LUKE Steele played a total of 227 times for the Reds and has to be in contention for the best Barnsley ‘keeper of the 21st century – and since leaving the club he’s been on quite the adventure.

From playing for Panathinaikos in the Europa League to managing at Peterborough Sports in the sixth tier of English football, he admits he’s not sure what he’s going to do next – but the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson might have pointed him in the right direction.

Having signed permanently for the Reds in May 2008, Steele had six successful campaigns in between the sticks at Oakwell before leaving for the Greek giants in 2014 following Barnsley’s relegation to League One.

He says it was an honour to represent the club and the town.

He told the Chronicle: “I absolutely loved it.

“It’s such a quick turnaround when you leave and you haven’t got time to say goodbye properly.

“You want to meet all the fans and then next think you know you’re playing for another side thousands of miles away.

“I’m immensely proud to have worn the armband in one of the seasons, one of my last seasons, quite a lot.

“And obviously to have played in the championship the whole time, which looking back was an achievement in itself.

“It just felt like it was my club.

“I had the connection with the fans because I feel like I wasn’t trying to be too big, too fast, too flashy the whole time.

“I just wanted to give everything for one football club and to be number one for quite a few games, 200 and something games, is something that’s really special for me.

“I always try to get to Barnsley just to kind of meet those fans because they were epic for me.

“They’re always going to be close to me, especially now I’ve finished.”

After leaving Greece he joined Bristol City before spells at Nottingham Forest and Millwall in the football league.

He even signed for Deeping Rangers in 2021 as a striker, scoring two goals including the winner against Sleaford Town.

But after retiring he joined Michael Gash as the assistant manager at Peterborough Sports and enjoyed two years in charge before being let go earlier this year.

But what’s next for him?

He said: “I’ve really appreciated managing at the Conference North level that I did with no experience.

“We’ve broken some really cool records there with such a small club in Peterborough Sports.

“But I think it’s time for me to get my badges and get serious because I had some opportunities.

“But because I wasn’t qualified with the right qualifications, you know, your A licence and pro licence, I couldn’t pursue it.

“I ran into Sir Alex Ferguson and spent probably only three or four minutes with him.

“He kind of told me off for not having my badges and that made me think.

“The greatest of all time is having a go at me – I I need to listen to him and get that sorted.”