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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: The Red Baron on September 17, 2025, 02:11:19 pm

Title: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: The Red Baron on September 17, 2025, 02:11:19 pm: I missed this at the time, but Steve Raffell died in December 2021 from Motor Neurone Disease. He was 51.
He played for Steve Beaglehole's Youth Team which reached the Final of the FA Youth Cup, and he made 63 senior appearances for Rovers.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: Draytonian III on September 17, 2025, 02:37:42 pm: Didn’t he go in goal when Paul Malcolm got injured vs Grimsby at Belle Vue, I’m almost sure Richard O’Kelly was the Grimsby player, it finished both their careers
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: idler on September 17, 2025, 04:14:38 pm: R.I.P. Steve 51 is no age and for a sportsman to get MND is doubly sad.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: The Red Baron on September 17, 2025, 07:54:55 pm: Quote from: Draytonian III on September 17, 2025, 02:37:42 pm
Didn’t he go in goal when Paul Malcolm got injured vs Grimsby at Belle Vue, I’m almost sure Richard O’Kelly was the Grimsby player, it finished both their careers

That's true. He also took over from Paul Malcolm after the latter was sent off at Rotherham.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: Drover on September 17, 2025, 09:19:03 pm: Wow,did'nt know he had died,terrible and at no age,I remember him in that FA youth cup run.RIP Steve.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: PDX_Rover on September 18, 2025, 03:11:52 am: Didn’t know either. Raffs was part of that group of excellent young players. Sad news. Really sad. He was a really nice unassuming guy.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: craigdrfc on September 18, 2025, 01:31:45 pm: Another who wasn’t aware here. Remember him well coming through that excellent youth team, and breaking into the 1st team.

RIP Steve.
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: Wade Falana on September 19, 2025, 10:36:09 am: Nice piece about Steve Raffell here.

https://blythspirit.wordpress.com/2021/06/23/born-in-blyth-stephen-raffell/
Title: Re: Steve Raffell (1970-2021)
Post by: graingrover on September 20, 2025, 11:37:37 am: Does anyone have the full composition of the Junior team in which Steve would have played against Arsenal in the FA Youth.Cup ?