BLACKBURN Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele is celebrating his first piece of silverware – as a manager.

The 24-year-old watched on proudly as his Sunday morning pub team, Newton Aycliffe Working Men’s Club, defeated Stockton Hardwick Social 2-1 in the Durham County FA Sunday Cup Final.

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Steele, who co-manages the side along with Dave Owen, said: “It was a fantastic achievement and the lads can be really proud of themselves.

“We like to pass it about and play out from back as much as we can but I was watching Atletico Madrid play Real Madrid on TV the night before and I remember texting our players, telling them to watch the way Atletico were playing.

“They’re not really that much of a footballing side and we had to change our usual style for the game because we knew it was going to be a battle.

"We needed them to be a team of men and that’s what they were. They worked so hard – I’ve never seen a team work as hard as they did and that was after being at work all day.”

Steele, who was born in Newton Aycliffe, says the team’s run to the county showpiece has captured the imagination of his Rovers team-mates.

“I think everyone at the training ground knew about the game,” said the former England U21s international, who arrived at Ewood Park in September from his boyhood club Middlesbrough.

“The lads are really interested, they think it’s great I stay involved with my friends and help run the club.

“I went back in to training on the Friday morning with a big beaming smile on my face and the lads were delighted for me.”

Newton Aycliffe’s Steve Richardson goalkeeper said of Steele: “The lads want for nothing and we just think it’s great what he does.

"Now he’s living a bit further away he still comes home for the Sunday games and even the midweek games when he’s not playing for Blackburn so he deserves a lot of praise for the time and effort he’s put into it.”