Nick Green recently bumped into Bob Steane, a Lockheed player from 35/40 years ago.

Bob Steane, now 59, played in goal for the Brakes (then called Lockheed) in the late sixties/early seventies and was regarded as one of the top non league goalkeepers at the time. So much so in fact that Worcester, a top Southern Premier League side at the time, put in an offer of £15,000 for him. Bob knew nothing about it until years later because the club keep it from him, hoping maybe a league club would come in for him with a higher bid. The decision not to disclose the offer still gripes him to this very day, as he believed that it could well have changed his footballing career and maybe his life. In spite of this disappointment to his ambitions Bob stresses that he had a wonderful time at Lockheed until his enforced demise ……..

Where were you born and where do you now live?
Born in Kenilworth and still live there

Which club did you support as a youngster and would do you follow today?
Coventry City through and through

When did you play for the Brakes?
For 1967 to 1973

Where did you start playing and who have you played for other than Brakes?
Started In 1962 for Abbey Rangers in Kenilworth. I’ve also played for Villa (A team and 1 game for the reserves), Walsall (A Team), Stratford, Nuneaton Boro, Warley and Kenilworth Rangers

How did you come to play for the Brakes?
Lockheed approached me while I was playing for Kenilworth Rangers

Name a few players you played with at the Brakes and which managers did you play under?
Players I played with were Peter Lawton, Sid Hall, Ray Holmes, Alan Vest, Bill Salmon,Kieth Shrimpton,  Managers, Sid Ottwell, Geoff Coleman and Jimmy Knox.

I believe you know Keith Orme the Brakes coach, how is this?
I met Keith while he was playing for (I think) Westlea Wanderers in the Sunday league and I was playing for Whittle Wanderers

How much were you paid when you played for the Brakes?
At the start of my Brakes career I got £5 per game plus £2 a win and £1 a draw.  It later rose to £9 per game

Did you win any trophies with the Brakes?
Yes,the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1970. We beat Burton Albion in the final

What was the highlight of your career?
Winning the Senior Cup and playing against such legends as Ivor Allchurch, Ron Flowers and Eddy Clamp.  Also playing against Coventry City in a pre-season friendly which we lost but I had a good game

What was the lowlight of your career?
Without doubt not being retained by the Brakes. After the final game I played for them at the Windmill against Racing Club in a charity match, realising I would never play here again I walked the full length of the pitch from goalmouth to goalmouth and don’t mind admitting it, I cried.

What were the circumstances in which you left the Brakes?
Towards the end of the 1972/73 season  Jimmy Knox told me on the coach back from an away game at Barry Town that he would be retaining me for the following season.  As you can imagine I was delighted about that.  However, one week later he changed his mind.  I was devastated.   A couple of years later though I bumped into him at a match and he admitted to me that he had made a mistake letting me go.

Can you remember your most memorable game for the Brakes?
The semi-final of the Birmingham Senior Cup in the year that we won it.  We beat Hednesford 1-0 away from home, a team that had not lost at home for over 2 years.  They were all over us but I saved everything they through at me!

Have you been involved in football in any way since you hung up your boots?
No I haven’t.  But Barry Powell the ex-Coventry player who’s a friend of mine has encouraged me to take a goalkeeping coarse which I intend to do later this year. Football hasn’t seen the last of me yet!.

What do you think of the current set up at the New Windmill?
It’s brilliant to see the re-birth of the old Leamington Town of which my grandad played for in the 1920’s and of the club that I enjoyed playing for so much.

Thanks to Bob and Nick for this excellent article.

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