Steve Sidwell
Encyclopedia
Steven James "Steve" Sidwell (born 14 December 1982) is an English
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Fulham
in the Premier League. His previous clubs include Arsenal
, Reading
, Chelsea
and Aston Villa
.
, London
. He was part of the Arsenal
youth team that won the FA Youth Cup
in 2000 and 2001. One of his team mates during these years was James Harper, who he would go on to play with at Reading
. He had successful loan spells with Brentford
and Brighton
, but was unable to break into the Arsenal first team.
for an undisclosed fee on a four-and-a-half year deal in January 2003.
In 2004, Four Four Two Magazine voted him the best player outside the Premier League.
A vital part of Reading's Championship
-winning 2005–06
squad, in April 2006 Sidwell was named in the Championship Team of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association
, keeping the place he had been given the previous year.
In the summer of 2006, Sidwell rejected a contract extension, and it was rumoured that he might be sold to Everton
, Charlton Athletic
or Manchester City
, as his contract was due to run out at the end of the 2006–07
season. Reading decided to keep Sidwell for their inaugural season in the Premier League, and risk losing him without a transfer fee when his contract ran out.
Over the course of the season, he was linked with a number of high profile clubs. After the last game of the season, Reading manager Steve Coppell
confirmed that Sidwell had left the club and knew who he had signed for, but refused to say.
and Frank Lampard
would only help him improve.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a 2–1 win over Mexican side Club América
in a friendly match in Stanford, California
, during Chelsea's summer 2007 tour of the United States. His Premiership debut for Chelsea came on 12 August 2007 in a 3–2 victory against Birmingham City
when he replaced Florent Malouda
in the 83rd minute, and he scored his only goal for the club on 26 September 2007, in a 4–0 win away to Hull City
in the third round of the Football League Cup
.
At the end of the 2007–08 season, Sidwell became linked to several Premier League clubs, including Everton
, Aston Villa
and Middlesbrough
.
On 10 July 2008, Sidwell signed a three-year deal with Aston Villa
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £1.2m. He made his debut for the club in a pre-season game against FC Zürich, playing the first 45 minutes, in a match which Villa lost 2–1. On 19 July 2008, Sidwell scored an own goal for Odense
in the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2008
in a 2–2 draw at Fionia Park
. A week later he made his home debut in the return leg of the fixture, with Villa winning 1–0 on the day, and 3–2 on aggregate. Sidwell scored on his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Wigan Athletic after coming on as a late substitute in a match which Villa won 4–0. Sidwell nearly had his second Villa goal on 6 November 2008 when Villa played a UEFA Cup
group stage match away to Slavia Prague, Sidwell's powerful shot was heading for goal but the ball struck fellow Villa player John Carew
and went in, therefore the goal was credited to Carew, not Sidwell. Villa went on to win the match 1–0, and it saw them jump to the top of Group F and continue their 100% record in the competitions group stages, Sidwell played a vital role in the heart of the Villa midfield and followed up his goalscoring display against Wigan
. Sidwell scored his first goal at Villa Park in a 2–1 loss against Middlesbrough
on 9 November 2008. In that game, he made an error which allowed Middlesbrough's Tuncay Şanlı
in to score the winner for Middlesbrough. However, Sidwell bounced back quickly after that error and put in two impressive performances in the two following Premier League matches, against Arsenal
and Manchester United
respectively, with an increasingly impressive Villa team earning 4 points from the two games.
Sidwell scored his third goal of the season just 34 seconds into the Premier League match against Everton
on 7 December 2008. Villa won the match 3–2.
The 2009–10 season saw Sidwell continuously in and out of the first team. He failed to score in the season, and was linked with a move away from the club. He remained at the club until January 2011, when he entered talks with West Ham United
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Fulham
regarding a move. He eventually signed for the latter.
on 7 January 2011, signing a six-month contract with a view to extending it for a further three years. On 15 January 2011, he was an unused sub against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in a 1-1 draw. He made his premiership début for Fulham in a 2–0 win at Craven Cottage
against Stoke City
on 22 January 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Dickson Etuhu
. On 5 February 2011, Sidwell completed the full 90 minutes against his former club Aston Villa at Villa Park
in a 2-2 draw. On 14 February 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in the derby with Chelsea
in a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage
. On 9 April 2011, Sidwell was an unused substitute in the game with Manchester United at Old Trafford
in the 2-0 defeat.
On 18 April 2011, Sidwell's contract was extended until summer 2014 in West London
. Five days later after agreeing a new deal, he started the premier league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
and completed the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw. On 30 April 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Sunderland
at the Stadium of Light
in a 3-0 victory.
