Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Story courtesy of
Steve Daley, the footballer who once cost £1.25m, last night signed for Gresley Rovers.
The 34-year-old midfielder, whose transfer from Wolves to Manchester City in September 1979, set a British record, put pen to paper after watching Rovers’ 5-1 Derbyshire Senior Cup win over Derby Prims.The Moat Ground is the latest stop in a career that has taken the talented playmaker from Molineux to Main Road, where Malcolm Allison’s £1m man tag became an albatross he could never shake off, then on to Seattle Sounders in the United States, to Burnley, Walsall and last season to GM Vauxall Conference club Kettering Town.
The only snag in the Gresley deal is that Daley now has a job, which involves Saturday working.
Daley said last night: “I’m hoping to be able to get Saturdays off and start playing for Gresley as soon as possible. I’m very impressed by the whole set up and can’t wait to be part of it. You can see why Rovers are top of the Banks’s League and hopefully I’ll be able to help them stay there.
“The whole club is geared for success and there’s no reason why it should stop. Personally I’m very keen to play – you don’t lose your enthusiasm for the game overnight after 20 years.”
The signing marks the end of a personal crusade for Rovers boss Frank Northwood, who actually persuaded Daley to sign for Gresley last season although, in the end, the move fell through.
Said Daley: “I’ve know Frank for a long time and his thoughts on football are the same as mine. He’s has honest as the day is long and when he asked me to sign I was delighted to say yes.”
A delighted Northwood added: “I’ve been chasing Steve for a long time. He’s a class player who can put his foot on the ball and dictate things for us. I’m always looking for players to improve the squad and having Steve in the side should help increase our gates too.”
