Steve Ludlam
Encyclopedia
Steve Ludlam was an English
professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League
for Sheffield United
, Carlisle United
and Chester City
.
, where he turned professional in January 1973. He had to wait until December 1975 for his first-team debut, against Tottenham Hotspur
, but went on to make 27 league appearances over the next season and a half. He moved to Carlisle United
in May 1977 and spent the next three seasons at Brunton Park
, before opting to join fellow Football League Division Three side Chester
in July 1980. The £45,000 transfer was a record buy for Chester at the time.
Ludlam made his Chester debut on the opening day of the 1980–81 season
, in a 1–0 home defeat to Oxford United
. He ended the season as the club’s joint leading scorer with seven goals, as Chester managed just 38 in 46 league games. He remained a regular for two years before playing his final game away to Mansfield Town
on 26 February 1983. That would also mark the end of this Football League
career.
He played in Finland
for six months before having spells training with Chester, Blackpool
and Rochdale
. But he did not sign for any of them amid ongoing injury problems and he retired from the professional game at the relatively early age of 28. Ludlam then had spells playing non-league football with Rhyl
and Buxton
.
. He remained involved in football by working with youngsters at Sheffield Wednesday
, Chesterfield
and Rotherham United
.
In 2003, Ludlam became manager of Worksop Town
, where one of his sons, Ryan, was on the playing staff. He remained with the club until the end of the 2003–04
season, when he was replaced by Ronnie Glavin
.
Steve Ludlam currently runs the Chesterfield school of excellence under 16 side.
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...
professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He 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 Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
Playing career
Ludlam began his career with Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, where he turned professional in January 1973. He had to wait until December 1975 for his first-team debut, against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, but went on to make 27 league appearances over the next season and a half. He moved to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in May 1977 and spent the next three seasons at Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
, before opting to join fellow Football League Division Three side Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in July 1980. The £45,000 transfer was a record buy for Chester at the time.
Ludlam made his Chester debut on the opening day of the 1980–81 season
1980-81 in English football
The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889...
, in a 1–0 home defeat to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He ended the season as the club’s joint leading scorer with seven goals, as Chester managed just 38 in 46 league games. He remained a regular for two years before playing his final game away to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on 26 February 1983. That would also mark the end of this 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...
career.
He played in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
for six months before having spells training with Chester, Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. But he did not sign for any of them amid ongoing injury problems and he retired from the professional game at the relatively early age of 28. Ludlam then had spells playing non-league football with Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
and Buxton
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
.
Life After Football
Ludlam worked in the licensing and legal trades and then for the Royal MailRoyal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
. He remained involved in football by working with youngsters at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
.
In 2003, Ludlam became manager of Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
, where one of his sons, Ryan, was on the playing staff. He remained with the club until the end of 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, when he was replaced by Ronnie Glavin
Ronnie Glavin
Ronnie Glavin is a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.-Club career:Glavin began his League career at Partick Thistle and spent six years at the club, making his name as a talented attacking midfielder before joining Celtic in 1974. During his five years at Parkhead, Glavin enjoyed...
.
Steve Ludlam currently runs the Chesterfield school of excellence under 16 side.