Steve Brooker

Steve Brooker

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Michael Lord Brooker [1]
Date of birth	(1981-05-21) 21 May 1981 (age 42) [2]
Place of birth	Newport Pagnell, England [2]
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [2]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1997–1999	Watford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2001	Watford	1	(0)
2001	→ Port Vale (loan)	2	(0)
2001–2004	Port Vale	129	(36)
2004–2009	Bristol City	101	(37)
2008	→ Cheltenham Town (loan)	14	(5)
2008	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	1	(1)
2009–2011	Doncaster Rovers	13	(1)
2012	Buxton
Total		261	(80)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stephen Michael Lord Brooker (born 21 May 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. He scored 86 goals from 294 league and cup appearances in a 12-year professional career.

He began his career with Watford in 1999, before moving on to Port Vale in 2001, following a short loan spell. With Vale he won the Football League Trophy in 2001. He transferred to Bristol City in 2004, where he would spend the next five years. In 2008, he spent time on loan at both Cheltenham Town and Doncaster Rovers, before he joined Doncaster permanently in 2009. He spent two years with the club before he was released due to injury concerns. He signed with Buxton in October 2012.

Career

Brooker came through the youth system at Watford before joining Port Vale, initially on loan, in January 2001. He was signed by manager Brian Horton on the recommendation of coach Martin Foyle (who would succeed Horton as manager in February 2004). ^[3] He signed permanently two weeks later on a two-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee of £15,000. ^[4] Other clubs were reportedly interested in the player after his impressive loan stint, but Watford manager Graham Taylor stuck to the original transfer terms agreed upon before the loan began. ^[5] He helped the "Valiants" to lift the 2001 Football League Trophy after he scored past Brentford in the final. ^[6]

Forced to undergo a hernia operation at the start of the 2002–03 season, ^[7] he recovered to score five goals in thirty games. After he recovered from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss a month at the start of the 2003–04 season, ^{[8] [9]} he went on to finish the campaign with eight goals in 34 games.

He started the 2004–05 season in tremendous form, scoring for four successive league games in August, including a brace past Hull City. With his contract up in the summer, ^[10] the next month he was sold to Bristol City for a fee of £225,000. ^[11] This came days after fans were told he was not for sale and would not be moving by Vale chairman Bill Bratt – a statement that convinced City chairman Stephen Lansdown that "we must now look elsewhere." ^[12] He went on to have a highly successful season with City, scoring sixteen goals for the club, despite suffering from a broken toe. ^[13] This gave him a total of 21 goals for both Vale and City in 2004–05, and won him another year on his contract with City. ^[14] This extended deal quashed rumours of a move to Norwich City. ^[15]

He was both the club's Player of the Season and top scorer in the 2005–06 season with sixteen league goals, one of these goals came against former club Port Vale after the player claimed that the boo-boys at Vale Park inspired him to find the net. ^[16] His form helped the club go from bottom of the league in December, ^[17] to finish just six points shy of the play-offs. He was rewarded with a new deal with the club, despite having two years remaining on his existing contract. ^[18]

He scored three goals in 27 games during City's 2006–07 promotion-winning campaign. However, on his release from prison in September he found himself battling a catalogue of injuries, ^[19] that would go on to plague him for several years. He missed the start of the campaign with hamstring and knee injuries, ^{[20] [21]} and picked up a further knee injury in April, ^[22] which caused him to miss the club's pre-season tour of Latvia. ^{[23] [24]}

He missed much of the 2007–08 season after being forced to undergo two knee operations. ^{[25] [26] [27] [28]} In January Brooker was made available for a loan spell to regain fitness, and twenty clubs put in offers. ^[29] After recovering from illness and a further back injury, ^{[30] [31]} he joined Keith Downing's League One side Cheltenham Town on a one-month loan. ^{[32] [33]} This deal was later extended by another month. ^[34] Playing fourteen games with the "Robins", he scored his five goals for the club in the space of six matches, ^[35] helping the club to avoid relegation into League Two. His form persuaded manager Gary Johnson to re-call him to Bristol. ^{[36] [37]} On his return to City he scored an emotional late goal against Norwich to send his club top of the table; ^{[38] [39]} however, the "Reds" would have to settle with a play-off place. Overall, he played just four games of the club's march to the play-off final with Hull City, and was not named on the teamsheet in the final itself. Cheltenham were hopeful of signing the striker in the summer, ^[40] but were denied the chance to have him back on loan, ^[41] despite City having six strikers on the books. ^[42]

