Recruited to work under Graham Henry when he was the national coach, he joined the 2001 Lions coaching team in Australia.
Heralded by Henry as “an absolute one-off and simply the most positive man I’ve ever met” and “the best motivator I’ve ever encountered”, Blackie played a key role in preparing the Wales side that won a test series in Argentina, 10 games in a row and famously beat England at Wembley in 1999.
He spent two years with Henry in the Wales camp before leaving in 2000. He then went on tour with him to Australia with the Lions.
Writing in his book on the Lions tour, ‘Henry’s Pride – Inside The Lions Tour Down Under’, Henry praised the importance of the role of his conditioning coach.
“Just by his presence he increased the feel-good factor and made everyone feel welcome and important. He conditioned minds behind the mask of training bodies.
“He used to say ‘whatever the mind can envision, the body can achieve’. He bred confidence by encouragement, preferring the carrot to the stick.
“When he left Wales I felt that I’d lost one half of my rugby psyche. I foresaw the tactical shape of a game and the individual roles within that shape; Blackie brought each player alive to his role, convinced him of its importance and the face that he could do it.”
As well as rugby, Black was heavily involved in football and boxing. He spent two terms at Newcastle Falcons and two at Newcastle United.
He was at the Falcons when they won league and cup titles and worked very closely with a young Jonny Wilkinson, who described him as “the best at what he does”.
During his time with Newcastle’s football side he worked under Kevin Keegan during the club’s successful spell in the 1990s and warm tributes have been paid by many who worked with and under him.
Terry McDermott, the former Newcastle, Liverpool and England player who worked with Black as a football coach at Newcastle and Huddersfield, tweeted: “Devastated to wake up to the news my big mate Blackie has passed away. Words can’t do justice to what a top bloke he was and he will be missed very much by everyone who knew him.”
Black also worked with Cleveland Police officers and the force were among many organisations who offered their own tributes.
“Steve provided wonderful energy and support to many of our officers and staff as part of our recent leadership and coaching work. He was a mentor to many,” they said.
During his career he also worked with Fulham, QPR, Norwich City, Sunderland and Fleetwood Town on a consultancy basis and worked one-on-one with world boxing champion Glenn McCrory.
As former Wales captain Gareth Thomas put it in his book, ‘Alfie’, “Blackie was truly one in a million.”
The WRU sends condolences to the family and many friends of Steve Black.
