Herbert James Stephens (13 May 1909 – September 1987) was an English professional footballer, best remembered for his time as an outside forward in the Football League with Brighton & Hove Albion. At the time of his retirement in 1948, Stephens was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Herbert James Stephens[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 May 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Chatham, England | ||
| Date of death | August 1987 (aged 78)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Thanet, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Outside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1931 | Ealing Association | ||
| 1931–1935 | Brentford | 6 | (1) |
| 1935–1948 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 180 | (86) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
Brentford edit
An outside forward, Stephens began his career at amateur club Ealing Association and joined Third Division South club Brentford in February 1931.[1][3] He made just six appearances for the club and scored one goal, before his departure at the end of the 1934–35 season.[4] Stephens spent much of his time with the club in the reserve team, with whom he won two London Combination titles and the 1934–35 London Challenge Cup.[3]
Brighton & Hove Albion edit
Stephens joined Third Division South club Brighton & Hove Albion in June 1935.[1] He was Brighton's top scorer in the 1936–37 season, with 26 goals in all competitions and again in 1938–39, with 17 goals.[5] After competitive football was suspended in 1939 due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Stephens remained with the Gulls.[2] He retired in 1948, after scoring 86 goals in 180 league games and at the time he was Brighton's second-highest goalscorer.[1][3] Including his tally in wartime matches, Stephens scored 174 goals for the Gulls.[6]
Personal life edit
A Kent native, Stephens was born in Chatham and died in Thanet.[2]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1931–32[4] | Third Division South | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1932–33[4] | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
Honours edit
Brentford Reserves
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Bert Stephens". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b c Carder, Tim & Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 231. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7.
- ^ a b c Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 154. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ^ a b c White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 371–372. ISBN 0951526200.
- ^ Carder & Harris, Albion A–Z, p. 338.
- ^ "Club Records". seagulls.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Club presented with medals". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.