JOHNNY STEELE - AN OAKWELL LEGEND from officail web site

Thought it appropriate for all fans to be informed just in case it was missed.</p>

Was a such a huge part in BARNSLEY'S History as a manager and a player.</p>

JOHNNY STEELE - AN OAKWELL LEGEND
Posted on: Tue 15 Jan 2008

BARNSLEY Football Club have been saddened to learn of the passing of Oakwell legend Johnny Steele, aged 91.

A true JOHNNY STEELE - AN OAKWELL LEGENDstalwart, Johnny Steele died on January 14, 2008.

Born in Glasgow on November 24, 1916, Johnny arrived at Oakwell following a spell with Ayr United prior to the 1938/39 campaign. He scored 17 goals in his debut season at Oakwell as the Reds stormed to the Division Three (North) title. The following campaign lasted just three games before the intervention of the Second World War.


Although working at Wharncliffe Colliery, Johnny turned out for the Reds in the Regional League until he joined the Royal Air Force in 1941. He still featured for Barnsley until a posting to Arbroath effectively ended his Oakwell playing career. His time with the Royal Air Force included a posting to the Bay of Bengal although a knee injury sustained playing at Oakwell in 1942 limited him to just three games for the RAF's representative teams.

After returning to Barnsley in 1946, Johnny continued to ply his trade at Oakwell although the damage to his knee limited his appearances. Johnny made make 50 first team appearances, netting 21 goals, for the Club in all competitions.

Johnny was handed a coaching role in 1946 and took over the Club's youth team. It was a bold decision by then boss Angus Seed but one that paid immediate dividends as Johnny's crop of youngsters went on to have excellent careers with the Reds and higher.

He was given the first team manager's job in 1960 - although he admitted he didn't really want it - and went on to hold the post for eleven years. In 1970 Johnny was appointed general manager and, although he relinquished control of the first team a year later, he was also appointed Club Secretary until retiring in 1982.

Johnny's first spell as manager, between March 1960 and September 1971, saw his take control of 558 matches. He won 196, drew 147 and lost 215. He also had a second spell as caretaker between November 1978 and April 1973, during which the Reds played 23 games, winning six, drawing eight and losing nine.

He was granted a testimonial match in 1977, which saw a Barnsley side take on a team selected by the then England manager Don Revie.

Following his retirement from the roles of general manager and secretary, Johnny was co-opted onto the Board of Directors at Oakwell and served for two years before being made one of the Oakwell club's life vice-presidents.

Barnsley Football Club would like to pass on its sincere condolences to Johnny's family and friends at this time.
ONLINE BOOK OF CONDOLENCE - JOHNNY STEELE
Posted on: Tue 15 Jan 2008

THE Official Barnsley Football Club Website has opened an online book of condolence following the passing of Oakwell legend Johnny Steele.

<font size="3" face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Supporters can e-mail their messages to</font> <font size="4" color="#ff0033">website@barnsleyfc.co.uk</font> and we will publish them below before printing off the list to give to Mr Steele's family at a later date.</p>

see official web site</p>

 

RIP Johnny, cheers for the service to our great club nt