 Steele was born in Edinburgh; after leaving school, he was a trainee mechanical engineer with the National Coal Board.As a 15-year-old he was playing for a village team in his native Scotland when Tynecastle Boys Club, who were affiliated to Scottish First Division team, Hearts, spotted his talent and signed him up as an apprentice.Dundee signed him as a 17-year-old and he made his debut in the first team with a solitary appearance in the 1967-68 season against Stirling Albion at Annfield, playing in front of just 600 spectators.