His United debut came in October that year, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at home to Preston North End.
Between April 1924 and September 1927 Steward missed only 7 league games out of a possible 139 for United, before losing his place to Lance Robinson.
He regained his first team place in April 1928 and went on to play a further 149 games before leaving Old Trafford in June 1932, joining Manchester North End as player-manager.
The final finished in a 3–3 draw, but the replay was held over until the following season, by which time Steward had joined Altrincham as player-manager.
Altrincham won the replay 4–1, and later that season made the 1st Round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing to Gainsborough Trinity.