BIO

Born in England, Steve McKee reportedly played with Carlton before  moving to Norwood with clubmate ‘Topsy’ Waldron in 1879 and sharing three premierships with him, from 1881 to 1883.

Steve was an older brother of George McKee, who also played in three Norwood premierships, from 1887 to 1889.  Both brothers were awarded Norwood Football Club life membership. Steve’s son, Steve McKee junior, was a noted South Adelaide and state footballer.

Steve McKee senior was born in Woolwich, Kent, about 1861 and came to Australia with his parents, John  and  Margaret (née Nolan).  Steve had an older sister and brother, Margaret and William, and younger siblings George and Mary Jane.

Steve “turned out for a few games with Carlton”, according to Steve junior (The News 8 April 1931 p 3), though his name does not appear  in that club’s records.  He blossomed at Norwood.  He kicked nine goals in 1882 and ‘Goalpost’ of the Evening Journal rated him at least the equal of any forward in the competition.  He kicked a goal and assisted in others to catapult Norwood to a famous 5.5 to 1.6 victory over Essendon at Kensington Oval in 1883.

Steve married Helen Hunter Colledge at Norwood in 1888 and they had five children, Stephen, James,  Eileen, Alex and Angus.  Steve died in Adelaide on 23 April 1911 and is buried at West Terrace Cemetery.  His widow survived until 1949.

Steve junior – Stephen Noel McKee ( (1891-1952) - built on his father’s legacy. Initially a Norwood barracker, he made his mark with South Adelaide.  He began there in 1910 and was captain from 1918 (in the wartime charity league) until he retired after the 1922 season.  Short but sturdy, he played as a wingman against Victoria in 1913 and as a rover/forward in the 1921 carnival.  In 1921 he was equal second with Norwood’s Roy Bent on the league goalkicking list. He coached South  in 1924 and University between 1923 and 1928.  He was a champion weightlifter and gymnast, foundation member/captain of the Glenelg Golf Club, a director of MacRobertsons (SA) Ltd , sports journalist and Radio 5AD sporting commentator. His brother James Eric ‘Ric’ McKee MBE (1893-1953) played for South before serving in World War I and later became The Advertiser’s advertising manager.  Their sister Eileen (Mrs Fred Harris) was a champion swimmer

P Robins, M Coligan, D Cox Oct 2020