Born in Carluke, Scotland, Steele was a wing half who started his football career as a part-timer first with Armadale then St Mirren[2] while he worked as a miner before the First World War.
He joined Preston North End in May 1929 on a free transfer where he finished his playing days in July 1930.
He spent six years at Park Avenue and even turned out as an emergency centre forward against Sheffield Wednesday in October 1942 scoring one goal.
In the club's first post-war season, Huddersfield finished just one place above the relegation positions in Division One and Steele resigned.
He was working on the family's fruit farm when Bradford City tempted him back into football in July 1948.