Sidwell scored his first Fulham goal in fine fashion, hitting a strong right footed shot that flew past Pepe Reina in the 86th minute on 9 May 2011. But the Cottagers suffered a 5-2 loss at home to Liverpool
at Craven Cottage
with Sidwell playing the full 90 minutes.
On the final matchday of the season, Sidwell opened the scoring for Fulham as they went on to tie Arsenal 2-2 at Craven Cottage
. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he made 14 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions for the Cottagers. At the start of the 2011-2012 season, manager Martin Jol
gave him the number 4 jersey.
|2001-02
||Arsenal
||Premier League||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2001–02||Brentford
(Loan)||Division Two
||33||4||2||0||-||-||-||-||35||4
|-
|2002–03||Arsenal
||Premier League||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2002–03||Beveren(Loan)||Jupiler League
||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2002–03||Brighton & Hove Albion
(Loan)||rowspan="3"|Division One
||12||5||-||-||-||-||-||-||12||5
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="5"|Reading
|||15||2||-||-||-||-||-||-||15||2
|-
|2003–04||43||8||2||0||3||1||-||-||48||9
|-
|2004–05||rowspan="2"|Championship
||44||5||2||0||1||0||-||-||47||5
|-
|2005–06||33||10||4||0||3||0||-||-||40||10
|-
|2006–07||Premier League||35||4||2||0||0||0||-||-||37||4
|-
!colspan="3"|Reading Total
!170!!29!!10!!0!!7!!1!!-!!-!!187!!30
|-
|2007–08||Chelsea
||Premier League||15||0||3||0||5||1||1||0||24||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Chelsea Total
!15!!0!!3!!0!!5!!1!!1!!0!!24!!1
|-
|2008–09||rowspan="3"|Aston Villa
||rowspan="3"|Premier League||16||3||4||1||0||0||5||0||25||4
|-
|2009–10||25||0||4||0||3||0||1||0||33||0
|-
|2010–11
||4||0||-||-||2||0||-||-||6||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Aston Villa Total
!45!!3!!8!!1!!5!!0!!6!!0!!64!!4
|-
|2010–11
||rowspan="2"|Fulham
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||12||2||2||0||-||-||-||-||14||2
|-
|2011–12||8||0||0||0||1||0||10||1||19||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Fulham Total
!20!!2!!2!!0!!1!!0!!10!!1!!33!!3
|-
292||43||25||1||18||2||17||1||352||47
The above table doesn't include 2007/08 Community Shield appearance.
in the Barclays Premier League.
His brother, Lee Sidwell, is also a footballer. He played for AFC Wimbledon
during the 2002–03 campaign, their inaugural season in the Combined Counties Football League
Division One, and also won the award for Player of the Year during that season. He left the club in September 2004 to join Whyteleafe
, though he no longer plays for them. He has also played for Netherne (now Coulsdon United
) and Chipstead
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays 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 Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the Premier League. His previous clubs include Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Arsenal
Sidwell was born in WandsworthWandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was part of the Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
youth team that won the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in 2000 and 2001. One of his team mates during these years was James Harper, who he would go on to play with at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. He had successful loan spells with Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, but was unable to break into the Arsenal first team.
Reading
Sidwell moved to ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
for an undisclosed fee on a four-and-a-half year deal in January 2003.
In 2004, Four Four Two Magazine voted him the best player outside the Premier League.
A vital part of Reading's Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
-winning 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
squad, in April 2006 Sidwell was named in the Championship Team of the Year by the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
, keeping the place he had been given the previous year.
In the summer of 2006, Sidwell rejected a contract extension, and it was rumoured that he might be sold to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
or Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, as his contract was due to run out at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season. Reading decided to keep Sidwell for their inaugural season in the Premier League, and risk losing him without a transfer fee when his contract ran out.
Over the course of the season, he was linked with a number of high profile clubs. After the last game of the season, Reading manager Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
confirmed that Sidwell had left the club and knew who he had signed for, but refused to say.
Chelsea
Sidwell joined Chelsea on 1 July 2007 on a free transfer from Reading, and was given squad number 9 for the 2007–08 season. In his first interview after joining Chelsea, Sidwell stated that he had not come to Chelsea to 'make up the numbers', and that he believed training and playing alongside top players like Michael EssienMichael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
and Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...
would only help him improve.
He made his debut for Chelsea in a 2–1 win over Mexican side Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
in a friendly match in Stanford, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, during Chelsea's summer 2007 tour of the United States. His Premiership debut for Chelsea came on 12 August 2007 in a 3–2 victory against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
when he replaced Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda
Florent Johan Malouda is a French footballer who plays as a left winger for Chelsea and the French national team.-Châteauroux:A street footballer in his teen years, Malouda gradually developed into an interesting, new football talent, able to penetrate defenses with his technical skills and...
in the 83rd minute, and he scored his only goal for the club on 26 September 2007, in a 4–0 win away to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in the third round of the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
.
