Stanley Bevans (16 April 1934 – 7 August 2020) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City.[1] Stan Bevans became Stoke City's youngest ever player when he made his top flight debut in 1951, against Stanley Matthews' Blackpool.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stanley Bevans[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1934[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Kingsley, Staffordshire, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 7 August 2020 (aged 86)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1949–1950 | Cheadle Catholics | ||
| 1950–1955 | Stoke City | 15 | (1) |
| 1955–1959 | Macclesfield Town | 108 | (19) |
| 1960 | Heanor Town | ||
| 1961 | Freehay Rovers | ||
| 1962 | Bolton Social Club | ||
| Total | 123 | (20) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBevans was born in Kingsley, Staffordshire and attended Cheadle County Secondary Modern School and he played football with Cheadle Catholics in the Cheadle Youth League before joining Stoke City in 1950.[1] Bevans was called up by Bob McGrory to the first team for a match against Blackpool on 31 March 1951 after Roy Brown was ruled out with an injury. He became at the time Stoke's youngest debutant at the age of 16 years, 11 months and five days.[2]
He was used as a back-up forward playing only when there was no other option and also spent two seasons in the reserves.[1] In 1954–55 he played 11 times and scored once which came in a 3–1 defeat away at Luton Town 18 September 1954.[1] He later went on to play for Macclesfield Town, Heanor Town, Freehay Rovers and Bolton Social Club.[1]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City[1] | 1950–51 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 1951–52 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1952–53 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1953–54 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1954–55 | Second Division | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| Total | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| Macclesfield Town | 1955–56[4] | Cheshire League | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 3 |
| 1956–57[5] | Cheshire League | 38 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 51 | 12 | |
| 1957–58[6] | Cheshire League | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 1958–59[7] | Cheshire League | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 5 | |
| Total | 108 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 128 | 21 | ||
| Career Total | 123 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 143 | 22 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- ^ a b "Stan Bevans, who made Stoke City history with debut at 16, dies at 86". Stoke Sentinel. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Smith, Peter (23 August 2020). "Stan Bevans, who made Stoke City history with debut at 16, dies at 86". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Cheshire League - 1955-56". Silkmen Archive.
- ^ "Cheshire League - 1956-57". Silkmen Archive.
- ^ "Cheshire League - 1957-58". Silkmen Archive.
- ^ "Cheshire League - 1958-59". Silkmen Archive.