Steve Sidwell

Arsenal

Sidwell was born in Wandsworth, London. He began at non-league club Chipstead before joining Arsenal at the age of 9 and was a part of the youth team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2000 and 2001. One of his teammates during these years was James Harper, who he would go on to play with at Reading. Sidwell spent the 2001–02 season on loan at Brentford where he played 35 times scoring four goals as Brentford lost 2–0 to Stoke City in the play-off final. After originally having been sent on loan to Beveren, but not being able to obtain a first team place in preseason, he began the 2002–03 season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion for whom he scored five goals in 12 appearances. In January 2003 Brighton and Stoke City both had bids for Sidwell rejected by Arsenal but an offer from Reading was accepted.

Reading

Sidwell moved to Reading for an undisclosed fee on a 4+1⁄2-year deal in January 2003. He made his debut for Reading on 29 January 2003 in a 3–1 defeat against Leicester City. In his next match on 11 February 2003 he scored twice in a 5–2 victory over Burnley. Sidwell played 15 times in 2002–03 as Reading reached the play-offs where they lost out to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sidwell made a good start to the 2003–04 season, scoring in the first three matches. Sidwell was sent-off for the first time in his career on 27 March 2004 for two-bookable offences against Coventry City. Reading failed to make the play-offs in 2003–04 finishing in ninth position…

In 2001, he was capped by England U20's. After making his debut for England U21 in 2003, he received a total of 5 caps.

As of end of 2017–18 season

Sidwell married Krystell on 19 June 2005. Within days of returning from their honeymoon, he had a tattoo of the wedding vows he had written for her placed on his back. Sidwell has a sister, Louise, and a brother, Lee. Lee played non-League football between 1996 and 2010, and one of his clubs was AFC Wimbledon during the 2002–03 campaign, their inaugural season in the Combined Counties Football League. Sidwell grew up as a Crystal Palace supporter but started following Arsenal after joining them as a schoolboy.