| Bobby Steel | |
| Fullname: | Robert Loudon Steel |
| Birth Date: | 25 June 1888 |
| Birth Place: | Newmilns, Scotland |
| Position: | Inside left |
| Clubs1: | Newmilns |
| Years3: | 1906–1908 |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 1906–1908 |
| Clubs4: | → Port Glasgow Athletic (loan) |
| Caps4: | 50 |
| Goals4: | 7 |
| Years5: | 1908–1919 |
| Caps5: | 226 |
| Goals5: | 41 |
| Years6: | 1919–1920 |
| Clubs6: | Gillingham |
| Caps6: | 19 |
| Goals6: | 3 |
Robert Loudon Steel (25 June 1888 – 1972) was a professional footballer who played for clubs including Greenock Morton, Port Glasgow Athletic,[1] Tottenham Hotspur and Gillingham.[2] [3]
Steel joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1908 from Port Glasgow (along with Willie Bulloch, who soon returned to Scotland)[4] and played mainly in the inside left position, although he was versatile and willing to fill in several roles, including in defence.[5] He featured in 245 games and scored 45 goals in all competitions[6] (but not counting unofficial fixtures during World War I) before joining Gillingham at the end the conflict – featuring in the 1919–20 Southern Football League[7] – and later becoming a referee.[5]
While at Tottenham, he was selected for the annual Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match in 1909[8] but never played for Scotland at full international level.[3]
His brothers Danny and Alex were also footballers, with Danny also having a significant spell at Tottenham Hotspur and Alex spending time with FC Barcelona; the three siblings played together in one Football League fixture against Bradford City in January 1910.[9] [10]