It is with great sadness that we report the death of our former goalkeeper, Football League champion, caretaker-manager and coach Steve Fleet (SCAN 690), who passed away recently at the age of 87.
Hailing from Salford, Steve was a talented young sportsman, playing for Lancashire Boys at both cricket and football. He played at Bolton Wanderers as a schoolboy, before moving to Manchester City as an amateur in 1953, starting a special relationship that would last more than 50 years.
Unsure as to his place as a young professional footballer, after his first City game he was buoyed by some positive words from former County and England star Charlie Gee, something he never forgot. During his time at Mane Road he was understudy to Bert Trautmann, so unsurprisingly opportunities were limited. Despite learning from his hero, later in his life Fleet was to reflect that he should have moved on sooner to get more first team experience. After making six first team appearances for City, he moved to Wrexham in 1963, where he appeared 96 times.
It was his old friend Trautmann who brought Fleet to Edgeley Park in January 1966, in an exchange deal that took Graham Beighton to the Racecourse Ground. County had a talented young keeper in Ken Mulhearn, but needed an experienced partner to help a player they expected to be transferred in the near future. Fleet made his County debut versus Rochdale in April 1966, and before the end of the season he was to receive a Cheshire Senior Cup winners medal as County defeated Northwich Victoria.
This was to prove the prelude to the season that was to cement Fleet as one of the all time Stockport County greats. In 1966-67, County were to win the Football League Fourth Division championship, with Fleet becoming one of only seventy County players to be awarded a gold Football League winners medal. The goalkeeping duties were shared, with Mulhearn (29 appearances) and Fleet (21) both making a huge contributions to the team’s success. As the incumbent keeper, Fleet was injured in the final run-in and was unlucky not to have made more appearances.
Shortly into the following season, Mulhearn was sold to Manchester City in a deal that also brought Alan Ogley to Edgeley Park. This again limited opportunities for Fleet and it was during this time he was encouraged to pursue coaching by the County management of Eddie Quigley and Jimmy Meadows. In a move that was to set the path for his future career, he gained a F.A. preliminary and then full coaching badge.
He finished in career with Altrincham before returning to Edgeley Park in January 1970 in a role as junior coach. This was to prove an inspired appointment, as Fleet was to find his ideal position, coaching young players. Over the next three years, with a very limited budget, he helped develop a host of talented young County players. These included future first-team players Paul Hart, Ken Fogarty, Jimmy Collier and Fred Ingham.
His young team won the Lancashire League against strong youth sides representing teams including Liverpool, Everton and both of the Manchester clubs. During this period, Fleet was also to take the role of caretaker-manager of the County first-team, after his fellow championship winner Matt Woods was sacked in December 1971. Fleet was to remain in charge for 15 games until the end of the season. He then returned to coaching duties, playing a key role during County’s famous 1972-73 season, in which they defeated Crystal Palace and West Ham in the League Cup.
At the end of the season, with a growing reputation as a coach who could develop young players, he was to return to Manchester City with a remit to replicate the success he had at Edgeley Park. Over the next 25 years, he was to play a pivotal role at City helping a host of young players including stars such as Peter Barnes, Gary Owen and Alex Williams. He was also a key leader of the Manchester City Former Players Association.
Steve was a well liked and respected person, who gave so much to help the careers of numerous footballers. He was quoted as saying ” when I reflect on my career as a goalkeeper I often think how much better I might have been had somebody shown an interest in me as a kid. That’s not a complaint, but it has made me realise that kids are worth a lot of attention and it’s worthwhile getting involved with them. I see it as my responsibility that lads should develop. l want to take a personal interest in the individual, his problems, and sort it out if a lad gets a chip on his shoulder. That’s one of the worst things that can happen to a young player.” A wonderful epitaph which summed him up perfectly.
He remained active until very recently, when he was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer.
Steve was a Stockport County hero and a Football League champion. Everyone at Edgeley Park send our deepest condolences to his son Wesley, his wider family and all his friends at this very sad time..
