Editing Alex Stepney (section)

==Early career==
Born in [[Mitcham, London|Mitcham]], Surrey, Stepney had unsuccessful trials with [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and joined [[Tooting & Mitcham United F.C.|Tooting & Mitcham United]]. From there, he was spotted by [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], who signed him as an amateur in 1963, but quickly realised his potential and made him a professional within two months of his arrival. Stepney was ever-present for almost three seasons, making 158 appearances, only missing the last game of the 1965–66 season. During this period, he earned three England under-23 caps.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bethel|first1=Chris|last2=Sullivan|first2=David|title=Millwall Football Club 1940–2001|publisher=Tempus Publishing|year=2002|page=56|isbn=0-7524-2187-5}}</ref>

In May 1966, Stepney joined [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] for £50,000. Manager [[Tommy Docherty]] initially intended to play Stepney and fellow goalkeeper [[Peter Bonetti]] in alternate weeks, but just three months later Stepney was sold to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] for a record fee of £55,000, having made just one appearance for the club. With [[Harry Gregg]]'s career virtually ended by injury, the Manchester United manager, [[Matt Busby]], opted for Stepney after deciding that neither [[Pat Dunne]] nor the injury-prone [[David Gaskell]] was up to the job. Stepney made his debut for United later the same year against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] at [[Old Trafford]], and he kept a [[Shutout#Association football|clean sheet]] as United won 1–0 through a first-half goal from [[Denis Law]].