Steve Maxwell

NSL Career: Adelaide City, Marconi 297 (74) / 1983 - 1993/94

Socceroos Career: 3 (0) A Internationals / 1 (0) B Internationals

A strong physique combined with skill and strong goal scoring instincts made Steve Maxwell one of the most dangerous forwards in the NSL during the 1980s and early 1990s. Part of a core group of players at Adelaide City that included Joe Mullen, Alex Tobin, Paul Shillabeer and Sergio Melta - Maxwell benefited in front of goals with coach Zoran Matić's "parabola" system.

A Birkalla junior, Maxwell progressed to the first team after the club merged with West Torrens and was part of the side that won the 1981 South Australian Division Two title and gained promotion to Division One. Following the 1982 season with West Torrens Birkalla, Maxwell joined NSL club Adelaide City along with promising Para Hills forward Joe Mullen.

Maxwell scored a brace on his NSL debut at the age of 18 before competing for a spot in the side with former England Youth international Les Carter, local star Charlie Villani and fellow South Australian youngsters Mullen and Peter Rankin. City struggled in Maxwell's debut season before the young forward became a regular during the 1984 season under new coach Edmund Kreft. The young forward scored in City's NSL Cup Quarter-Final loss to Footscray but was unable to help the side qualify for the NSL Finals Series. 

City's struggle to find the back of the net continued during the 1985 season as Maxwell's strike partnership with Mullen continued to mature and youngster Aurelio Vidmar began to see first team action. Former City defender Zoran Matić replaced Kreft as coach for the 1986 season and Maxwell found career best form, finishing the regular season as the club's top scorer with 9 goals in 22 games. 

Maxwell's form led to his first Socceroos call-up, making his full international debut against Czechoslovakia. City progressed to the NSL Grand Final after Maxwell scored an 80th minute winner against Footscray in the Southern Conference Final and the Socceroos forward scored City's second goal in the second leg decider against Sydney Olympic, which City won three-two on aggregate. 

Following City's grand final triumph, Maxwell played in a B international against Chinese club Canton. Marconi went on a spending spree ahead of the 1987 season, paying over $50,000 for Frank Farina and Gerry Gomez and signing Maxwell for an additional $25,000. 

Playing alongside star forwards Farina and Zlatko Nastevski, Maxwell helped the side qualify for the Play-Off Series after finishing fourth in the league and reached the NSL Cup Semi-Finals. Somewhat unsettled at Marconi, Maxwell returned to City for the 1988 season and was back to his goal scoring best, topping the club's goal scoring list with 11 in 26 league games and earning himself a re-call to the national team where he played in a World Cup qualifier against Fiji. 

Maxwell topped City's goal scoring charts for the third time in the 1989 season (scored six along with Sergio Melta) as the club narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals series for the second season running. Saving his best form for the NSL Cup, Maxwell scored the sealer against South Melbourne in the semi-finals before scoring the opener in the final against Sydney Olympic as City won their second NSL Cup. 

City qualified for the finals series in the 1989/90 season for the first time since winning the league in 1986 as Maxwell beat out youngster Carl Veart to claim his fourth club top scorer award. City lost their elimination semi-final to Sydney Olympic as Matić's system began to come to fruition and the club improved in the 1990/91 season as Maxwell continued to find the back of the net and topped the club's goal scoring charts for a record fifth time. 

City had their equal highest league finish (third) and progressed to the NSL Preliminary Final, losing one-nil to South Melbourne. Following a strong 1990/91 season, Maxwell was offered the chance to play for Selangor in the Malaysian Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen One under former Melbourne Croatia coach Ken Worden but decided to remain at City.

After a strong start to the 1991/92 season, Maxwell earned a Socceroos re-call, making his third and final A appearance against Sweden before helping City win their third NSL Cup. A consistent member of the team, Maxwell helped City reach the NSL Grand Final where they beat Melbourne Croatia four-two on penalties after a nil-nil draw.

With young striker Damian Mori joining the club for the 1992/93 season and Veart becoming a regular scorer at club and international level, Maxwell began to be used off the bench, but still made 21 appearances during the regular season. City qualified for the elimination finals after finishing third and after going down one-nil to rivals West Adelaide in the first leg, Maxwell scored a brace in the second leg to put City in to the minor semi-final in which he scored City's third goal in a four-nil win over Wollongong City.

After City won the preliminary final against South Melbourne, Maxwell played in his third NSL Grand Final in which City lost one-nil to Marconi. During the 1993/94 season, Maxwell was used off the bench more often and fell three games short of the 300-game mark. After coming off the bench in the side's two-nil win over South Melbourne in the preliminary final, Maxwell missed out on selection for the grand final where City beat Melbourne Knights (formerly Croatia) one-nil.

Out of favour at City, Maxwell returned to the South Australian Premier League for the 1995 season with Port Adelaide Lion (later Pirates), helping the side reach the preliminary final and won the league's golden boot award. Maxwell spent another season at Port Adelaide before joining State League side Cumberland where he helped them win promotion to the Premier League before hanging up his boots at the end of the 1998 season at the age of 33.