Steve Cherry

Steven Richard Cherry (born 5 August 1960) is an English former footballer. A goalkeeper, he made 542 league appearances in a 24-year career in the Football League, playing in all four divisions of the league.

Steve Cherry
Personal information
Full name Steven Richard Cherry[1]
Date of birth (1960-08-05) 5 August 1960[1]
Place of birth Nottingham, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1975–1978 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1984 Derby County 77 (0)
1980–1981 → Port Vale (loan) 4 (0)
1984–1986 Walsall 71 (0)
1986–1989 Plymouth Argyle 73 (0)
1988–1989 → Chesterfield (loan) 10 (0)
1988–1995 Notts County 266 (0)
1995 Watford 4 (0)
1995–1996 Plymouth Argyle 16 (0)
1996–1997 Rotherham United 20 (0)
1997–1998 Rushden & Diamonds 18 (0)
1998–1999 Mansfield Town 1 (0)
1998 → Stalybridge Celtic (loan) 10 (0)
1999–2000 Oldham Athletic 0 (0)
2003–2003 Lincoln City 0 (0)
2003–2004 Kidsgrove Athletic
2004–200? Belper Town
Total 570 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career at Derby County in 1979. Loaned out to Port Vale in November 1980, he won the first team jersey at Derby, and was voted Player of the Year in 1983. Sold on to Walsall for a £25,000 fee in August 1984, he was moved on to Plymouth Argyle for a £17,000 fee in October 1986. He was voted Plymouth's Player of the Year in 1988, before he was sold on to Notts County in February 1989 for a £70,000 fee, following a short loan spell with Chesterfield. He helped Neil Warnock's County to win successive promotions from the Third Division to the First Division via the play-offs in 1990 and 1991, and was named as the club's Player of the Year in 1992. He moved on to Watford in July 1995, before rejoining Plymouth Argyle in February 1996. He helped the club win the Third Division play-offs in 1996, his third such success with Neil Warnock. He then saw out his career with brief stays at Rotherham United, Rushden & Diamonds, Mansfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Oldham Athletic, Lincoln City, Kidsgrove Athletic, and Belper Town. He later coached at Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town.

Playing career

Cherry started his career with Derby County, who lost their First Division status at the end of the 1979–80 season. He joined Port Vale on loan in November 1980.[1] Manager John McGrath had sold regular custodian Trevor Dance, and was forced to enter the loan market after Mark Harrison was struck down with injury.[1] Cherry was in goal for four Fourth Division and four FA Cup games.[1] In his final game for the "Valiants" he conceded 'a comic goal' in a devastating 3–0 defeat at non-league Enfield in a Third Round FA Cup Replay on 6 January 1981, a game that was televised.[1][3] He managed to put his experience at Vale Park behind him though, and played 77 league games for Derby. The "Rams" finished sixth and 16th in the Second Division in 1980–81 and 1981–82 under Colin Addison's stewardship. Despite Peter Taylor's best efforts, the almost bankrupt club finished 13th in 1982–83 before suffering relegation in 20th place in 1983–84. Cherry was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1983.

Cherry left the Baseball Ground in August 1984, after new boss Arthur Cox sold him on to Walsall for a £25,000 fee.[4] The "Saddlers" finished 11th in the Third Division in 1984–85. Alan Buckley took the Fellows Park club up to sixth in 1985–86, before he sold Cherry on to Plymouth Argyle for a £17,000 fee in October 1986.[4] The "Pilgrims" missed out on the Second Division play-offs by three points in 1986–87. However they dropped down to 16th in 1987–88, and manager Dave Smith left Home Park at the end of the campaign. Despite having been voted Player of the Year, new boss Ken Brown loaned Cherry out to Chesterfield midway through the 1988–89 campaign. He played ten Third Division games for the "Spireites", before he was sold on to Notts County in February 1989 for a £70,000 fee.[4]