He started the 2008–09 season well by coming off the bench to get the late winners at Blackpool, ^[43] Peterborough United, ^[44] and Coventry City. ^[45] However, he was then struck down by an Achilles injury. ^[46] On the November loan window deadline day, he joined Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan with a view to a permanent deal. ^[47] He came on as a substitute for his Rovers debut against Watford and scored with his first touch to give his new team a 1–1 draw. ^[48] However, he suffered a tore calf muscle in training and returned to Ashton Gate. ^{[49] [50]} He returned to Rovers permanently for an undisclosed fee in January 2009, penning a two and a half-year deal despite not being fully fit. ^[51] He was initially expected to be rested for two weeks, ^[52] but soon found himself out of action on a long-term basis after requiring an operation to fix an ankle injury. ^[53]

He missed the entirety of the 2009–10 campaign with his injury problems. In the 2010–11 campaign he finally made his second appearance for the club, and on 30 April, Brooker scored his second goal for "Donny" when he blasted a 25 half-volley into the net to earn his club a 1–1 draw with Leicester City – the point ensured his club safety from relegation. ^[54] However, he was still released from the club at the end of the season. ^[55]

In October 2012 he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Buxton, after training with the "Bucks" for several weeks trying to build his fitness up. ^[56] The club finished seventh in 2012–13.

Style of play

Brooker was a forward with aggression and strength. ^[57]

Personal life

On 1 September 2006, Brooker was sentenced to prison for 28 days for his part in a 2005 nightclub brawl, ^[58] which also saw his Bristol City teammates Bradley Orr and David Partridge imprisoned. ^[59] Two weeks later, he and Orr were released on licence, having served half of their original sentence in custody. ^[60] The sentence was described by City chairman Stephen Lansdown as 'harsh'. ^[61]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Watford	1999–2000 [62]	Premier League	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	2000–01 [63]	First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Port Vale	2000–01 [63]	Second Division	23	9	0	0	0	0	5 [lower-alpha 1]	2 [lower-alpha 1]	28	11
	2001–02 [64]	Second Division	41	9	2	1	2	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	1 [lower-alpha 1]	48	11
	2002–03 [65]	Second Division	26	5	1	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	30	5
	2003–04 [66]	Second Division	32	8	1	0	1	0	0	0	34	8
	2004–05 [67]	League One	9	5	0	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	11	5
	Total		131	36	4	1	5	0	11	3	151	40
Bristol City	2004–05 [67]	League One	33	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	34	16
	2005–06 [68]	League One	37	16	1	0	1	0	0	0	39	16
	2006–07 [69]	League One	23	2	2	1	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	27	3
	2007–08 [70]	Championship	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
	2008–09 [71]	Championship	4	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	6	3
	Total		101	37	4	1	3	1	2	0	110	39
Cheltenham Town (loan)	2007–08 [70]	League One	14	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	5
Doncaster Rovers	2008–09 [71]	Championship	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
	2009–10 [72]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2010–11 [73]	Championship	13	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	16	1
	Total		14	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	17	2
Career total [lower-alpha 2]			261	80	11	2	9	1	13	3	294	86

1. Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
2. Statistics for Buxton not recorded.

Honours

Port Vale

• Football League Trophy: 2000–01 ^[74]

