Les was Steve's goalkeeping coach at Upton Park in his formative years before he was succeeded by Ludek Miklosko, but he died tragically young of a heart attack.
Steve, though, says he felt his 'presence' when he played his first game for three years at Sheffield United recently following the departure of David James, and explains:
"He was watching over me and he knew that I had the ability to do well - hopefully I am going to prove him right.
"He was like a father figure and looked after me a lot; without him I wouldn't be here today because I wouldn't be the goalkeeper I am.
"He taught me so much and I don't think there is anyone who could have taught me more than he did.
"It obviously made me down when we lost him but I enjoy life and you have got to keep going and get on with it; when you reflect on things you realise you need to enjoy football and enjoy life."
Steve blames himself for the late equalising goal at Bramall Lane and says:
"Even though I was disappointed after the game at Sheffield I think it will have made me a better person and I still think we can go up."
He has enjoyed working with on-loan keeper Rami Shaaban following his loan move from Arsenal and adds:
"He is a good lad and he has a bit of banter."
Steve's contract runs out in the summer, but he says philosophically:
"It is only January and I am not really bothered; my agent sorts that out and the aim of my game is to play.
"But there is no doubt that I want to stay here and play well.
"I don't need to prove to people that I like West Ham; I am settled down here and I have waited a long time to play - and that is what I want to keep doing.
"I have had ups and downs and injuries and not played so I hope I can steady myself down and get on with playing now.
"My time hasn't come yet as such - I am still only 22 - but I want to play every week and going out there against Sheffield made me realise that I need first team football.
"It is definitely not like the reserves; you get a buzz and your adrenaline is going and it is like a drug, a fix.
"That is what keeps people going and why they play until they are 40 - it is why Stuart McCall was out there against us, because of the buzz it gives."
Steve says he has left the days of high publicity long behind him - when he signed as a teenager from Rochdale he even, bizarrely, made the front page of one Sunday newspaper - and shrugs:
"Les was looking after me then and my dad always now travels to the games - and I didn't really look at the papers."