Steve Blair

NSL Career: South Melbourne 338 (15) / 1980 - 1992/93

Socceroos Career: 13 (0) A Internationals / 11 (1) B Internationals

A defensive colossus for South over a long period of time, Scottish-born Steve Blair was one of the most reliable defenders to ever play in the NSL. The stopper was strongly built, dominant in the air, was excellent in one-on-one situations and marked some of the best strikers to ever play in the NSL. 

Born in the Glasgow border-town of Paisley, Blair moved to Australia at a young age and started his junior career at Albion Rovers. Blair progressed through the junior ranks before making his first team debut in the Victorian State League at the age of 16. Blair spent two seasons in the VSL with Albion before the club were relegated to the Metropolitan League Division One, at which point the young centre-back joined NSL side South Melbourne. Blair made his NSL debut at the age of 18 and earned fourteen starts in his first season as he competed for a spot in the centre of defence with experienced defenders Arthur Xanthopoulos and Kris Kalifatidis.

South reached the preliminary final of the Play-Off Series before Blair became a key player in the side during the 1981 season and made his full international debut in Australia's first 1982 World Cup qualifying match against New Zealand. South finished runners-up in the league to Sydney City before Blair went to Scotland looking for a professional contract.

Blair initially went to Celtic where an official playing contract could not be formalised between South and the Scottish giants despite the defender working his way up to the first team as an apprentice. With a move to Celtic becoming stagnant, Blair tried his luck with Hearts and came close to be being signed by manager Tony Ford before the Englishman was sacked.

A possible swap deal for Hearts stopper Frank Liddell (who joined Brisbane City in 1982) fell through before Blair tried again at Celtic where he was unable to get a clearance from Australia. Blair returned to South where he faced competition from the club's new $15,000 signing David Jones but cemented his spot in the side and forced Jones to move to Preston mid-season.

Blair remained a Socceroos regular, being part of Australia's 1982 Merlion Cup success before playing his last A international prior to the start of the 1983 season. Blair helped South finish fourth at the end of the season as he developed an understanding with new defensive partner John Yzendoorn. 

Blair took his game to another level in the 1984 season and got back in to the national team fold, playing in several B internationals against European clubs Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Iraklis. South finished top of the Southern Conference with the best defensive record in the league before progressing to their first NSL Grand Final, defeating Sydney Olympic four-two on aggregate.

South finished top of the Southern Conference again in the 1985 season with the South defence of Blair, Yzendoorn, Bobby Russell and Ange Postecoglou again playing a major role. South lost the preliminary final in a eight-goal thriller to Preston that ended in a penalty shoot-out. 

South failed to qualify for the finals series over the next two seasons but reached the NSL Cup Final in 1987, losing two-nil on aggregate to Sydney Croatia. Blair's understated style of play helped South reach consecutive NSL Cup Semi-Finals in 1988 and 1989 before football icon Ferenc Puskás replaced Brian Garvey for the 1989/90 season and brought success back to the club.

Blair played in South's 1989/90 NSL Cup Final win over Sydney Olympic before being a characteristically consistent member of South's 1990/91 NSL Championship-winning season, playing in the grand final against Melbourne Croatia where he scored South's last penalty in the shoot-out. 

The experienced defender played in five of the first eight games of the 1991/92 season before suffering the first long-term injury of his career (a hamstring tear), which kept him out of action until round 20. Blair worked his way back in to the side and helped South reach the preliminary final where they lost two-nil to eventual champions Adelaide City. The hamstring injury began to take it's toll on Blair as the experienced defender missed the second half of the 1992/93 season, returning for South eight-nil loss on aggregate to Marconi in the major semi-final. 

Blair retired from the top flight at the end of the season and continued his career in the Victorian Premier League with Preston, winning the league in his first season before joining Victorian State League Division Two side Moorabbin City where he hung up his boots at the age of 35. Blair was selected alongside Mehmet Duraković in the centre of defence in South's Team of the Century.