Football
Ex-Villa Star Who Defied Career-Ending Injury to Revive His Career with Peterborough United
Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer overcame a career-threatening Achilles injury and a 22-month hiatus to revive his playing career at Peterborough United. After fearing he'd never play again, Steer is back on the pitch with a renewed sense of purpose.
Image Credits: Kevin Hodgson | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Peterborough United goalkeeper Jed Steer genuinely feared his career was over.
The shot-stopper went under the knife for a troublesome achilles injury he suffered during a FA Cup game against Chelsea whilst on loan at Luton Town in March 2022.
Career in Jeopardy: End of an Era at Villa Park
It was a recurrence of the horrible injury he suffered during a Premier League game for Aston Villa three years earlier.
During his rehab, Steer learned his decade-long spell at Villa Park would come to an excruciating end after the club decided against renewing his contract.
Steer embarked on a period of soul-searching and was forced to contemplate a life without the gloves.
Not one to wallow in self-pity despite the realisation he may never play again, the 31-year-old did a stint of broadcasting for AVTV and enrolled on a UEFA coaching course.
But he received a career lifeline when he signed a short-term contract at Posh in January, following a painful 22-month spell on the sidelines, ironically as injury cover for Nicholas Bilokapic.
Back on the Pitch
The former Villa keeper put pen to paper over a two-year deal at London Road in the summer after the clubs near play-off miss.
“I’m just over the moon to be back playing football again,” Steer revealed to SportsBoom.com.
“I feared I would never play again. That feeling was very high for me.”
“At one stage, a couple of years ago it was touch and go about whether I would be able to play again. It was probably 50/50 if I’m honest.”
“I had issues with my achilles tendon, and I had to go in for more surgery, there was a lot that had to be done.”
“With the injury it was all dependant on how my body reacted to the surgery.”
“I knew that there was a chance I could make a comeback if my body reacted well.”
All I wanted to do was play again and play at a good level. The fact that I can play still and I’m feeling fit is amazing considering where I was.
Jed Steed
Rebuilding His Career Off the Grass
“There was a time I wasn’t sure what would happen, and I put things in place in case I couldn’t play football again. I did my coaching badges, did a bit of media work with AVTV to see if I enjoyed that.”
“I did that to keep me in football and be able to still watch football and be a part of it.”
“Thank God I managed to come out the right side of it and now it’s full steam ahead.”
Capped at England age group level, Steer’s career highlights include promotion to the Premier League with Villa on an unforgettable day at Wembley in 2019.
That season, Steer was part of a record-breaking ten-game winning streak for the club and saved two penalties in the play-off semi-final.
Frustratingly, he lasted just eight minutes in the topflight the following campaign before sustaining a career-altering injury at Wolves.
But when asked if there is a sense of what could have been, Steer said: “It’s hard to say…I don’t have any regret, I don’t live with regret.”
“Football is not plain sailing. Your career is based on other peoples’ opinions.”
“Yes, I did get injured at crucial times in my career, but unfortunately that’s what happens. It could happen to me; it could happen to any other athlete as well.”
“You can blame it or not. As a kid I always wanted to play in the Premier League, and I was fortunate enough to do that.”
“I feel very fortunate to have done that, especially at a club of Aston Villa’s stature. So, from a goal point of view, I was able to do that.”
Shane is a respected journalist who has covered a range of sports for a number of years.