Today’s Members Birthday News : Best Birthday Wishes To Steve On His 61st !!

Steve in his Sky Blue days

We now send Birthday greetings to another of our CCFPA ‘Birthday Boys’ today, Association member Steve Jacobs who , born in London on 5th July 1961, is celebrating his 63rd Birthday today! We send our best congratulations to Steve!

The West Ham boy started out with Pegasus as a youngster but, from 1977, soon became yet another product of the Sky Blue apprentice factory of the time. He turned pro in November 1978 and made his Division One debut in ‘gaffer’ (now fellow CCFPA member) Gordon Milne‘s side at No.3 on the last day of the 1979-80 season in a 1-0 Highfield Road reverse to the Arsenal. In the 1980-81 season, again under Milne, Steve appeared (mostly at No.4 or No.6) a dozen times in Division One, twice in the F.A.Cup and four times in that wonderful League Cup run.

He appeared as a sub in both semi final legs against West Ham United when we fell just under a half hour short of qualifying for a Wembley trip for the club’s first time ever!! He is shown below at a 2017 reunion of colleagues at the Ricoh prompted by Steve Phelps‘ launch of his book about that group of players*.

CCFPA’s Billy Bell (centre) with Steve Jacobs, Peter Bodak, Garry Thompson & Paul Dyson

During Dave Sexton’s time at the Sky Blue’s helm (1982-84) Steve was a regular in midfield and fitted in very well to an attack minded team. Under former Sky Blue player (and CCFPA member) Bobby Gould Steve eventually lost his place to  ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce, deputising on occasion for Trevor Peake (both also Association members now).

CCFPA Sec Sarah Morris presents Steve with his tie & badge after the 2017 Crawley game

He was allowed to move on to Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1984 having made 115 Sky Blue appearances (without scoring a first team goal). After 61 appearances and 3 goals with the Seagulls short spells followed with both Charlton Athletic (Aug. 1986 – one League Cup outing) and Gillingham (Dec.1986 – twelve appearances).

When Steve hung up his professional boots for some years he worked as an electrician in East London. We got to sign him up for CCFPA at a Sky Blues league game in 2017.

Hope you have a great day today Steve and its about time we met up again, perhaps next season at the Coventry Building Society Arena?

*’29 Minutes From Wembley: Inside Story of CCFC’s 1980/81 Season’ Pitch Publishing 2017