Ernie Steventon

Ernest Steventon (1888 – 23 November 1950) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton in the years prior to World War I.

Ernie Steventon
Personal information
Full name Ernest Steventon
Date of birth July qtr 1888
Place of birth Walsall, England
Date of death 23 November 1950(1950-11-23) (aged 62)
Place of death Walsall, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1912 Walsall 30 (0)
1912–1913 Wednesbury Old Athletic
1913–1915 Southampton 44 (0)
1919 Walsall 9 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Steventon was born in Walsall, Staffordshire (now in the West Midlands) and after a spell with Walsall, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, he moved to local rivals Wednesbury Old Athletic. He soon acquired a reputation as "the best young goalkeeper in the Black Country",[1] which brought him to the attention of Southampton of the Southern League.

Steventon joined the "Saints" in May 1913, aged 24, and was initially in the shadow of veteran goalkeeper George Kitchen. He made his debut on 8 November 1913, taking over from Kitchen after a run of four defeats, in a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace at The Dell. Once he had established himself in the side, his agility and "safe pair of hands" quickly made the 'keeper's jersey his own, with Kitchen only making two further appearances.[2]

Steventon made 25 league appearances in the 1913–14 season, but in 1914–15 he had to contest the goalkeeper's position with Arthur Wood, both making 19 league appearances each.[3] The outbreak of the First World War brought Steventon's football career to a premature end, although he did make some guest appearances for Blackpool in 1917.[1]

Later career

After the war, Steventon returned to his home town, and later became a director of Walsall Football Club.[1]

References
  1. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 323. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  2. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  3. Saints – A complete record. pp. 56–57.
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