At the end of the 2007–08 season, Sidwell became linked to several Premier League clubs, including Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £1.2m. He made his debut for the club in a pre-season game against FC Zürich, playing the first 45 minutes, in a match which Villa lost 2–1. On 19 July 2008, Sidwell scored an own goal for Odense
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
in the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2008
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2008
The 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup was the last UEFA Intertoto Cup football tournament, the 14th to be organised by UEFA and the third since the competition's format was given a major overhaul. Three rounds were held, and eleven teams qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. The draw...
in a 2–2 draw at Fionia Park
Fionia Park
TRE-FOR Park is a football stadium and the home ground of Odense BK. It has a capacity of 15,633.Until 3 May 2010, the stadium was known as Fionia Park.The stadium consists of 4 stands:*Two long-side stands:...
. A week later he made his home debut in the return leg of the fixture, with Villa winning 1–0 on the day, and 3–2 on aggregate. Sidwell scored on his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Wigan Athletic after coming on as a late substitute in a match which Villa won 4–0. Sidwell nearly had his second Villa goal on 6 November 2008 when Villa played a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
group stage match away to Slavia Prague, Sidwell's powerful shot was heading for goal but the ball struck fellow Villa player John Carew
John Carew
John Alieu Carew , is a Norwegian professional association football player who plays for West Ham United and the Norwegian national team. His father is Gambian and his mother is Norwegian; he was born and raised in Norway.-Vålerenga:John Alieu Carew began his career with his local club Lørenskog,...
and went in, therefore the goal was credited to Carew, not Sidwell. Villa went on to win the match 1–0, and it saw them jump to the top of Group F and continue their 100% record in the competitions group stages, Sidwell played a vital role in the heart of the Villa midfield and followed up his goalscoring display against Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. Sidwell scored his first goal at Villa Park in a 2–1 loss against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 9 November 2008. In that game, he made an error which allowed Middlesbrough's Tuncay Şanlı
Tuncay Sanli
Tuncay Şanlı , or simply Tuncay, is a Turkish footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers, on loan from VfL Wolfsburg.His natural position is as a striker, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder or on either wing. Tuncay captains the Turkish national team...
in to score the winner for Middlesbrough. However, Sidwell bounced back quickly after that error and put in two impressive performances in the two following Premier League matches, against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
respectively, with an increasingly impressive Villa team earning 4 points from the two games.
Sidwell scored his third goal of the season just 34 seconds into the Premier League match against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on 7 December 2008. Villa won the match 3–2.
The 2009–10 season saw Sidwell continuously in and out of the first team. He failed to score in the season, and was linked with a move away from the club. He remained at the club until January 2011, when he entered talks with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
regarding a move. He eventually signed for the latter.
Fulham
Sidwell signed for FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 7 January 2011, signing a six-month contract with a view to extending it for a further three years. On 15 January 2011, he was an unused sub against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in a 1-1 draw. He made his premiership début for Fulham in a 2–0 win at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 22 January 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Dickson Etuhu
Dickson Etuhu
Dickson Paul Etuhu is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Fulham in the Premier League. His younger brother Kelvin is also a footballer...
. On 5 February 2011, Sidwell completed the full 90 minutes against his former club Aston Villa at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
in a 2-2 draw. On 14 February 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in the derby with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. On 9 April 2011, Sidwell was an unused substitute in the game with Manchester United at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in the 2-0 defeat.
On 18 April 2011, Sidwell's contract was extended until summer 2014 in West London
West London
West London generally refers to the western portions of London, and may refer specifically to:*West *West End of London*W postcode area...
. Five days later after agreeing a new deal, he started the premier league match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
Molineux
Molineux may refer to:*William Molineux, American, participant in the Boston Tea Party*Molineux Stadium, in Wolverhampton, England**by metonymy, Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., the team that plays there...
and completed the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw. On 30 April 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
in a 3-0 victory.
Sidwell scored his first Fulham goal in fine fashion, hitting a strong right footed shot that flew past Pepe Reina in the 86th minute on 9 May 2011. But the Cottagers suffered a 5-2 loss at home to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
with Sidwell playing the full 90 minutes.
On the final matchday of the season, Sidwell opened the scoring for Fulham as they went on to tie Arsenal 2-2 at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. At the end of the 2010-11 season, he made 14 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions for the Cottagers. At the start of the 2011-2012 season, manager Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
gave him the number 4 jersey.
