Alex Steele was a member of the Glenavon team that looked like emerging from the shadows of the Belfast and Dublin giants in the early 1920s. The Lurgan-club battled Glentoran closely in the race for the 1920/21 Irish League title, eventually finishing two points short. In the Irish Cup, aided by the withdrawal of Shelbourne due to their unwillingness to play their semi-final in Belfast, Glenavon were again pushed into runners-up spot by Glentoran who won the Final 2-0 at Windsor Park. The City Cup did arrive at Mourneview with the Belfast-Glens beaten into second by a single point.
Steele’s contribution to Glenavon’s first “major” trophy success was recognised with selection for Amateur Ireland for a 4-0 defeat by England at Solitude in November 1920 and for their first foreign trip, a visit to the Parc de Princes in Paris, the following February where France were defeated 2-1. A useful goalscorer from inside-right or left, Steel had began his career in Junior football with Belfast club Barnville followed by a spell with Dunmurry.
Transferred to Charlton Athletic in 1921, Steele was an occasional first teamer through their first season as a Football League club, playing thirteen times and scoring three goals. The 1922/23 season saw him make a much bigger impact, finishing as his club’s topscorer with thirteen goals and featuring in the Athletic side that defeated Crystal Palace in the London Challenge Cup Final at the Den. Over the following few seasons Steele would begin to play at left-half as well as in his favoured inside-forward role, and become an occasional captain of Athletic.
In February 1926 Steele became the first Charlton player to win Full international honours when he appeared for Ireland in a 3-0 defeat of Wales. He added a second cap later that same month against Scotland at Ibrox, but it was to be a generally disappointing season on the domestic front as Charlton were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League.
Charlton’s successful application for re-election mattered little to Steele as he was transferred to Swansea Town in July 1926. The move to the Swans was not to prove a successful one. Steele had to wait until January 1927 for his Division Two debut, and made just one further appearance for the Welsh side before an end-of-season transfer to Fulham, where he teamed up again with Joe Bradshaw, the man who had signed him for Swansea just eleven months earlier.
Steele established himself as Fulham’s regular left-half for a little over two seasons, suffering relegation to Division Three (South) in 1928. He did make a further two appearances for Ireland while at Craven Cottage, the last in a 7-3 defeat by “easy winners” Scotland, 7-3 at Windsor Park as the Irish half-back line “could not cope with the strong methodical attacks of Scotland”. That was the highest scoring match between the Celtic cousins since 1901.
After retiring in May 1930 Steele returned to Ireland, opening a newsagent in the seaside village of Whitehead on the shores of Belfast Lough. He briefly returned to the field of play with Distillery in April 1931 and also scouted for Blackpool. In the 1950s Steele returned to England, where he worked as an audit clerk in the City of London. He lived out his days in Rayleigh, Essex, where he passed away in May 1980 at the age of 81.
Lots of old programmes, a few we didn't have from @Fumbluff and some new shirts including this shirt, matchworn by Stuart Balmer.
Was having a look through some of the shirts the museum has and this one stood out. The design was from 96-98 when Nationwide were the league sponsors yet this has Endsleigh badges. Also the numbers worn in the first team were black so don't think this would've been worn by Balmer. Could be from the Colts/Youths as they were still wearing Endsleigh badges at that time.
Luton Ticket: Was that really the price for one game? Given that it was 33 years ago (almost to the day) £9 seems well expensive for a single match. I can't remember, was that the going rate back then or was it inflated for some season?
Chaos as Valley row boils over: Was there actually a row? I realise that 'Meeting Oversubscribed' doesn't make the most exciting headline, but the banner doesnlt really match what's written underneath.
Luton Ticket: Was that really the price for one game? Given that it was 33 years ago (almost to the day) £9 seems well expensive for a single match. I can't remember, was that the going rate back then or was it inflated for some season?
Chaos as Valley row boils over: Was there actually a row? I realise that 'Meeting Oversubscribed' doesn't make the most exciting headline, but the banner doesnlt really match what's written underneath.
