Footballer Steve Fox

Stephen Douglas Fox (17 February 1958 – 1 December 2012) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger.

He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.

Steve Fox
Personal information
Full name Stephen Douglas Fox
Date of birth (1958-02-17)17 February 1958
Place of birth Tamworth, England
Date of death 1 December 2012(2012-12-01) (aged 54)
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Aston Villa
Tamworth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Birmingham City 29 (1)
1978–1982 Wrexham 142 (10)
1982–1984 Port Vale 74 (6)
1984–1985 Chester City 33 (4)
Rhyl
Llangollen
Tamworth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was voted Wrexham's Player of the Year in 1981, and played for the club in the 1979 Welsh Cup final. Whilst with Port Vale he was promoted out of the Fourth Division in 1982–83, and was also voted onto the PFA Team of the Year.

Career

Birmingham City

Fox was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire. He began his football career as a schoolboy with Aston Villa before playing for local club Tamworth F.C. He joined Birmingham City as an apprentice in 1975, signing professional forms in February 1976. He made his Football League debut a year later, as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion in the First Division. Despite The Times' reporter's view in April 1978 that "Fox looks a fine prospect", the player was unable to hold down a regular first-team place, and joined Second Division club Wrexham in December the same year after manager Arfon Griffiths paid out a £95,000 fee.

Wrexham

He spent nearly four years with Wrexham, during which time he helped the club to reach the Fifth Round of the FA Cup on two occasions and scored in the final of the Welsh Cup in 1979, in which Wrexham lost to Shrewsbury Town on aggregate. He also played and scored for the club in the European Cup Winners' Cup. At the end of the 1980–81 season he was voted the club's Player of the Year. However, he was allowed to leave the club due to pressing financial problems at Wrexham. In 2008, the sports editor of the Wrexham Evening Leader selected Fox as a substitute in his "greatest Wrexham team ever".

Port Vale

Fox joined Port Vale in October 1982 after being signed by manager John McGrath as a replacement for the outgoing Mark Chamberlain. He was a regular first-team player in 1982–83, scoring three goals in 35 games, and was included in the PFA select Fourth Division team for that season as the "Valiants" were promoted in third place. He also was a regular the following season, scoring three goals in 47 games, but issued a transfer request and left on a free transfer. He had fallen out with new boss John Rudge, though he later admitted his regret at leaving Vale Park. Rudge said that he "was a skilful wide man who would always create a lot of chances".

Later career

Fox followed John McGrath to Chester City in 1984–85 and 1985–86, although he would not feature for the club again after the opening game of the latter campaign against Halifax Town. His contract was terminated in October 1985 after an argument with new manager Harry McNally. This marked the end of his professional career and he moved into non-League football with Rhyl (of the Northern Premier League), Llangollen and former club Tamworth.

Style of play

Fox was a pacey winger.

Later life

After retiring as a player, Fox became a landscape gardener. Fox and wife Helen had two children: Matthew and Daniel. Fox was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2012, and was given six months to live by doctors. He died on 1 December 2012.

Career statistics

Source:

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 1976–77 First Division 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
1977–78 First Division 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
1978–79 First Division 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Total 29 1 0 0 0 0 29 1
Wrexham 1978–79 Second Division 21 1 3 0 0 0 24 1
1979–80 Second Division 38 6 4 0 4 1 46 7
1980–81 Second Division 38 6 5 1 0 0 43 7
1981–82 Second Division 38 1 4 0 4 0 44 1
1982–83 Third Division 6 0 0 0 2 0 8 0
Total 142 10 16 2 10 1 168 13
Port Vale 1982–83 Fourth Division 34 3 1 0 0 0 35 3
1983–84 Third Division 40 3 1 0 6 0 47 3
Total 74 6 2 0 6 0 82 6
Chester City 1984–85 Fourth Division 32 4 1 1 3 0 36 5
1985–86 Fourth Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 33 4 1 1 3 0 37 5
Career total 278 21 19 3 19 1 316 25

Honours

Individual

Wrexham

Port Vale

References

Tags:

Footballer Steve Fox CareerFootballer Steve Fox Style of playFootballer Steve Fox Later lifeFootballer Steve Fox Career statisticsFootballer Steve Fox HonoursFootballer Steve Fox

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