Steve Guppy

Stephen Andrew Guppy (born 29 March 1969) is an English football player and coach.

Steve Guppy
Personal information
Full name Stephen Andrew Guppy[1]
Date of birth (1969-03-29) 29 March 1969
Place of birth Winchester, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1987–1989 Colden Common
1989 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1994 Wycombe Wanderers 178 (26)
1994 Newcastle United 0 (0)
1994–1997 Port Vale 105 (12)
1997–2001 Leicester City 146 (9)
2001–2004 Celtic 33 (0)
2004 Leicester City 15 (0)
2004 Leeds United 3 (1)
2004 Stoke City 4 (0)
2004–2005 Wycombe Wanderers 14 (1)
2005–2006 D.C. United 5 (0)
2006–2007 Stevenage Borough 27 (1)
2008 Rochester Rhinos 22 (0)
Total 552 (50)
National team
1990 England under-21 1 (0)
1993 England semi-pro
1998 England B 1 (0)
1999 England 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A winger, he started his senior career with Wycombe Wanderers in 1989, over a five-year period he made around 200 appearances for the club, helping Wycombe win promotion to the Football League. Earning a move to Newcastle United in 1994, later in the year he transferred to Port Vale. After three successful years at Vale he signed to Leicester City in 1997. After a four-year spell with the "Foxes" he moved to Scotland to play for Celtic. In 2004, he returned to Leicester, before brief spells with Leeds United, Stoke City, and another return to Wycombe. In 2005, he joined American club D.C. United, and after another year returned to the English non-league scene with Stevenage Borough. He then retired in 2008 following a spell back in the States with Rochester Rhinos.

As well as a successful nineteen-year club career, he earned England caps at under-21, semi-pro, 'B', and finally at full senior level.

Playing career

Club career

Guppy was spotted playing for his local team, Colden Common and offered a chance with Southampton in March 1989. He made a handful of appearances in the Saints reserves at the end of the 1988–89 season (but failed to break into the first team)[3] before moving to Jim Kelman's Wycombe Wanderers in September 1989.[4] He turned professional with Wycombe in 1992, at the age of 23.[5] Prior to turning pro he worked on building sites.[6]

At Wycombe, he first teamed up with newly appointed Martin O'Neill and helped take them into the English Football League as Conference champions in 1992–93 as well as completing the non-league double by winning the FA Trophy. He was a virtual ever-present in Wycombe's debut 1993–94 season in the Football League at the end of which they secured promotion to Second Division via the play-offs.

In August 1994, he was signed by Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United for a fee of £150,000.[4] He made one first team appearance as a substitute in the League Cup in Newcastle's 2–0 defeat of Manchester United.[5] He subsequently moved on to Port Vale in November 1994 for £225,000.[7] He later recalled seeing a local newspaper headline "‘Vale sign Premiership star’ and I thought ‘Great! Who else have they signed?’ but of course the headline was about me. I thought – but I’ve only played a handful of games in the Premiership I’m hardly a star!"[8] Vale was a step down, but another top manager - in the form of John Rudge, helped him focus on being a first team performer again.[5] He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa. In nearly three seasons at the then First Division club he became a firm fan favourite and is now classed a club legend after his memorable performances on the left wing.

In February 1997 he was tracked down by his former boss Martin O'Neill, who paid £850,000 to take him to Premier League club Leicester City for the first time.[4] He was cup-tied for their victory in the 1997 Football League Cup Final.[9] It was in his first spell with the Foxes that he was most successful, playing in over 140 matches under O'Neill. He gained League Cup honours with Leicester City in 2000, having also reached the final in the previous season.

In August 2001, Guppy re-joined O'Neill at Celtic for £700,000,[10] where he spent two-and-a-half years.[4] During his time at Celtic, they won the Scottish Premier League. After being released by Celtic in January 2004 he temporarily re-joined Leicester City but left them in the summer of 2004, to try to get to the US to play.[11] He then spent a brief spell at Leeds United in August 2004,[12] scoring once against Nottingham Forest,[13] before gaining a short-term deal at Stoke City[14] followed by a short spell back at Wycombe,[4][15] scoring once against Swansea City.[16] He moved to the United States[17] but his short stint in Major League Soccer with Washington-based D.C. United was ended prematurely due to injury, and he was released by the club after playing in just five league games in which he was featured in a starting line-up alongside Freddy Adu in midfield.

In August 2006 he signed for Stevenage Borough,[18] scoring his first goal for them in a 1–1 draw at Exeter City.[19] With Jeff Kenna, Guppy became the first player to play at both the new Wembley and the old Wembley.[5] This was achieved on 12 May 2007 when Kidderminster Harriers played Borough in the 2007 final of the FA Trophy at the new Wembley Stadium. Borough won 3–2 despite being 2–0 down at half time; Craig Dobson, who replaced Guppy on 63 minutes, scored the equalizing goal.[20] Due to Stevenage winning, Guppy became the first ever person to win medals at both the old and new Wembley Stadium.[5]

In 2008, he headed for America again, signing with the Rochester Rhinos as Player and Assistant Coach. Guppy logged 1,520 minutes of playing time in 21 league matches, starting in most of his appearances. He tallied two assists, both of which came off of his trademark crosses from the left wing. Guppy's first goal for the Rhinos came off of a header on 26 September in the final 10 minutes of the first-round, first leg play-off tie against the Charleston Battery.

