Tributes continue to pour in for charity sports fundraiser Tony Steenson, hailed a "Manchester legend", who has died aged 78. Tony was renowned for running the All Stars football matches, his love of sport, and huge personality loved by all who knew him.
Known affectionately as "The Gaffer", news of his death has sparked a huge outpouring of grief from friends and loved ones. Tony died after a short illness while on holiday in Portugal last week with wife Wendy.
A born and bred Salfordian
Tony, a dad and grandad, was a born and bred Salfordian. He famously organised the All Stars charity football matches raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity over the past 50 years in Manchester. He also played for Hyde United, Salford Amateurs, and Mossley, while in his professional life he was a media sales director.
Since news broke of his passing, family, friends and all who knew Tony have been paying their own tributes. He was known across the showbiz world, with a host of the TV stars who played in the All Stars teams paying tributes.
Showbiz tributes
That has included Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas who shared a photo of Tony in classic pose marshalling a football dugout. He said: "Thank you for all the memories over so many years. A true legend. RIP Gaffer." Former Corrie star Dean Fagan added: "Can’t believe you’re gone Gaffer. Thanks for everything. Rest in power Top Man."
Corrie legend Phil Middlemiss, who played Des Barnes in Weatherfield in the 1990s, penned a moving tribute on social media. He wrote: "I met Tony Steenson in 1990 when I first arrived in Manchester, he was everything you’d want in a friend, funny, caring and one hell of a man! He made my transition to life in Manchester a joy.. The times we had in Spain, Portugal, Holland and Wolverhampton were legendary, I was given the chance to play in testimonial matches at Anfield, Old Trafford, even Wembley."
"A dream for any football loving lad, met plenty of my idols, drank with them sang with them and through Tony made lifelong friends. The Gaffer was the glue, fixing everything, you will be so sadly missed, my hero, and if there is a heaven, he’ll have picked his starting eleven and what a ride they’ll have."
Friend's tribute
Fellow Corrie stalwart Andy Whyment added his tribute saying: "Lovely words mate, the Gaffer was a legend." Close friend and Tony's Worsley neighbour, Kieran Rabbitt, has now paid his own emotional tribute, as well as sharing one of his favourite pictures of Tony as he will be fondly remembered with huge smile on his face.
Kieran said: "I first met Tony in 1981 and we just hit it off straight away becoming friends with Tony, his wife Wendy and Warren their son ever since. Tony was just a top man."
"With me being a Rugby player and he a football player we had so much banter about the two sports over those years (and mickey taking). He and his family have always been there for me and my family through the tough times but we shared some great times too! He always wanted to help anyone and his first word was always ‘yes’ when asking for advice or something else, you can see this in all the money he helped raise for many different charities and causes."
Kieran continued: "In the words of Kipling ‘He could walk with Kings but kept the common touch ‘ he had time for everyone. He had a great sense of humour and was known for his famous sayings which sometimes didn’t make sense! No doubt these will be bandied about over the next few weeks. In fact, I might write a book about them!"
"He will be sorely missed but I’ll take great memories from his friendship and smile each time I think of them and him. He left a legacy. RIP my friend."
Sports world remembers
Scores of MEN readers have left their own tributes on our social media pages. Gerard Cleary wrote on Facebook: "I knew Tony from the early 70s he should have been called smiley because he was always smiling and happy!" Russell Hooton added: "Non league legend but more so a top man...so glad I crossed paths with Steeno and played for and against him...the Charity games he organised were second to none...RIP fella."
Respected across the sports world, Tony's former club Hyde United have also paid a moving tribute. Posting on social media they said: "The Hyde United Board are extremely saddened to hear of the recent passing of former Player & Captain, Tony Steenson."
"Having joined in 1975, Tony went on to make 276 appearances for the Club up to leaving at the end of the 83/84 season and was Supporters’ Player of the Year in 77/78. A born leader and organiser (you could literally hear his shouts all around the ground!), he was arguably one of Hyde United’s greatest ever captains, leading the team to the Cheshire League treble in 81/82 and promotion back to the Northern Premier League."
"Our Club historian, Mike Pavasovic is in the process of producing a more in-depth tribute and the Club intends to pay our respects properly to Tony at a future match, which will be notified to everyone in good time. On behalf of everyone involved at Hyde United, we send our deepest sympathies to Tony’s family and friends."
