Kenneth John Stephens (born 14 November 1946) is a former professional footballer, who played in 314 Football League games for West Bromwich Albion, Walsall, Bristol Rovers, and Hereford United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth John Stephens | ||
| Date of birth | 14 November 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Bristol, England | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Broad Plain | |||
| Phildown Rovers | |||
| 1962–1964 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1968 | West Bromwich Albion | 22 | (2) |
| 1968–1970 | Walsall | 7 | (0) |
| 1970–1977 | Bristol Rovers | 225 | (11) |
| 1977–1980 | Hereford United | 60 | (2) |
| 1982–? | Hanham Athletic | ||
| Total | 314 | (15) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| Hanham Athletic | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editStephens began playing for Speedwell School in his home town of Bristol,[1] before going on to play in the Bristol Downs League as a teenager.[2]
He joined West Brom as an apprentice in 1962, before turning professional with them in 1964. He went on to play 22 League games for The Baggies, scoring twice. After playing seven games for Walsall, who he joined in 1968, he retired from football to become a newsagent in the West Midlands, but was tempted out of retirement to join his home town club Bristol Rovers in 1970.[1] He went on to play in 225 League games for Rovers and scored eleven goals in a seven-year spell with the club.[3] He ended his League career with Hereford United, for whom he made 60 appearances between 1977 and 1980, then made 35 appearances for Gloucester City in the Southern Football League[4] before dropping down to non-League football to join Hanham Athletic in 1982.[1] He later managed Hanham[5] and also went on to become their chairman.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. p. 252. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
- ^ "Bristol Downs Football League: A Brief History of the League". Clifton Rockets F.C. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883-2003. Stroud: Tempus. p. 506. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
- ^ Clark, Timothy R.D.; Kujawa, Rob (2009). The Complete Record of Gloucester City AFC 1883–2009. Gloucester: Tiger Timbo Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557425-1-4.
- ^ "Hanham Athletic looking good for another century". This is Bristol. Western Daily Press. 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2010.