Steve Abbley

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Steve Abbley

| image =

| fullname = Stephen George Abbley

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1957|03|19}}

| birth_place = Liverpool, Lancashire, England

| height =

| position = Right wing

| currentclub = Circencester Town (Chairman)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = {{0|0000}}–1979

| clubs1 = Parks

| caps1 = –

| goals1 = –

| years2 = 1979–1982

| clubs2 = Swindon Town

| caps2 = 23

| goals2 = 0

| years3 =

| clubs3 = Cheltenham Town

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1988-1990

| clubs4 = Wycombe Wanderers

| caps4 = 63

| goals4 = 1

| years5 =

| clubs5 = Tonbridge

| caps5 =

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| years6 =

| clubs6 = Gloucester City

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 =

| clubs7 = Trowbridge Town

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 =

| clubs8 = Cirencester Town

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 =

| club-update = 19:23, 22 July 2009 (UTC)

}}

Steve Abbley (born 19 March 1957 in Liverpool) is a former footballer who spent the majority of his career in Non-League football. Abbley was a professional with Swindon Town. Today he is chairman of Cirencester Town.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportssolutionsgb.co.uk/pdfs/Cirencester%20case%20study.pdf |title=Abbley at Cirencester Town |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703160202/http://www.sportssolutionsgb.co.uk/pdfs/Cirencester%20case%20study.pdf |archivedate=3 July 2008 }}

Stephen George Abbley started his career with Non-League club Parks F.C. before joining Swindon Town as a 22-year-old in October 1979.

Abbley operated on the right side of Swindon's defence, but could also play on the left. However, Abbley struggled to break into the Swindon first team throughout his career in Wiltshire.

The Liverpudlian appeared in only five league fixtures during his first season at the club. His Town debut came as a late in the 2–0 loss at Blackburn Rovers in March 1980. His first win occurred in the 3–0 home win against Gillingham, Abbley was booked in a heated game which also saw future Manchester United captain Steve Bruce sent-off for two bookable offences.{{cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchReport.asp?MatchID=19800142 |title=Swindon Town 3–0 Gillingham |publisher=Swindon Town |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006064709/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchReport.asp?MatchID=19800142 |archivedate=6 October 2007 }}

During Abbley's second season at Swindon he could only muster three appearances in the first team.{{cite web | url = http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/PlayingRecord.asp?PersonID=ABBLEYST&Season=1980-1981 | title = Abbley Stats | publisher = Swindon Town | accessdate = 8 April 2011}}

Steve Abbley's third and final season in professional football was his best for first team appearances, making 15 outings including the 5–0 loss at rivals Oxford United{{cite web|url=http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchReport.asp?MatchID=19820135 |title=Oxford United 5–0 Swindon Town |publisher=Swindon Town |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027003224/http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchReport.asp?MatchID=19820135 |archivedate=27 October 2007 }} and made his final league appearance in the 2–0 defeat at Fulham. However, despite making more outings for the first team Swindon were relegated into the Fourth Division.

After his release from Swindon, Abbley dropped into Non-League football playing for future league teams Cheltenham Town and Wycombe Wanderers.

Since retiring, Abbley has become chairman of Southern Football League club Cirencester Town, helping them move into their Corinium Stadium in 2002.