Steve Vickers (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen "Steve" Vickers (born 13 October 1967), is an English former association footballer who played as a central defender
. He made nearly 600 appearances in the Football League
and the Premier League, the majority of which were for Tranmere Rovers
and Middlesbrough
. While at Middlesbrough he played in the 1997 FA Cup Final.
, County Durham
, Vickers began his professional career at Tranmere Rovers
, who signed him from non-league
club Spennymoor United
, and where he forged a reputation as one of the classiest defenders in England's lower leagues. He subsequently played in England's Premier League with Middlesbrough
, whom he joined in 1993, winning the club's Player of the Year Award for the 1993–94 season
.
He was loaned to Crystal Palace
in 2001, then to Birmingham City
a season later. This deal was then made permanent for £400,000, and Vickers helped them gain promotion to the Premiership in the 2001–02 season; his only goal for the club came that season against Stockport County
. Vickers retired from playing at the end of an injury-plagued 2002–03 season
, which included a knee operation before the start of the season, a broken rib in his first game back, a badly-gashed ankle following a two-footed challenge from Everton
's Wayne Rooney
which resulted in Rooney's first senior red card, and a succession of minor problems.
After his retirement from playing, he went into property development in his native north-east of England. As of 2010, he was head of youth recruitment for the sports management division of a north-east-based law firm.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He made nearly 600 appearances 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...
and the Premier League, the majority of which were for Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
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...
. While at Middlesbrough he played in the 1997 FA Cup Final.
Playing career
Born in Bishop AucklandBishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, Vickers began his professional career at Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, who signed him from non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
club Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
, and where he forged a reputation as one of the classiest defenders in England's lower leagues. He subsequently played in England's Premier League with 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...
, whom he joined in 1993, winning the club's Player of the Year Award for the 1993–94 season
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
.
He was loaned to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in 2001, then to 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...
a season later. This deal was then made permanent for £400,000, and Vickers helped them gain promotion to the Premiership in the 2001–02 season; his only goal for the club came that season against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. Vickers retired from playing at the end of an injury-plagued 2002–03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, which included a knee operation before the start of the season, a broken rib in his first game back, a badly-gashed ankle following a two-footed challenge from 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...
's Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
which resulted in Rooney's first senior red card, and a succession of minor problems.
After his retirement from playing, he went into property development in his native north-east of England. As of 2010, he was head of youth recruitment for the sports management division of a north-east-based law firm.