Nigel Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Nigel Charles Ashley Stevenson (born 2 November 1958 in Swansea
) is a former Wales
international footballer.
, making his debut in 1976 in a match against Southport
. He quickly established himself in the first team and stayed with the team throughout their rise from Division Four
to Division One
and their subsequent fall back down to Division Four. After reaching a decade at the club he was awarded a testimonial against Spanish
side Real Sociedad
, managed by his former Swansea manager John Toshack
. However soon after Stevenson found himself ousted from the side and he spent time on loan at Cardiff City
and Reading
.
After impressing in Cardiff's battle against relegation during his loan spell at the end of the 1985–86 season, he joined the side on a permanent basis at the end of the following year on a free transfer, after making over 250 appearances for Swansea City. In his first season at Ninian Park
, he helped the side to win promtion to Division Three
and claim the Welsh Cup
. He left the following year after making just over 70 appearances, moving into non-league football with Merthyr Tydfil
. He later enjoyed spells at Llanelli
, Maesteg Park
and Haverfordwest County.
, making his international debut on 27 April 1982 in a 1-0 defeat against England
. He made another three appearances in 1982, starting matches against Scotland
, Northern Ireland
and Norway
.
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
) is a former Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international footballer.
Club career
Stevenson began his career at his hometown side Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, making his debut in 1976 in a match against Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
. He quickly established himself in the first team and stayed with the team throughout their rise from Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and their subsequent fall back down to Division Four. After reaching a decade at the club he was awarded a testimonial against Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
side Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
, managed by his former Swansea manager John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
. However soon after Stevenson found himself ousted from the side and he spent time on loan at 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 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
After impressing in Cardiff's battle against relegation during his loan spell at the end of the 1985–86 season, he joined the side on a permanent basis at the end of the following year on a free transfer, after making over 250 appearances for Swansea City. In his first season at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, he helped the side to win promtion to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
and claim the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
. He left the following year after making just over 70 appearances, moving into non-league football with Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
. He later enjoyed spells at Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
, Maesteg Park
Maesteg Park A.F.C.
Maesteg Park A.F.C. was a Welsh football club based in Maesteg, Wales.-History:Formed in 1945, as Maesteg Park Athletic, they spent nearly twenty years in local league football prior to joining Division Two West of the Welsh Football League in 1962/63. Within six years the club gained promotion and...
and Haverfordwest County.
International career
During his career, Stevenson won four caps for WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, making his international debut on 27 April 1982 in a 1-0 defeat against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He made another three appearances in 1982, starting matches against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
and Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
.
Honours
Cardiff City- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
Runner-up: 1
-
- 1987–88
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Winner: 1
- Welsh Cup
- 1987–88
- 1987–88