Non-League Paper

My Life in Non-League: I learned to always listen to my seniors

Steve McKimm’s first taste of Non-League football was with Malden Vale when he was 16 and his first contract was £20-a-week – but he just loved football and wanted to play.

by
The Non-League Football Paper Team
16 August 2026

MY LIFE IN NON-LEAGUE
with STEVE MCKIMM

ONE CAN DREAM: Steve Mckimm savours the moment when the FA cup trophy visited cray valley PM
PICTURE: Alamy

Steve McKimm's first taste of Non-League football was with Malden Vale when he was 16 and his first contract was £20-a-week - but he just loved football and wanted to play.
He said: "I’d been at Chelsea from the age of 9 but I didn’t get an apprenticeship and was released.
Malden Vale manager Mick Browne saw me in the youth team and gave me my first-team debut.
It was great. I was a happy-go-lucky bloke but if anyone was giving it to me I’d st...

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