Ex-footballer stays on the ball

the business.

In January 2004 Steve and his wife Gillian embarked on the total transformation of the pub, changing the inn's name back to its original, The Victoria, and building up a reputation as a top eating establishment.

Steve hand-picked the exact colour he wanted for the walls as the couple set about recreating good old Victorian opulence,

As well as plenty of photographs of Queen Victoria herself, there are black and white photographs of Steve's playing career hung on the walls of the Victoria. "I moved to Ireland when I was 11 and it was while playing football for Dublin that I was spotted by a LUFC scout," says Steve.

"I was signed as an apprentice at the age of 16."

Steve's dream came true when in 1981 he was selected to play Aston Villa at home and scored a memorable goal on his debut.

"It was my life-long dream to play for the club which I had supported since I was a kid; to score on my debut was amazing."

But the dream was to be short-lived. Leeds were relegated at the end of the season and Steve was out of

a job.

"At the tender age of 21, my professional football career was over."

After a brief spell playing with European clubs, Steve returned to Ireland and played

semi-professional football in the League of Ireland while supplementing his income working in pubs and bars.

When David Harvey took over at Whitby Town, he offered Steve the chance to return to Yorkshire and play for him as a semi professional, while working at the Three Cups in Stamford Bridge.

Quite quickly, he realised that his heart was no longer in football and so decided to concentrate full-time on a career in the licensed trade.

With his long-time business partner, Pat Grant, he ran the Duke of Wellington at East Keswick for five years, The Crown Inn at Great Ouseburn for 10 years and The Bull Inn at West Tanfield.

In 2001, Steve married Gillian in their hometown, Skerries Co. Dublin, and now have two boys, William and Thomas, who are six and eight. The family live above the pub, but Steve is determined to get the work/life balance right.

"We don't treat it as a job, it is a way of life, and it's a way of life that I love. But I will not let the tail wag the dog. I have spent years doing ridiculous hours and I am not going to do that again."

As a result, The Victoria does not open at lunchtimes, except for Sunday when it is open until 7pm and it is closed Sunday and Monday evenings.

In the middle of a recession it may seem a brave move, but it was one that works for Steve, his family and his loyal staff.

"Some of our staff have been with me for 16 years which not many places in this business can say. Every single job has to be the best it can be at all times. Consistency is important; I think that is what people want. They want somewhere they can rely on the quality of the food and the quality of the beer."

The introduction of an Early Bird menu, available Tuesday to Friday 5pm to 9pm where two courses cost 14.50, and three 17.95, has helped to boost trade further.

Steve is now looking to expand The Victoria by building seven quality bedrooms and offering bed and breakfast.

"I want to create a restaurant with rooms," he explains. "Some people say we are in the middle of nowhere because we aren't in a village, but I like to think we are in the middle of everywhere. Tourists to York and Harrogate who want to experience good old Yorkshire hospitality don't even need to hire a car, they can come here in the train."

Steve has already been granted planning permission and hopes work will start in May with the rooms up and running before Christmas.

"I don't have a secret weapon in my back pocket; we just give people what they want," says Steve.

n www.thevictoriacattal.co.uk