*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 Winch
Appearances: 29+8 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 16th July 1962
Position: Full-back
Season of first appearance: 1978/79
Season of last appearance: 1987/88
Also played for: Ramsgate and Phoenix Rovers
Popular Thanet-born loyal defender widely known as 'Winkle' who progressed through the youth ranks at Margate and made his first team debut in a 3-1 defeat at home to Redditch on 11.5.79, the last day of the 1978/79 season. Steve was still two months shy of his 17th birthday at the time.
He went on to make seven further sporadic appearances, three as a substitute, during the 1979/80 campaign, turning out at left-back and in midfield.
Steve made another two substitute appearances towards the end of the 1980/81 campaign and was captain of the reserves at that time.
He then featured regularly in the first team at the start of the 1981/82 season. Steve played at right-back in each of the newly re-named Thanet United's first four games and appeared in most of United's matches up until mid-September 1981. Steve then found himself back in the reserves for over a month and after appearing in a Kent Senior Cup tie at Tonbridge on 27.10.81 he left the club and joined Ramsgate where he played mainly for the reserves during the remainder of the season.
Steve stayed at Southwood for the 1982/83 campaign and became a regular first team player for the Rams.
He returned to Hartsdown Park for the 1983/84 season, principally to play for Thanet's reserves. Steve also made one first team appearance, playing at right-back in a 2-1 home defeat against Addlestone & Weybridge on 4.2.84. In addition Steve played a few games for Ramsgate during the season.
During the 1984/85 campaign he was a fixture in Thanet's reserve side and again made one first team appearance, turning out at left-back in an Eastern Floodlight Cup tie at Hastings on 7.3.85 that United lost 2-1.
Steve had to wait until 3.12.85 for his first senior appearance of the 1985/86 season, he came on as a substitute during a 3-2 win over Hastings in an Eastern Floodlight Cup tie at Hartsdown Park. He then returned to the reserves but on 8.4.86 Steve started a senior game for the first time in over a year when he wore the number two shirt for a Floodlight Cup game at Sittingbourne that Thanet lost 2-1. It proved to be the start of his longest ever run in the first team as Steve played at right-back in each of United's remaining eight matches. The Thanet Times praised his numerous "timely interceptions" during a 1-0 defeat at Ashford on 19.4.86 and said that Steve "could become a regular in the side once he gains in confidence".
Steve found himself back in the reserves at the start of 1986/87 and he was their captain for the season. He made just one first team appearance, playing in midfield as Thanet lost 1-0 at Dover in an FA Trophy tie on 7.10.86. At the end of the campaign Steve was presented with a silver salver to commemorate ten years at Hartsdown Park.
It was 'business as usual' for Steve during the 1987/88 season as he played regularly for the reserves, making 18 appearances for them. He also made five first team appearances, all at right-back. The first of them came in a 1-0 defeat at Ashford on 27.10.87 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that Steve "gave a good account of himself". He kept his place for United's next two games but in the second of them, a 1-0 home defeat against Marlow in an FA Trophy tie on 3.11.87, Steve was sent off. Almost immediately after being fouled himself Steve got his own back on his assailant with a retaliatory challenge that earnt him an inevitable booking. He then engaged in what the Gazette called "a full and frank dialogue" with the referee that earnt him a second booking and an early bath. The paper said it was "a moment of amateurish behaviour which ruined an otherwise good performance" from Steve. He was dropped for Thanet's next two games but returned to the side for a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Baldock on 14.11.87. Steve then served his suspension before coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 24.11.87. It was his fifth appearance of the season and it turned out to be Steve's last for the first team.
He went back to Ramsgate for the 1988/89 campaign before rejoining Margate in the summer of 1989. Steve played exclusively for the reserves from then on.
During 1989/90 he made 35 appearances (one as sub) and scored twice as the reserves won the Kent League Division 2 title.
Steve made a further 27 appearances (three as sub) for the reserves during 1990/91 and scored once in a 5-1 win over Sheppey Reserves at Hartsdown on 27.10.90. Steve celebrated his rare strike with a lap of honour and a jig round the corner flag. On 22.12.90 he was sent off for dissent after just three minutes of a game against Canterbury City Reserves at Kingsmead. He was the joint winner of the reserves' 'Clubman of the Year' award, sharing the honour with Clive Yeo.
Steve joined Kent County League side Phoenix Rovers for the start of the 1991/92 season.
Steve later coached various youth teams at Margate and became reserve team manager for the start of the 1995/96 campaign, still playing when required. His nephew Jamie Winch played for the reserves during 2000/01 and Steve finally left the club in the summer of 2001 to become Mark Weatherly's assistant at Ramsgate. Margate manager Chris Kinnear said "Steve Winch was magnificent as reserve team manager."
Steve was still the Rams' assistant manager during the 2002/03 season but stepped down from the role during 2003/04.
In 2009 Steve was still living locally and had been working as a butcher for over 20 years. He was assistant manager of Margate's reserve side during the 2009/10 season.
During 2010/11 he was kit man for Margate's first team and Steve was still involved with the side during the 2013/14 campaign.
His older brother Phil also played for Thanet United.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1978/79 (MFC) |
1 (58) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (19TH OF 22) |
4QR |
3R |
1R |
2R |
|
| Margate moved to new Southern League Southern Division following reorganisation of Southern League. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1979/80 (MFC) |
4 (56) |
3 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (17TH OF 24) |
4QR |
3QR |
2R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1980/81 (MFC) |
0 (58) |
2 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (22ND OF 24) |
2QR |
3QR |
1R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1981/82 (TUFC) |
8 (53) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (24TH OF 24) |
1QR |
1QR |
1R |
1R |
|
| Finished bottom but not relegated. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1983/84 (TUFC) |
1 (49) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (18TH OF 20) |
2QR |
1QR |
3R |
2R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
EFC | |
|
1984/85 (TUFC) |
1 (62) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 20) |
1QR |
1QR |
GR |
SF |
RU |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
EFC | |
|
1985/86 (TUFC) |
9 (59) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (15TH OF 21) |
1QR |
PR |
GR |
1R |
GR |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
EFC | |
|
1986/87 (TUFC) |
1 (53) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (10TH OF 20) |
PR |
1QR |
GR |
1R |
GR |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1987/88 (TUFC) |
4 (56) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2QR |
GR |
1R |
|