By Martin Walker
Jason Steele has praised his hometown club for the huge progress they’ve made over the years.
The Middlesbrough goalkeeper and proud Newtonian has been delighted to see Allan Oliver’s side rise through the leagues – from the parks of the Durham Alliance to the heights of the Northern League top-flight and FA Cup football in just four years.
And Steele, who gets to as many Aycliffe games as he can when he’s not playing for Boro, says a lot of credit is due to the non-league club.
In an exclusive interview with Aycliffe Today, the 21-year-old said: “To come from below the Wearside League to get to the Northern League division one is a massive achievement.
“It’s a credit to Allan (Oliver) and everyone down there for putting together a really good side.
“I’ve been to watch them and they play some good football, they play a nice shape. I know quite a few of the lads from school days, they’re all pretty tidy footballers.
“Hopefully they can keep pushing on and you never know what could happen.”
Steele, who lives in Aycliffe with his partner Yazmin, also 21, and their six-month-old son Oliver, suffered a broken bone in his wrist during pre-season training last summer and missed the start of the season for Tony Mowbray’s rejuvenated Teessiders.
He returned to the side in October and, after another brief lay-off with a thigh strain recently, is now back in the side and hoping to secure a place in the Championship play-off places in May.
“I’m managing to get through the games at the minute,” said Steele, who still hasn’t returned to full training due to an ongoing wrist problem.
“I’ve just got to keep fit and to keep playing. We’ve got to be looking at the play-offs.
“If we can keep winning games, we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Steele is also hoping to help the England Under-21 squad qualify for the European Under-21 Championships in 2013, with Stuart Pearce’s side currently top of Group 8.
The ‘keeper’s only U-21 cap to date was against Germany in November 2010, but he was sent off just 13 minutes into his debut as a half-time substitute.
“My first and last cap was when I got sent off, which isn’t really clever!” admitted Steele.
“I’ve been in the squad pretty much consistently since then. I think this is my age group now, so hopefully I can get a few games.”
■ Aycliffe, currently sixth in the Northern League first division, are due to go to Consett on Saturday. Click here to go to their website
Go to our Video Vault to see Steele’s interview with Aycliffe Today in full
