Steven Brian Basham joined United just before the 2002/03 season started, having turned down the offer of a new contract from Preston North End. The Southampton-born striker came with rave reviews from PNE, where he established for himself a reputation as a top goalscorer before a broken leg robbed him of a regular first team place, which he was never able to recover.
Bash failed to make too many appearances at the start of 2002/03 season due to injury, but his finishing in those games he did play in fully justified his signing. He found his scoring boots again at the end of the season and signed a new one-year contract before the start of the 2003/04 season. This was extended for a further year during the summer of 2004, thanks to Bash notching up over 30 appearances. At the start of the 2004/05 season he found it difficult to break into the team, but featured at right wing for a few games. Later in the season, after the arrival of Ramon Diaz as manager, Basham started to forge a decent partnership with either Tommy Mooney or Craig Davies, and he added to his goal tally. He signed a new two-year contract with United for the 2005/06 season, but was released by Jim Smith at the end of the 2006/07 season, after missing the second half of the season following an injury received at Exeter, whom he joined after leaving United.