Flack, Steve
Birth Date
Birthplace
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Biographical Text
Steve Flack - ‘Flacky’ - was something of a cult figure at St James’ Park during ten eventful years from 1996 which saw Exeter City slip into decline and drop out of the Football League before starting the road back to recovery. In such dramatic times Steve’s record - nearly a hundred first-team goals in well over 400 appearances - speaks for itself.
Steve started his football career in Cambridgeshire football with Foxton before moving up the ladder with Cambridge City in August 1994 and on to Cardiff City in a £10,000 deal in November 1995. After no more than a dozen games for Cardiff, Steve remained in the fourth-tier of English football when Exeter City parted with £10,000 to bring him to Devon in September 1996. Making his debut against Brighton and Hove Albion on 14 September 1996, Steve made 19 league and cup appearances during his first season with the Grecians scoring five times.
Steve played 45 times in all competitions in 1997/98 scoring fourteen goals with another fifteen goals coming in the following season. Such form attracted the attention of other clubs and at one time Steve was linked to Hull City who apparently offered a six-figure fee.
Although a regular throughout 1999/2000, Steve was less-prolific in front of goal before rediscovering his form during the next season when he scored thirteen times in the league. A similar pattern followed over the subsequent two seasons with Steve managing to net thirteen goals during the ill-fated 2002/03 campaign including the only goal against Southend in the final game before relegation from the Football League.
Remaining on City’s books for the club’s new start in the Conference, Steve also had the distinction of scoring on the opening day of the 2003/04 season in a 1-1 draw against Halifax Town. This was to be the first of 24 goals that Steve scored during the club’s first three seasons in the Conference to add to the 70 he had scored when City were in the Football League.
Increasingly used as a squad player, Steve left Exeter City in May 2006 after just short of ten years with the club with his final appearance coming against Scarborough on 29 April 2006. After a pre-season testimonial against Torquay United in July 2006, Steve went into the building trade and continued playing for Tiverton Town and later Dorchester Town before dropping down to the Devon & Exeter League to play several seasons for Tipton St John. He later coached Axminster Town whilst continuing to live in the Honiton area.
Appearances
League 373 (105 as sub); Cups 50 (423)
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