*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Steve Crane
Appearances: 11+3 Goals: 2
Date / Year of birth: 3rd June 1972
Position: Midfielder / Striker
Season of first appearance: 1990/91
Season of last appearance: 1990/91
Also played for: Charlton Athletic (0), Tusculum College (USA), Aveley, Gillingham (5+12,1), Hornchurch, Chelmsford City, Tilbury, East Thurrock United, Papatoetoe (New Zealand), Torquay United (1+2,0), Hastings Town, Billericay Town and Essex Police
Attacking player born in Orsett, Essex who was brought up in the Chelsea area of London and started his career as a trainee at Charlton. Steve had just recovered from a dislocated shoulder that had sidelined him for six months when he joined Margate on loan in November 1990.
He made his debut playing as a left winger in a 3-0 defeat at Trowbridge on 10.11.90 and the Thanet Times said that Steve was a "constant menace with his probing runs down the left". The Isle of Thanet Gazette was also impressed with Steve saying that we was "particularly quick off the mark" and "showed a refreshing willingness to take a man on and then put in a telling cross". Over the next few weeks he made five further appearances in midfield or at left-back and scored twice - in a 3-1 defeat at Erith & Belvedere on 20.11.90 and in a 3-1 win over Witney at Hartsdown Park on 24.11.90.
In December 1990 Steve was recalled by Charlton but in February 1991 he was released by the Addicks and rejoined Margate. After coming on as a sub in a 2-1 home defeat against Dunstable on 16.2.91 Steve made seven more sporadic appearances up to April 1991. He played at right-back or in midfield and on 13.4.91 Steve made the last of his 14 Margate appearances (three as sub) in a 2-1 defeat at Andover.
In the summer of 1991 he featured in a couple of Margate's pre-season friendlies but Steve left the club before the start of 1991/92 and took up a football scholarship as a foreign languages student in the USA.
Whilst studying in the USA Steve played for Tusculum College during the 1991 and 1992 campaigns and enjoyed great success. He scored 99 goals in those two seasons, 38 in 1991 and a record 61 in 1992, and once managed seven in one game as well as scoring six goals once, five goals once and four goals twice in addition to three other hat-tricks. Towards the end of 1992 Steve was offered a professional contract by local club Chattenooga Railroaders but turned it down in favour of returning home.
Steve returned to the UK in December 1992 and initially joined Aveley where he scored five goals including four in a 5-1 win over Barkingside on 22.12.92. Soon afterwards he joined Gillingham on non-contract terms and after impressing in the Gills' reserves Steve was signed as a professional in March 1993. He made his first team debut on 23.3.93 when he came on as a substitute in a match against Lincoln at Priestfield and then scored on his full debut at Darlington on 27.3.93. It was his only first team goal but Steve's 16 goals for the reserves before the end of 1992/93 made him their leading marksman. His tally included one in a 2-1 win at Margate in a Kent Midweek League match on 28.1.93.
On 18.8.93 Steve played for the Gills in a pre-season friendly at Margate and missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw. His initial effort was brilliantly saved by Kevin Hudson and Steve then blasted the loose ball over the bar. He went on to make a total of 17 first team appearances for Gillingham (12 as sub) but didn't add to his single goal before being released at the end of the 1993/94 campaign. Steve had scored 12 goals for the Gills' reserves during the season.
Steve joined Hornchurch for the start of the 1994/95 campaign before moving on to Chelmsford in March 1995. He scored once in 11 games for the Clarets before leaving the club in the summer of 1995.
Steve began 1995/96 with Tilbury before signing for East Thurrock in January 1996. He then went to play for Papatoetoe in New Zealand's 1st Division.
Steve was injured in his first match for Papatoetoe but carried on playing and made a handful of appearances before going back to the UK after a month. In 2008 he recalled "it was not a positive experience !"
After returning home Steve had a trial at Leyton Orient in July 1996 and a few months later he had a brief spell with Torquay, making three first team appearances there (two as sub) in November 1996.
In February 1997 Steve dropped back into non-league football and joined Hastings but he only played twice for them before moving on to Billericay in March 1997.
In January 1998 Steve joined the police force and started playing for Essex Police. He later became the Mid-Essex League outfit's player-manager and was still in charge, and still playing aged 36, during the 2007/08 season.
In 2006 Essex Police won the Police National 5-a-side championship and in 2008 the veterans 11-a-side team were the National Police Veterans champions.
In 2008 Steve recalled the Margate managers he'd played under saying "Steve McRaye was great, Tommy Taylor was 'different' !" On the subject of continuing his playing career Steve commented "I still love it, but my body is slowing me down ! I'll play as long as I can but enjoy my coaching so I've always got that to fall back on."
In 2009 Steve moved to Florida, USA where he started his own coaching business and by 2011 he'd earned his U.S. Soccer Federation A license and his premier diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association. He was also on the Florida Youth Soccer Association's staff.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1990/91 (MFC) |
11 (54) |
3 |
2 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (10TH OF 21) |
3QR |
3QR |
2R |
1R |