FEATHERSTONE ROVERS chief executive Martin Vickers says another Steadman is playing a starring role at the club.
Graham’s fine form as a fullback or stand-off between 1986 and 1989 resulted in a move to neighbours Castleford, where he won Great Britain recognition.
Now his son Tom tends a Millennium Stadium pitch which is among the most-used in the game.
Graham’s transfer earned Rovers a then world-record fee of £170,000 (beating the £155,000 paid by Leeds to Hull for Great Britain ace Garry Schofield, the former League Express columnist, two years earlier).
And Tom’s work also helps swell the coffers, with the club renting out a ground they own.
Saturday’s Challenge Cup second-round clash with Waterhead, which Featherstone won 88-10, was switched from the community club’s ground to the Millennium.
And ambitious non-league football club Wakefield AFC are based at the stadium, while it’s also made available to rival clubs if the need arises and also for amateur matches.
Last month’s BARLA Yorkshire Cup final, between nearby duo Sharlston Rovers and Cutsyke Raiders, took place there, as have RFL Champions Schools finals.
Meanwhile Featherstone staged games for Newcastle Thunder and Doncaster last year and would have hosted former Sheffield player Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e’s testimonial match against Castleford earlier this month had it not been frozen off.
“On average, the ground stages 100 matches a year, and that helps bring in income as well as giving us in improved presence in the community game, which we want to support,” explained Vickers.
“Owning the ground gives us the freedom and flexibility to do that, and it obviously makes sense for a number of reasons to use a facility as often as is realistic rather than just for a home match every other weekend.
“There has been investment in the surface to help it withstand such use, and Tom does a great job looking after it.”
Featherstone play host to Huddersfield in a pre-season match on Sunday.