County narrowly missed out on the Third Division play-offs at the end of the season before qualifying for the play-offs after finishing third in 1989–90. They won the play-off final with a 2–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley. Manager Neil Warnock then took the club to a second successive promotion, as County finished fourth in the Second Division in 1990–91, before beating Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 in the play-off final. County also reached the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, beating top-flight Manchester City 1–0 in the previous round in a game where Cherry was remembered for a "heroic performance".[5] Cherry was named as the club's Player of the Year in 1991–92, as the "Magpies" were relegated out of the top-flight in 21st place. They finished 17th in the second tier in 1992–93, before new boss Mick Walker took the club to three points outside the play-offs in 1993–94. Cherry's last season at Meadow Lane, 1994–95, saw a managerial merry-go-round as Walker begat Russell Slade, who begat Howard Kendall, who begat Steve Nicol – County were relegated in last place at the end of the campaign.

He signed for Glenn Roeder's Watford in July 1995, but featured in just four First Division matches in 1995–96 as Kevin Miller was the club's regular custodian.[4] Graham Taylor replaced Roeder as manager in February 1996, and Cherry left Vicarage Road to return to former club Plymouth Argyle, in a move that reunited him with former boss Neil Warnock. He kept a clean sheet for Plymouth in the Third Division play-off final at Wembley, as his team won promotion with a 1–0 victory over Darlington. Cherry then moved on to Rotherham United, after being offered a first team contract at the Don Valley Stadium by management duo Archie Gemmill and John McGovern. He played 23 league and cup games for the "Millers", who went on to suffer relegation out of the Second Division at the end of the 1996–97 season. He joined Rushden & Diamonds in March 1997, and played 18 Conference games under manager Brian Talbot in 1997–98 and 1998–99.[6] He left Nene Park in September 1997, and had brief non-contract spells at Mansfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic (on loan), Oldham Athletic, and Lincoln City.[6] Cherry later played for non-league sides Kidsgrove Athletic, and Belper Town.[6]

Coaching career

Cherry spent some time as Lincoln City's goalkeeping coach.[7] He was appointed as goalkeeping coach at Macclesfield Town in July 2008, but left the job in May 2010 after an illness required that he undergo heart surgery.[4]

Statistics

Source:[8][9]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County 1979–80 First Division 40000040
1980–81 Second Division 00000000
1981–82 Second Division 40400080
1982–83 Second Division 3103020360
1983–84 Second Division 3805020450
Total 7708050900
Port Vale (loan) 1980–81 Fourth Division 40400080
Walsall 1984–85 Third Division 41030100540
1985–86 Third Division 3004060400
Total 71070160840
Plymouth Argyle 1986–87 Second Division 2101000220
1987–88 Second Division 3703010410
1988–89 Second Division 1501040200
Total 7305050830
Chesterfield (loan) 1988–89 Third Division 1000030130
Notts County 1988–89 Third Division 1800000180
1989–90 Third Division 46010120590
1990–91 Second Division 4604090590
1991–92 First Division 4203050500
1992–93 First Division 4401040490
1993–94 First Division 45030120600
1994–95 First Division 2502060330
Total 26601404803280
Watford 1995–96 First Division 40000040
Plymouth Argyle 1995–96 Third Division 1600030190
Rotherham United 1996–97 First Division 2000030230
Mansfield Town 1998–99 Third Division 10000010
Oldham Athletic 1998–99 Second Division 00000000
Stalybridge Celtic (loan)[10] 1998–99 Conference 1000000100
Career total 55203808306730

Honours
Individual
Notts County
Plymouth Argyle
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 60. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 158. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Fielding, Rob (4 June 2019). "Port Vale Fail 1: Steve Cherry". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. "Profile" (PDF). watfordfcarchive.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  5. "Former Magpies keeper relives finest hour against City in the FA Cup". Nottingham Post. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  6. "Steve Cherry". thediamondsfc.com. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  7. Alan Marriott says Scott Loach's dedication is behind the keeper's rise to the top, thisislincolnshire.co.uk
  8. Steve Cherry at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  9. Steve Cherry at Soccerbase
  10. "Stalybridge Celtic - Official Site - Player Profile Steve Cherry". www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
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