Steve Waddington

For the actor, see Steven Waddington.

Steve Waddington
Personal information
Full name Steven Waddington[1]
Date of birth (1956-02-05) 5 February 1956 (age 68)[1]
Place of birth Nantwich, England[1]
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1979 Stoke City 52 (5)
1979–1982 Walsall 130 (13)
1982–1983 Port Vale 1 (0)
1983–1984 Chesterfield 18 (1)
1984–1987 Macclesfield Town 85 (9)
Total 286 (28)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Steven Waddington (born 5 February 1956) is an English former footballer. His father is former Stoke City manager, Tony Waddington.

A midfielder, he made 201 league appearances in an eight-year career in the Football League. He began his career at Stoke City in 1976 before moving to Walsall three years later. He joined Port Vale in July 1982, before transferring to Chesterfield in July 1983. He moved on to non-League club Macclesfield Town the following year. He played minor roles in promotion campaigns for Stoke and Vale. However, he played a much bigger part in Walsall's promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1979–80.

Career

Waddington played for Stoke City, playing 13 games under his father in 1976–77. He scored his first senior goal on 6 November 1976, in a 3–1 win over Middlesbrough at the Victoria Ground. At the end of the season, the "Potters" were relegated out of the First Division, and George Eastham took over as manager. Waddington scored five goals in 41 appearances in 1977–78, as George Eastham, Alan A'Court, and then Alan Durban tried in vain to guide the club out of the Second Division. He played just twice in the 1978–79 promotion campaign. He then moved on to Alan Buckley's Walsall. The "Saddlers" finished second in the Fourth Division in 1979–80 and were thereby promoted. They retained their Third Division status by a single point in 1980–81, before finishing above the drop zone only on goal difference in 1981–82 under new boss Neil Martin.

Waddington then left Fellows Park and joined John McGrath's Port Vale in July 1982.[1] He made his debut in the League Cup First Round first leg 1–0 win over Rochdale at Vale Park on 30 August.[1] He damaged a cartilage during the game and after undergoing surgery failed to regain his place.[1] He appeared as a substitute later in the season, but was transferred to Chesterfield in July 1983.[1] The "Valiants" had by then won promotion out of the Fourth Division. The "Spireites" finished 13th in the Fourth Division in 1983–84 under the stewardship of John Duncan. He left Saltergate and moved on to Macclesfield Town in 1984. Whilst at Macclesfield Town in summer 1986 he was in a car crash with teammates Nigel Shaw, Ian Elsby and Trevor Brissett.[3] The "Silkmen" went on to win the Northern Premier League in 1986–87.[4]

Career statistics

Source:[5][6]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1976–77 First Division 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
1977–78 Second Division 38 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 41 5
1978–79 Second Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 52 5 3 1 1 0 0 0 56 6
Walsall 1978–79 Third Division 33 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 2
1979–80 Fourth Division 38 5 4 0 2 0 0 0 44 5
1980–81 Third Division 33 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 36 5
1981–82 Third Division 26 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 29 2
Total 130 13 7 1 5 0 0 0 142 14
Port Vale 1982–83 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Chesterfield 1983–84 Fourth Division 18 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 21 1
Macclesfield Town 1984–85[7] Northern Premier League 36 3 1 0 1 0 7 1 45 4
1985–86[8] Northern Premier League 36 5 1 0 4 1 8 1 49 7
1986–87[9] Northern Premier League 13 1 0 0 5 0 4 1 22 2
Total 85 9 2 0 10 1 19 4 116 13
Career total 286 28 12 2 19 0 20 4 337 34
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Honours

Stoke City

Walsall

Port Vale

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 299. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 378. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Northern Premier League". mtfc.co.uk. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Trevor Brissett – RIP". mtfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  5. ^ Steve Waddington at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ^ Steve Waddington at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  7. ^ "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  10. ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.