It got very heated at the meeting and seem to remember Lawrence trying to calm the crowd down.
This was the night I ‘liberated’ one of the swords on the old gate. We got into the ground after the meeting and a couple of my mates climbed the floodlight in the South/West corner. I wimped out about halfway up.
Lots of old programmes, a few we didn't have from @Fumbluff and some new shirts including this shirt, matchworn by Stuart Balmer.
Was having a look through some of the shirts the museum has and this one stood out. The design was from 96-98 when Nationwide were the league sponsors yet this has Endsleigh badges. Also the numbers worn in the first team were black so don't think this would've been worn by Balmer. Could be from the Colts/Youths as they were still wearing Endsleigh badges at that time.
Correct. These are the large Endsleigh patches. Worn for the last time in 95/96 season.
Lots of old programmes, a few we didn't have from @Fumbluff and some new shirts including this shirt, matchworn by Stuart Balmer.
Was having a look through some of the shirts the museum has and this one stood out. The design was from 96-98 when Nationwide were the league sponsors yet this has Endsleigh badges. Also the numbers worn in the first team were black so don't think this would've been worn by Balmer. Could be from the Colts/Youths as they were still wearing Endsleigh badges at that time.
For further confirmation perhaps pictures from programmes during this period may help.
Lots of old programmes, a few we didn't have from @Fumbluff and some new shirts including this shirt, matchworn by Stuart Balmer.
Was having a look through some of the shirts the museum has and this one stood out. The design was from 96-98 when Nationwide were the league sponsors yet this has Endsleigh badges. Also the numbers worn in the first team were black so don't think this would've been worn by Balmer. Could be from the Colts/Youths as they were still wearing Endsleigh badges at that time.
For further confirmation perhaps pictures from programmes during this period may help.
Yeah I did have a look at a few as I was sure I'd seen the youths still wearing Endsleigh before. Though only saw the home shirt but stands to reason it'd be the same for the away.
Luton Ticket: Was that really the price for one game? Given that it was 33 years ago (almost to the day) £9 seems well expensive for a single match. I can't remember, was that the going rate back then or was it inflated for some season?
Chaos as Valley row boils over: Was there actually a row? I realise that 'Meeting Oversubscribed' doesn't make the most exciting headline, but the banner doesnlt really match what's written underneath.
Stig, £9 would have been expensive in 1987 but Luton's prices were dear during the away fans ban. As a comparison with us, my first Charlton game was our 3 0 win over Chelsea at Selhurst in 1989 and I recall my dear old Grandpa wincing when told it was £9 a ticket in the Arthur Waite stand with no concessions. I subsequently became a Junior Red and was then paying 2 quid a ticket for a seat in the opposite stand.
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Just wondering if I have my old LUFC membership info. You would see loads of Charlton faces at 100 % home supporters only at Kenilworth Road back during the ban days. I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Just wondering if I have my old LUFC membership info. You would see loads of Charlton faces at 100 % home supporters only at Kenilworth Road back during the ban days. I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
I remember going there during the ban many years ago, and we had arranged via others to meet a local CAFC fan who was handing out membership cards in a town centre pub (the brewery tap rings a bell), the season and the guys name escapes me now, wonder if he posts on here
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Just wondering if I have my old LUFC membership info. You would see loads of Charlton faces at 100 % home supporters only at Kenilworth Road back during the ban days. I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
I got thrown out when we played them in 89/90, and to make matters worse plod kept me in the station until the bloody game finished.
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Just wondering if I have my old LUFC membership info. You would see loads of Charlton faces at 100 % home supporters only at Kenilworth Road back during the ban days. I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
I remember going there during the ban many years ago, and we had arranged via others to meet a local CAFC fan who was handing out membership cards in a town centre pub (the brewery tap rings a bell), the season and the guys name escapes me now, wonder if he posts on here
I remeber the pub calling people up to the food counter to collect their meals using the pubs PA system. The place erupted in laughter when "Mr Flashman" was called to the counter. 🤣
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Just wondering if I have my old LUFC membership info. You would see loads of Charlton faces at 100 % home supporters only at Kenilworth Road back during the ban days. I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
I got thrown out when we played them in 89/90, and to make matters worse plod kept me in the station until the bloody game finished.