Honours
- Arsenal
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 1999–2000, 2000–01
- FA Youth Cup
- Reading
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
: 2005–06
- Football League Championship
- Aston Villa
- Peace CupPeace Cupthumb|right|400px|The opening ceremony of 2003 competitionThe Peace Cup is an invitational pre-season friendly football tournament for club teams, currently held every two years by the Sunmoon Peace Football Foundation. It is contested by the eight clubs from several continents, though 12 teams...
: 20092009 Peace CupThe 2009 Peace Cup Andalucia was an invitational friendly football tournament. It was the 4th edition of Peace Cup and was held in Spain from 24 July to 2 August in the cities of Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Jerez and Huelva. It was the first time that the tournament has been hosted by a nation other... - League CupLeague CupIn association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
: Runner up 2010
- Peace Cup
Club
|-|2001-02
2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season
During the 2001–02 English football season, Arsenal competed in the FA Premier League...
||Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
||Premier League||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2001–02||Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
(Loan)||Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||33||4||2||0||-||-||-||-||35||4
|-
|2002–03||Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
||Premier League||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2002–03||Beveren(Loan)||Jupiler League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|2002–03||Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
(Loan)||rowspan="3"|Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||12||5||-||-||-||-||-||-||12||5
|-
|2002–03||rowspan="5"|Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
|||15||2||-||-||-||-||-||-||15||2
|-
|2003–04||43||8||2||0||3||1||-||-||48||9
|-
|2004–05||rowspan="2"|Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||44||5||2||0||1||0||-||-||47||5
|-
|2005–06||33||10||4||0||3||0||-||-||40||10
|-
|2006–07||Premier League||35||4||2||0||0||0||-||-||37||4
|-
!colspan="3"|Reading Total
!170!!29!!10!!0!!7!!1!!-!!-!!187!!30
|-
|2007–08||Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
||Premier League||15||0||3||0||5||1||1||0||24||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Chelsea Total
!15!!0!!3!!0!!5!!1!!1!!0!!24!!1
|-
|2008–09||rowspan="3"|Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
||rowspan="3"|Premier League||16||3||4||1||0||0||5||0||25||4
|-
|2009–10||25||0||4||0||3||0||1||0||33||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 2010–11 Aston Villa F.C. season was Aston Villa's 136th professional season; their 100th season in the top-flight; and their 23rd consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. It was also the first season under French manager Gérard Houllier, who was appointed...
||4||0||-||-||2||0||-||-||6||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Aston Villa Total
!45!!3!!8!!1!!5!!0!!6!!0!!64!!4
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Fulham F.C. season
The 2010-11 season was Fulham's 113th professional season and their 10th consecutive season in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. The season commenced on 14 August 2010 and concluded on 22 May 2011 after 38 league matches...
||rowspan="2"|Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||12||2||2||0||-||-||-||-||14||2
|-
|2011–12||8||0||0||0||1||0||10||1||19||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Fulham Total
!20!!2!!2!!0!!1!!0!!10!!1!!33!!3
|-
292||43||25||1||18||2||17||1||352||47
The above table doesn't include 2007/08 Community Shield appearance.
Personal life
Sidwell married Krystell on 19 June 2005. Within days of returning from their honeymoon, Steve had a tattoo of the wedding vows he had written for Krystell placed on his back. Their first son Harry was born in April 2006. His second son, Rocko, was born on December 4, 2008 a few days before he scored a goal against EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the Barclays Premier League.
His brother, Lee Sidwell, is also a footballer. He played for AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
during the 2002–03 campaign, their inaugural season in the Combined Counties Football League
Combined Counties Football League
The Combined Counties Football League is a regional English football league currently comprising teams from southwestern Greater London, Surrey, small parts of Hampshire and Berkshire, and Guernsey...
Division One, and also won the award for Player of the Year during that season. He left the club in September 2004 to join Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe F.C.
Whyteleafe F.C. are an English semi-professional football club based in Whyteleafe, Surrey. The club was established in 1946 and joined the Athenian League in 1981. They are currently members of Division One South of the Isthmian League.-History:...
, though he no longer plays for them. He has also played for Netherne (now Coulsdon United
Coulsdon United F.C.
Coulsdon Town Football Club is a football club based in Coulsdon, Greater London, England. The club plays its football in the Surrey Elite Intermediate League. The club is sponsored by Sainsbury's and Walter & Mair Estate Agents.-History:...
) and Chipstead
Chipstead F.C.
Chipstead F.C. are an English football club based in Chipstead, near Banstead, in Surrey. They were established in 1906 and were founding members of the Surrey County Premier League in 1982, moving to the Combined Counties League in 1986, and then the Isthmian League in 2007...
.