During the interview he gave great praise to a great 'other' team that have been together in all that time, Diane, Lisa and his assistant Pinch. It's typical of the man to genuinely praise others, but he feels that his primary job is that of a pivot between The Chairman & Directors, The Manager and the Administration. He believes it is vital if the business is to thrive as well as to continue.

It's certain that wife Ailsa, and Ben now nearly 4 ½, have got used to his irregular hours, and back him all the way. It has always been noted by everyone who I have ever spoken to about our charismatic Secretary/Financial Controller, about how well he comes across on TV/Radio - I think the following story explains why.

Steve had an unspectacular upbringing in his native St Helens, being the eldest amongst his brother and sister. Just as he started watching Everton with his Dad at the tender age of 9 in 1967, and seeing Rugby League on Sundays at his local Knowsley Road ground, his father, a manager at the local Pilkingtons Glass Works, got transferred to Pontypool in S.Wales. Luckily it was only for 2 ½ years, but in that time he saw Newport County a few times, he confirmed to me that he hadn't seen Randall Butt there!

On his return to Prescot Grammar School, he recalled scoring two goals in trials for the School Team. However he only ever played once for them on the right wing. With chances of a professional career now slim, he concentrated on school work! Although Steve's interest in music has now matured into Jethro Tull amongst others, in those days he was into Glam Rock, even running his own mobile disco. Indeed he recalls that when being presented with his 'O' level certificates, he told a certain Eric Boocock that his ambition was to be a Disc Jockey on Radio One! Well he certainly never got that job, but he certainly made the radio.

He was now a trainee accountant at Metal Box, and he heard at Knowsley Road that they wanted a volunteer commentator for Hospital Radio. His general interest in broadcasting started from that time, but very soon he was to meet a man who he feels was the greatest influence on his career - Tony Delahunty of Pennine Radio. He was the ultimate professional, who never ever let his standards drop. Steve was now commentating at Batley RLC and freelancing in his spare time, but Tony gave him a tough break at Emley FC. The call box was 300 yards from the ground, and our hero had a lot of charging around, especially as the score was 8-3 to the visitors Hyde!

It was now 1984, and Steve joined the local Nabisco cake mix plant as an accountant, and took up the offer of commentating on Bradford City. He had seen 44 of their games that season, but on May 11th 1985, he was sent to Huddersfield Town v Manchester City. He was lucky, because that was the day that the Main Stand at Valley Parade burnt down in minutes, sadly with a substantial loss of life. Friends rang him from all over the World naturally thinking he had got involved!

It was decision time in his career in '86, when Nabisco were taken over by Dalgety. He'd already set his marriage date to Ailsa, after originally meeting her at Metal Box. BBC Radio Humberside also had an interview in the offing. He plumped for working at the Dalgety Flour Mill in Liverpool, which in retrospect he feels was a disaster. Within a couple of months he saw a vacancy for an accountant at Homepride on Station Road, in Cambridge. Ailsa was made redundant on the self same day as he applied for the job! He got it, and moved initially to the Arundel House Hotel, followed quickly by The Regent Hotel. He then bought his first house in Godmanchester followed in January '96 by one at Hartford.

He had by now got back his media bug and sent a demo tape to Simon Potter at Hereward Radio. His reputation with Tony stood him in good stead, as he got a deal to report on United matches, with CNFM. So in the days of Chris Turner, he stood in the Habbin to get the atmosphere. In the meantime Mark Saggers of Radio Cambridgeshire, had recommended him to the Club to do ClubCall. Of course he was now in daily contact with Club officials and had already cemented a good rapport with not only John Beck but also Directors Reg Smart, John Howard and Roger Hunt, who all survive today.

Nigel Pleasants was the Secretary at the time, but was soon to move to Leeds. Just prior to this, Reg approached him and this time Steve was determined not to turn down what his heart had told him was the correct job. Homepride however insisted on him working his four months notice, and so you can probably see why he rates the staff he inherited so highly! Steve remembers his first game in charge as Crewe Alexandra on November 30th 1990.

Due to the high regard in which he is held in League circles, Steve has had plenty of offers in the intervening years, including the highly publicised one from Tranmere, after Reg had been officially approached, but he insists it just didn't feel right.

Steve can't be anything but honest and he revealed to me that it costs around £1.3 million to run the club every year. The income i.e gate money, commercial activity as well as League and TV handouts, still leave a shortfall every year. As an accountant, he tries to devise a plan to minimise or eliminate those losses. It's one of the reasons why he is so enthusiastic of any venture that may realistically get funds into the Club, and certainly the CUSA have found him more than enthusiastic in a bulk of their ventures. He believes the future is in the Youth set up, and I must say that when I asked him about making up the losses he, hand on heart, said "Something always turns up!", usually in the form of percentage sell- ons!

Steve is currently working on a book, which already is some 15 pages long! He has already entitled it "Sources Close to the Abbey". I am sure we'll agree that it will not only be interesting and honest, but also give us a revealing insight into the way a club like ours is run.

Dave Brown