I've told this before, but in the 70s I had my cappers taken off me as I entered the ground. Watched the whole match on open terracing as frequent snow flurries fell.
On collecting my boots at the end, I discover that one fella had his new Cherry Reds missing and a skanky pair of cappers being the only boots left.
Comments
Billy Cox
https://cafcmuseum.net/the-collection-postcards/
looks miserable in this photo does Albert Green but has a special place in our history
https://cafcmuseum.net/the-collection-postcards/
One for all Irish Addicks
Alex Steele, our first ever Irish cap
https://cafcmuseum.net/the-collection-postcards/
Steele’s contribution to Glenavon’s first “major” trophy success was recognised with selection for Amateur Ireland for a 4-0 defeat by England at Solitude in November 1920 and for their first foreign trip, a visit to the Parc de Princes in Paris, the following February where France were defeated 2-1. A useful goalscorer from inside-right or left, Steel had began his career in Junior football with Belfast club Barnville followed by a spell with Dunmurry.
Transferred to Charlton Athletic in 1921, Steele was an occasional first teamer through their first season as a Football League club, playing thirteen times and scoring three goals. The 1922/23 season saw him make a much bigger impact, finishing as his club’s topscorer with thirteen goals and featuring in the Athletic side that defeated Crystal Palace in the London Challenge Cup Final at the Den. Over the following few seasons Steele would begin to play at left-half as well as in his favoured inside-forward role, and become an occasional captain of Athletic.
In February 1926 Steele became the first Charlton player to win Full international honours when he appeared for Ireland in a 3-0 defeat of Wales. He added a second cap later that same month against Scotland at Ibrox, but it was to be a generally disappointing season on the domestic front as Charlton were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League.
Charlton’s successful application for re-election mattered little to Steele as he was transferred to Swansea Town in July 1926. The move to the Swans was not to prove a successful one. Steele had to wait until January 1927 for his Division Two debut, and made just one further appearance for the Welsh side before an end-of-season transfer to Fulham, where he teamed up again with Joe Bradshaw, the man who had signed him for Swansea just eleven months earlier.
Steele established himself as Fulham’s regular left-half for a little over two seasons, suffering relegation to Division Three (South) in 1928. He did make a further two appearances for Ireland while at Craven Cottage, the last in a 7-3 defeat by “easy winners” Scotland, 7-3 at Windsor Park as the Irish half-back line “could not cope with the strong methodical attacks of Scotland”. That was the highest scoring match between the Celtic cousins since 1901.
After retiring in May 1930 Steele returned to Ireland, opening a newsagent in the seaside village of Whitehead on the shores of Belfast Lough. He briefly returned to the field of play with Distillery in April 1931 and also scouted for Blackpool. In the 1950s Steele returned to England, where he worked as an audit clerk in the City of London. He lived out his days in Rayleigh, Essex, where he passed away in May 1980 at the age of 81.
His four caps were for Northern Ireland.
Colourised, at the time, photos from Charlton's 1949 tour of Turkey.
First up Galatasary 1 - 2 Charlton
@Swisdom
Five colourised team photos from 1906, 1913, 1923, 1935 and 1947
Set of five for £5 plus £1 postage and packaging.
See the marketplace group or inbox @charltonnick for details
At least someone at the Thames showed some public support.
Will we ever do these again?
A relic from the away fans ban at Luton.
A plastic entrance ticket, revolutionary at the time but common place now.
Drop it off with those other worthless pieces you stole from the Valley 😝
"After all these years
It's the same address"
I recall bumping into Airman at halftime at one match. We were loosing of course.
On collecting my boots at the end, I discover that one fella had his new Cherry Reds missing and a skanky pair of cappers being the only boots left.
The good old days.