Ian Stevens
Encyclopedia
For the Wales international rugby league player see Ian Stevens (rugby league)
.
Ian David Stevens (born 21 October 1966) is a former footballer who played in the English football league
. Although born in Malta
, Stevens was raised in Lancaster
and educated in the city at Ripley St. Thomas C of E High School
.
was difficult however with the club going through a transitional period and at the end of the 1985-86 season he was released after playing just 12 games soring two goals. After spending a month at Stockport County, Stevens found himself without a club and playing non-league football for Lancaster City
.
came in for him in March 1987. He was predominantly a squad player at Burnden Park
due to the presence of strikers John Thomas
and Tony Philliskirk
. In a little over four years, he made 47 appearances scoring 7 goals. After being released by Wanderers in July 1991, Stevens signed for Bury
.
fans scoring 40 goals in 126 games before he signed for Shrewsbury Town in August 1994 for a fee of £20k. His record at Gay Meadow
was almost identical to that at Bury with him scoring 51 goals in 132 games before Carlisle United tabled a £100k offer for him in May 1997.
but the club were relegated immediately and the following season only preserved their football league status thanks to a goal from on loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass
.
Although times were difficult at Carlisle under Michael Knighton
's barmy regime, Stevens still became a hero in Cumbria
scoring 30 goals in 86 games.
, he scored four goals in 20 matches. He also played a game on loan at Cheltenham Town
without scoring.
club Gretna
. Despite getting sent off on his debut for Gretna, Stevens settled in well and in two seasons at Gretna he played 26+5 matches scoring 13 goals and was a member of the championship winning squad of 2004–05, only Stevens second as a pro. From Gretna Stevens moved into non league football with Fleetwood Town
again winning promotion to the Northern Premier League
in 2005–06. After a seasons break he signed for home town club Lancaster City
for the start of 2007-08 to bring his career full circle. Indeed Stevens marked his debut by scoring in an opening day 2-1 home win for Lancaster against F.C. United of Manchester
in front of nearly 2,500 fans. Stevens then went onto play just a handful more games for his home town club before leaving at the end of September 2007 and then signing for Bacup Borough. As a professional Stevens played 572 first team games scoring 175 goals and at his peak was, along with Tony Ellis
, one of the most clinical strikers to grace the lower reaches of the football league.
Ian Stevens (rugby league)
Ian Stevens is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for Hull.-International honours:Ian Stevens won caps for Wales while at Hull 1992 2-caps + 1-cap ....
.
Ian David Stevens (born 21 October 1966) is a former footballer who played in the English football league
English Football League
English football league is not specific; it may refer to:* The Football League - the highest four divisions of English football until 1992 and the three divisions below the Premier League since 1992;...
. Although born in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Stevens was raised in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
and educated in the city at Ripley St. Thomas C of E High School
Ripley St. Thomas C of E High School
Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy is a mixed Church of England High School operating under Academy status, in the city of Lancaster in the north-west of England....
.
Preston North End and Stockport County
It was while playing local league football that Stevens was spotted by Preston North End who signed him as a professional in November 1984. His time at DeepdaleDeepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
was difficult however with the club going through a transitional period and at the end of the 1985-86 season he was released after playing just 12 games soring two goals. After spending a month at Stockport County, Stevens found himself without a club and playing non-league football for Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
.
Bolton Wanderers
It was while playing for Lancaster that struggling Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
came in for him in March 1987. He was predominantly a squad player at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
due to the presence of strikers John Thomas
John Thomas (footballer)
John William Thomas is an English former professional footballer who scored 123 goals from 364 appearances in the Football League playing for Tranmere Rovers, Halifax Town, Bolton Wanderers, Chester City, Lincoln City, Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers and Hartlepool United.-Everton:Born in...
and Tony Philliskirk
Tony Philliskirk
Anthony "Tony" Philliskirk is a former English footballer. He played as a striker for 11 different clubs between 1983 and 1998.-Playing career:...
. In a little over four years, he made 47 appearances scoring 7 goals. After being released by Wanderers in July 1991, Stevens signed for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
Bury and Shrewsbury Town
It was whilst at Bury that Stevens reputation as a prolific goalscorer really took off. He became a real hero to the shakersShakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
fans scoring 40 goals in 126 games before he signed for Shrewsbury Town in August 1994 for a fee of £20k. His record at Gay Meadow
Gay Meadow
The Gay Meadow is the former home ground of Shrewsbury Town FC, a football club in England. It was situated just outside the town centre of Shrewsbury, on the banks of the River Severn and it opened in August 1910....
was almost identical to that at Bury with him scoring 51 goals in 132 games before Carlisle United tabled a £100k offer for him in May 1997.
Carlisle United
Joining Carlisle on the back of the Cumbrians' promotion, great things were expected at Brunton ParkBrunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
but the club were relegated immediately and the following season only preserved their football league status thanks to a goal from on loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass
Jimmy Glass
James "Jimmy" Glass is a former football goalkeeper. Glass is remembered for scoring the last-minute goal which kept Carlisle United in the Football League in 1999...
.
Although times were difficult at Carlisle under Michael Knighton
Michael Knighton
Michael Knighton is an English businessman who is best known for his involvement in Manchester United and Carlisle United football clubs.-Early life:...
's barmy regime, Stevens still became a hero in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
scoring 30 goals in 86 games.
Wrexham
Stevens took a free transfer to Wrexham in July 1999. In his only season at the Racecourse GroundRacecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, he scored four goals in 20 matches. He also played a game on loan at Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
without scoring.
Carlisle United
Stevens' release from Wrexham in August 2000 paved the way for a return to Carlisle and although things off the field at the club hadn't changed much, Stevens carried on where he left off. In two injury plagued seasons at United, Stevens scored another 22 goals in 75 games before in June 2002 he went for one last hurrah with Shrewsbury Town. In his one season at Gay Meadow he scored just two goals in 24 games before leaving in August 2003.Gretna, non league & back to Lancaster
Stevens first signed for Barrow but after a month he left and signed for Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
club Gretna
Gretna F.C.
Gretna Football Club was a Scottish football club that represented the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, close to the border between England and Scotland...
. Despite getting sent off on his debut for Gretna, Stevens settled in well and in two seasons at Gretna he played 26+5 matches scoring 13 goals and was a member of the championship winning squad of 2004–05, only Stevens second as a pro. From Gretna Stevens moved into non league football with Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
again winning promotion to the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
in 2005–06. After a seasons break he signed for home town club Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
for the start of 2007-08 to bring his career full circle. Indeed Stevens marked his debut by scoring in an opening day 2-1 home win for Lancaster against F.C. United of Manchester
F.C. United of Manchester
F.C. United of Manchester is an English semi-professional football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester that plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. It was formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover of the...
in front of nearly 2,500 fans. Stevens then went onto play just a handful more games for his home town club before leaving at the end of September 2007 and then signing for Bacup Borough. As a professional Stevens played 572 first team games scoring 175 goals and at his peak was, along with Tony Ellis
Tony Ellis
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Ellis is an English former professional footballer who commanded combined transfer fees of nearly £750,000 and scored 185 league goals in 518 league games during a sixteen-year Football League career....
, one of the most clinical strikers to grace the lower reaches of the football league.