Bristol City

• Football League One second-place promotion: 2006–07

Individual

• Bristol City Player of the Season: 2005–06

References

1. "Profile". footballzz.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2001/02". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
3. Fielding, Rob (19 March 2020). "Five of the best Port Vale signings by Martin Foyle". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
4. "Port Vale". The Guardian. 25 April 2001. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
5. Baggaley, Mike (22 January 2024). "Assessing the squad as Port Vale prepare for transfer deals". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
6. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport . 22 April 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
7. "Brooker blow for Vale". BBC Sport . 21 September 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
8. "Brooker blow for Vale". BBC Sport . 7 October 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
9. "Brooker boost for Vale". BBC Sport . 6 November 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
10. "City still want Brooker". BBC Sport . 2 September 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
11. "Robins clinch Brooker deal". BBC Sport . 29 September 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
12. "Vale reject Brooker bid". BBC Sport . 8 September 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
13. "Striker Brooker has toe dilemma". BBC Sport . 16 December 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
14. "Brooker extends Bristol City deal". BBC Sport . 5 July 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
15. "City reject Norwich-Brooker link". BBC Sport . 16 June 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
16. "Vale boo-boys inspire City star". BBC Sport . 18 December 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
17. "Brooker embarrassed at City's woe". BBC Sport . 7 December 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
18. "Brooker set for new City contract". BBC Sport . 20 May 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
19. "Brooker faces hamstring lay-off". BBC Sport . 25 September 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
20. "Brooker forced to delay comeback". BBC Sport . 19 October 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
21. "Brooker must delay comeback again". BBC Sport . 9 November 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
22. "Brooker makes return from injury". BBC Sport . 6 December 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
23. "Bristol City suffer Brooker blow". BBC Sport . 5 July 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
24. "Brooker back training with City". BBC Sport . 16 August 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
25. "Brooker out to prove his fitness". BBC Sport . 15 February 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
26. "Johnson tells Brooker not to rush". BBC Sport . 11 December 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
27. "Brooker targets return to action". BBC Sport . 17 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
28. "Brooker to have second operation". BBC Sport . 12 September 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
29. "City get 20 loan bids for Brooker". BBC Sport . 7 January 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
30. "Brooker stays put until fully fit". BBC Sport . 9 January 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
31. "City cautious over Brooker return". BBC Sport . 15 February 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
32. "Cheltenham complete double swoop". BBC Sport . 11 January 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
33. "Cheltenham complete double swoop". BBC Sport . 11 January 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
34. "Brooker extends Cheltenham stay". BBC Sport . 14 February 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
35. "Cheltenham 1-0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport . 15 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
36. "Brooker boosted by Bristol return". BBC Sport . 21 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
37. "Johnson recalls striker Brooker". BBC Sport . 18 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
38. "Bristol City 2-1 Norwich". BBC Sport . 29 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
39. "Brooker emotional at late winner". BBC Sport . 31 March 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
40. "Doncaster Rovers to release Brooker & Webster". BBC Sport . 8 July 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
41. "Cheltenham fail with Brooker bid". BBC Sport . 11 July 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
42. "Robins to keep strikers - Johnson". BBC Sport . 30 October 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
43. "Blackpool 0-1 Bristol City". BBC Sport . August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
44. "Bristol City 2-1 Peterborough". BBC Sport . 12 August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
45. "Coventry 0-3 Bristol City". BBC Sport . 23 August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
46. "Brooker scores twice on comeback". BBC Sport . 11 November 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
47. "Doncaster sign up Brooker on loan". BBC Sport . 28 November 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
48. "Watford 1-1 Doncaster". BBC Sport . 29 November 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
49. "Brooker Returns To Bristol City". doncasterroversfc.co.uk. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
50. "Brooker returns to Bristol City". BBC Sport . 3 December 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
51. "Brooker completes Doncaster move". BBC Sport . 28 January 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
52. "Brooker hopes for Doncaster move". BBC Sport . 7 January 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
53. "Op rules Brooker out for season". BBC Sport . 3 March 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
54. "Doncaster 1 - 1 Leicester". BBC Sport . 30 April 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
55. "Doncaster Rovers to release Brooker & Webster". BBC Sport . 17 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
56. "Buxton bring in Brooker". NonLeagueDaily.com. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
57. Baggaley, Michael (26 April 2020). "Tom Pope - Why Port Vale LDV winners were heroes to this 15-year-old". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
58. "Fourth player quizzed after brawl". BBC News. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
59. "Football stars jailed over brawl". BBC Sport . 1 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
60. "Jailed duo return to Bristol City". BBC Sport . 14 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
61. "Players' jailing branded 'harsh'". BBC News. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
62. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
63. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
64. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
65. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
66. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
67. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
68. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
69. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
70. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
71. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
72. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
73. "Games played by Steve Brooker in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
74. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport . 22 April 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

External links

• Steve Brooker at Soccerbase