International career

It was whilst at Leicester that he gained his only England cap, playing against Belgium on 10 October 1999.[4][21] Manager Kevin Keegan described him as "a little bit like a left-sided David Beckham".[22] Guppy remains the only footballer to have played for England under-21, England semi-pro, England B and the full England teams.

Style of play

Port Vale player and lifelong fan Tom Pope described Guppy as "a very tricky winger, one who could go on the inside or the outside", and a player with good crossing ability.[23] In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of the OneValeFan supporter website.[24]

Coaching career

After a season as player-coach at Rochester, Guppy was recruited for the position of assistant coach to Gary Smith at Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids. Having had one more year on his coaching contract with the Rochester Rhinos, Rochester released Guppy from his duties, allowing him to move onto a higher level of coaching. He was assistant coach at the Colorado Rapids for three years, from 2009 to 2012. During his time at the club the Rapids lifted the MLS Cup in 2010. He left the club when the Rapids parted company with Gary Smith in November 2011.[25] In March 2012, Guppy reunited with his old boss Martin O'Neill at Sunderland to work as a part-time coach, giving extra specialised sessions on technical work to "Black Cats" young players.[26] A few months later he settled into the role on a full-time basis.[27]

In April 2013, Guppy followed O'Neill out of Sunderland as incoming manager Paolo Di Canio appointed his own coaching staff.[28] In 2014, he joined O'Neill's coaching staff to specifically coach the wingers and strikers of the Republic of Ireland national side.[29] He helped former teammate Neil Aspin to coach Port Vale during 2018–19 pre-season.[30] O'Neill was sacked by Ireland in November 2018 following relegation out of the UEFA Nations League B Group 3, and Guppy also lost his position.[31]

Club statistics

Club

Source:[32]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wycombe Wanderers[33] 1989–90 Conference 304304
1990–91 Conference 301301
1991–92 Conference 397397
1992–93 Conference 386386
1993–94Third Division418301425810
Total 178263014219528
Newcastle United1994–95Premier League00001010
Port Vale1994–95First Division2721000282
1995–96First Division44460101605
1996–97First Division3461050406
Total 105128015112813
Leicester City1996–97Premier League1300000130
1997–98Premier League3722030422
1998–99Premier League3842180485
1999–2000Premier League3022050372
2000–01Premier League2813030341
Total 14699119017410
Celtic2001–02Scottish Premier League1602050230
2002–03Scottish Premier League1702060250
2003–04Scottish Premier League00001010
Total 33040120490
Leicester City2003–04Premier League1500000150
Leeds United2004–05Championship31001041
Stoke City2004–05Championship40000040
Wycombe Wanderers2004–05League Two1411010161
D.C. United[33] 2005 Major League Soccer 5050
Stevenage Borough[33] 2006–07 Conference National 271271
Rochester Rhinos[33] 2008 USL First Division 220220
Career total 5525025163364054

International

Source:[33]

National teamYearAppsGoals
England 199910
Total10

Honours

Wycombe Wanderers

Port Vale

Leicester City

Celtic

Stevenage Borough

Individual

References
  1. "Steve Guppy". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. Steve Guppy at Soccerbase
  3. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. p. 612. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
  4. "Steve Guppy - Player File". Chairboys on the Net. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  5. "Steve Guppy: Final odyssey of a one-cap wonder". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  6. "Guppy love". BBC Sport. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  7. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 121. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  8. "Guppy: I loved beating Stoke!". onevalefan.co.uk. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  9. "Guppy the Left Flank Artist". Independent. 24 January 1999. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  10. "Sylla and Guppy for Celtic". BBC Sport. 1 August 2001. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  11. "Foxes release 13 players". BBC Sport. 17 May 2004. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  12. "Leeds release midfield duo". BBC Sport. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  13. "Leeds 1–1 Nottm Forest". BBC. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  14. "Guppy signs for Stoke". BBC Sport. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  15. "Guppy rejoins Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  16. "Swansea 2–2 Wycombe". BBC. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  17. "Guppy leaves Wycombe for US move". BBC Sport. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  18. "Stevenage sign Guppy and Morison". BBC Sport. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  19. "Exeter 1–1 Stevenage". BBC. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  20. Hughes, Ian (12 May 2007). "Kidderminster 2–3 Stevenage". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  21. "England v Belgium 199". England Stats. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  22. Moore, Glenn (21 September 2011). "Guppy a 'left-sided Beckham' says Keegan". The Independent. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  23. Pope, Tom (28 July 2017). "We're are almost ready for big kick off says Port Vale star". Stoke Sentinel. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  24. Fielding, Rob (26 May 2019). "This is the OVF viewers all-time Port Vale XI". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  25. "Coaching fallout in Colorado could lead to assistants". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  26. "SAFC boss Martin O'Neill brings in Steve Guppy". Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  27. Anderson, Graeme (18 July 2012). "Steve Guppy joins Sunderland full-time". Jarrow and Hebburn Gazette. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  28. Wardle, John (2 April 2013). "'I am unique one' says Paolo Di Canio on arrival as Sunderland manager". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  29. "O'Neill's backroom team – The men behind the duo". Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  30. Baggaley, Michael (28 June 2018). "Port Vale legend Steve Guppy coaching Valiants' wingers". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  31. Baggaley, Michael (21 November 2018). "Port Vale hero Steve Guppy loses job with Republic of Ireland". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  32. Steve Guppy at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  33. "Steve Guppy". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  34. "Anglo-Italian Cup 1995/96". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
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