*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 Hafner
Appearances: 9+8 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 28th April 1983
Position: Full-back / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 2001/02
Season of last appearance: 2001/02
Also played for: Gillingham (0), Sittingbourne, Gravesend & Northfleet, Folkestone Invicta, Dover Athletic, Hastings United, Chatham Town, Dartford, Maldon Town, Erith & Belvedere, Hollands and Blair and Whitstable Town
Versatile Chatham-born player who started his career as a trainee with Gillingham. Steve spent a couple of years on the Gills' books before being released towards the end of the 2000/01 campaign.
Immediately after leaving Priestfield he had a brief spell with Sittingbourne before finishing the season at Gravesend & Northfleet. Steve played four times (one as sub) for the Fleet in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
In the summer of 2001 Steve signed for Margate ahead of the club's first-ever Conference campaign and after a few weeks on the bench he made his debut as a substitute in a 2-2 draw at Stalybridge on 22.9.01. On 9.10.01 Steve came on to good effect in the second half as Margate won 2-1 at Yeovil and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "impressed" in place of the injured Gary Blackford at right-back. Towards the end of the game Steve embarked on a 40-yard run that was only ended by a crude challenge which earned Lee Johnson (son of Yeovil manager Gary Johnson) a second yellow card. On 20.10.01 Steve made his first start when he wore the number two shirt as Margate lost 2-1 at home to Northwich and he kept his place for a disastrous 2-0 defeat at Grays in the FA Cup on 27.10.01. After that his appearances became very sporadic but on 13.11.01 Steve scored in a 3-1 win over Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup at Hartsdown Park. He played as a winger in that match. On 20.11.01 Steve got both goals as the reserves beat Ramsgate's second string 2-1 and on 1.12.01 he replaced Gary Blackford after 34 minutes of a home game against Boston. Steve's performance impressed the Thanet Times and the paper said he was "quickly earning himself a reputation as a talented right-sided player". The match finished 1-1.
Steve didn't feature at all in Margate's first four games of 2002 but on 2.2.02 he played at right-back in a 2-0 win over visitors Leigh in the FA Trophy, it was his first start since 24.11.01. Steve also wore the number two shirt in Margate's next match - a 0-0 draw with Chester at Hartsdown Park on 9.2.02 - before dropping out of the first team picture for a month. He scored twice for the reserves in a 6-3 home win over Folkestone Reserves early in March 2002 and Steve then played as a striker in a 2-1 win at Folkestone in the Kent Senior Cup on 19.3.02. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "showed flashes of skill throughout the match". He didn't feature in any of Margate's next five games but on 8.4.02 Steve replaced Nick Roddis during a 2-0 defeat at Telford and the Gazette said he was "one of Margate's better performers". In the closing weeks of the season Steve was a regular in the senior squad once more and he played in each of Margate's last four games. Although two of his appearances were as a substitute it was the only time during the campaign that Steve had featured in more than two consecutive matches. On 6.5.02 he lined up at right-back as Margate took on Gravesend & Northfleet in the Kent Senior Cup Final at Hartsdown Park and Steve was booked for what the Isle of Thanet Gazette called "an eye-watering late tackle" as Margate were thrashed 5-0. It was the last game of the season and Steve's final appearance for the club as he was released having scored once in a total of 17 outings (eight as sub).
Steve joined Folkestone for the start of the 2002/03 campaign and scored twice in 23 appearances (one as sub) there before being released in January 2003.
He then linked up with Sittingbourne but only spent a few weeks with the Brickies before signing for Dover in February 2003.
Steve's next move took him to Hastings in August 2003 and he went from there to Chatham in March 2004.
In the summer of 2004 he rejoined Hastings and made nine Isthmian League appearances (two as sub) without scoring before linking up with Dartford in December 2004.
Steve moved to Maldon in June 2005 and on 20.8.05 he was part of their side that took on Margate in the club's first game back at Hartsdown Park following three seasons of exile at Dover and then Ashford. Steve made six appearances (three as sub) for Maldon in the Isthmian Premier League and then went back to Dartford in September 2005.
He went on to make over 70 appearances for the Darts before being released at the end of the 2006/07 season.
In June 2007 Steve rejoined Sittingbourne and their manager Steve Lovell said "He's very energetic, got good pace, a good crosser and he can score goals." Steve scored twice in 23 Isthmian League appearances (five as sub) for the Brickies and then embarked on a second spell with Chatham in February 2008.
On 8.4.08 Steve bagged a hat-trick in a 6-1 win at Molesey and ended 2007/08 having scored six goals in ten Isthmian League appearances (two as sub) for Chatham. He stayed with the club for the start of the 2008/09 campaign and scored once in seven league appearances before dropping out of football for a while towards the end of 2008.
In March 2009 Steve joined Kent League outfit Erith & Belvedere but he only made one substitute appearance before leaving the club.
He went back to Chatham for the start of the 2009/10 season but after scoring once in four league appearances Steve left the club again before Christmas 2009.
Sadly in the summer of 2010 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and Steve later endured months of chemotherapy that at one stage left him fighting for his life after his immune system collapsed. He spent six days in intensive care before recovering. He managed to play twice for Hollands and Blair in the Kent County League during 2010/11 before giving up football, for a while at least.
Happily by September 2011 Steve was in remission and on 18.9.11 he took part in the 'Run Together in Medway' race to raise money for Cancer Relief UK. At that time he was co-owner of a plumbing and heating business in the Medway area.
In March 2012 Steve resumed his football career when he rejoined Hollands and Blair who by then had graduated to the new Kent Invicta League. On 15.4.12 he was part of the side that won the Kent Senior Trophy by beating Sevenoaks 2-1 in the final played at Welling's Park View Road ground.
Steve also played for Hollands and Blair during the 2012/13 season.
In July 2013 he featured in some friendlies for Isthmian League Division 1 South club Whitstable and Steve was signed by the club ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
|
KSC |
SLCH | |
|
2001/02 (MFC) |
9 (53) |
8 |
1 |
CONFERENCE (8TH OF 22) |
4QR |
QF |
RU |
W | |
Played in Kent Senior
Cup Final (06.05.02 - lost 5-0 at home to Gravesend &
Northfleet). | |||||||||