Steve Harkness
Encyclopedia
Steven "Steve" Harkness (born Carlisle, Cumberland, 27 August 1971) is a former footballer who played for several clubs, most notably Liverpool
.
or midfielder
, most comfortable at left-back but able to play in a range of positions, he began his career with his hometown club, Carlisle United
, signing professional forms on the 31 March 1989. After just 13 games for the Cumbrians he impressed sufficiently to be signed by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish
on 17 July 1989
for £
75,000. At this time Liverpool were still the dominant side England as holders
of the FA Cup
and having not finished lower than champions or runners-up in the First Division
since 1981.
However, Harkness did not walk straight into the first team at Anfield
, as David Burrows
was the club's first choice left-back. By the time Dalglish resigned on 22 February 1991, Harkness had been at Liverpool for 19 months but had still yet to make his competitive debut.
Dalglish was succeeded by Graeme Souness
as Liverpool manager and it was Souness who gave Harkness his Liverpool debut, two years after arriving, in the 1-0 league win over Queens Park Rangers
at Anfield
on 27 August 1991 - his 20th birthday. His first goal for the Reds did not come until the 29 April 1995 in the 2-1 league win against Norwich City
, on Carrow Road
.
Harkness suffered a broken leg in Liverpool's 1-0 league defeat at Coventry City
on 6 April 1996 and was out of action for nearly a year afterwards. He missed the 1996 FA Cup Final
, which Liverpool lost 1-0 to Manchester United
, and also missed the bulk of the 1996-97 season
, in which Liverpool frequently led the Premier League until being leapfrogged by Manchester United in late January and were ultimately unable to stop their north-west rivals from retaining the league title.
He was a favourite amongst many of the Liverpool supporters but never established himself as a first-team regular, making 140 appearances in his 6 years at the club. He was sent out on loan twice during his Anfield career, firstly to Huddersfield Town
, where he played 6 times and also Southend United
, where he, again, played 6 times.
He remained at Anfield until 1999
but was one of the first victims of the Houllier
revolution, leaving to join up with old manager Graeme Souness
at Benfica on 9 March 1999 for £750,000 -
He only lasted five months in Portugal
, however, before Brian Kidd
paid £400,000 to bring him to Blackburn Rovers
on 26 August 1999 - three months after their relegation from the Premier League and one day before Harkness's 28th birthday.
He made his debut for Rovers on the 6 November 1999 in the 2-2 league draw with Ipswich Town
- the first game after Brian Kidd was sacked and long-serving coach Tony Parkes
put in charge - at Ewood Park
. His former Liveprool and Benfica manager Graeme Souness was appointed as Blackburn's manager on 15 March 2000.
After a disappointing year, which saw Blackburn finish mid-table in the First Division
, he was allowed to join Sheffield Wednesday for £200,000 after just 21 appearances; just like Blackburn when Harkness had joined them a year earlier, Wednesday had just been relegated from the Premier League. His Owls debut came on the 30 September 2000 in the 2-0 league defeat to Gillingham
at the Priestfield Stadium
.
His two years at Hillsborough
were plagued by injury, however, and he only managed 32 appearances in that time, and scored once against Birmingham City. It was not a successful time for the Owls, who narrowly avoided relegation to Division Two in both of his seasons there and would go down the following year He moved to Chester
on a free transfer on the 11 July July 2002
, playing under former team-mate Mark Wright, but he was forced to retire on the 2 November of that year, aged 31, having played just 10 times.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Playing career
A defenderDefender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, most comfortable at left-back but able to play in a range of positions, he began his career with his hometown club, Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, signing professional forms on the 31 March 1989. After just 13 games for the Cumbrians he impressed sufficiently to be signed by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
on 17 July 1989
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
75,000. At this time Liverpool were still the dominant side England as holders
1989 FA Cup Final
The 1989 FA Cup Final was the final of the 1988–89 FA Cup, the top football knockout competition in England. The match was a Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, played at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 May 1989. Liverpool won 3–2 after extra time, with goals from John Aldridge and two...
of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and having not finished lower than champions or runners-up in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
since 1981.
However, Harkness did not walk straight into the first team at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, as David Burrows
David Burrows (footballer)
David Burrows is an English former footballer. During his career he played for West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton, Coventry City, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday as well as the England Under-21 and B teams...
was the club's first choice left-back. By the time Dalglish resigned on 22 February 1991, Harkness had been at Liverpool for 19 months but had still yet to make his competitive debut.
Dalglish was succeeded by Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
as Liverpool manager and it was Souness who gave Harkness his Liverpool debut, two years after arriving, in the 1-0 league win over Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
on 27 August 1991 - his 20th birthday. His first goal for the Reds did not come until the 29 April 1995 in the 2-1 league win against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, on Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
.
Harkness suffered a broken leg in Liverpool's 1-0 league defeat at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 6 April 1996 and was out of action for nearly a year afterwards. He missed the 1996 FA Cup Final
1996 FA Cup Final
The 1996 FA Cup Final was the 51st to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War and was held between two of the biggest rivals in English football, Manchester United and Liverpool.- Build-up :...
, which Liverpool lost 1-0 to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, and also missed the bulk of the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
, in which Liverpool frequently led the Premier League until being leapfrogged by Manchester United in late January and were ultimately unable to stop their north-west rivals from retaining the league title.
He was a favourite amongst many of the Liverpool supporters but never established himself as a first-team regular, making 140 appearances in his 6 years at the club. He was sent out on loan twice during his Anfield career, firstly to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, where he played 6 times and also Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, where he, again, played 6 times.
He remained at Anfield until 1999
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
but was one of the first victims of the Houllier
Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....
revolution, leaving to join up with old manager Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
at Benfica on 9 March 1999 for £750,000 -
He only lasted five months in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, however, before Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
paid £400,000 to bring him to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 26 August 1999 - three months after their relegation from the Premier League and one day before Harkness's 28th birthday.
He made his debut for Rovers on the 6 November 1999 in the 2-2 league draw with Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
- the first game after Brian Kidd was sacked and long-serving coach Tony Parkes
Tony Parkes
Anthony "Tony" Parkes is an English former professional footballer. After retiring, he became a coach. He was most recently caretaker manager at Blackpool. It was the seventh such role of his coaching career, having performed the role on six occasions for...
put in charge - at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
. His former Liveprool and Benfica manager Graeme Souness was appointed as Blackburn's manager on 15 March 2000.
After a disappointing year, which saw Blackburn finish mid-table in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, he was allowed to join Sheffield Wednesday for £200,000 after just 21 appearances; just like Blackburn when Harkness had joined them a year earlier, Wednesday had just been relegated from the Premier League. His Owls debut came on the 30 September 2000 in the 2-0 league defeat to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
at the Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
.
His two years at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
were plagued by injury, however, and he only managed 32 appearances in that time, and scored once against Birmingham City. It was not a successful time for the Owls, who narrowly avoided relegation to Division Two in both of his seasons there and would go down the following year He moved to Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on a free transfer on the 11 July July 2002
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
, playing under former team-mate Mark Wright, but he was forced to retire on the 2 November of that year, aged 31, having played just 10 times.