was one of many summer signings brought to Blundell Park
in the summer of 2002 by manager Paul Groves
. With Grimsby boasting a thick squad in all positions, Downes failed to make an impact and was only named as a substitute on several occasions without making an appearance.
He was released from his contract at the end of the 2002-2003 season and subsequently joined Third Division side York City
. Downes only made 6 league appearances for York before he was again released by his new club at the end of the season.
Now a pipe fitter by trade, Downes went on to play for Farsley Celtic where he became the clubs favoured penalty taker in which he scored against Aldershot
and Ebbsfleet in the 2007–08
Conference National
season. In 2009 he re-signed for Bradford Park Avenue.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, playing as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. He notably played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
during the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season, and beforehand had been contracted to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
but had failed to make a first team appearance.
Career
Downes started his football career in Non-League Ossett AlbionOssett Albion F.C.
Ossett Albion Association Football Club are an English football team who play in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They play at Queen's Terrace in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire , more commonly known as Dimplewells, the area of Ossett the ground is situated...
, before being scouted by Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in 2002 who at the time were playing in the second tier of English football. Downes was one of many summer signings brought to Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
in the summer of 2002 by manager Paul Groves
Paul Groves
Paul Groves is an English former footballer who notably captained and managed Grimsby Town. He was naturally a central midfield player, but later in his career was used as a central defender...
. With Grimsby boasting a thick squad in all positions, Downes failed to make an impact and was only named as a substitute on several occasions without making an appearance.
He was released from his contract at the end of the 2002-2003 season and subsequently joined Third Division side York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. Downes only made 6 league appearances for York before he was again released by his new club at the end of the season.
Now a pipe fitter by trade, Downes went on to play for Farsley Celtic where he became the clubs favoured penalty taker in which he scored against Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
and Ebbsfleet in the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
season. In 2009 he re-signed for Bradford Park Avenue.