Super striker Steve makes welcome appearance at our Sandhurst Club


Earlier this year, our club based in Sandhurst in Hampshire welcomed former Chelsea and Sheffield United forward Steve Finnieston to their weekly session.

The Scottish striker (pictured in the centre of the top row) who scored over 30 goals for Chelsea during the 1970s was on hand to share details about his career, including facing some famous players of the time. Below is a report from the session from one of English Trustees, Gareth Heard.

There may be many sporting favourites living within a short radius of every Sporting Memories club, but making contact with them and then persuading them to come and meet the group can prove to be difficult. Fortunately, when such a meeting does take place, the experience can be rewarding for both club members and the sporting figure involved.

Such was the case this summer when the Sandhurst Sporting Memories club had the pleasure of a visit from Steve Finnieston, a former professional footballer for Chelsea and Sheffield United in the mid-to-late 1970 era.

Steve entertained the club members by displaying some of his memorabilia showing him playing alongside such stars of the day as Peter Bonetti, Ron Harris, Ray Wilkins and managed by Eddie McCreadie. Steve’s best season of his career was in 1976/77 when he helped Chelsea to promotion back to the top division, being the top scorer at the club including a hat-trick against Hull City in the final fixture.

Steve happily chatted to members and answered questions, and he also posed a number of challenges himself, as he asked members to name the footballers in his collection of photographs.

The most memorable photograph shown was that of Steve playing against George Best and Bobby Moore in their Fulham days. Although playing down his own success, Steve talked with great pride about scoring two goals against a great Liverpool side in the 1977/78 campaign, which was the year the Reds Liverpool went on to win the European Cup.

Sadly, Steve’s professional career was curtailed at Sheffield United after suffering a severe injury, but despite this he continued to play at non-league level for Hartley Wintney.

Everyone at the Sandhurst club would like to share their gratitude to Steve for keeping us all enthralled for the time he was with us and he is welcome back any time!

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