Steve Sidwell facts for kids
Sidwell playing for Stoke City in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steven James Sidwell | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Wandsworth, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Chipstead | |||
| 1997–2001 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2003 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | → Brentford (loan) | 30 | (4) |
| 2002 | → Beveren (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 12 | (5) |
| 2003–2007 | Reading | 168 | (29) |
| 2007–2008 | Chelsea | 15 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Aston Villa | 45 | (3) |
| 2011–2014 | Fulham | 92 | (14) |
| 2014–2016 | Stoke City | 13 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 34 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | Enfield Town | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 425 | (57) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2003 | England U21 | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Steven James Sidwell (born on December 14, 1982) is a former English footballer. He played as a midfielder, which is a player who helps both defend and attack on the field.
Steve Sidwell started his football journey at the Arsenal youth academy. He won two important youth cups there. Later, he gained valuable experience playing on loan at Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.
He became well-known while playing for Reading in the Championship. He helped Reading get promoted to the Premier League for the very first time in the 2005–06 season. After that, he played for big clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa, Fulham, and Stoke City. He finished his career with a two-year spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, retiring in 2018.
Contents
Steve Sidwell's Football Journey
Early Days at Arsenal
Steve Sidwell was born in Wandsworth, London. He joined the Arsenal football club when he was just 9 years old. He was part of the youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001.
In the 2001–02 season, Steve played on loan for Brentford. He played 35 games and scored four goals. The next season, 2002–03, he went on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion. There, he scored five goals in 12 games. Even though he did well on loan, he never played for Arsenal's main team.
Success with Reading
In January 2003, Sidwell moved to Reading. He quickly made an impact, scoring two goals in his second game for the club. In his first season, Reading reached the play-offs but didn't get promoted.
Sidwell continued to play well for Reading. In the 2004–05 season, he was even named in the PFA Team of the Year, which means he was one of the best players in his league. The 2005–06 season was amazing for Reading. They won the Championship with a huge 106 points, earning promotion to the Premier League for the first time ever! Sidwell scored ten goals that season and was again named in the PFA Team of the Year.
In the 2006–07 season, Reading played in the Premier League. Sidwell scored important goals, including two against Aston Villa. He played 37 games and helped Reading finish in a great 8th position.
Time at Chelsea
On July 1, 2007, Steve Sidwell joined Chelsea on a free transfer. He was excited to play alongside top players like Michael Essien and Frank Lampard. He made his league debut for Chelsea in August 2007.
He scored his only goal for Chelsea in a League Cup match against Hull City. However, it was tough for him to get a regular spot in Chelsea's starting team because there were so many talented midfielders. He played 25 games in total for Chelsea during the 2007–08 season.
Moving to Aston Villa
In July 2008, Sidwell signed a three-year deal with Aston Villa. He scored his first Premier League goal for Villa in a 4–0 win against Wigan Athletic. He also scored against Middlesbrough and Everton.
During his time at Villa, he faced some injuries, including a calf injury, a knee injury, and a hamstring injury. He played 25 games in the 2008–09 season, helping Villa finish in 6th place. In the 2009–10 season, he played 33 games, but many of these were as a substitute. He continued to deal with Achilles tendon injuries in the 2010–11 season.
Playing for Fulham
On January 7, 2011, Sidwell joined Fulham. He signed a contract that was later extended until 2014. He scored goals against Liverpool and Arsenal in his first season with Fulham.
In the 2011–12 season, his season ended early due to a hernia injury. He returned strong in the 2012–13 season, scoring a penalty in a 5–0 win against Norwich City. He also scored late goals against West Bromwich Albion and Everton.
In the 2013–14 season, Sidwell's performance improved a lot under new manager René Meulensteen. He even became captain for a short time in February 2014. However, Fulham had a tough season and were relegated from the Premier League. Sidwell left Fulham in May 2014.
Time at Stoke City
On June 9, 2014, Sidwell joined Stoke City on a two-year contract. He was excited to play for Stoke and work with manager Mark Hughes. He made his debut for Stoke in August 2014.
However, he found it hard to get a regular starting spot due to strong competition from other players. In December 2014, he tore a knee ligament, which kept him out for a while. He made 16 appearances for Stoke in the 2014–15 season. He was released by Stoke at the end of the 2015–16 season.
Return to Brighton & Hove Albion
On January 25, 2016, Sidwell returned to Brighton & Hove Albion on loan. He played 18 games and scored once. Brighton finished 3rd in the Championship that season.
After leaving Stoke, Sidwell signed a permanent one-year contract with Brighton. In November 2016, he scored an amazing goal from 50 yards away! He played a big part in Brighton's success as they earned automatic promotion to the Premier League. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2017–18 season due to back and ankle injuries.
Retirement and New Roles
Steve Sidwell announced his retirement as a player in August 2018. He then took on new roles at Brighton & Hove Albion as an ambassador and a youth development coach. This means he helps represent the club and works with young players.
He is also a regular co-host on "That Peter Crouch Podcast" with Peter Crouch and Chris Stark. This show is very popular in the UK.
International Career
Steve Sidwell played for England at the youth level. In 2001, he played for the England U20 team. In 2003, he made his debut for the England U21 team and played five games for them.
Personal Life
Steve Sidwell married Krystell on June 19, 2005. He even got a tattoo of his wedding vows on his back!
He has a sister named Louise and a brother named Lee. His brother Lee also played football for AFC Wimbledon. Steve grew up supporting Crystal Palace but started following Arsenal after joining their academy as a schoolboy.
Honours and Awards
Steve Sidwell achieved several honours during his career:
- Arsenal Youth
- FA Youth Cup: 2000, 2001
- Reading
- Football League Championship: 2005–06 (Champions)
- Aston Villa
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2009–10
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- EFL Championship runner-up: 2016–17 (Promoted to Premier League)
- Individual Awards
- PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 (Championship), 2005–06 (Championship)
- Football League Championship Player of the Month: September 2004
See also
In Spanish: Steve Sidwell para niños
