| Fullname | Robert Loudon Steel[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 25 June 1888 |
| Birth place | Newmilns, Scotland |
| Death date | 28 March 1972 (aged 83) |
| Position | Inside left |
| Clubs 1 | Newmilns |
| Clubs 2 | Kilwinning Rangers |
| Years 3 | 1906–1908 |
| Clubs 3 | Greenock Morton |
| Caps 3 | 0 |
| Goals 3 | 0 |
| Years 4 | 1906–1908 |
| Clubs 4 | → Port Glasgow Athletic (loan) |
| Caps 4 | 50 |
| Goals 4 | 7 |
| Years 5 | 1908–1919 |
| Clubs 5 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Caps 5 | 226 |
| Goals 5 | 41 |
| Years 6 | 1919–1920 |
| Clubs 6 | Gillingham |
| Caps 6 | 19 |
| Goals 6 | 3 |
Robert Loudon Steel (25 June 1888 – 1972) was a professional footballer who played for clubs including Greenock Morton, Port Glasgow Athletic,[2] Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham.[1][3]
Career
Steel joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1908 from Port Glasgow (along with Willie Bulloch, who soon returned to Scotland)[4] and played mainly in the inside left position, although he was versatile and willing to fill in several roles, including in defence.[5] He featured in 245 games and scored 45 goals in all competitions[6] (but not counting unofficial fixtures during World War I) before joining Gillingham at the end the conflict – featuring in the 1919–20 Southern Football League[7] – and later becoming a referee.[5]
International
While at Tottenham, he was selected for the annual Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match in 1909[8] but never played for Scotland at full international level.[3]
Personal life
His brothers Danny and Alex were also footballers, with Danny also having a significant spell at Tottenham Hotspur and Alex spending time with FC Barcelona; the three siblings played together in one Football League fixture against Bradford City in January 1910.[9][10]
References
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records. soccerdata. p. 248. ISBN 1-899468-63-3.
- ^ "Port Glasgow Athletic Player Robert Steel Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
- ^ Bobby Steel - fact file, My Eyes Have Seen The Glory
- ^ The Spurs Alphabet, Bob Goodwin; Lulu.com, 2017; ISBN 9780954043421
- ^ A-Z of Tottenham Hotspur players Archived 2009-04-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 January 2009
- ^ Bob Steel, Gillingham FC Scrapbook
- ^ Football. | Home Scots, 3; Anglo-Scots, 1., The Glasgow Herald, 23 March 1909
- ^ Tottenham On This Day: Three Brothers Play In The Same Spurs Team, Logan Holmes, Fansided, 29 January 2014
- ^ Hotspur Towers - Spurs Steel, Keith Harrison, India Spurs, 28 January 2016