Steve Russell

DOB: 22nd October 1961

Position: Winger

Season of first appearance: 1979/80

Season of last appearance: 1981/82

Full Appearances: 96

Substitute: 8

Goals: 10

Also played for:

Coventry City (0), Swindon Town (0), Ramsgate, Herne Bay, Whitstable Town.

Player Profile:

5' 8" tall Dagenham-born player who started his career in Thanet youth football with Decca Sports FC before joining Coventry as an apprentice.

Steve then had a spell with Swindon at the start of the 1979/80 season but in December 1979 he returned to Thanet and joined Margate.

He made his debut in a Southern League game at Hounslow on 8.12.79 and then scored on his home debut against Crawley a week later. Steve went on to make 23 appearances before the end of the 1979/80 campaign, scoring one further goal. He was used as a substitute in five of those games and usually played on the left wing although he also appeared in midfield and at left-back.

Steve was a regular in the side during the 1980/81 season and scored seven times in 50 appearances (three as a substitute). The local press thought that he was much-improved player and he turned in some fine performances on the left wing. The best of Steve's goals was a curling shot from the right wing in a 4-1 defeat at Basingstoke on 2.5.81.

During the first half of the 1981/82 campaign, Steve made a further 31 appearances for the newly re-named Thanet United, taking his overall tally past 100, and scored once. However, after playing in his regular left wing position in a 3-0 defeat at home to Poole on 30.1.82, Steve left the club.

He joined Ramsgate for the start of the 1982/83 season and then moved to Herne Bay in December 1982. Steve stayed there until the end of the 1984/85 campaign.

He then joined Whitstable early in the 1985/86 season and went on to have a lengthy spell with them, often playing at left-back. He was club captain during the 1988/89 campaign. Steve was last heard of during the 1993/94 season when he made one first-team appearance for Whitstable.

He worked as a carpenter during his time with Margate.