Gary Stevens (footballer born 1954)
Encyclopedia
Gary Martin Stevens is a former English
professional footballer. He was born in Birmingham
.
Stevens was playing non-league football for Evesham United
while working at a Herefordshire
chicken factory, when he was spotted by Cardiff City
, and signed for the club during the summer of 1978 for a £4,000 fee. He made his debut in September of that year, during a 7-1 defeat against Luton Town
, and scored his first goal a week later on his home debut in a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers
. Gary went on to score a total of thirteen goals in all competitions in his first year. The following year he finished as the clubs joint top scorer, along with Ray Bishop
, scoring eleven goals, and went on to claim the award again during the 1981-82 season.
Following the end of the season he joined Shrewsbury Town
for £20,000. He spent four years at the club before ending his career with spells at Brentford
and Hereford United
. He also was also player coach at Mid Wales League
side Knighton Town
.
He is now a college tutor and the youth team coach at Cheltenham Town, alongside Colin Williams.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer. He was born in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
Stevens was playing non-league football for Evesham United
Evesham United F.C.
Evesham United F.C. are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008-2009 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history but were relegated after...
while working at a Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
chicken factory, when he was spotted by Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, and signed for the club during the summer of 1978 for a £4,000 fee. He made his debut in September of that year, during a 7-1 defeat against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, and scored his first goal a week later on his home debut in a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Gary went on to score a total of thirteen goals in all competitions in his first year. The following year he finished as the clubs joint top scorer, along with Ray Bishop
Ray Bishop
Raymond John Bishop is a former Welsh professional footballer.Ray Bishop, a forward, began his football career with Bargoed Youth Club....
, scoring eleven goals, and went on to claim the award again during the 1981-82 season.
Following the end of the season he joined Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
for £20,000. He spent four years at the club before ending his career with spells at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
. He also was also player coach at Mid Wales League
Mid Wales League
The Mid Wales Football League, currently styled as the SPAR Mid Wales Football League under a sponsorship deal, is a football league in Wales, consisting of 31 teams, 15 in Division One and 16 in Division Two. Division One sits at the third tier of the Welsh football league system, and promotes...
side Knighton Town
Knighton Town F.C.
Knighton Town Football Club is a Welsh football club founded in 1887, currently playing in the Mid Wales South League...
.
He is now a college tutor and the youth team coach at Cheltenham Town, alongside Colin Williams.