Stephen George Gammon (born 24 September 1939) is a Welsh former professional footballer. A Welsh under-23 international, Gammon's spent seven years with

Cardiff City Cardiff City Football Club () is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It currently competes in , the third tier of the English football league system in the 2025–26 season following relegation. Founded in 1899 a ...

before a broken leg ended his professional career in 1965.

Career

Gammon was born in

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

, but began his career at

, after being spotted playing for Mumbles Boys Club at the age of sixteen. He was handed a professional contract on his seventeenth birthday, making his debut, alongside fellow debutant

Derek Tapscott Derek Robert Tapscott (30 June 1932 – 12 June 2008) was a Welsh professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. Tapscott played for Barry Town F.C., Barry Town, Arsenal F.C., Arsenal, Cardi ...

, soon after in a 4–1 victory over

Grimsby Town Grimsby Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England, that competes in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "the Mariners", the club was f ...

in September 1958 and his performances earned him a call up to the Wales under-23 side. The following season he scored his first, and only, goal for Cardiff in a 4–4 draw with

Stoke City Stoke City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The team competes in the , the second level of the English football league system. Founded as Stoke Ramblers in 1863, the cl ...

and helped the club gain promotion to Division One. In February 1961, he suffered a major fracture in his leg after colliding with

Denis Law Denis Law (24 February 1940 – 17 January 2025) was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward. His career as a football player began at Second Division Huddersfield Town in 1956. After four years at Huddersfield, he was signed by Manchest ...

during a league match against

Manchester City Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...

. He attempted several comebacks after the injury but broke the same leg twice in the following three seasons and subsequently dropped out of professional football, joining

Southern Football League The Southern League is a football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from East Anglia, the South and Midlands of England, and South Wales. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven a ...

side

Kettering Town Kettering Town Football Club is a football club based in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, England. They are currently members of the and play at Latimer Park. Kettering were the first club to wear sponsorship on their shirts in 1976, and have ...

where he took over as manager of the side three months after his arrival. Gammon went on to make over 300 appearances in all competitions for Kettering. He left the club in December 1971, stepping down as manager after six years at Rockingham Road, being replaced by

Ron Atkinson Ronald Frederick Atkinson (born 18 March 1939) is an English former football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Ron", he was regarded as one of Britain's best-known football pundits in the 1990s and early 2000s. Nicknamed "The Tank" during his ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gammon, Steve 1939 births Living people Footballers from Swansea Welsh men's footballers Welsh football managers Wales men's under-23 international footballers Cardiff City F.C. players Kettering Town F.C. players English Football League players Kettering Town F.C. managers Men's association football midfielders