Football
Jed Steer Ready for New Chapter at Peterborough: 'Our Goal is the Championship'
Jed Steer would be forgiven for feeling like a nomad during his career. The goalkeeper spent a decade-long spell at Aston Villa — where he played second fiddle to the likes of Shay Given, Brad Guzan, Pepe Reina, Tom Heaton, and World Cup winner Emi Martinez.
A Nomadic Journey: Steer’s Decade of Challenges and Growth
As a result, Steer was forced to go on five separate loan moves in a bid to get regular first-team football to progress his fledgling career.
But the 31-year-old stopper has now found a happy home at Peterborough United, having signed a two-year contract in the summer after a successful short-term deal last term, and he is desperate to banish the heartache of last year’s play-off run, a second successive play-off disappointment for the club, with promotion to the Championship this campaign.
Heartbreak and Determination: Reflecting on Last Season's Play-Off Defeat
Ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering League One curtain-raiser against Huddersfield Town, Steer told SportsBoom.com: “When you lose those play-off games that’s what defeat really tastes like. It’s horrible. Everyone’s deflated after the game.”
“It was tough to take over the summer. Your season all of a sudden just stops. You think you’re going to reach the final and it just stops.”
We thought we’d done enough in the second play-off game to go through. It wasn’t to be, and luck wasn’t on our side in that second leg.
Jed Steer
“Throughout the season we showed we were an exciting team with plenty of energy and we thought we had enough to go up.”
“We couldn’t get automatics and landed in the play-offs. We really believed so everyone was gutted we didn’t go up.”
“We were gutted, but we bounce back and go again this season to get the job done.”
“Some of the boys in the squad have lost in the play-offs two years on the bounce so for them there’s definite motivation there to go and get promoted.”
“We’ve got a way we want to play. We all believe in it and motivation is sky high.”
“At the minute we’re looking at the big picture and the main goal is to get this club into the Championship.”
A New Era: Gelling with a Rebuilt Defence
It has been a transitional summer at London Road having lost top scorer Ephron Mason-Clark as well as defenders Harrison Burrows, Josh Knight and Ronnie Edwards. That means there will be a new-look back four for Steer to shepherd this season.
But Posh did their business early ahead of a pre-season trip to Spain and the new recruits are settling in well ahead of a big campaign.
Portsmouth left-back Jack Sparkes, Swede Oscar Wallin, right-back Sam Curtis, on loan from Championship club Sheffield United, Crewe’s Rio Adebisi and Rochdale’s George Nevett are the fresh faces at the back after a busy summer transfer window.
“Everyone’s fit and raring to go,” added the experienced gloveman.
“When you look at it we’ve lost our whole back four from the end of last season.”
“You’ve got a whole unit there who needs to gel and get used to playing with each other.”
“The first couple of weeks of pre-season were quite transitional for us, but the players have been in the building long enough to build those relationships.”
Finding Home: Steer’s Commitment to Peterborough’s Ambitious Project
Steer came through the ranks at Norwich City before ending a ten-year spell at Carrow Road to move to Aston Villa; where hearted promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2019.
But by the time he got to Peterborough they were the ninth different club he had donned the shirt of in 11 years.
The keeper, capped at junior level for England, is excited by Darren Ferguson’s project at Posh and is finally settled.
It’s nice to be settled somewhere,” said Steer. “That was a big part of my decision to stay here and sign for another two seasons.
“I loved my time here. I loved the environment, the players, the staff, and the fans.”
“It had a really good feel about it. That’s something I wanted more of.”
"We all know what we want to achieve this season and that's to get promoted. The motivation levels to get the job done are high."
Shane is a respected journalist who has covered a range of sports for a number of years.