Index

Contact

Archives

Home

The Interview

Steve Edwards was born in Sheffield in 1967. He lived on Burngreave bank in a small row of terraces, which have since been demolished. When he was five he moved to Kelvin flats. Kelvin was demolished ten years ago and Steve lived with his gran in Upperthorpe. For the last five years he has worked at Pitsmoor Adventure Playground. Of his job he says “I love it, it’s a great job. I get paid to play football, sports, paint with kids. I’m happy with it.” Steve has two older children Siobhan and Jerome. He now lives in Worksop with his wife and two year old daughter.

What is your idea of happiness?
Where I am right at this moment in time. I’ve got my house, I’m working, my wife’s working, I don’t need any more.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing members of my family, not my death, their death.

What do you dislike about yourself?
I’m not assertive enough, I used to lack ambition but now with my wife and baby I’ve got direction. It gave me something to work at.

What do you dislike about others?
Lack of respect. I’ll respect anyone. If they’re all right with me, I’m all right with them. You have to take time out to know a person before you can judge them.

What’s your earliest memory?
It’s of me being in Burngreave Bank. I must have been about two. I remember going upstairs, I don’t know whose bedroom it was but there was a potato under the bed. I remember picking it up and throwing it - don’t know - don’t know what was going off it was just there and that memory’s stuck with me forever.

What makes you sad?
All this war that’s happening. It scares me it’s going somewhere really bad. People think it’s not going to touch them but we’ve all got families and friends. I think it will touch everyone.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I’d say living. I love living and being around my family. I love working here playing sport. Sometimes things get a bit bad but you get over it.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Oh dear.” While I’m working here it’s, “Don’t do that.”

What is your greatest regret?
That I didn’t become a professional footballer, because I could of. When I should have been focusing on my sport I was focusing on other things like growing up. I got sidetracked.

How do you relax?
I relax on my Playstation, believe it or not. Or when I walk the dogs. Walking the dog really chills me out.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Passing my driving test. I’d have more freedom.

If you could change one thing about Burngreave, what would it be?
I would say the drugs, but it’s not just drugs. There is a lot of violence, there’s a violent attitude with kids lately. I’d just like them to see sense, not to follow their older brothers do things off their own bat. We try and show them there’s a different way, an easier way. You can’t just leave kids out on the street.

What keeps you awake at night?
Worrying about losing people in my family.

How would you like to die?
I’d like to go to sleep and probably not wake up.

How would you like to be remembered?
I’d like to be remembered as Steve who could play football good and never made any enemies. Long as they knew I could play football.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Be good – try and learn by your mistakes.

What’s your favourite place?
On Rugby Wharf canal- where we used to go with Upperthorpe Middle School. I think the British countryside is gorgeous. On a barge, on a canal, that’s my favourite place.

Interview between Steve Edwards and Steve Pool 17th September 2002
Photography : Richard Hanson